Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Fiji - airline debt
Fiji Airway's annual report has revealed the airline posted a debt of FJ$682 million in 2023.
The Fiji Times reported that's a drop of almost $FJ100 million on the year before.
It achieved this by refinancing debt.
The company also recorded FJ$1.8 billion in revenue, the highest earnings posted by the national airline in its 70-year history.
New Caledonia - unrest
Several hundred pro-independence activists have been picketing in New Caledonia marking three months since civil unrest began.
AFP reported the 13th of each month is set to be etched as a "date of commemoration" for some.
In a commune north of Nouméa, blockades have been removed but a 'speed bump' made of thick ropes forces motorists to slow down.
CCAT members have hoisted a black flag next to their pro-independence flag remembering the ten people who have died.
A curfew is still in effect.
Vanuatu - politics
The purported motion of no confidence in Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai's leadership has been neutralised for now, following a ministerial reshuffle.
The Vanuatu Daily Post reported the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) and Vanua'aku Pati attempted to come together for a memorandum of agreement.
The two UMP members of parliament, Nako Natuman and Anatole Hymak, have since been removed from their ministerial portfolios of Agriculture and Education.
UMP was the only major political party with MPs in both the Opposition bloc and Government after the national referendum, with two holding ministerial portfolios and two others as government backbenchers.
Tonga - accommodation
Tonga's Prime Minister is confident 140 prefabricated container houses will be propped up in and around Nuku'alofa by Friday.
Matangi Tonga reported the units are being built to house delegations attending the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting hosted by Tonga in the last week of August.
But with many delegates starting to arrive from next week and nowhere to stay, the race is on.
At least 1000 people are expected in Tonga for the summit.
American Samoa - rehab
An American Samoa House representative has asked about the possibility of building a drug rehabilitation centre.
Leone House representative Fiu Johnny Saelua said drug users are walking the street begging for money to support their habit.
Fiu said the Territorial Correctional Facility is not the answer, and instead there should be a place where drug users can receive counseling and be weaned off their chemical dependency.
The Chairman of the House Public Safety Committee Avagafono Vaimaga Maiava scheduled a hearing with several officials, including a member of the Governor's Drug and Alcohol Council, for Wednesday morning, American Samoa time.
Palau - marine
New Zealand's deputy prime minister has announced a closer collaboration with Palau on marine resources.
Winston Peters said marine resources are a critical source of food and economic security in the Pacific.
He said New Zealand will help with funding to strengthen Palau's management of its ocean and marine resources, which will improve Palau's capacity to implement marine plans, small-scale climate-smart fisheries and marine protection.
Papua New Guinea - protest
A women's group in Papua New Guinea has taken it upon itself to clean public places and advocate for peaceful living in Chimbu Provence.
The group, Nimai Mama Krai in Sinesine District, is acting after an unprecedented surge in alcohol-related problems.
The Post-Courier reported women carried out a protest march to Koge market after unruly youths, drinking cheap alcohol and smoking marijuana, disrupted the community.
The protest attracted police, teachers, health workers, land/peace mediators, village court officials and church representatives.
People have appealed to the youths to refrain from indulging themselves with alcohol and drugs.
