Qian Bo Photo: Fiji govt
Papua New Guinea - petrol
Strict fuel rationing is being enforced in Papua New Guinea as fuel pumps across the country run dry.
The crisis is being caused by restrictions on foreign currency impacting the countries biggest fuel supplier Puma Energy.
Its country manager, Hulala Tokome, wrote to the national carrier Air Niugini last week, advising them it had no option but to restrict supply.
Another airline said it has already stopped flights leaving many of its passengers stranded.
In the capital Port Moresby on Sunday motorists were refuelling late into the night at major petrol stations.
PNG's Prime Minister, James Marape, told local media the government is looking at alternatives and promised a quick resolution to the problem.
China/Pacific
China has named a special envoy to fill a new role in its Pacific Islands diplomacy as it competes with the United States for influence in the region.
Qian Bo, former China ambassador to Fiji since 2018, was appointed as the first special envoy of the Chinese government on Pacific Islands affairs.
Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin says Beijing hoped Qian could enhance exchanges and cooperation between China and Pacific Island nations, and work to promote the development of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
The new post is an upgrade from Beijing's special envoy to the China-Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue - a position that has existed since the 2000s.
Vanuatu - visas
Vanuatu's Prime Minister, Ishmael Kalsakau says the nation's journey towards visa-free travel to Australia will not take long.
The statement came following his meeting with the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The Daily Post reports the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen ties between the countries.
Kalsakau has since announced that visa processing can be done in Vanuatu instead of Fiji.
Many ni-Vanuatu citizens have expressed concern over the need for free visa access when travelling to Australia, given the two countries' long-standing partnership.
Vanuatu - tuna
Vanuatu's Minister of Agriculture says a small cannery will be built this year for the tuna market.
For years the Vanuatu Government has been planning the establishment of a processing plant for its company Sino-Van.
Sino-Van is a joint-venture between the Vanuatu government, which owns 49 percent of the firm, and the Chinese National Fisheries Corporation
The plant will start by feeding its domestic demand until it secures a greater market for international exports.
The facility will be established on land owned by Sino-Van.
Nauru - covid
Nauru is experiencing a second wave of Covid-19.
The governments epidemiological report ending Monday says in the past week there were more than 100 new cases of the virus.
This brings the total number of cases since the start of the pamdemic to 5247 - 570 of which have been recorded this year alone.
Samoa - power
Samoa's Regulator for the electricity sector, Lematua Gisa Purcell, has recommended the Electric Power Corporation chair and board be "reviewed and replaced" for allegedly failing to comply with the Electricity Act 2010.
The Samoa Observer says Lematua wrote to the Minister of Communication and Information Technology last December, describing the French state-owned EDF and Electric Power Corporation agreement contract as "illegal".
According to Lematua, the French company applied to the Electric Power Corporation or EPC chairman, Pepe Christian Fruean to establish a solar power plant in Samoa.
But under the Electricity Act 2010, such an agreement needed to be made in writing to the regulator first for approval.
