- The anti-corruption police taskforce in Papua New Guinea has arrested and charged Supreme Court Judge Bernard Sakora with judicial corruption.
- Papua New Guinea's Attorney-General Ano Pala and Tiffany Twivey, the lawyer representing the Prime Minister have both been arrested by the anti-corruption taskforce. Lowy Institute Nonresident Fellow Sean Dorney summarised PNG's current legal entanglements for The Interpreter last week.
- Flooding due to Cyclone Zena has affected Fiji's recovery from Cyclone Winston, which will likely stoke more discussion of climate change action in the Pacific.
- Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, Arancha González, discusses strategies to increase the number of women-owned export businesses in the Pacific. González addressed the Lowy Institute regarding women's economic empowerment last week.
- The Solomon Islands is taking action on domestic violence by pairing legislation with training on effective enforcement. The Family Protection Act 2014 was officially launched last week.
- Indonesia claims that Fiji and Papua New Guinea support its efforts to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
- It was an eventful week for the Melanesian Spearhead Group as well, with the appointment of a new Director General, Fijian diplomat Amena Yauvoli. The appointment is seen as controversial as it was not made at a leaders' summit and has received criticism from Vanuatu's Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.
- The first Negotiator's Certificate for a lease application for rural customary land was issued to the Vanuatu Football Federation. Lands Minister Ralph Regenvanu discussed the land law reforms with Radio New Zealand here.
- Air New Zealand will not resume flights to Port Vila, and Qantas has declined to apply its codeshare to Air Vanuatu services although the interim repairs to the runway at Bauerfield International Airport have been completed. A report from Al Jazeera on the damaged runway can be found below: