Vatu, Vanuatu currency. Photo: ppart/123RF
Founder of investment fund in Vanuatu charged with misappropriation
The founder of the Vanuatu People's Investment and Equity Fund, Louis Kalnpel, is under strict bail conditions after he was arrested by police in late December.
He is charged with misappropriation.
Acting Prime Minister Sato Kilman had revealed the Fund will be investigated for collecting funds from the citizens of Vanuatu with promises for better returns, and failure to pay these returns to their members.
Police have completed their investigations and the file is now at the Public Prosecutor's office.
West Papua National Liberation Army issues warning to 'immigrant community' in Papua
The spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army says the shooting of an Indonesian military member was a warning.
Seby Sambom said they convey to what they call the 'immigrant community' to immediately vacate Intan Jaya Regency in Central Papua; and more specifically those in the city, if they do not comply with the Army orders, the Army will shoot them dead.
Sambom also said his party would continue to carry out shootouts or armed conflicts until Papua became independent.
The Liberation Army is the armed wing of the Free West Papua Movement.
The Army has been waging a sporadic guerrilla campaign for independence from Indonesia in Papua.
Samoa bank blames Covid-19 for loss
Covid-19 has been blamed for a before-tax loss of $3.3 million tālā by the Development Bank of Samoa for the 2020-2021 financial year.
This loss - equal to about $US1.2 million - has been announced in the recently released annual report.
The bank's acting chairman said at the outset, the results show the full impact of Covid-19 on the tourism sector, which accounts for 69 percent of the loan portfolio value.
The report said the impact on the industry has also affected businesses and people who have depended on tourism for income.
French Polynesia's president has called on the public service to show probity.
Edouard Fritch made the call in his address to local media when he outlined challenges for 2023.
He said six officials were dismissed, and last year 14 disciplinary commissions were held, with about 20 referrals are being processed.
Fritch said some dishonest or incompetent officials are not allowed to taint the vast majority of public servants who do their job well.
He said it is about the image of French Polynesia's administration.
Last year, Mr Fritch, who has corruption convictions, was fined for flouting Covid-19 rules which his government had imposed.
New tax on mining companies in New Caledonia
New Caledonia's Congress has voted in a new tax for small nickel mining companies as well as SLN, which is the oldest and biggest nickel mining conglomerate.
The new tax won't be levied on the two other, mainly locally owned, nickel producers, Prony Resources and Koniambo, which benefit from an economic stability pact.
The levy on exports was approved with 28 votes for and 16 against, with pro-independence parties backing the measures while most anti-independence parties opposed it.
The tax is hoped to generate a revenue of about $US18 million.
French Polynesia govt eases ban on importing coconut oil
The French Polynesian government has eased its ban on the importation of coconut oil - one day after issuing it.
The government set out to stop the importation of oil and unsweetened and sweetened coconut water in four months.
However, it then decided a day later that in case of a lack of these commodities, the government could issue import permits and quotas to meet demand.
The government also said a provisional permit can be issued if there is a contract that precedes the implementation of the ban cannot be altered.
Palau's first female governor dies.
The first woman to become a governor in Palau, Theodosia Faustino Blailes, died at the age of 87.
Blailes was the first female to serve as Land Court Judge and was elected twice as Governor of Angaur State from 1993 to 1996.
She was a teacher, and a keen Palau historian, and she was also passionate about preserving the Palauan language, authoring and publishing ten books.