How will Pacific communities benefit from security deals?
The Solomon Islands government will welcome Chinese foreign minister Wang Li this week when both countries are expected to sign a controversial security deal.
The foreign minister's visit comes amid media reports that China is planning similar security deals with other Pacific nations.
Massey University senior lecturer in international security Dr Anna Powles said it's unclear how Pacific communities will benefit from these security deals.
"Pacific countries are doing exactly what New Zealand and Australia and other countries are doing - which is forging deals which secure their national interest. And yes, there are times when there will be concerns about whether or not those deals are going to benefit the people," she said.
Entry permit into American Samoa from Samoa discussed
Waiving the 30-day entry permit for Samoan citizens entering American Samoa is one of the matters before the Consul-General, Fata Brian Kaio.
He told Radio Polynesia his first meeting with the American Samoa Governor, Lemanu Peleti Mauga, emphasized the fraternal relations between the two Samoas.
Fata said Samoa's relationship with American Samoa is unique and very different from the other countries where it has diplomatic representnation.
He said waiving the permit to ensure the Samoan people can enter the territory freely without having to go through the immigration process and with the opening of borders is a priority.
Cooks Islands govt tables budget
The Cook Islands Budget is set to be tabled in Parliament today.
Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council President Liana Scott hopes the cost of living will be a focus.
She said people do not want a cash injection, but instead long-term support that will make a difference further down the road.
Liana Scott said a reduction in interest rates would help, cuts to wasteful spending in government departments are a must, and funding for waste management would be welcome.
More Covid cases reported in French Polynesia
Another 22 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in French Polynesia in the last 48-hour reporting period.
The number of active cases is now 51, a slight increase over last week.
The health authorities say there are no Covid-19 patients left in the hospital.
Vaccinations have continued and more than 81 percent of those 12 years and older have had two jabs.
The death toll of the pandemic is 648, with most fatalities registered during last year's outbreak with the Delta variant.
Travel restrictions have been eased and most pre-pandemic air links have been resumed.
Calls in Samoa to do more to protect the endangered manumea
Conservationists in Samoa are calling for stringent monitoring of hunting bans on the endangered manumea or tooth-billed pigeon to save the remaining population.
Samoa national manumea bird mural on the eastern wall of the New Zealand High Commission office in Apia Photo: Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
There have been recent sightings of the native manumea in the rainforest at Uafato village on Upolu by teams of conservationists from the Samoa Conservation Society and the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management programme.
The Samoa Observer reports manumea bird calls and sightings were recorded around the same time of day suggesting there could be two or more manumea in the forest.
An adult manumea was also spotted in the Uafato forest by a second-team during a research visit.