Intercontinental Hotel Moorea. Photo: moorea.intercontinental.com/gallery
Governor calls for tougher policing in PNG
The Governor of East Sepik in Papua New Guinea, Allan Byrd, says policing has to be made more effective if the country is going to overcome a surge in violence.
He has spoken out recently about the need to curb the use of deadly catapults that are being used to fire barbed spears at people.
Byrd said there have been dozens of injuries and deaths in his province alone.
He said despite the financial pressures on the government re-establishing law and order has to be its priority.
Idyllic island attracting more tourists than pre-covid era
Tourism in one of French Polynesia's main destinations has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
Figures for the island of Moorea show that visitor numbers trebled in the past year and were even seven percent higher than in 2019.
Hotels report high occupancy rates and industry-related providers see higher turnover.
The figures for the territory show almost 22,000 tourists arrived in Tahiti in September, with growth most notable from the US and Europe.
They also show that guests are staying for longer.
Union lifts picket at nickel smelter
Unionised workers at New Caledonia's SLN nickel company have lifted their pickets outside its smelter in Noumea, which were set up over concerns about the loss-making company's future.
They were briefly met by the CEO of the parent company Eramet, Christel Bories.
Reports say the unions will meet her formally on Thursday amid unease about the viability of SLN, the territory's largest private sector employer.
Bories said she is working towards a solution but describes the situation as serious.
Last week, SLN initiated the first stage of a rescue and insolvency procedure amid fears the company will run out of funds.
China spending falls in Pacific says Institute
China's development spending has fallen in the Pacific region, according to Australia's Lowy Institute.
Five years after the Papua New Guinea government announced a long-awaited $US2.6 billion upgrade of the nation's potholed highway network, funded by development loans from China, the project has stalled.
Alexandre Dayant, a project director with the Lowy Institute, said China's spending over the past decade had not always lived up to its promises.
According to Lowy's research, Chinese development aid spent in the Pacific region - made up of grants and concessional loans to fund construction, infrastructure and other projects - fell to $US188 million in 2020, from a peak of $US334 million in 2016.
Police reveal investigation into attack on station
A police commander in Papua New Guinea says they are investigating what happened regarding members of the PNG Defence Force storming the Boroko Police Station on the morning of Sunday November 20.
Commander NCD, Central Assistant Commissioner Anthony Wagambie Jnr, says this happened following a report that a colleague was allegedly beaten up by members of the Special Services Division, based at McGregor Police Barracks in 9 Mile.
He said intervention by senior officers from both the Defence Force and the constabulary ensured normalcy was restored.
Commander Wagambie said he has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident, and they are investigating and collecting CCTV footage of the damage to the Boroko Police Station.
Teen charged over man's death
In Samoa, a 16-year-old boy has been charged over the death of a co-worker who had been asleep under a truck on the inter-island ferry.
The man, who was aged 40, was run over by the truck.
The Samoa Observer reports Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo saying the deceased worked for a wholesale company in Savaii along with the accused, who was an unlicensed driver and not allowed to be behind the wheel.
The commissioner said the teen faces charges of reckless driving causing death and being unlicensed driver, and he is remanded on bail until his appearance in court on December 5.
Police said a third man was the authorised driver but didn't say where he was when the accident happened.
Jailed for sexual offences
In Samoa, a man has been convicted of sexual offences against three young people.
The Samoa Observer reports the offending involved girls aged 14 and 12 and a 9-year-old boy, and includes rape of the 14-year-old.
The man pleaded guilty to all charges.
The pre-sentence report said the man comes from a dysfunctional family environment.
The man maintained his innocence to Probation, but apologised to the parents of the victims.
He was was jailed for 13 years.
New equipment snares drink-drivers in Cook Islands
Cook Islands police officers cops have clamped down on drink-drivers using new breathalyser and speed radar equipment.
Fourteen drivers were arrested in Aitutaki over the weekend.
In targeted traffic enforcement checks, the Police arrested eight drivers on Friday night and six on Saturday night who all tested over the legal limit for alcohol.