Samoa's agriculture and fisheries minister says there are no moves in place to promote the medicinal use of marijuana. Photo: Kimzy Nanney
Solomon Islands - slap
Lands minister Ishmael Avui recently threatened to "slap" the Lands commissioner Alan McNeil.
This is according to documents and audio recordings obtained by In-depth Solomons.
The news outlet reports the flare-up was over government land and a house in the Lengakiki area, west Honiara, that Avui wanted given to a retired public servant occupying the house.
Documents also showed Minister Avui ordered some of his staff to hunt Commissioner McNeil down and bring him over to his office.
The documents state the Commissioner has reported the threats and blocked the minister on Whatsapp.
Papua New Guinea - smuggle
The Post Courier reports more than ten kilograms of alluvial gold have been alleged to have been illegally smuggled out of Papua New Guinea to Asian markets each week by gold smugglers.
Police say authorities in Lae and Port Morseby have been informed about the issue.
A spokesperson said they have contacted gold exporters but have not arrested anyone so far.
Samoa - marijuana
The Samoan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries La'aulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt says there are no moves in place to promote the medicinal use of marijuana.
La'aulialemalietoa told the Samoa Observer there is a huge amount of work to look into it and get their heads around it.
He said other countries are saying marijuana has good medicinal use, but the way it is used in Samoa is not good.
He said Samoa categorises it as a narcotic despite other countries classing it as a medical drug.
He added he understands Samoa might be able to do it any other time in the future, but carefully.
A non-binding referendum in the Cook Islands to legalise cannabis for medicinal purposes was passed in 2022, but the necessary legislation is yet to be enacted.
In Fiji, the government is planning to explore the cultivation of medicinal marijuana.
Northern Marianas - travel
Residents of the southernmost island of the Northern Marianas are up in arms over unaffordable air travel.
Senator Paul Manglona said his constituents are "frustrated and suffering" following Star Marianas Airlines' decision to raise its prices.
Flights from Saipan to Rota are now about $US400 US, while a one-way ticket is $200.
As of October 1, a round trip ticket from Rota to Saipan is about $350.
Senator Manglona said cargo shipping between islands is also difficult.
The airline said the cost increase was due to rising costs of fuel, labour, spare parts, shipping, and operational expenses.
Pacific - cable
A new undersea fibre optic cable is set to provide new or expanded connection for 12 Pacific countries and territories.
The US Trade and Development Agency has awarded a grant to Tuvalu Telecom Corporation for a feasibility study to support the development of the Central Pacific Cable.
The 15,900km cable will run from Guam to American Samoa.
A US Trade and Development Agency spokesperson said it will be the first subsea cable connection to Tuvalu, which currently relies on satellite connectivity.
The Agency said when completed, it will connect American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.
It is not known when the project will be completed.
Pacific - digital
Digital economic opportunities in the Pacific will be at the forefront of an upcoming webinar hosted by the Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) New Zealand.
Four industry experts will spend an hour discussing the challenges and potential in the digital landscape of the region.
PTI's investment facilitation manager Rohan Parekh pointed out that the program aspires to ensure Pacific businesses are not left behind.
"We saw that digital infrastructure, mobile wallets, cyber security are the areas which are not getting the attention they deserve. As the industry evolves, what we are aiming is to try and get those solutions to the Pacific so that they also get the benefits which the other side of the world is also getting."
The webinar will be held on Tuesday October 31 via video conference.