Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post
Vanuatu - investigation
Vanuatu's Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs says it will conduct a "kastom" investigation into the burning down of the Chiefs Nakamal in Port Vila in January.
RNZ Pacific's correspondent in Port Vila Hilaire Bule said said now this process would lead to the guilty party or parties developing a physical ailment to a part of their body which can only be cured if they confess to their crime.
The decision to conduct the traditional investigation was made after council members were told there had been little progress made in a formal police investigation into the fire.
That had been undertaken by both local police with assistance from the Australian Federal Police.
On Friday, the 31 member chiefly council conducted a ceremony in the capital to decommission the burnt down building before a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of a new Chiefs' Nakamal.
Papua New Guinea - fuel
More fuel issues in Papua New Guinea with supplier Puma Energy rationing its supplies.
Puma has been experiencing issues since late last year which the company has blamed on lack of access to foreign currency.
The Post Courier reported the latest shortage is being attributed to the late arrival of a fuel tanker, that is now due at the weekend.
The rationing, according to the paper, has caused a rush on petrol stations in the capital.
Samoa - postponed
Due to the situation in Sudan the British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has postponed his planned visit to Samoa.
Instead he will travel to New Zealand which would have been his next stop on his tour of the Pacific after Samoa.
The more advanced communications and other facilities available at the UK High Commission in Wellington will allow him better to stay on top of the situation and keep in secure contact with London and staff in Sudan.
Cleverly said he was hugely disappointed not to make it to Samoa.
He says "Samoa, and the Pacific nations more widely, are important friends to the UK and it is frustrating to get so close but to not quite make it.
Samoa - seasonal workers
Samoa's Ministry of Commerce has issued a public statement, asserting it is doing its utmost to ensure the safety and welfare of Samoan seasonal workers in Australia.
The ministry said it was responding to what it calls unsubstantiated information circulating on social media - but did not specify.
It said it worked collaboratively with all stakeholders in Australia to look after seasonal workers, but added that workers who violated work visas or absconded without notice, were liable to be deported.
Cook Islands - China
China's ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong has met with the Pacific Islands Forum chair Mark Brown in Rarotonga.
A Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said during the Wednesday meeting Brown and Wang spoke about economic recovery and the country hosting the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting later this year.
A business delegation of eight who came with the ambassador will remain in Rarotonga until Friday local time (Saturday NZT).
Wang visited Rarotonga on his way back to New Zealand after going to Niue.
Northern Marianas - power
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation and Department of Public Works in the Northern Marianas have been served notices of disconnection, due to unpaid power and water services amounting to nearly $US55 million.
The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation says Health owes it $US53.6 million and Public Works is in arrears to the tune of $US1.2 million.
The utility operator says the continued delinquent status of both of the government agencies is adversely impacting on its ability to provide reliable uninterrupted services to the community and adds to its own struggling financial health.
Public Works says it always processes their payments and forwards these to the Department of Finance.
It says the utilities company may be retaliating because it was issued with a final notification over its alleged repeated violation of not restoring roads that it had dug up for its projects.
With regards to the hospital, Health had had a monthly payment plan in place going back eight years, but it had failed to maintain the payment schedule.
New Caledonia/Australia - security
Australia's foreign minister Penny Wong has told New Caledonia's Congress that Canberra values France's contribution to security and prosperity in the Pacific.
Wong addressed the Congress after meeting the French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc and New Caledonia's president Louis Mapou.
She said while institutional arrangements in New Caledonia are a matter for the people of New Caledonia and the French state, Australia remains committed to being a partner.
The minister also said New Caledonia, France and Australia are exploring the feasibility of New Caledonian residents joining Australia's labour mobility scheme.
Wong is continuing her regional tour with a visit to Tuvalu.
Australia has increased its regional engagement to become the only country with a diplomatic presence in every Pacific Islands Forum member.