Papua New Guinea police Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
PNG - illegal drugs
Papua New Guinea Police have seized illegal drugs and guns in a dawn raid in a village in Drekikir District.
Police spokesperson Commander Superintendent Christopher Tamari says two men who allegedly had a huge quantity of marijuana and guns in their possession have been arrested.
Tamari said the drugs were neatly packed and expected to be taken to Jayapura in Indonesia's Papua region.
PNG - corruption
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape says the country's corruption watchdog will investigate the state-owned PNG Ports Corporation in response to media revelations.
Last week the ABC's Background Briefing, in a joint investigation with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, revealed questionable payments involving then officials at PNG Ports.
PNG Ports is receiving more than $US400 million in aid and loans from the Australian government.
On Sunday, Marape released a statement saying he was "very concerned" by the revelations about PNG Ports, which would now trigger a string of official investigations.
West Papua - Wenda
A West Papuan independence leader has accused Indonesia of hypocrisy in its support for Palestine to become a full member of the United Nations.
The statement from the chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua Benny Wenda comes after Jakarta protested against a meeting between Wenda and Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
When questioned about the meeting, Rabuka told RNZ Pacific he would support the West Papuans' bid to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, a sub-regional grouping of Melanesian countries in the Pacific.
Wenda has questioned how Indonesia's President Joko Widodo could justify supporting the self-determination of the Palestinian people, while at the same time denying it for the indigenous people of West Papua.
Tonga - renewable energy
Tonga Power has commissioned a new solar and battery energy storage system in 'Eua with the financial support of the Australian Government and the Asian Development Bank.
The system includes a 350kw solar plant and a battery energy storage system which will enable the company to integrate renewable energy into its electricity grid, as part of the Tonga Renewable Energy Project.
The integration of the system with the existing diesel generators will be a major challenge, but Tonga Power is committed to ensuring the system operates effectively, the Tongan government said.
With the completion of the new system, along with the existing solar plant installed through the Outer Islands Renewable Energy Project, 'Eua's renewable energy percentage is expected to reach around 35 percent.
Tonga - water
Tonga's royal princess has opened a water quality project on Nuku'alofa.
The Tonga Water Board said the project will boost the reliability of the water supply and quality of water on 'Eua Island.
Poor catchment protection and dirty water during the rainy season or storms have always been a great concern for the Tonga Water Board.
The new water quality improvement project, funded by the Water Board and donors, has installed a new rapid mixer, filters, solar panel system, chlorine dosing equipment, and test kits.
Tonga - WHO appointment
Former Tongan Health Minister Amelia Tu'ipulotu has taken up her new role as Chief Nursing Officer with the World Health Organisation.
In her inaugural address, Dr Tu'ipulotu said she would be an advocate for nurses and midwives around the world.
She said nurses and midwives had faced tough times during Covid-19 and shown courage, resilience and commitment to their profession.
Dr Tu'ipulotu, who was the first Tongan to receive a PhD in Nursing in 2012, told Kaniva News she was overwhelmed by the appointment.
She said she served 100,000 people in Tonga and now it will be more than seven billion people around the globe.
Nothern Marianas - airline petition
A petition has been launched in an attempt to save the Northern Marianas' airline industry.
Concerned resident Abelina Mendiola set up the online petition which has garnered almost 1500 signatures.
This follows several recent developments, including the government's decision to terminate the US$8 million sole-source contract with Marianas Southern Airways.
It also follows the Federal Aviation Administration's recommendation that Star Marianas Air pays off what it owes the Commonwealth Ports Authority; and Asiana's decision to suspend its Korea to Saipan service.
Mendiola wants the petition to encourage officials to sit down with airlines serving the country to "come to a resolution that will benefit the community as a whole".