Photo: RNZ Pacific / Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor
Vanuatu - arrest
A boy is in police custody in Vanuatu after the brutal killing of a 7-year-old with a rock in Pentecost on Tuesday.
Northern Province Police Commissioner George Songi said the attack occured in a coconut plantation near Bwatnapi village.
The accused fled the scene but police found him later that morning hiding in bush on the nearby island of Ambae, and ferried him to Santo.
A psychiatric report on the suspect is expected.
Papua New Guinea - power
New Zealander Paul Bayly has been appointed as chief executive of troubled Papua New Guinea utility, PNG Power.
PNG Power has endured persistent financial and power reliability challenges hindering its development.
The board said Bayly has extensive experience in infrastructure, management, policy, planning and financing.
It said this has been gained as a former colonel in the New Zealand Army and work in Timor Leste, Lebanon and Syria.
NBC reported the board saying the appointment fills a critical gap, bringing much needed stability to the CEO 's office which has undergone several acting appointments since 2023.
Fiji - travel
The Chinese ambassador in Fiji hopes there will be a direct flight from mainland China to the Pacific Island in the future.
fijivillage.com reported Zhou Jian made the comment on Wednesday as the Chinese Embassy celebrated the 170th anniversary of Chinese arrival in Fiji.
Zhou urged young Chinese-Fijians to learn about both cultures to foster mutual understanding of their shared heritage.
He also urged them not to leave Fiji, but to help the country prosper and contribute to the relationship between the two nations.
Pacific - fundraising
Fundraising campaigns are planned to boost the Pacific Resilience Facility - a fund for responding to climate impacts.
Matangi Tonga reports Australia has promised the most money so far, approximately US$63 million.
Pacific Islands Forum secretary-general Baron Waqa said a series of campaigns has been planned for the fund, including a significant fundraising and pledge commitment event alongside the UN General Assembly later this year.
The fund is set to be ratified at the PIF Leaders' Meeting in September.
Hawai'i
A prominent philanthropist and senior fellow at the Centre for American Progress in Washington has shared insights on shifting national security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, during a presentation at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
Glen Fukushima, a former US diplomat, highlighted a need for more policymakers from the islands who have knowledge of the political landscape in the Indo-Pacific region.
Fukushima emphasised how national security in the region has changed over the past decade.
He outlined key challenges for the US in ensuring security in Asia, such as in maintaining consistent policy over time, implementing a coherent strategy and coordinating effectively with allies.
He also stressed the need for more voices from Hawaii who have real-world experience in Asia.
