Federated States of Micronesia

The government didn't release the name of the suspect, who has been charged with "making threats of bodily harm" and "retaliation for official action" in his Facebook posts.

According to a statement from the government, with help from the FBI, police investigators were able to link the defendant to the Facebook account, which appears to have been taken down.

The government said citizens are encouraged "to freely express differing views on matters of public importance".

David Panuelo last week announced the sailor on the government ship, MV Chief Mailo, had tested positive after it returned from the Philippines.

He said the ship and its crew are isolated in the Pohnpei lagoon under heavy watch.

In a national address, Mr Panuelo said the crew was tested before they left the Philippines, and he allowed them to return because they feared for their safety.

Minister for Civil Aviation, Alfred Manase, said two investigators arrived in Chuuk 22 hours following the incident and immediately commenced assisting the FSM investigation team.

Minister Manase said as per the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 Standards, the FSM have allowed for the PNG AIC Investigation team to participate in the investigation.

He said the two member team arrived in Chuuk on Saturday 29th September at 8 am and immediately began investigation with FSM officials.

Air Niugini General Manager Marketing Dominic Kaumu confirmed with Loop PNG.

Mr Kaumu said the passengers are currently being rescued by locals.  

The plane was scheduled to stop in Chuuk on its way from Pohnpei to Port Moresby.

According to Air Niugini media personnel, the management is currently in a crisis meeting.

Meantime, locals in Chuuk who witnessed the accident have been posting pictures and videos on Facebook.

The pictures show rescuers responding to the crash, to help passengers and crew members to shore.

The US geological service said the quake was at a depth of 46 kilometres and was 54 kilometres of Fais, in Micronesia.

Forecaster Katherin Tun said the quake felt short and sharp, but no reports of damage had come in so far.

She said the location of the earthquake had been plotted and confirmed by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre but there had been no tsunami activity observed.

Samoa takes over the chairmanship of the Forum at the 48th Forum summit in Apia early next month.

But Mr Christian will still be an integral part of the organisation, becoming one of the Forum Troika Leaders, made up of past, present and incoming Forum chairs.

At a recent meeting with the Forum secretary general, Dame Meg Taylor, Mr Christian spoke of the socio-economic and related development issues facing the region.

A critical matter for him is air transport, which has long been seen as a barrier to island nations' attempts to strengthen their economies.

The men were moved to the island state of Pohnpei at the end of June after arriving with a boat load of others from Nepal and India on neighbouring Yap.

They were detained on Yap for 18 months and were the only ones among the 34 men determined to be refugees.

An American living on Pohnpei, Mark Dvorak, who has been visiting the men said they were now confined to Pohnpei's dock on a boat that needed constant pumping to stay afloat.

He said he was concerned for their welfare.

As the meeting got underway, Prime Minister of Cook Islands and Chair of the Smaller Island States (SIS), the Honourable Henry Puna said “In the true Pacific Way, we wholeheartedly agreed to support and welcome FSM into the SIS family.”

President of the Federated States of Micronesia, H.E Peter Christian was then led into the Chamber by the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor.

State owned airline, Air Niugini has spread its wings to the Federated States of Micronesia with an inaugural flight last week.  

Air Niugini chairman Sir Frederick Reiher, led a delegation comprising director Sir Noel Levi, CEO Simon Foo and general manager commercials Dominic Kaumu to Pohnpei for discussions with the FSM Government and the Chamber of Commerce during its inaugural flight.

The summit is being held under the banner "Small and Far: Challenges for Growth".

The meeting begins with the Smaller Islands States Leaders meeting, while all of the island countries will be represented at Thursday's meeting of the group of African Caribbean and Pacific group of nations.

The summit proper gets underway on Thursday with the plenary session set for Friday and the leaders retreat scheduled for Saturday.

West Papua an issue

The Forum's failure to undertake a promised fact-finding mission to West Papua.