Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: Samoa Govt
Samoa
Samoa's opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has been formally charged by the police with five counts of defamation.
Tuilaepa said four relate to a complaint by Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt, who alleged that he was defamed by the Opposition leader during several media interviews.
The other follows a complaint made by education minister Aiono Dr Elec Ekeroma, when he was chief executive officer of the Ministry of Health.
Aiono alleged Tuilaepa made comments last November accusing him of using public hospital equipment in his private clinic.
A hearing on the charges is set for 24 March in the Apia Magistrates Court.
Cook Islands/Aotearoa New Zealand
Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown has sent love and support to the people of New Zealand as they navigate the aftermath of severe weather.
Brown wrote that the Cooks' thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, with those still waiting anxiously for news, and with all who have been displaced, injured, or had their livelihoods swept away.
He said many in the Cook Islands have whānau bound by whakapapa to Aotearoa.
"When Aotearoa grieves, we grieve alongside you," Brown said.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu authorities have urged a prominent social media figure linked to a pyramid scheme to leave the country.
The Daily Post reported the man is from the French territory of Wallis and Futuna, and has been touting the so-called Api La Savate scheme to ni-Vanuatu.
Vanuatu's Department of Immigration and Passport Services has reportedly served him with a notice to voluntarily return to his country of origin, in order to avoid deportation.
The department also served him with a penalty fine for breaching the conditions of his visa.
Police said he is alleged to have defrauded French Polynesia's government, while authorities in New Caledonia reportedly stopped his activities.
Tonga/Aotearoa
Tongan Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua met with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Sunday.
Lord Fakafanua called Peters "his good friend", and extended condolences to the New Zealand government for lives lost at Mount Maunganui last week.
He was also set to meet his Aotearoa counterpart Christopher Luxon while on transit to a Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Brisbane.
Tonga is set to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Australian government on renewable energy.
Papua New Guinea
Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko says their relationship with the United States is at an "all time high".
Tkatchenko said he is grateful that the US government maintains a positive outlook on his people, following a pause on immigration to the US for more than 75 countries, including three Pacific nations.
Meanwhile, PNG's prime minister has been promoting the country as an investment destination, while in Davos for the World Economic Forum summit.
James Marape has highlighted the opportunities within PNG's economy as one of the world's emerging markets.
He said during the current times of geopolitical tensions, PNG is uniquely placed as "friends to all and enemies to none".
Marape said in the past five years, PNG's economy has eperienced over four per cent growth consistently, and has major oil and gas developers operating successfully in the country.
But his government has been criticised by its Opposition for relying too heavily on oil, gas and mining sectors for economic activity, and failing to fix soaring unemployment.
