Elections

Jacinda Ardern to resign as prime minister in February

She has also announced the 2023 election will be on October 14.

Ardern said she is entering her sixth year in office and it has been a challenging role. 

You cannot and should not do the role unless you have a full tank, she says. She said she hoped over summer she would be able to prepare for another term, but she has not been able to do that.

Newshub reports the Prime Minister said her term has seen a major biosecuity incursion, a terror attack, a natural disaster, a global pandemic and an economic crisis.

Mark Brown confirmed as Cook Islands Prime Minister

In a statement issued from Mark Brown's office Sir Tom Marsters said he was "satisfied" that Mark Brown had the majority of the MPs elected to Parliament.

Following the final count of the Cook Islands general elections, the Cook Islands Party (CIP) gained 12 seats including the Ngatangiia seat which was initially tied between CIP's candidate Sonny Williams and Cook Islands United Party's Margaret Matenga.

Mark Brown thanked the community for a fair and peaceful election process.

James Marape returns as Papua New Guinea prime minister

Marape returns to the top job after turbulent general elections marred by claims of election fraud, widespread violence, deaths, and major damage to infrastructure across the country.

Marape, whose Pangu Party has won at least 36 of 118 seats, is set to lead a coalition government made up of at least 17 different parties.

So far 105 seats have been confirmed and votes continued to be counted for 13 seats.

Israel set to get new PM and hold fifth election in less than four years

Mr Lapid, the leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party and foreign minister, will take over from Naftali Bennett under an existing power-sharing deal.

They formed an unlikely eight-party coalition after last year's election.

However it collapsed last week, clearing the way for fresh polls.

It also creates an opening for Israel's longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to return to office despite being on trial on corruption charges which he denies.

Australian election 2022: Millions vote for next leader

It sees Prime Minister Scott Morrison go up against one of the country's longest serving politicians, Labor Leader Anthony Albanese.

The rising cost of living and climate change have shaped up as two key issues for voters.

But the election has largely been framed as a referendum on the leaders' characters.

Opinion polls suggest Labor will win by a narrow majority this time around. However, the polls were wildly inaccurate in the last election.

Tonga's election is today, but thousands of citizens in Australia can't vote

From a small radio studio in Sydney’s western suburbs, Inoke Fotu Hu'akau is spending his morning catching up on the latest news out of Tonga.

He might’ve lived the past 25 years of his life in Australia thousands of kilometres away from his homeland, but his passion for Tongan politics has never faded.

The radio broadcaster, and director of multicultural station Radio 2000 FM in Sydney, will be watching closely as Tonga heads to the polls on Thursday for its general election.

“I am very optimistic for the election,” Hu'akau said.

Polls in Tonga open for 2021 election

They will be electing 17 People's Representatives for the 26-member legislature.

The 33 noble families will elect their nine representatives from within their own ranks.

There are 72 candidates standing, including 12 women.

RNZ Pacific's correspondent in Tonga, Kalafi Moala, said a high voter turnout is expected.

Tonga needs MPs who will treat drug crisis as priority - lawyer

Tonga goes to elections on 18th November with 74 candidates registered.

Sione Fonua, who was to stand in Tongatapu 2, says he withdrew to make it easier for a new candidate to come through.

Figures indicate the drug problem is going from bad to worse, with more than half the activity in the country's courts involving drug offences.

Mr Fonua says the current parliamentary line up is not treating the drug problem as a priority.

Facebook shuts Uganda government-linked accounts

The social media giant said a network connected with the ministry of information had been using fake and duplicate accounts to impersonate users and boost the popularity of posts.

In a BBC interview, the government accused Facebook of being biased.

The run-up to the election has been marred by tension and violence.

After 35 years in power, President Yoweri Museveni, 76, is being strongly challenged by music star Bobi Wine, who is 38 and draws much of his support from young people.

Lemanu and Talauega win American Samoa gubernatorial race

Results released by the office this morning show the pair securing 7,154 of the 11,861 votes counted, more than 60 percent of the votes.

It is the first time in more than 30 years that there won't be a run-off election in the gubernatorial race.

According to the election office Lemanu and Talauega won 7,154 votes (60.3 percent) of the 11,861 votes counted Gaoteote and Faiivae garnered 2,594 votes or( 21.9 percent) , I'aulualo and Tapaau polled 1,461 votes, (12.3 percent) and Nua and Satele received 652 ballots, (5.5 percent).