Cook Islands - tourism
The Cook Islands associate minister for tourism and police says visitors need to be told to look after their belongings when they are on holiday in the country.
It follows a string of burglaries in Rarotonga, including a New Zealand family having their cash and passports stolen.
Tingika Elikana said criminal conduct is a concern for both locals and tourists.
He said authorities and accommodation providers need to sit down and discuss how to address the problem.
"One of the ways to actually advise our visitors, please do take the necessary action to protect your properties while you are here in the Cook Islands. While it may look like a paradise, crime is not adverse in the Cook Islands, it's there and we need to make it clear to our visitors."
Avarua market Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel
American Samoa - voting
There are calls for a change to voting laws to allow people who have lived in the territory for more than 20 years to participate in local elections.
The joint resolution was introduced by Senators Malaepule Saite Moliga and Ma'o Fa'aumu Gogo.
They say the change would allow the territory's large diaspora in mainland United States to participate in elections.
Local expatriates would also be included.
The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that will give voting rights to individuals who have lived in American Samoa for more than 20 years.
Senators Moliga and Gogo say the constitution must reflect changes in the territory's nationality status as more and more of its residents, born on US soil, are US Citizens.
Samoa - scammed
A woman who posed as a resort employee and scammed tourists in Samoa has been jailed for two years and four months.
The Samoa Observer reports Catherine Tafa Faalogo pleaded guilty to one charge of obtaining by deception.
According to the summary of facts, she had convinced a pair of tourists they had to pay $400 tala and then made off with the money.
District Court Judge Alalatoa Rosella Viane Papalii noted the defendant's photo should be published online on the Police website and elsewhere to forewarn the public of her activities and as a form of deterrence.
Pacific Islands Forum chair and Cook Island's Prime Minister Mark Brown has commended the links between the Forum and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.
This, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Jakarta.
Brown said fostering new relationships and strengthening cooperation will drive development and growth in the regions.
He called for a "dynamic regional architecture" in an effort to address "critical collective issues" such as climate change, environmental protection, economic development and regional security.
Guam - bill
A bill to ban restaurants and fast-food outlets from serving large sugary drinks and sodas is set to be introduced in Guam's Legislature.
It has being introduced by the Guam Youth Congress - a state body made up of youth leaders.
If passed into law, the bill would limit sugary drink serving sizes to less than half a litre.
Youth Congress Representative Nathan Paz said the intention is to improve the health outcomes by reducing sugar and calorie intake.
Cook Islands - treated
The Cook Islands acting prime minister Albert Nicholas has been flown to New Zealand for medical reasons.
Nicholas was acting for Prime Minister Mark Brown who is overseas.
Cook Islands News reports Nicholas was flown to Auckland on a chartered flight and is being treated at Auckland Hospital.
The newspaper says Minister Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown will now take the position of acting PM and Minister George Angene is taking on Nicholas's portfolios.
Pacific - ocean
A Pacific Community conference on ocean science has started in Fiji.
The first of its kind in the Pacific, the conference brings together ocean scientists, technical experts, policymakers, young people, and those with indigenous knowledge to address issues concerning the Pacific Ocean and its region.
This comes under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development; and highlights the Pacific Community's recent recognition as an Ocean Decade Collaborative Centre for ocean science in the Pacific region.
Samoa - policy
The Samoa government has not commented on its new seasonal work policy and when it will come into force.
The Seasonal Employment Unit has been moved from the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour to the Ministry of Finance in a Cabinet reshuffle.
The new policy includes amendments aimed to address issues relating to poor working conditions, salaries, mistreatment, eligibility and contracts.
Hawaii - volcano
The Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii's big island has been erupting, but authorities have lowered the alert level.
In an update at 6:10am NZ time on Tuesday, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and US Geological Survery reported the eruption within Kīlauea's summit caldera continues, with eruptive activity confined to the downdropped block and Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is lowering Kīlauea's volcano alert level from warning to watch and says no infrastructure is threatened.
American Samoa - medical centre
American Samoa's governor is pushing ahead with plans to build a new medical centre, despite opposition from several lawmakers.
The governor ran a statement as newspaper advertisements.
The government is using $200 million of its allocation for healthcare from the federal government's American Rescue Plan Act, for the new specialized acute-care 40-bed hospital.
At the same time, $100 million provided under the Act is allocated for updates at the current LBJ Medical Center.
In his statement, the governor said the territory's vision is centred around improving accessibility, expanding services, and providing state-of-the-art medical care for all.
