The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service seized undeclared firearms from a foreign-flagged yacht at the Savusavu Port this week. 8 October 2025 Photo: Fiji Revenue and Customs Service
Fiji - firearms
The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) has discovered undeclared firearms on a foriegn-flagged yacht arriving that arrived at Savusavu Port in the Northern Division.
According to the FRCS, an inspection led to finding two semi-automatic pistols, 30 pieces of C02 cartridge and 1138 pallets, which had not been declared by the yacht's skipper.
The matter has been referred to police.
The FRCS is reminding all travellers, including yacht owners and sailors, to make accurate and complete declarations when submitting advance arrival information.
Fiji
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed he will appear before the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission once his lawyer finalises the timing of his attendance.
The commission was established to encourage open truth-telling and reconciliation over Fiji's political upheavals dating back to 1987.
Local media reported Rabuka saying he is prepared to share his story and would opt for a public hearing.
The Truth and Reconciliation commission began public hearings in Suva on Tuesday.
Commission chairman Sekove Nagiollevu said Rabuka's attendance is not compulsory but he has been invited to speak.
Papua New Guinea - education
Twenty-seven out of 32 students from one school had been barred from sitting their exams because their school fees have not been paid.
The school said the outstanding fees for the 27 grade 10 students was more than K55,000 (approximately US$13,079).
The National newspaper reported 27 students from a Kimbe school headed to the police station for help to sit their national examinations.
Education secretary Uke Kombra said she has asked the school to allow the students to sit for their exams.
West New Britain education adviser Vincent Kalatia confirmed that the students will be allowed to sit the remaining exam papers this week.
There are also 55 Grade 12 students who owe the school fees worth K70,000 (approximately US$16,654).
Papua New Guinea - social media
Papua New Guinea's National Executive Council has endorsed the new National Social Media Policy.
Acting information and communications technology minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr said the policy would introduce clear rules for user accountability and responsibility, including age restrictions.
He said the policy includes penalties for cyber harassment, defamation, and the spread of misinformation.
Tsiamalili said it strikes the right balance between freedom of expression, and safety and accountability online.
New Zealand - Ministry for Pacific Peoples
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is ruling out the possibility of merging the Ministry for Pacific Peoples with another government department.
The country's public sector has undergone cuts as part of the current government's efforts to slash public spending.
Luxon told PMN's Pacific Mornings that while the Public Service Commission is continuing to review public sector spending, any merger of the Ministry is off the table.
"I appreciate they'll look at a whole range of different scenarios of how they could organise better, but that's not going to be happening in our term."
Since the current government took office in 2023, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples has faced more than NZ$60 million in budget cuts.
Staff numbers have reduced by a third, from 156 to 99.
