Solomon Islanders queuing up to cast their ballots in Honiara. 17 April 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koroi Hawkins
Solomon Islands - election court hearing
The Solomon Islands High Court has set 12 June as the date to hear a claim challenging the validity of last month's election.
Matthew Wale, who has been reappointed as the leader of opposition after his unsuccessful bid for the top political job, is seeking various legal declarations concerning the Prime Ministerial election.
His lawyer Gabriel Suri confirmed the date of the hearing to the Solomon Star.
Wale lost the Prime Ministerial election to Jeremiah Manele by a vote count of 31 to 18.
Fiji - accused
A Fiji police officer is alleged to have raped a woman and has been arrested.
Fiji police say its Major Crime Unit is investigating.
Acting commissioner of police Sakeo Raikaci has directed the investigation file is to be submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for independent legal advice as soon as possible.
The acting commissioner said progress on the investigation will be provided in due course.
Samoa - murder
Award-winning playwright Papalii Sia Figiel has been charged with murder on Monday for allegedly stabbing an elderly woman in Vaivase-uta in Samoa.
The Samoa Observer reported Papalii was originally charged with manslaughter on Sunday but this was later upgraded to murder.
Police have sealed off the crime scene at Vaivase-uta that is part of the Galumoana Theatre.
Papalii is 57-year-old Samoan novelist, who won the Best First Book award in the South East Asia, South Pacific region of the Commonwealth Writers Prize in 1997.
US/Pacific - drought
Drought conditions have eased in much of the US-affiliated Pacific states and territories.
However, dryness persists in the northern islands of Yap state, and the northern Marshall islands, according to an update last week from Guam's weather forecast office.
Satellite and rain gauge data, prior to a recent weather system, indicated drier than normal conditions persisted for northern islands of Yap State, the northern Marshalls and the Marianas; but tropical disturbances brought much needed rain to Yap State and Palau.
Despite recent showers, water shortages may still occur in Yap state and the northern Marshall islands in the coming weeks, until showers become more frequent and sustained across the region.
The rainfall forecast through August remains drier than normal for islands near and north of the 9N latitude line - which runs through the lower half of Kwajaleen Atoll - and near to wetter than normal to the south.
Northern Mariana Islands - hotels
The Northern Marianas' Hotel Association chair says its members are struggling.
Dennis Seo said all hotel members are losing money, and even the peak summer months of July and August are not looking positive.
The Marianas Variety said the association reported a 35 percent average occupancy rate among its 13 member hotels for April.
The Association said hotels typically require around 70-80 percent occupancy to stay in operation.
However, association vice chair Ivan Quichocho said no one is openly talking about closing doors.
Board member Sachiko Gerrard said they plan and discuss what is needed as association members.