Tonga's Legislative Assembly at its temporary location in the Tongan National Cultural Centre Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
Tonga - parliament
Tonga's new Prime Minister and his Cabinet will take their oaths of office when the Legislative Assembly of Tonga convenes on Friday.
Speaker Lord Fakafanua says PM 'Aisake Eke, his 10 Cabinet Ministers and all members of Parliament have been advised, with the sitting scheduled to start at 11am local time.
Prime Minister Eke announced 10 other Cabinet Ministers on Tuesday to serve alongside him.
They will receive their official appointment letters from King Tupou VI on Thursday, in Nuku'alofa.
A tentative date of June 15th 2019 has been set for a referendum on possible independence in the Autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
Bougainville - elections
Bougainville Electoral Commissioner Desmond Tsianai says the autonomous Papua New Guinea region is progressing well toward its mid-year elections.
It will be the fifth election for the autonomous region since Joseph Kabui was elected as president in 2005.
Tsianai said his office is committed to deliverin an election at "an international standard of free and fair."
He said achieving this will require the full support of the people of Bougainville.
Tsianai said this poll will include five new constituencies, increasing the House to 45 members.
Photo: 123RF
Fiji - alcohol
Fiji's minister for women, children and social protection says it is 'deeply concerning' to see a video of a child apparently drinking alcohol doing the rounds on social media.
Sashi Kiran said this is not only distressing but also a direct violation of Fiji's laws aimed at protecting children's rights and wellbeing.
She said Fiji Police are working closely with the children's ministry to investigate the circumstances.
She urged the public to refrain from sharing such harmful content and to report any concerns to the authorities.
Papua New Guinea - provinces
The Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea, Sir Gibbs Salika, is calling for the establishment of two new provinces within Western Province.
NBC reported he made this call during the recent launch of Western Provincial Integrated Development Plan in Daru.
Western Province covers nearly 100,000 square kilometres, much of it inaccessible.
Sir Gibbs told the audience that Western Province is too much to manage as a single province, given there are no roads and all transport is either by sea, river or air.
Northern Mariana Islands - health
A health advocate in the Northern Marianas is welcoming a newly signed law regulating the sale of a powdery substance made from crushed coral - mostly used in the Pacific islands for betel nut chewing.
Dr Lilly Muldoon, who works for the Commonwealth Health Center, said betel nut chewing is linked to oral cancer, dental problems, and potential addiction.
She said the CNMI government has taken a proactive approach to protecting community health by regulating lime, otherweise known afok.
People could be fined up to US$500 or imprisoned up to 90 days if they sell it.
Samoa - Manawanui
The second stage in the removal of fuel from the sunken HMNZS Manawanui in Samoa is well underway.
A New Zealand Defense Force spokesperson said some tank containers have been offloaded in Apia and others are on a barge, moored over Manawanui on the south west coast of Upolu.
Commodore Andrew Brown says it's a complex and technical process.
Manawanui is lying around 35 metres deep on its side.
