Cook Islands govt will decide today on alert levels
Cook Islands Cabinet will decide today whether to extend or ease the current Alert Level 2, which has halted inbound passenger flights for two weeks.
Cook Islands News reports the current Alert Level 2 is expected to end at 11.59pm tonight.
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The restrictions which includes suspension on inwards travel from Auckland and travels to the Pa Enua from Rarotonga were put in place after the community outbreak of Covid-19 Delta variant in New Zealand.
Air New Zealand flights have been flying into Rarotonga, they have not carried any inwards passengers since Monday, August 16.
Meanwhile over 3000 passengers have left since August 16.
Man arrested in Micronesia for threatening to kill president
Police in the Federated States of Micronesia have arrested a man who threatened on social media to assassinate President David Panuelo.
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.
FSM President, David Panuelo Photo: Office of the President of the FSM
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".
But "making threats of bodily harm against any person, or any public official for that matter," is a crime punishable with up to 10 years of imprisonment.
Housing in New Zealand is not purpose-built for Pasifika families
A senior economist says housing in New Zealand is not purpose-built for Pasifika families.
Brad Olsen from Infometrics spoke at an online talanoa Monday night saying Pacific ways of multi-generational living aren't reflected in three to four-bedroom homes.
He said Pasifika communities should have a direct say in Government housing initiatives.
"One of the things we've got to focus on is actually letting people lead first, and that's why some of the work happening for example in Eastern Porirua is great to see Kainga Ora working with a number of different organisations to deliver more housing in that area and again trying to fit around what people are focussed on."
Brad Olsen said government-built homes for Pasifika should be near public transport and recreational infrastucture.
Travel bubble reopens between French Pacific territories
A travel bubble between the French Pacific territories of New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna has reopen.
The bubble closed in early March when New Caledonia imported Covid-19 from Wallis and Futuna, after the two territories had operated a travel bubble since 2020.
With both territories now free of community cases of Covid again, the bubble is reopening with the resumption of regular flights between Noumea and Wallis.
Under updated rules in New Caledonia, fully vaccinated arrivals need to quarantine for seven days only, while others must quarantine for two weeks.
Over 600,000 Fijians register to vote in 2022 election
About 670-thousand Fijians will be eligible to register to vote at next year's General Election.
Fiji's Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said so far 650-thousand Fijians had registered to vote.
Mohammed Saneem. Photo: Fiji govt
Based on these projections, he said "the rate of registration in Fiji, despite it being a voluntary system, is very high."
Mr Saneem said the Constitution guarantees "every voter has one vote and this vote must be of equal value to every other voter".
He said all the voters are listed in one single national roll from 'A to Z'.
Mr Saneem said in places where there is more than one polling station, the elections office divides voters into polling stations based on the first alphabet of their surname.
Fiji's Bulimairewa's Paralympic journey ends
Fiji's Inosi Bulimairewa's Paralympic journey has come to an end, finishing 10th in the Javelin F64 final at the Tokyo Games last night.
The 33 year-old threw a season best of 42.55 metres.
Bulimairewa said while it was his first time competing at the Paralympics, it was a good experience and he was proud of his journey.
He said the learnings from last nights event will help him in the future.
Meanwhile Iosefo Rakesa was disqualified in the Shot Put F41 event yesterday due to a technical timeout.
He will compete again on Saturday in the F41 Javelin final.