Photo: AFP/Andrew Gal
West Papua - boycott
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) is urging all West Papuans to boycott the Indonesian general election next month.
With nearly 200 million Indonesians set to go to the polls on 14 February, the leaders of West Papua independence are calling on the West Papuans not to bow down to the system or constitution of what they call, "your Indonesian occupier".
In a statement, ULMWP president Benny Wenda and prime minister Edison Waromi said following the first ULMWP congress in November 2023, when over 5000 Papuans from all seven customary regions and representing all political formations gathered in Jayapura to decide their own future, "demonstrated to the world that we are ready for independence".
West Papuans have their own directly elected president and prime minister, as well as a constitution, cabinet and government structure, they said.
"We are reclaiming the sovereignty that was stolen from us in 1963. We officially declare a boycott of the Indonesian elections."
Tonga - court
Tonga's Supreme Court has rejected an application for a judicial review into the country's Lord Speaker regarding his handling of a petition of no confidence against Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku last September.
The application made by seven opposition MPs, accuses Lord Speaker Fakafanua of breaching the constitution when he denied opposition MPs time to speak about the details of a petition of no confidence after it had been rejected.
The Supreme Court said Tonga's Legislative Assembly is empowered under its own rules to deal with any alleged breaches.
Vanuatu - ships
50 cruise ships are expected to visit Vanuatu in the next few months.
The Department of Tourism said most of the vessels will visit the capital, Port Vila but there will be some cruise ships dropping anchor in Luganville.
The tourism industry in Vanuatu is starting to pick up again following the pandemic.
RNZ Pacific's Vanuatu correspondent said finding workers in the industry is difficult as a majority have gone on to the seasonal worker schemes in New Zealand and Australia.
Cook Islands - films
The Covid-19 pandemic lockdown saw an increase in locally produced films and documentaries in the Cook Islands.
A number of short films were nominated and received awards in international festivals around the world.
Local production company Motone are facilitating a number of new film projects in 2024.
Creative director Glenda Tuaine said the world should "keep an eye out on the kuki creative scene this year."
"There is a movement of contemporary arts that is coming out of Kuki Airani, there are some amazing concepts and stories emerging that people are wanting to put together," Tuaine said.
New Zealand/Pacific - artists
Kiwi musician Tiki Taane says collaborations with other indigenous artists is a powerful way to connect cultures.
He has produced a number of songs with Pasifika musicians from across the region throughout his career.
Taane points out that they are able to relate on a more personal level and produce impactful music on the cultural struggles felt across the moana nui o kiva.
"We can connect all sorts of things, oppression, racism, religion, struggles with identification struggles with our real our language, our culture," he said.
"We all connect on that level. That's pretty much all ethnic indigenous cultures, and it's such a powerful thing."
Samoa - arrested
Fourteen people arrested during a huge police operation will appear in court next month.
The 14 were part of a group of 18 caught with methamphetamine, marijuana, illegal firearms and cash during the raid.
In a separate case, police have arrested and charged a 34-year-old man following a drug raid in Vailoa Palauli on Savai'i.
The man will appear in court next month as well.
Climate
A climate scientist from the University of Auckland says it's "not surprising" that 2023 was the hottest year on record in the ocean.
In the last seven years, Dr Kevin Trenberth and other researchers from around the world had analysed data from 4,000 argo floats - instruments that measure ocean temperatures and salinity levels.
Dr Trenberth said warmer oceans leads to severe weather events such as heavier rain, stronger winds and more flooding.
He said it is a problem that was realised "years ago".
"We recognised that there were more stronger storms associated with global warming, there has been some progress in a number of countries such like the United States and Europe, they have cut emissions - somewhat - but other countries such as China and India are still increasing emissions."
