Cook Islands Parliament Photo: Supplied
Cook Islands
It's election year in the Cook Islands and its MPs want to make their voices heard, especially in question time.
The Opposition has pushed back at claims its MPs have been wasting it.
In the Cooks MPs only get half an hour per sitting to put questions to Ministers.
Cook Islands News reported that opposition MPs, such as United Party leader Teariki Heather, are frustrated with ministers who give "long-winded" answers to parliamentary questions.
He said most of the time, they don't answer the question anyway.
Meanwhile, the Clerk of Parliament, Tangata Vainerere, has raised concerns about opposition MPs wasting time, including with lengthy greetings and long, rambling explanations.
But Heather said the basis of the question sometimes has to be explained so it can be understood.
Fiji
A political party called People First will officially contest Fiji's General Election this year.
It has been registered as Fiji's newest political party following approval from the Registrar of Political Parties.
Opposition leader and former FijiFirst Minister Inia Seruiratu and Opposition MP Jone Usamate are part of the party.
Registrar Ana Mataiciwa said four objections were received and dismissed but objectors had two weeks to appeal to the Electoral Commission.
There are now eight political parties registered with the commission.
Fiji/New Zealand
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has met with his Fijian counterpart Sakiasi Ditoka, alongside Fiji's Police, Immigration and Finance Ministers.
Peters' delegation stopped in Fiji on the way back from visits to Kiribati and Palau.
The minister also met with Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa.
Topics of discussion included transnational organised crime, defence and security, and labour mobility.
American Samoa
American Samoa's Governor has announced the territory will join the Pacific Connect initiative, in a collaboration with Google.
This includes the Le Vasa cable, a subsea fiber-optic system, which will interconnect with the Bulikula cable with connections to Fiji and French Polynesia.
Islands Business reported Pulaalii Nikolao Pula saying this project strengthens American Samoa's strategic role in the Pacific, while ensuring future generations benefit from the Le Vasa cable project.
Samoa
The first woman to attain an executive role in Samoa's police force is leaving, to take up a key Pacific regional security role.
Papali'i Monalisa Tiai-Keti has finished up in her role as Samoa's deputy Police Commissioner.
She has been appointed assistant director of the Pacific Fusion Centre in Vanuatu.
The centre is a Pacific Islands Forum initiative set up to enhance co-operation and information-sharing among Pacific Island nations, in response to regional security concerns.
Samoa Global News reported Papali'i is farewelling the Samoa Police Prisons and Corrections Services after 22 years of service.
