Vanuatu Government MPs milling outside court Photo: RNZ Pacific/Hilaire Bule
Trial to determine status of Vanuatu govt MPs' seats begins
A Supreme Court trial which could determine whether Vanuatu's Prime Minister Bob Loughman and most of his government lose their parliamentary seats begins today.
Loughman and 18 other MPs had their parliamentary seats declared vacant in June by the former speaker of parliament, Gracia Shadrak, after they had boycotted three sitting days.
A government appeal against the process used by the former Speaker to declare their seats vacant was unsuccessful.
The separate matter of whether Loughman and his MP colleagues were absent from three consecutive sittings is now before the Supreme Court where the trial begins this afternoon.
Seven border crossers in quarantine in Solomons
Police in Solomon Islands say seven locals who were caught crossing back into the country from Papua New Guinea are being quarantined as part of strict security provisions along the western border.
Police say two women, a man and four children were picked up after crossing over from Bougainville to the Shortland Islands earlier this month (14 August) and they are now in quarantine for 21 days.
Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Vaevaso said they were working closely with health, immigration and customs officials to patrol the maritime border region.
PNG is grappling with widespread community transmission of Covid-19 and cases of the deadly delta variant have been identified in the country.
Fallout over resignation of French police chief in Noumea
The French interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, has criticised the circumstances which led to last week's resignation of the French police commander in New Caledonia, Eric Steiger.
Steiger resigned after a public outcry over a report by French media that he had been convicted for domestic violence.
Political leaders across the spectrum and women's groups had urged Paris to recall Steiger.
In a televised comment, Gerald Darmanin said he was opposed to witch hunts which made the commander the target of a cabal, noting that Steiger was not jailed.
On appeal, his suspended prison sentence was converted into a 6,000 euro fine.
The minister said a new commander will be appointed soon.
Samoa government finalises first budget
The FAST government in Samoa has finalised its first budget and will present it to Cabinet on Friday.
The Samoa Observer reports that at her weekly post Cabinet meeting media conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said Finance Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio'o will make the Cabinet presentation.
"This is an important development so that we can process a full budget and to lay that proposed budget on the table for Parliament's consideration in September," said Fiame.
"So we are very pleased that the Minister of Finance and the Ministry of Finance are now at the point where we can begin that process."
Prime Minister Fiame said advice was sought on how to incorporate her party's priorities into their annual financial plan.
But the former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said seeking advice from the New Zealand Ministry of Finance was a humiliating move.
FIBA launches female internship in Pacific
Basketball's governing body, FIBA, has launched a female internship programme for Pacific nations.
The first part of the programme will run at the end of this year, and aims to provide professional development opportunities through online courses, mentoring and workshops.
Applicants will also relocate to Australia, where they will work on developing a basketball-related project for their national federation back home.
FIBA Oceania Executive Director, David Crocker, said they hoped to see a growth in female players that will eventually lead their country in some capacity.
He said empowering women in basketball was a key objective, and FIBA believes the programme will help achieve those goals.
USP pro-chancellor being sued for defamation
The pro-chancellor at the University of the South Pacific, Winston Thompson, is being sued for defamation in the Nauru Supreme Court.
Fiji media is reporting the vice chancellor, Pal Ahluwalia, is suing Mr Thompson and two others, possibly media outlets.
This follows Fiji Government led attempts to have Professor Ahluwalia removed from his position.
This came after an investigation into the university's previous administration of which Mr Thompson was part.
Professor Ahluwalia was later deported by the Fiji Government, but has since been re-appointed by the USP Council and is currently in Nauru, though he intends to operate out of the USP campus in Samoa.
Last week the Fiji Government announced it was not going to pay its annual multi-million dollar grant to the USP as long as Professor Ahluwalia remained in his job.
New high commissioner in NZ for Vanuatu
Vanuatu has a new high commissioner for New Zealand.
Jimmy Nipo is a long time civil servant, former Director General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and has also served as Chief Executive Officer of Vanuatu Football Federation.
He said his priorities included looking after the many Ni-Vanuatu who were working in the RSE scheme in New Zealand and finding trade opportunities with this country.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mark Ati, said that with his experience, Nipo will perform well as high commissioner. He is due to depart for Wellington to take up his new role next month.