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Lautoko, Fiji. Photo: RNZ/Sally Round All but two of the seven people who became seriously ill in Fiji after drinking cocktails are expected to be discharged from hospital by the end of Monday, as testing goes on to find out what caused them to become ill. The seven had been drinking pina coladas at five star Warwick Resort on Sunday when they fell ill, with nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms. Early on Monday, two were in critical condition, and four were transferred to another hospital due to the seriousness of their conditions. The seven included an American, two foreign residents of Fiji and four Australians. A friend of one of those who fell sick told Checkpoint that by Monday afternoon, they were still too ill to get up. But Fiji's tourism minister and deputy prime minister...

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A motion of no confidence in Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele was withdrawn on the floor of parliament on Monday. Over the weekend, both the government and the opposition claimed to have the majority support in the 50-member legislature. However, the leadership challenge was withdrawn by Central Honiara MP Gordon Darcy Lilo after a failed attempt to have it deferred to Wednesday. Speaking on the floor, Lilo, himself a former prime minister, accused government MPs of retracting their support for the motion. "This motion should be [for] the other side of the bench," he said. "And since those that have decided to propose this motion have retracted and had left their support in that way, I can only say to you, please [make more of an] effort to hol...

By Sione Tekiteki* of Parliament of the Republic of Nauru. Photo: WANG SHEN / Xinhua via AFP The A$140 million aid agreement between Australia and Nauru signed last week is a prime example of the geopolitical tightrope vulnerable Pacific nations are walking in the 21st century. The deal provides Nauru with direct budgetary support, stable banking services, and policing and security resources. In return, Australia will have the right to veto any pact Nauru might make with other countries - namely China. The veto terms are similar to the "Falepili Union" between Australia and Tuvalu signed late last year, which granted Tuvaluans access to Australian residency and climate mitigation support, in exchange for security guarantees. And just last week, more details emerged...

Photo: JULIA NIKHINSON / AFP Israel says it will close its Dublin embassy due to the Irish government's "extreme anti-Israel policies", including recognition of a Palestinian state and support for international legal action against its war in Gaza. Israel recalled its ambassador after Ireland's decision on a Palestinian state in May, and was further angered last week when Dublin backed South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide. "The decision to close Israel's embassy in Dublin was made in light of the extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "The actions and antisemitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel are rooted in the delegitimisation and demonisation of the Jewish state, along wi...

Photo: New Zealand Herald / Brett Phibbs Disgraced New Zealand businessman Mark Bryers has been sentenced to eight and a half years in jail by an Australia court. Bryers was one of several people charged following an investigation into a tax fraud following an 18-month operation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Australian Tax Office and the Australian Federal Police. ASIC said the agencies had broken "a transnational and serious organised criminal syndicate using labour hire and payroll companies associated with the building and construction industry to defraud the Commonwealth [of Australia]." The value of the fraud was put at $A17 million in 2020. ASIC alleged Bryers had been providing tax structuring advice to the syndicate. He was found was found gu...

Four people in critical condition were in Lautoka Hospital (shown), due to the seriousness of their conditions. (File photo). Photo: Supplied/Fiji MOH An American tourist and two foreign residents of Fiji are among a group of seven who fell ill after drinking cocktails at a resort. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has updated its travel advice for New Zealanders travelling to Fiji following reports seven people have become ill after drinking cocktails at a popular resort. Four Australians remain critically ill in hospital with suspected alcohol poisoning. One American and two other foreigners who live in Fiji, were also ill after drinking at the high end Warwick Resort. MFAT updated its advice on its SafeTravel website on Monday, telling travellers to be alert to the potential risks around ...

By Timour Azhari and Tuvan Gumrukcu, Reuters Syrian Christians attend Mass at a church in in the village of Maalula north of the capital Damascus, Photo: AFP / Fidel Itani Syrian Christians attended regular Sunday services for the first time since the dramatic overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad a week ago, in an early test of assurances by the new Islamist rulers that the rights of minorities will be protected. As the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept to power last week, it sought to reassure Syria's minority groups that their way of life would not be at risk. Before Assad fell, historic religious minority groups, including Christians, worshipped freely and some remain jittery at the prospect of an Islamist government. Streets in the heavily Christian Damascus neigh...

Four people in critical condition were in Lautoka Hospital (shown), due to the seriousness of their conditions. (File photo). Photo: Supplied/Fiji MOH An American tourist and two foreign residents of Fiji are among a group of seven who fell ill after drinking cocktails at a resort. Four Australians remain critically ill in hospital with suspected alcohol poisoning. The ABC reported one of the Australians, a 56-year-old woman, was under constant surveillance in hospital while a 19-year-old was experiencing serious medical episodes. Two other Australian women, aged 49 and 18, were understood to be in critical condition but not as seriously ill. RNZ has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about whether any New Zealanders have been involved. Fiji journalist Mereoni Mili said...