O'Neill leads
PORT MORESBY (THE NATIONAL) - Papua New Guinea's Caretaker Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has jumped to a commanding lead in the Ialibu-Pangia electorate, Southern Highlands province, by garnering 8,388 votes as counting continues into the fourth day.
Counting resumed in the electorate late last Friday. After count 22, O'Neill remained ahead of his rivals by 7,537 votes. Following him was Raphael Noipo with 1,851 votes. On third place is Eke Lama on 1,848 with Philip Rambu following closely on 1,597.
Assembly sits
NUKU'ALOFA (RNZI) - Tonga's Legislative Assembly was due to resume sitting yesterday to continue debate on a vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano.
On Thursday the Speaker agreed to a delay of four days in the debate after the government had sought 14 days to allow it time to prepare written responses to the claims made by the opposition Democratic Party.
In its motion the party had claimed Lord Tu'ivakano does not have control of his administration, that the regular Cabinet reshuffles show instability and that the government lacks the trust of the people.
Claims refuted
SUVA (PACNEWS) - The chief executive officer of group 107, owners of Planet 107 Club where a New Zealand man was reportedly killed last week has refuted claims the incident happened outside his nightclub.
"The death is not club-related, said Arthur Knight. He said the man was assaulted at the ex Cellovilla building next to an entertainment centre by the husband of the woman he was with.
Knight said the woman had been missing from her home for two days and her husband was looking for her. The New Zealand man was rushed to the Vila Central Hospital but died on arrival at the hospital.
Uni dorm fire
PORT MORESBY (NBC) - Fire has gutted the top floor of a second-year male dormitory Friday last week, at the University of Papua New Guinea's Waigani campus.
The cause of the fire is not immediately known, but it's suspected electrical fault may be the cause.
Firefighters were called to the scene and managed to contain the fire before it could spread to other buildings.