By Euan Moyle, an intern in the Lowy Institute's Pacific Islands Program.
- Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is facing a vote of no-confidence next week. A total of 18 MPs, including nine ministers, defected from the government over the weekend, saying they have lost faith in Sogavare’s leadership. Minister Stanley Sofu, who did not defect, has speculated that the move may be connected to a recently reintroduced anti-corruption bill.
- Australia’s detention centre on Manus Island closed yesterday afternoon, but hundreds of refugees remain there and are protesting the move to new accommodation amid rising tensions between detainees, local residents and the police.
- French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that he will visit New Caledonia some time before May 2018, as the island heads to a referendum on independence later that year.
- On the DevPolicy blog, Michelle Nayahamui Rooney writes about the death of PNG journalist Rosalyn Albaniel Evara last week and how PNG’s communities and government are responding to gender-based violence.
- An enquiry into New Zealand’s close relationship with Tokelau has been called for as leaked documents show the dependent territory suffers from a plethora of institutional problems, despite New Zealand giving more than NZ$16 million to the territory annually.
- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has begun her Pacific visit in the Marshall Islands, announcing a visa waiver agreement between Taiwan and six of its Pacific allies.
