Pacific - declaration

Pacific trade ministers have welcomed the draft Kava Declaration, marking a significant step toward safeguarding kava's cultural and economic importance across the region.

At a gathering in Suva, Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, and his counterparts supported enhanced legal protections and the development of geographical indications for kava.

Ministers tasked a technical working group with concrete next steps for a national and international geographical indication registration.

This aims to bolster kava's brand value and protecting its traditional roots.

Samoa - holidays

Samoa's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour has officially declared two public holidays in August to support the smooth conduct of the country's 2025 General Election.

In a public notice, the Ministry confirmed that Thursday, 28 August and Friday, 29 August will be observed as national public holidays.

The purpose of these holidays is to provide all eligible voters across the country with adequate time to participate in the election process.

The declaration applies to all government ministries, private sector organisations, and the general public.

More than 100,000 eligible voters have registered for next month's upcoming general election.

Samoa - methamphetamine

Samoa's Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo is describing the widespread use and trafficking of methamphetamine as a national pandemic.

The Police, Prisons and Corrections Services has stepped up its campaign against methamphetamine.

Over recent months, police have carried out a series of targeted raids across the country, arresting people linked to the possession of methamphetamine, drug utensils, and illegal firearms.

Auapa'au said the scale of the problem now requires sustained, long-term enforcement as well as broader community support.

He said the use and distribution of meth is no longer isolated to a few cases, adding that it's spreading throughout the country and destroying lives and families.

Papua New Guinea - investigation

Seven Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldiers have fled a police investigation in Aitape in West Sepik Province.

The Post-Courier reported that the police suspect the soldiers had been hired to provide security for a candidate in the Aitape-Lumi by-election.

A search was conducted in the early hours of Tuesday to find the soldiers but they are understood to have caught a flight from Wewak to Port Moresby.

Assistant Police Commissioner Steven Francis said the soldiers were "illegally on the ground on an unauthorised mission and allegedly providing security and other activities for a candidate."

Polling is underway for the by-election and is expected to continue until 1 August.

Papua New Guinea - saint

Family members of Papua New Guinea's first ever saint are preparing to travel from Australia to Rome for his canonisation in October.

A catechist during the second world war, Blessed Peter To Rot, was executed by Japanese forces, for refusing to compromise on Catholic teachings regarding marriage.

A PNG Catholic community elder in Sydney, David Luke, told ABC Tok Pisin that travel preparations have begun for several of their own congregation including members of Blessed Peter To Rot's family.

Blessed Peter To Rot was beatified by Pope John Paul the second in 1995, and then cleared for canonisation by the late Pope Francis, who visited PNG in September last year.

Northern Marianas - cuts

Schools in the Northern Marianas are bracing for a possible fiscal cliff, according to the Board of Education.

Governor Arnold Palacios is planning substantial cuts to the education budget allocation.

The government is proposing a US$40 million dollar grant but the Public School System has requested just over 49 million dollars.

The Board of Education has testified that if the government's proposal is implemented they could be forced to declare a state of emergency in education.

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