Chinese Ambassador Li Minggang said the grant reflects Beijing's ongoing support of Vanuatu's recovery following the quake on 17 December. Photo: Supplied / John Tonner
Vanuatu/China - donation
China has donated $100 million to Vanuatu to help renovate public buildings damaged by last year's earthquake.
The Vanuatu Daily Post reported that the funds would support the rebuilding of parliament complex and the Prime Minister's office.
Other buildings being repaired include Korman Stadium, Malapoa College and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Chinese Ambassador Li Minggang said the grant reflects Beijing's ongoing support of Vanuatu's recovery following the quake on 17 December.
Pacific/New Zealand
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the New Zealand government will work closely with Samoa on visa-free travel for Pacific nationals.
Peters told PMN's Pacific Mornings this initiative must have the full support of the Samoan government.
This comes as former MP Anae Arthur Anae calls on the New Zealand government to grant citizens of Pacific countries a three-month visa upon arrival.
Peters said if someone dies and they want to see this person before or after their death in New Zealand, these delays make it impossible.
In a 12-month trial from this week, people with passports from Pacific Islands Forum countries can visit New Zealand from Australia without a visa.
Tuvalu - dengue
Tuvalu's health department says there have been a total of 848 cases of dengue-like illness undergoing testing.
Of these, 238 people were reported as rapid dengue testing-positive.
The health department's latest report, for the week ending 2 November, said the slope had started to descend from the previous week.
A dengue outbreak was declared on Tuvalu on 5 June.
Fiji - charged
Police in Fiji have charged six men with two counts of unlawful importation of methamphetamine.
They say there were two consignments, weighing over three kilograms.
The alleged offending took place between March and July this year.
The men arrested are due to appear in Nadi Magistrates Court on Monday.
Fiji/UAE - embassy
The United Arab Emirates is set to open an embassy in Fiji.
Fiji's governments says this has been confirmed by the president of the U-A-E, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed, to his Fijian counterpart Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu in Abu Dhabi.
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Fiji and the United Arab Emirates were formally established in March 2010.
Palau - warehouse
Palau's government has broken ground on a new warehouse to store supplies for disasters.
The SPC said the warehouse will be managed by the National Emergency Management Office, and store items such as shelter kits, hygiene items and solar lights.
Vice president Raynold Oilouch said the warehouse is part of a continued effort to ensure disaster response teams in Palau are equipped, without having to wait for supplies to arrive from overseas.
