Pacific Beat

At Shoalwater Bay, on the coast of Central Queensland, troops from seven different countries are preparing for war.

A bomb threat was made against an Auckland councillor and his family after he made comments about representation on a police television program.

After months of political impasse, Samoa’s new Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa says passing a temporary budget is on the top of her to do list.

Samoa's first female Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, says her government will formally take office this week; members of Fiji's Opposition parties and journalists taken for questioning by police after speaking out about the iTaukei Land Trust Act; and, the Oceania Football Confederation a new strategy targeting the women's game right across the region.

National Federation Party Leader Biman Prasad, his colleague Pio Tioduadua and SODELPA's Lynda Tabuya were among the Fiji politicians arrested by police. They were questioned over public comments made over proposed change to the iTaukei Land Trust Act.

OFC has set a target of two teams at the FIFA Women's World Cup on 2027, but they've not ruled out a run at 2023 when New Zealand and Australia will co-host the event. Domestic women's football in the Pacific islands is on the rise, with funding being diverted while international matches in the region are on hold.

As Fiji's coronavirus crisis worsens, Australian and New Zealand tourists, who've holidayed in the country are being urged to chip in and support workers in Fiji's devastated tourism industry.

The Moderna vaccine arrives in Fiji for pregnant women as authorities confirmed the deaths of two pregnant women from COVID-19; the decision by Australia and New Zealand to withdraw from this year's Rugby League World Cup in the UK could force the Pacific island teams to pull out of the competition too; and, when the Flying Fijians won their first Olympic gold medal the country celebrated by releasing the world's first $7 note - since then the money has taken on great emotional value.

More than 150,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine have arrived in Fiji for priority groups, including pregnant women. But they arrived as authorities confirmed the deaths of two unvaccinated pregnant women from COVID-19.

The Flying Fijians' chance to defend their Olympic title begins on Monday, with their first match against host nation Japan. When the men's rugby 7s team won gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016, the country celebrated by releasing the world's only $7 note, and in the four years since, its sentimental value has only grown.