Ten dead from inter-clan fighting in PNG's Enga province, Date set for New Caledonia referendum, and Vanuatu chocolates have been recognised at an international competition in Paris.
PNG's Highlands region Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Ten dead from inter-clan fighting in PNG's Enga province
Papua New Guinea police say ten men were killed during a clash between two clans in Enga province in the Highlands region.
Police told the newspaper The National the conflict stemmed from an aborted mediation and compensation process over the recent death of a local man.
The body of the man from Mulitaka village was found on the Enga highway near Langi village where the two clans, the Sikinwan and the Timali, are from.
Despite policemen and soldiers being stationed in the area, they were outnumbered and unable to prevent fighting breaking out between the two clans and leading to ten deaths.
Police say the violence also left two people seriously injured and extensive damage to property.
Date set for New Caledonia referendum
The date for New Caledonia's next independence referendum has been set for December the 12th.
The French government has officially gazetted the date, with the official campaign to open from November 29th.
As with New Caledonia's previous two referendums, in 2018 and 2020, voters will be posed the same Yes/No question on the territory's potential independence.
In both those votes, a majority voted against independence, but the winning margin shrank from 56.7 percent to 53.3 percent.
As with the two polls, there has been stark division in recent discourse over when the third and final referendum should be held.
The Noumea Accord provided for the referendum to be held no later than October 2022 - anti-independence parties wanted the vote to be held as soon as possible while the pro-independence parties wanted it to be held as late as possible.
The Aelan chocolate factory shop, Vanuatu. Photo: Supplied / Aelan chocolate
Parisian awards for Vanuatu chocolates
A Vanuatu chocolate company's products have been recognised at an international competition in Paris.
Aelan chocolate's 70 percent dark varieties received a bronze gourmet award and two gourmet diploma awards at the first Concours International des Chocolats élaborés à l'origine.
The competition was organised by the Agence de Valorisation des Products Agricultoles.
Aelan director Sandrine Wallez told ABC Pacific Beat the recognition would help them sell to new export markets, and is a boost to local cocoa growers' confidence.
"It was really good for us to participate, we wanted actually to see how good our chocolate was compared to the other cocoa producing countries."
She said the award had come at an important time because Covid-19 has taken it's toll on business and farming, and there was no longer any visiting tourists to sell to.
The bronze award presented to Aelan Chocolates at the Concours International competition. Photo: Supplied / Aelan chocolate
Vaccine rollout to Cook Islands Pa Enua
The Cook Islands Covid-19 vaccination rollout is carrying on to the Pa Enua (outer islands), with the population on seven islands scheduled to get their first dose from tomorrow. Dates are still to be arranged for another four islands.
Vaccinations have already been done on Rarotonga, where 8069 have had their second dose, and Aitutaki where 1,152 people have had their second dose.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Jaewynn McKay said the vaccine team will rely on good weather to take boats to some of the islands, and are considering asking the eligible population of Rakahanga to ferry to Manihiki to be vaccinated.
The secretary of Health Bob Williams had previously raised the possibility of the New Zealand Navy helping with the rollout to some Pa Enua, but McKay said that was now off the cards.
Health workers offering Covid-19 vaccinations in Tonga. Photo: Supplied / Tonga Ministry of Health
Second Covid-19 vaccinations underway in Tonga
People in Tonga are being called to line up for the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Health workers began offering the second dose on 24 June, and Matangi Tonga reports 1124 people in Tonga have now had their second AstraZeneca dose.
Health Ministry chief executive Dr Siale 'Akau'ola said the aim is for 70 percent of the Tongan population to be inoculated by December.
A total of 28,667 people have already had their first dose dose.
24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were shipped to Nuku'alofa in late March, through the COVAX programme.
Sailors quarantined after forced diversion to Vanuatu
Two Belgian sailors have been allowed to dock at Port Vila harbour under strict conditions, but have been given three days to fix their vessel, resupply and leave Vanuatu.
The Daily Post says the two sailors were sailing to Europe from French Polynesia when they had mechanical problems that forced them to divert their course.
They are isolating on their yacht in a harbour zone set aside for quarantine, and awaiting the result of Covid-19 tests and clearance from authorities.
Both have been vaccinated at French Polynesia, which is the last place they visited and is Covid-19 free, The Daily Post said.
