The governor of Oro Province in Papua New Guinea said a new hydro-electricity plant is a step in the right direction for it to become a green province.
Photo: PNG power
The Divune plant cost $US28 million to build.
The National newspaper reports Governor Gary Juffa saying the province plans to match the hydro-power capacity with a solar energy facility it is currently working on with an Israeli firm.
Juffa said once this plant is in use, Oro can declare itself a green province.
The hydro project is one of five developments in Oro being opened by Prime Minister James Marape this week.
Save the Children donates $US750,000 to Tonga
Tonga is receiving over $US750,000 dollars in support from global charity 'Save The Children'.
Support was being provided in the form of school and health equipment.
Education in Tonga has been conducted remotely via radio broadcast since the country entered lockdown on February 2 following a Covid-19 outbreak.
Regional Operations Director, Malmee Weerasiri, said she was working closely with Government.
Vanuatu records its third covid-19 death
Vanuatu has recorded its third Covid-19 death since the community outbreak began last month.
The latest fatality was announced by the minister of health, Bruno Leingkon yesterday.
He said a man aged 60 was admitted at the weekend at Vila Central Hospital and died on Monday.
More covid-19 deaths in American Samoa
A total of 10 Covid-19 deaths have been recorded in American Samoa.
Dr Akapusi Ledua, Acting Chief of Staff at LBJ Hospital said one was a 74-year-old woman from Malaeloa who was admitted on April 3 with multiple co-morbidity conditions and tested positive for Covid-19.
She died on Monday.
The second death was that of a 69-year-old woman from Agugulu who was dead on arrival at the hospital on Tuesday morning.
Health officials said she had multiple co-morbidities and tested positive for Covid-19 while going to the hospital.
American Samoa has recorded 4,957 cases of Covid 19 of whom 1,967 have recovered.
Five covid patients were in hospital.
New political party in Fiji
A new political party has been registered in Fiji as electoral activity starts to gain momentum in the lead-up to the general elections later this year.
The 'We Unite Fiji Party' submitted its application to the Fijian Elections Office late last month and that brings the total number of active political parties to eight.
Political parties' registrar and supervisor of elections, Mohammed Saneem said the party had successfully furnished all the particulars required under the Political Parties Act 2013.
Saneem said after not receiving any objections to the application, the party was registered.
A total of 664,481 people over the age of 18 have registered to vote.
China accuses AUKUS of trying to recreate NATO in the Asia-Pacific region
China has accused the US, UK and Australia of trying to build an "Asia-Pacific version of NATO" after the three countries announced that they wiere to develop hypersonic weapons via the recently created AUKUS security alliance.
The three countries announced the plan after holding a check-in on the progress of AUKUS, the alliance that was launched by the three countries last September.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told media the co-operation would "undermine peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region."
The alliance comes amid growing concerns by the US and allies about China's growing military assertiveness in the Pacific, including a security pact with Solomon Islands.
Book Explores Tongan Identity in New Zealand
A book celebrating 10 years of Tongan language week in New Zealand has been published by the Tongan Language Committee.
The book entitled "Tonga Koloa'ia" explores how the Tongan diaspora have culturally adapted in New Zealand.
It's editor, Lineti Manu'atu said children of migrants tended to identify more with the values of the countries where they were being raised, and this should be encouraged.
"Lots of kakai tonga are born here, they are born and raised here, so we don't become Tangata Whenua, we become kakai ofa fonua, they are concepts that we bring from the homeland and are now contextualizing it to New Zealand," she said.
"I think we become better citizens in that way, rather than just mimicking other people are doing. What they are doing is based on they're values and beliefs."