New commissioner for French Polynesia
A new high commissioner for French Polynesia has been announced.
Eric Spitz has worked in French Polynesia as secretary-general of the high commission between 2008 and 2010, and was the prefect of the region of Atlantic-Pyrnenes.
He will succeed Dominique Sorain, who quit the position at the end of July.
French Polynesia paper could be set for a comeback
French Polynesia's last daily newspaper, La Depeche de Tahiti, which ceased publication in April, may be revived.
Photo: La Depeche de Tahiti
The commercial court in Papeete accepted a bid by a new company, NAOS, for the daily, whose previous owner was placed in liquidation.
In 2018, a rescue plan was adopted after the company owned by businessman Dominique Auroy went into receivership, but it couldn't meet its terms.
The latest court decision has raised hopes that the newspaper will be restored and some of the former employees will be rehired.
In 2014, the territory's other daily, Les Nouvelles de Tahiti, was shut down after 57 years of publication.
Both Les Nouvelles and La Depeche used to belong to the French Hersant group, which almost ten years ago also sold off its daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes in Noumea.
Boost for Palau economy post-covid
The Asian Development Bank is providing Palau with a $US30 million loan to help its economy rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic.
An ADB official, Rommel Rabanal, said this policy-based operation will help restore Palau to the sustainable fiscal path it was on before the pandemic.
He said over the medium to longer term, the reforms under this programme will promote more sustained and equitable growth in Palau's tourism-driven economy.
Solomons' MP criticises extension to parliamentary term
Solomon Islands opposition MP Derrick Manuari says the government's agenda to extend the parliamentary term to five years is not what the people want.
The Solomon Star reports the West Makira MP saying the people do not support plans to extend parliamentary terms from four years to five, because they are not convinced by the reasons given by the government.
Manuari claims foreign powers are dominating political play in the Solomon Islands' domestic affairs.
He said that during consultations over the extension, one of the messages put across by government officials was the government wanted more time to allow China to fund its programmes in constituencies.
Booster rollout in Niue
The Niue government has approved the rollout of the second Covid-19 booster vaccine.
Social Services (Health) Minister, Sauni Tongatule says it is set to begin mid-September, following the Health Department's recommendations.
The jab is voluntary and targeted at those 50 years and older.
Priority will also be given to vulnerable populations and healthcare workers because of the nature of their profession.