Pacific Beat

Police in Papua New Guinea say a hostage situation that shut down a popular tourist town was actually a hoax. InterOil Shareholders in Papua New Guinea and across the world are being urged to vote down ExxonMobil's takeover bid.

Police in Papua New Guinea have reportedly ended a hostage situation in the tourist town of Alotau in Milne Bay Province. The University of PNG will resume its academic year. Tonga's Prime Minister, Akilisi Pohiva, to face a vote of no confidence.

We talk to the outgoing leader of one of the region's prominent fisheries agencies about why the Parties to the Nauru Agreement has been such a success and we hear from Powes Parkop, the governor of the National Capital District, about the 500 kina on-the-spot fine for chewing betelnut that start today.

Scientists identify genetic link to obesity among Samoans, but say it doesn't mean the population is pre-destined to be overweight and with just over a week to go before the Women's Rugby 7s Olympic tournament kicks off in Rio, we speak to coach Chris Cracknell at Fijiana's training camp in Chile.

PNG's former military commander Jerry Singirok enters politics and concerned Northern Marianas residents oppose the relocation of US marines to Guam.

Fiji leads new pitch by Pacific countries to attract thousands of outsourced jobs from companies in Australia. And, on World Hepatitis Day, we talk about the World Health Organization's ambitious a goal of eliminating Hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has finalised his cabinet reshuffle after surviving last week's no confidence vote. The Fiji government has criticised opposition politicians over their criticism of changes to the country's economically vital sugar industry.

With the Rio Olympics just over a week away, we hear about the high hopes of Samoa's eight-strong team and how a weight loss competition could provide an answer for the disproportionately high numbers of Maori and Pasifika people in New Zealand who are obese.

PNG's former Attorney General Sir Arnold Amet joins the campaign against a planned deep sea mining project. Samoan journalists set up a Media Council to self-regulate their industry.

Former Chief Justice and Attorney General, Sir Arnold Amet calls for a moratorium on the Solwara deep sea mining venture off New Ireland Province which he describes as a Papua New Guinea-pig experiment. And, the fastest woman in the Pacific overcomes her deep sadness over the death of her father, brother and aunty to head into the Rio Olympics focused and happy.