Fijian high chief Ro Teimumu Kepa, right, along with waiting for boarding call at Departure Lounge at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. 11 October 2023. Photo: Twitter.com/@RoTeimumuKepa
Fiji - flight
A group of Fijians who were in Israel when conflict escalated is expected to land back in Nadi at midnight Wednesday, local time.
FBC News reports the Fiji Airways plane has taken off from Tel Aviv, a day after the scheduled flight was supposed to fly out.
It is carrying Fijians, Samoans and Cook Islanders who were in Israel.
Fiji Airways had previously said it was reviewing their flight schedule due to the escalating tensions.
New Caledonia - senator
New Caledonia's first pro-independence member of the Senate, 61-year-old Robert Xowie, has officially joined the French Upper House's opposition political group in Paris.
Xowie and the other Senator for New Caledonia, Georges Naturel, won their two seats on September 24th.
Naturel will sit with French right-wing Les Républicains group.
Both new senators have said that despite their political differences, they intend to maintain good relations "for the good of New Caledonia".
New Caledonia - newspaper
New Caledonia's only daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Calédonienneshas restarted as an online publication.
The newspaper was launched in 1971 but its remaining online version eventually closed in March this year.
The closure had triggered concern regarding the French Pacific territory's freedom of expression and media diversity.
The new shareholders behind the project are a local company called GD Connexion, a subsidiary of local conglomerate Groupe Dang.
Tonga - review
A group of Tongan opposition MPs are seeking a judicial review into the handling of a no-confidence vote in the prime minister last month.
Kaniva Tonga reports the Supreme Court has granted leave for them to pursue a judicial review.
The MPs argue a debate is mandatory during motion of no confidence proceedings.
But on September sixth, during the 'no confidence' hearing of Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku there was no debate.
A vote was held to decide whether a debate was needed, the result was in favor of no debate.
A submission to the Supreme Court arguing a debate is mandatory was then made.
Questions have also been raised as to whether the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance were allowed to vote in the first place because they are not MPs.
Samoa - clinics
The US Army will operate clinics at two hospitals in Samoa later this month.
The mission involves medical professionals from US Army Hospital Brigade who will deliver medical services at the Soifua clinics at the Poutasi and Leulumoega District Hospitals.
According to Samoa government, it is a joint collaboration aimed at improving healthcare in Samoa.
It will from October 12-26.
US/Pacific - report
A new report has shone a light on "significant human rights issues" in West Papua.
The US government's findings, based on what it called "credible reports", outlines unlawful or arbitrary killings by government security forces, the use of torture by police, serious restrictions on free expression and media among other issues throughout 2022.
Non-government organisations reported people of Melanesian descent face widespread discrimination.
It noted armed conflict between Indonesian government forces and separatist groups continued in the Papua region.
RNZ Pacific has reached out to the Indonesian government for comment.
