Pacific Beat

Fiji's opposition slams the government's attempts to move teachers onto five year contracts in exchange for a pay rise. Pastor Talis Obed Moses is elected Vanuatu's new President, after a week of voting in the parliament.

Dr John Niblet, one of Papua New Guinea's leading oncologists and a long time campaigner for better cancer treatment and prevention, dies in Angou. And, with claims that the voting chaos of Papua New Guinea's national elections is deliberate, Transparency International PNG calls for a determined effort in the last few days to uphold their integrity.

One of Papua New Guinea's leading oncologists and a long time campaigner for better cancer treatment and prevention, Dr John Niblett, dies in Angou. A Tongan MP expresses concern for media access on isolated islands if the country's national broadcaster is sold off. The latest on Papua New Guinea's elections where counting in some areas is set to get underway.

Scientists identify a cheap and natural mosquito repellent that could increase protection against dengue and malaria significantly. And, how virtual reality is raising awareness of the many hundreds of Pacific languages under threat amid they will die out, unless they are properly recorded.

The Australian government clarifies the nature of its assistance in the Papua New Guinea elections after criticism. A report from climate policy experts warns Australia may fall short of its Paris targets.

Concern in Vanuatu as social media highlights the problem of domestic violence, while in Marshall Islands, the President questions the attitude of the police towards protecting women. And, a new submarine cable from Sydney is set to deliver high-speed internet and mobile services to Solomon Islands within two years.

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine demands answers from police, after a string of domestic violence-related deaths. The Fiji government is accused of acting illegally by forcing civil servants onto fixed term contracts, in exchange for a pay rise.

The 2019 Pacific Games will go on - we hear from Council chief Andrew Minogue who promises they'll be held somewhere in the Pacific even though it now definitely won't be a home games for Tongan athletes and a host of Ni-Vanuatu put up their hands to be the country's next president as the country moves to replace the late Baldwin Lonsdale who died just two weeks ago.

Port Moresby finally goes to the polls after Tuesday's suspension. The Pacific Games council grapples with Tonga's decision to pull out of hosting the 2019 Games.

Shots fired in Lae as police try to disperse voters at a polling station. We get the latest from Honiara as RAMSI officially comes to an end in Solomon Islands. We hear from a translator working with the Australian Defence force helping out in the PNG national election