New Caledonia - nickel
New Caledonia's president Louis Mapou is due to begin discussions with the French government and nickel industry leaders about the SLN nickel company.
Mapou, who is the first pro-independence politician to lead the collegial government, will be in France for 11 days and meet four ministers, including the prime minister Elisabeth Borne.
He is also scheduled to have talks with Christel Bories who is the head of Eramet, which is the French parent company of SLN.
Two months ago, the interior minister Gerald Darmanin warned the latest emergency loan to SLN would be the last one to help stave off insolvency at the territory's main private sector employer.
Last month, SLN took the surprise decision to suspend operations at its Poum mine site, fuelling fears of massive job losses to come.
Mapou is also expected to discuss road safety problems as fatal accidents have reached a ten-year high.
He is also due to meet the foreign and justice ministers and may hold talks with President Emmanuel Macron.
Mapou's Paris trip comes less than a month after New Caledonia's rival political camps had a separate set of talks with the French government on the territory's future.
Fiji - reshuffle
Fiji's prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka has signalled an upcoming reshuffle of his cabinet characterising it as a normal part of governance.
Appearing on the fijivillage.com Straight Talk program April 26, Rabuka was asked if a reshuffle was pending.
He said there was one coming but insisted it was simply administrative highlighting the lack of prior cabinet experience among his ministers.
Rabuka would not be drawn to comment on the exact timing of the reshuffle when pressed by Straight Talk host Vijay Narayan other than saying it would not be soon.
Cook Islands - yacht
Maritime Cook Islands has reported a Cook Island-flagged yacht is being investigated after it became involved in a shootout in the Gulf of Aden.
The shoot-out led to the death of a Yemeni Coast Guardsman.
The yacht has named as the luxury Kalimza yacht, which had once been owned by late Welsh actor Richard Burton.
Maritime Cook Islands reported that security personnel onboard the yacht mistook an approaching Yemeni Coast Guard ship for being pirates.
RNZ Pacific has reached out to Maritime Cook Islands for clarification.
Papua New Guinea - corruption
Senior staff at the government body responsible for carrying out Papua New Guinea's climate change response are facing major criminal proceedings after the alleged misappropriation of more than $US1 million.
ABC reported the allegations against the Climate Change and Development Authority staff include official corruption and misappropriation of public funds, and "illegally executing" cheques for the benefit of the authority's acting managing director and his associates.
Police allege more than $5 million kina - or $1.3 million US dollars - was misappropriated between August 2022 and March 2023.
Solomon Islands - mental health
Solomon Islands is facing significant mental health challenges, and many are not getting the necessary support.
The Solomon Times Online reported issues such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are prevalent.
According to a World Health Organisation report, the suicide rate in Solomon Islands is 21.7 per 100,000 people, which is significantly higher than the global average of 10.5 per 100,000 people.
The Solomon Islands government has developed a national mental health policy and strategic plan, and it has also established a mental health unit within the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
There are also several non-governmental organisations working to improve mental health and reduce suicide in Solomon Islands.
Kiritimati Island - international flights
Kiribati's Kiritimati Island will welcome its first international travellers in over three years from today.
Kiritimati or Christmas Island in Kiribati. Photo: Tourism Authority of Kiribati
It comes as Fiji Airways resumes its weekly scheduled service to the destination since the lockdown.
According to the Tourism Authority of Kiribati, following months of rigorous airport facility and airline compliance checks and clearance by the Civil Aviation Authority of Kiribati and Fiji Airways, Kiritimati will welcome travellers through Fiji Airways services from Nadi, Fiji and Honolulu, Hawaii.
The tourism office says industry operators on the island have endured hardships for over 3 years since Covid-19 forced the closure of the island's international border.
It said the reopening is a welcome relief for the mainly privately and community-owned tourism business operators.
Fly fishing enthusiasts who have been patient and have supported Kiritimati Island throughout its three years of closure can expect world class experiences when they return to the island's well preserved fishing flats this week, the authority said.
Travellers will be required to present their vaccination certificate (double vax) upon check in.
Covid-19 checks would not be required upon arrival, however, persons displaying Covid-19 or flu like symptoms upon arrival are required to visit the local health centre for medical check.
Palau - drought
Palau has been placed under Stage 1 of its Drought Action Plan by the National Emergency Committee.
The Island Times reported a public advisory saying it has a 50 percent chance of experiencing drought.
The National Weather Service also has Palau on "El Nino Watch," a weather cycle that can bring extremely dry conditions and very little, scattered rainfall.
According to the National Emergency Committee, Stage 1 means water levels have fallen to 85 percent capacity.
The public is urged to conserve water.
Papua New Guinea - Kramer
Papua New Guinea's suspended Immigration Minister Bryan Kramer has been dismissed from office following the Leadership Tribunal inquiring into charges of misconduct.
The Post Courier reported he has also been slapped with a fine of almost $US3,000.
In a statement, Bryan Kramer said based on the Tribunal's finding him guilty on seven counts in February - including on two charges of scandalising the judiciary - the ruling for dismissal was expected.
But he said he has already been working on an appeal to challenge the verdict and penalty.
He said the decision in no way diminishes his resolve in the fight against corruption nor will it keep him from informing the public on issues of national importance or exposing high-level corruption.
