Australia & Pacifics

19 Fijian students awarded with Chinese gov't scholarship

SUVA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A total of 19 Fijian students were awarded the 2023 Chinese Government Scholarship on Tuesday by the Chinese Embassy in Fiji.

Of the recipients, three have been admitted in PhD program, three in Master's program and 13 in Bachelor's program, covering a wide range of domains, including clinical medicine, physical training, international finance, software engineering, and civil engineering.

Thousands Of New Zealanders Use New Pathway To Apply For Australian Citizenship

CANBERRA, Aug 14 (NNN-AAP) – Thousands of New Zealanders have applied for Australian citizenship, in the first weeks since a new direct pathway was opened.

According to government data released yesterday, more than 15,000 New Zealanders living in Australia, have applied to become citizens since major changes to the process took effect in July.

Under the changes, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in Apr, New Zealanders meeting some eligibility requirements can become citizens without first becoming permanent residents in Australia.

Australia Senator: Aboriginals, Palestinians share a reality of attempted genocide

11 August 2023; MEMO: Aboriginal Australian Senator, Lidia Thorpe, has urged the Australian government to acknowledge the sovereignty of the State of Palestine and the territories that have been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967.

She additionally requested that the Australian government encourage Israel to put an end to its illegal occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land.

Civil organizations urge Fiji PM to reconsider stance on Japan's nuke wastewater discharge plan

SUVA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Civil society organizations in Fiji are urging Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to reevaluate his position regarding Japan's planned discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.

Rabuka recently expressed contentment with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s report on Japan's radioactive wastewater discharge plan, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported on Tuesday.

US loses to Sweden on penalty kicks in its earliest Women’s World Cup exit ever

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The United States played its best game of this Women’s World Cup and it wasn’t good enough to stop the two-time reigning champions from being eliminated in the round of 16.

The Americans’ bid to win an unprecedented third consecutive title ended Sunday on penalty kicks. Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelly O’Hara missed with kicks from the penalty spot before Lina Hurtig converted to clinch the shootout 5-4 as Sweden knocked the United States out of the World Cup after a scoreless draw in regulation and extra time.

US Secretary of State tells Australia that WikiLeaks founder is accused of ‘very serious’ crime

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday pushed back against Australian demands for an end to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s prosecution, saying the Australian citizen was accused of “very serious criminal conduct” in publishing a trove of classified documents more than a decade ago.

Australia’s center-left Labor Party government has been arguing since winning the elections last year that the United States should end its pursuit of the 52-year-old, who has spent four years in a British prison fighting extradition to the United States.

Australia: Defense Secretary Austin says the US stands with countries against China’s ‘bullying behavior’

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday the United States stands with countries fighting Chinese “bullying behavior” as he launched bilateral talks in Australia aimed at countering Beijing’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Australian city of Brisbane late Thursday ahead of annual bilateral meetings on Friday and Saturday that will focus on a deal to provide Australia, a defense treaty partner, with a fleet of submarines powered by U.S. nuclear technology.

Australia: US Defense Secretary Austin meets with Papua New Guinea leaders about boosting security ties

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Papua New Guinea leaders on Thursday to discuss developing the Pacific Island nation’s military strength and deepening security ties, as the United States competes with China for influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Austin is the first U.S. defense secretary to visit the nation of 10 million people that was fiercely fought over during World War II and is gaining strategic importance in the U.S. struggle against Beijing.

Australia: Evidence Of Ancient Vietnamese Curry Found By Australian Researchers

CANBERRA, Jul 22 (NNN-AAP) – Researchers from Australia have discovered the remnants of a curry, dating back thousands of years in Vietnam, shedding new light on ancient trade routes.

Believed to be the earliest known curry in Southeast Asia, the 2,000-year-old meal was found by a team from Australian National University (ANU), at the Oc Eo archaeological site in Vietnam’s far south.

Analysis of micro-remains recovered from the stone grinding tools in a study published today, revealed a wide range of spices including ginger, turmeric, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon.

USS Canberra: US commissions first Navy warship in foreign port: Australia

SYDNEY, July 22 (Reuters) - The United States commissioned a warship in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday, the first time a U.S. Navy vessel joined active service at a foreign port, as the two close allies step up their military ties in response to China's expanding regional reach.

The Independence-class littoral combat ship - named after a Royal Australian Navy cruiser that was sunk while supporting the U.S. Marine landings on Guadalcanal in 1942 - was commissioned at a ceremony at an Australian naval base on Sydney Harbour, officially joining the U.S. Navy's active fleet.

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