Pacific news in brief for 13 August
RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering five people.
Tevita Kapawale was found guilty last month of five counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of criminal intimidation.
In May 2021 Kapawale attacked the victims with an axe after a heated argument on a fishing boat in Fiji waters.
The two survivors of the attack jumped overboard.
Kapawale appeared in the Suva High Court before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere on Tuesday morning local time.
fijivillagew.com
reported he will have to serve a minimum term of 26 years and two months before applying for parole.
Renters in Hawai'i who survived the deadly Lahaina fires two years ago are asking authorities not to forget them as the first of three housing programs is launched.
Maui County's Office of Recovery said the initiatives are meant to help survivors return home.
Lahaina fire survivor, Mario Acosta, said renters are set to miss out with the programme geared towards home owners.
One hundred and two lives were lost two years ago due to the Maui wildfires.
Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles has been in Papua New Guinea as the countries finalise a new bilateral defence treaty.
The pact is expected to be signed around the time of the 50th anniversary of PNG's independence next month.
It comes as Australia tries to build stronger ties in the Pacific region.
ABC
reports Marles was also to travel to Manus Island to hand over a newly-refurbished naval base to the PNG Defence Force.
Fiji's most accomplished musician and the King of Island Music, George 'FIJI' Veikoso has been laid to rest at Lovonilase Cemetery in Suva.
Hundreds turned up at the Vodafone Arena to pay their final respects to FIJI.
His son, Shiloh Veikoso, said his father was an interesting man.
"He wore many hats - he was many things to many poeple," he said.
"Specifically to me he was sort of like Superman you know - he's here one day, next day he's across the world doing whatever he wants.
"But the one thing that he always told to his kids was 'no matter what, I am always there'."
Local media report renowned musicians J Boog, Tenelle, Danny Kennedy, Finn Gruva, the Surviving Brother of Na Drua, Canaan Ene, and others attended the funeral service.
The Port Moresby General Hospital has announced the successful recovery of Papua New Guinea's first kidney transplant recipients.
This comes three months after undergoing life-saving surgeries that marked a historic milestone for the nation and the Pacific.
In May two living donor kidney transplants were performed at in partnership with United Kingdom-based charity Transplant Links Community.
The National
reported the procedures represent a turning point in specialist healthcare delivery.
A federal judge in New York City has ruled that kava cannot be sold in restaurants or bar settings.
In a decision released on Friday, the court stated that kava mixed with water fits the legal definition of a food additive, rather than a drink.
Courthouse News
reported that kava as a plant is not outright banned in New York City - it only prohibits the sale of kava beverages in food establishments.
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