Tuvalu

Bad weather after last week's election in Tuvalu has delayed travel to the capital for outer island MPs ahead of a prime ministerial election. Audio

Over 6,000 people registered to cast their votes in eight constituencies in the country. Polls will close 4pm, local time.

Tuvaluans will cast their votes to fill the 16-member parliament when polls open from 8am till 4.00pm Friday, local time.

Australia says the Falepili Union is "to achieve shared interests" in response to comments from former Tuvalu prime minister's comments that he will flush the treaty if he gets into office.

Enele Sopoaga says he will scrap the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty if elected to lead government in the upcoming election. Audio

Opinion - The Australia-Tuvalu 'falepili' strategy is bullish and most alarming, writes former Tuvalu prime minister Enele Sopoaga.

Analysis - If Tuvalu's government changes after the upcoming elections, a new government may simply dissolve the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union, writes Jess Marinaccio

A Pacific secutiy expert says the treaty follows the security pact signed between Solomon Islands-China last year. But for Tuvalu, it's about "doing everything...to "maintain our identity". Audio

The latest news in brief from around the Pacific.

The first-ever Tuvalu government-owned aircraft landed at the Funafuti International Airport today.

From the 1860s until 1901, trading ships took Pacific islanders to work on plantations - many kidnapped or tricked, now some of those families are being reunited.

More than 400 workers from the Pacific evacuated to a Napier church should be able to return to more permanent accommodation in the next few days.

The Asian Development Bank has provided a $US4 million emergency grant to the Government of Tuvalu to help drought relief efforts.