The Susi Air plane that Phillip Mehrtens was piloting being torched by the rebels Photo: Suppplied/TPNPB
Papua - hostage situation
Negotiations to free New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, who is being held hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army, have so far been unsuccessful.
This is according to Head of Cartenz Peace Operation, Senior Commander Faizal Ramadani, who said they received information that there was a rejection of negotiations.
"The whereabouts of Egianus Kogoya's group and Mehrtens are not yet known as the situation in the field is very dynamic. But we will keep looking," he said.
Jubi TV reports Faizal emphasised that the security forces would continue the negotiation process.
Indonesian security forces had previously said they knew where the group was, and that they had them surrounded.
On February 7, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNB) burned a plane after landing at Paro Airstrip, Nduga Regency and took Philip Mehrtens hostage.
A week later 14, the TPNPB released photos and videos of the burning of the Susi Air plane, as well as a video showing Mehrtens with them.
Fiji - flood management
The villagers of Toga in Fiji will soon have a new bridge which should ease flooding issues.
FBC News reports this is part of the coalition government's aim to ensure rural dwellers and those living in the maritime areas are provided with the best.
The ground breaking ceremony of the Toga Bridge was officiated by the Minister for Public Works, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, in Nausori on Tuesday.
"The completion of this project will mean that crossing over this side to Toga on a punt during floods will be a thing of the past.
"The China Railway First Group is the nominated contractor who will be responsible for the construction of the new bridge while the Fiji Roads Authority will be monitoring to ensure that the bridge is built to standard."
PNG - sport venues
The Rita Flynn Indoor Complex during the covid pandemic Photo: PNG Department of Health
A number of Port Moresby's major sports venues have fallen into various stages of disrepair in the eight years since PNG hosted the 2015 Pacific Games.
The Post Courier reports termites are rotting out the $US15 million Rita Flynn Indoor Complex, and the deterioration set-in after the sporting venue was used as a testing facility and to accommodate mild covid-19 patients.
Last year the venue was looted, with thieves taking fire extinguishers and other vital equipment.
PNG Sports Foundation chief executive officer, Albert Veratau, earlier stated that the government, through the National Executive Council, had approved around $US2.7 million to upgrade sporting venues.
Samoa - aid funding
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded grants worth $US1.5 million to two organisations working to build the resilience of vulnerable populations in Samoa.
The grants will support community activities including disaster risk reduction preparedness and response, and biodiversity conservation.
About two-thirds of the money is going to Women in Business Development, for protecting small coconut tree farms in Samoa by managing the population of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles using biological methods rather than chemicals.
This project is expected to work with 2000 households throughout the islands.
Around $US530,000 is going to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Samoa for generating new livelihood opportunities, promoting women's empowerment, and addressing disaster risk management needs in 20 rural villages.
Samoa - women
In her speech to mark International Women's Day on Wednesday the Samoa Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, spoke of the benefits that would accrue from gender equality.
She said less than seven percent of women are national leaders when Sustainable Development Goal No 5 says gender equality means ensuring full and effective
participation and equal opportunities for leadership.
Fiame, in a speech at the Championing Women's Economic Equality Forum in New York on Monday, said the rationale is not just about equity, fairness and rights in representation, but that it makes for stronger governance and better economic outcomes.
New Caledonia - demonstration
An estimated 1500 people in New Caledonia joined a new demonstration on Wednesday against the planned social security reform.
The rally, which was called by employer organisations, was smaller than last week's which attracted an estimated 9000 people.
The demonstrators want the reform to be dropped.
They have warned that they will set up blockades on Thursday.
The reform plan by the small Pacific Awakening party, which is before Congress, would raise the contributions levied on higher incomes to sustain the healthcare scheme, which has run up a deficit of $US125 million.
PNG - commissioner
The New Zealand Foreign Affairs Ministry has appointed Peter Zwart as Aotearoa's next high Commissioner to Papua New Guinea.
Zwart is a senior diplomat and most recently served as manager of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry's Strategic Policy Unit.
His previous overseas postings have been in China, Ethiopia, and Samoa with a focus on international development and the Pacific.
