West Papua - MSG
West Papua is set to be top of the agenda at next week's 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group - or MSG - Leaders Summit in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila.
Vanuatu prime minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau said the host nation is presenting the agenda and the issue of West Papua's membership is top of the list.
"We're trying to appeal to the open mindedness of the Melanesian spirit group, particularly to issues of human atrocity that are being faced by our brothers and sisters," Kalsakau said.
Earlier this year, Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka backed the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's bid to become full members of the MSG.
Fiji - defence
A Chinese military delegation has joined a conference of defence chiefs in Fiji.
The Print reports the US Indo Pacific Commander, Admiral John Aquilino, and Fiji's military commander, Major General Jone Kalouniwai, are hosting the meeting, with 27 nations from the region taking part.
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Fiji wanted the region to be a "zone of peace" despite increasing geopolitical tensions.
He said strategic competition can coexist with mutual respect.
Chiefs of Defence meeting in Fiji. August 2023 Photo: Facebook.com / Republic of Fiji Military Forces
Tuvalu - NASA
NASA's Sea Level Change Team is partnering with a UN support initiative to help Tuvalu and other low-lying island nations prepare for a changing climate.
The NASA team has released a new technical assessment of Tuvalu's future environmental prospects.
The report includes projections for how fast sea levels are likely to rise and how frequently flooding might occur, and concludes that assessments and increased scientific monitoring could improve planning for potentially catastrophic events.
Two leaders of the NASA team, Dr Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer and Dr Ben Hamlington visited Tuvalu for a firsthand look at the effects there of rising seas.
The scientists met with Tuvalu's minister of finance and climate change, and the managing director of the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, and also spoke with island residents to better understand how NASA could support Tuvalu and the UN effort.
Samoa - assets
The parent company of the once iconic Aggie Grey Hotel, Grey Investment Group Ltd, is in receivership discussions affecting all its properties and assets.
The Samoa Observer reports the appointment of receivers for Grey Group.
Stephen Keen and Mark McDonald of Grant Thornton New Zealand Ltd were appointed receivers and managers of Grey Group earlier this month.
The company's sole director, Lupesina Frederick Grey, said Grey Group was working closely with Grant Thornton on repaying a secured creditor from sales proceeds from some of its local and offshore assets.
Some of these offshore assets include the last of its three French Polynesian resorts, for which the Grey Group has signed a sale agreement with an Hawaii-based hospitality group.
The iconic Aggie Grey's was sold by the company to Chinese Investors in 2017.
Nothern Marianas - expenses
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reimbursing the CNMI $US9.8 million for expenses incurred in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This reimbursement brings to $83.2m the total FEMA grants the Northern Marianas will get to date to cover the costs of responding to the pandemic.
The latest money will covers costs in building the Alternate Care Sites and for COVID-19 testing.
To date, the Homeland Security/Emergency Management received $66.6m; the CNMI government got $7.7m for lost wages, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation received $6.8m; the Office of the Governor received $1.9m; and Funeral Assistance received $87,531.
