Jotham Napat is Vanuatu's fifth prime minister in four years. Photo: Facebook / Jotham Napat
Vanuatu - education
Prime Minister Jotham Napat has told media his government is actively addressing outstanding teacher pay claims.
Teachers began their strike in June last year over a range of remuneration issues.
The Vanuatu Daily Post reported Napat saying the government has been paying claims.
However, Vanuatu Teachers' Union Secretary general Jonathan Yona said when teachers are paid and a collective bargaining agreement is signed, the action will be called off.
He said if no agreement is reached, the strike may continue into next year or even the year after.
Vanuatu's Supreme Court has ruled the industrial action legal.
Guam - hospital
Leaders are calling for action after a power fluctuation at Guam's only public hospital.
The Guam Daily Post reported the power fluctuation led to a small electrical fire and separately caused a part of the HVAC system in the pediatric unit to burn out.
Speaker Frank Blas Jr. and Senator Sabina Salas Matanane have written to the acting governor, saying the territory's only civilian public hospital is "unraveling before our eyes".
Since then, acting governor Josh Tenorio has discussed funding possibilities for electrical upgrades at the facility.
The governor's office noted that their administration directed millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan funding to the hospital in the past to address urgent needs.
Cook Islands - plastic
The Cook Islands government is disappointed the UN plastics meeting failed to reach a consensus for a treaty.
Cook Islands News reported the Cook Islands delegation lead, National Environment Service director Halatoa Fua, saying global cooperation challenges are to blame.
He said the failure has made small island nations even more determined to see action.
Foreign affairs secretary Tepaeru Herrmann said the Cook Islands remains fully committed to advancing this important work.
Negotiations are ongoing with the next session yet to be announced.
Northern Mariana Islands - casino
Team King Investments has finalised its nearly US$13 million purchase of Imperial Pacific International's casino assets in the Northern Marianas.
Local media reported this marks a turning point not only for the stalled Garapan resort but also for investor confidence in the Northern Marianas' tourism-dependent economy.
The closing of the transaction was confirmed during an 21 August status hearing before a US District Court-designated bankruptcy judge, clearing the way for the long-delayed sale to be completed.
Team King attorney Louie Yanza said they intend to bring back the hotel and bring back tourism to the CNMI.
Fiji/India - visit
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuak has been welcomed to India on his official visit.
Rabuka will hold bilateral meetings on Monday with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and President Droupadi Murmu.
He will also deliver a keynote address during the visit, on his vision for the Pacific as an "Ocean of Peace" at the Indian Council of World Affairs.
Nauru/Fiji - flights
Nauru Airlines is bolstering its flights to Fiji.
The national carrier already operates weekly flights from Nauru to Nadi International Airport.
From this week, flights to Suva's Nausori International Airport will be up and running too.
Nauru Airlines operates a fleet of seven Boeing 737 aircraft - four dedicated to freight operations, three operating as passenger aircraft.
Papua New Guinea - airline
Air Niugini has suspended its CEO Gary Seddon as it seeks information on 'spare parts' and other administrative issues.
Seddon's suspension comes about three weeks before the airline receives its first Airbus A220 aircraft on 15 September.
The airline's chairman, Karl Yalo said Seddon has been temporarily suspended as further information is sought in relation to the A-220.
Yalo said the move was a procedural matter as Air Niugini prepares for the biggest change in its 53-year history.
Local media reported attempts to get comments from Seddon were unsuccessful.
