Then Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama at an election station in 2022. Bainimarama remains the FijiFirst party leader Photo: RNZ
Fiji - FijiFirst
The FijiFirst Party has been given an ultimatum to submit its audited accounts by next Thursday or it will be deregistered, unless it has a 'compelling explanation'.
According to local media reports, acting Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa has emphasised the potential consequences for members of the party, who also hold positions as Opposition MPs.
She said should the party fail to meet the deadline, the 27 opposition MPs will face a decision - either to become independent candidates or to join one of the three political parties in parliament.
She said the party has stated it will try and comply, and there will be a wait until June 15 to see whether they submit it or not.
New Caledonia - FLNKS
New Caledonia's pro-independence FLNKS movement has confirmed its considering changing the electoral rolls for the provincial elections - but with a condition.
At the weekend, the visiting French interior minister Gerald Darmanin hailed a breakthrough in bilateral talks with the FLNKS, announcing the group would consider a 10-year residency as sufficient to be eligible to vote.
Opening the rolls to more migrants has been a key demand by the anti-independence parties.
Darmanin said in March the 2024 elections wouldn't go ahead with the current rolls.
In a statement, the FLNKS said it would consider approving opening the rolls but only in the context of reaching an overarching agreement about New Caledonia's decolonisation.
It refuses to accept the outcome of the third and last referendum on independence in 2021 and insists on a negotiated process to regain the sovereignty taken away by France in 1853.
Under the terms of the Noumea Accord voters in the provincial elections must have been enrolled by 1998.
However, anti-independence parties have campaigned for an opening of the roll to the more than 40,000 people who have settled since then.
PNG - violent attacks
In Papua New Guinea, there have been several recent violent crimes against migrants.
The Post Courier reports criminal gangs recently attacked three migrants in two separate incidents.
One of the victims, a woman from China, died from a gunshot wound during a failed robbery.
Last month, a Korean national died from a shooting in his home, while another woman from China survived a shooting in New Britain.
Fiji - HIV
Fiji's Health Minister has called for more awareness to try and stem the increase of HIV cases in the country.
Fiji Live reports HIV cases in Fiji is the second-fastest growing epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region, and Dr Atonio Lalabalavu said this was a worrying trend.
The high cases of HIV were revealed at the HIV/AIDS vigil night held last week in Labasa, by Temo Sasau who has been living with the disease for 16 years.
Having worked closely with UNAIDS, Sasau said three weeks ago the organisation made this known as new infections in Fiji had increased by 129 percent.
Tokelau - covid
There are three new cases of covid-19 at the border in Tokelau but no new cases of community transmission.
The border cases arrived from Apia in Samoa.
Two are in Fakaofo and one is in Nukunonu, the largest atoll.
Government spokesperson Tino Vitale says five of the six community cases remain active.
PNG - hospitals
An acute shortage of health staff in hospitals around Papua New Guinea has prompted a parliament health committee to try and amend a law.
The National reports the law prevents public workers who resigned to run in an election from being re-employed for five years.
Kokopo MP Elias Kapavore, who is chair of the committee, said he discovered an acute manpower shortage at Goroka Provincial Hospital and in nearly all the health facilities in Eastern Highlands.
The amendment to the Public Service Management Act, passed by Parliament on the eve of the 2022 general election, aimed to prevent the usual flight of experienced civil servants to contest elections.
The law did not deter civil servants from resigning, but its effect upon the health sector is now coming to light.
Vanuatu - Australia
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, is in Vanuatu for a two day visit.
The visits comes after both governments having signed significant agreements.
Marles describes his trip to Vanuatu trip as part of "working together as a Pacific family on shared Pacific priorities".
The visit will include discussions on both Efate and Santo with provincial leaders.
Marles, who is also Australia's Defence Minister, will also present a new patrol boat to the Vanuatu Police Force.
In December both governments signed a bilateral security agreement which would provide strengthened cooperation on defence, border security and humanitarian assistance.