Benny Wenda, left, and the Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka Photo: Government of Fiji
Papua - riot
Catholic activists and human rights groups in Indonesia are calling for a thorough investigation into a riot that claimed 12 lives in Papua province.
Father John Bunai from the Diocese of Jayapura said it has to be found why civilians can be treated in such an inhuman way by being shot.
He told the Union of Catholic Asia News an investigation was crucial for the creation of a conducive atmosphere for talks.
Local police chief, Hesman Sotarduga Napitupulu, was sacked following the incident.
Father Bunai said police had to explain clearly what happened on February 23, and that it was not enough just to remove the police chief.
"What must be done is to find out why civilians were shot indiscriminately. Why do they [police officers] see Papuans as enemies?" he said.
Papua/ Fiji - protest
Indonesia has protested to Fiji's government after Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, met with Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda.
Rabuka said he would support full Papuan membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
The meeting between Rabuka and Wenda, who heads the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, occurred during a special meeting of Pacific Forum leaders in Fiji.
Benar News reports that on Tuesday an Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said Indonesia had complained to Fiji.
"Indonesia expressed deep disappointment over the Fiji PM's meeting with someone who unilaterally claimed to represent the Papuan people in Indonesia," he said.
Pacific/China
China has launched a centre for disaster risk reduction cooperation with Pacific Island countries.
The southern Chinese city of Jiangmen will serve as a home base for exchanges reports the China Global Television Network.
The network says China aims to share data, expertise and supplies with Pacific countries to address common challenges facing the region.
Fiji's Ambassador to China, Manasa Tagicakibau said "the world needs China. China is reaching out genuinely to offer the assisting hands of cooperation and the world should grab that assisting hand with both hands, and work together."
New Caledonia - minister
The French interior minister Gerald Darmanin is due to hold bilateral talks with New Caledonia's pro-independence FLNKS movement.
The minister's trip to Noumea comes as a new statute is to be prepared for New Caledonia after the rejection of full sovereignty in three referendums.
He is scheduled to meet anti-independence leaders on Saturday afternoon.
The FLNKS wants its meeting to be about a timetable to regain independence from France.
The anti-independence side wants Paris to reintegrate New Caledonia and abolish the voting restrictions introduced with the decolonisation process under the 1998 Noumea Accord.
New Caledonia has been on the UN decolonisation list since 1986.
Pacific - climate resilience
Over 100 participants from across the Pacific are taking part in a climate resilience for sustainability training programme organised by the Pacific Islands Forum.
The participants represent the private sector in the region and will be beneficiaries to a virtual training programme which focuses on climate change and its impact on Pacific business.
The course will also cover a range of topics aimed at equiping participants with knowledge, tools, and techniques in areas of alternative energy options, food security, data analysis, and business sustainability.
PNG - violence
Papua New Guinea police are appealing for an end to ethnic clashes in the National Capital District.
District Superintendent Silva Sika made the appeal following an increase in ethnic clashes within the city in recent weeks.
It follows officers from a police station trying to break up a fight at the weekend.
It was reported that four men boarded a taxi driven by an Eastern Highlander and at the destination the men allegedly attacked the taxi driver.
PNG - court
An arrest warrant has been issued in Papua New Guinea for a former government department secretary after he failed to appear in court on three separate occasions.
The Magistrate issued the warrant on Monday when the prosecution informed the court that former Department of Agriculture and Livestock secretary Steven Mombi had again failed to appear to face corruption-related charges.
The National reports Mombi was charged with false pretences and conspiracy to defraud involving $US22,500 belonging to staff at the PNG Spice Board.
Marianas - tennis
Pacific Oceania tennis has suffered a blow after Northern Marianas player Carol Lee switched allegiance to the US.
This will preclude her from representing the Marianas in this year's Micronesian Games in Majuro and the Pacific Games in Honiara, but also Pacific Oceania in future Federation Cup competitions.
Lee, who currently is the No. 7 women's singles player in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's individual rankings while playing for Georgia Tech, says she made the switch to broaden her tennis opportunities.
She said her coach told her she could potentially get accepted into wild cards for ITF tournaments if she switched to the US.