Cook Islands - evacuate
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says Australia has offered to help evacuate Cook Islanders out of Israel.
Twenty-eight Cook Islanders and residents have been sheltering in Jericho.
Mark Brown told Cook Islands News the government was in touch with the remaining residents and hoped they could make it out of Israel on Friday.
Brown said the country will look to work with Australia if the remaining residents are unable to leave the country.
Fiji - repatriated
Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka hosted a welcoming ceremony for 255 Fijian citizens repatriated from Israel.
The Fiji Times reports Rabuka expressed his gratitutde for the safety of the passengers and commended the staff of Fiji Airways.
One evacuee, Du-tautala Manasa, said he had visited Israeli settlements attacked by Hamas.
"We travelled to one kibbutz where the mayor of that region spoke to us....We were told later on that everyone at that kibbutz had been killed, two days after that visit.
"Women, children and even holocaust surivors and everyone."
Rabuka expressed his support for Israel but called for a non-violent means to ending the conflict.
Papua New Guinea - leadership
Parliamentarians in Papua New Guinea have voted unanimously to suspend leaders from their roles for five years for breaches of the Leadership Code.
Since independence the penalty has been three years suspension.
All the MPs in the House on Wednesday voted to increase the penalty through a change to the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership (Amendment) Act 2023.
The National newspaper reports the prime minister, James Marape, saying the country must be assured that leaders from both sides of the House take the responsibility of leadership seriously.
Samoa - funding
Two schools in Samoa have received funding from Japan.
The money totals $1.8 million tala - around $US630,000 - from Japan's Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects.
Avele College School Committee on the island of Upolu received a grant of up to $601,000 tālā for the reconstruction of its school hall with a stage, kitchen, and toilets.
Lalomalava Primary School Committee in Savai'i received a grant of up to $582,000 tālā for the reconstruction of existing buildings and will include eight new classrooms, a library, a principal's room, a staff room, reception, and toilets.
Cook Islands - tourism
Australian tourists are continuing to boost Cook Islands visitor numbers post Covid-19.
Over 15,000 visitors entered the Cook Islands in August, close to a 20 per cent increase compared to last year but still down on the 2019 peak.
Australian tourists made up 2,200 of the August figures.
Cook Islands Tourism chief executive Karla Eggelton said the Australian numbers were impressive and better than what was predicted.
Over 15,000 visitors entered the Cook Islands in August. Photo: cookislands.travel
Fiji cyclone
Fijians are being warned to be alert and well-prepared for the upcoming cyclone season.
Fiji Meteorological Service predicts at least two to three cyclones will pass through the Exclusive Economic Zone this season.
FBC News reports the Minister for Meteorological Services Ro Filipe Tuisawau said one or two of these cyclones is expected to be above category three or more.
The cyclone season in Fiji runs from November through to April every year.