The Lautoka High Court in Fiji heard from witnesses in the opening days of the nation's largest-ever drugs trial last week. Photo: ABC News / Lice Movono
Fiji - murder-accused
A man charged with the murder of a transgender doctor in Fiji has been remanded in custody without plea.
The 32-year-old appeared in the Lautoka High Court on Wednesday, charged in relation to the death of Nadi doctor Isireli
Biumaitotoya.
Dr Biumaitotoya - also known as Leighley Leli Darling - was found with multiple injuries in a pool of blood at their home on 1 September.
The accused is in remand and set to appear again on 15 October.
Papua New Guinea
The Papua New Guinea Government has failed to deliver the results of last year's US$35 million census in its own timeframe.
Prime Minister James Marape was expected to reveal the country's population last Tuesday, coinciding with the independence anniversary celebrations.
It is yet to be announced.
The National newspaper reported Marape also issued a directive earlier this year that all citizens be registered under the national identification (NID)project by the 50th anniversary.
But the office responsible for its implementation, the Papua New Guinea Civil and Identity Registry, said just 3.8 million people registered as of the first week of September.
Pacific - fishing
The US Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has agreed to allow commercial fishing within the four marine national monuments in the US Pacific, despite opposition from members of academia and Hawai'i organisations.
The National Marine Fisheries Service issued a notice after a presidential order back in April - it authorized commercial fishing within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
This was later tossed by a federal court in Hawai'i, but the US Council has now endorsed commercial fishing within the boundaries of all four US Marine monuments, in and around Hawai'i and the Pacific territories, in contradiction with the court order.
That means the government now has the ability to open all marine-protected US Pacific waters to commercial fishing.
Manuel Duenas, from Guam fishermen's Cooperative Association said in the region, there are no commercial fishers; rather, the boats are owned by local families fishing for the benefit of the community.
Fiji - court
The Suva High Court has dismissed a pension claim from former Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
Fijivillage.com reported the court ordered Mr Bainimarama to pay the equivalent of $NZ3800 to the state in costs.
The former leader had argued the government had miscalculated his pension and gratuity entitlements.
Fiji
Fiji's Police Minister says while the Counter Narcotics Bureau is undergoing major restructuring, it has not been disbanded.
The Fiji Sun reported the overhaul follows drug related arrests involving staff members.
Ioane Naivalarua said they will rebuild the unit with officers of strong ethical values by the end of the fiscal year.
