French Polynesia was at US-Pacific as a Pacific Forum member
The new French High Commissioner to French Polynesia says the territory's participation in last week's summit with Pacific leaders in Washington followed a US invitation of France.
Eric Spitz said French Polynesia was at the summit hosted by President Joe Biden as a member of the Pacific Islands Forum and did not represent France.
Spitz said French Polynesia's president Edouard Fritch pointed to the importance of France's efforts to protect French Polynesia's exclusive economic zone, adding that it was therefore significant for him to be present.
He said Fritch didn't in any way short-circuit France, which Spitz said was represented at the summit by its ambassador.
Fritch and New Caledonia's president Louis Mapou was late invitees to the Washington talks which were attended by most heads of government of Pacific nations following the UN General Assembly.
The summit marked a renewed effort by the US to engage with small Pacific countries in response to China's growing influence in the region.
Flosse given suspended prison sentence
French Polynesia's former president and veteran politician Gaston Flosse has been given a suspended prison sentence for producing a fake contract to register as a Papeete voter.
The criminal court gave him a nine-month sentence, an US$8,000 fine, and declared him ineligible for public office for five years, dashing his hopes of standing in next year's territorial elections.
In 2019, Flosse enlisted himself as a candidate for the municipal election in Papeete, claiming he had moved into a rented 15-square metre apartment within his party's headquarters.
However, the court found that the sublease was a fake and signed by someone who no longer administered the premises.
In 2014, Flosse had been declared ineligible to hold public office, when a corruption conviction forced him to resign as president.
Since then, he has incurred further convictions, which now prevent him from running for office until he is 96.
Tonga lifts supervised Covid-19 rat tests
Tonga has lifted the requirement for supervised rapid Covid-19 testing prior to entering the country.
The kingdom opened its borders on August 1st and recently reviewed the situation.
With the situation report including cases remaining low and the health system not being significantly affected, Tonga has updated its border policy.
Health orders will no longer be required for incoming flights, supervised rapid antigen tests are not needed for entry, and Tongan travellers with a valid Tongan passport or certificate of identity will no longer be required to show a vaccination certificate in order to enter.
The Health Arrival Declaration is still needed, and all incoming passengers must be vaccinated or have an exemption.
All arriving passengers are still encouraged to follow the advised preventative measures including wearing masks in public places.
Samoa reports new Covid-19 cases
Samoa's Ministry of Health reported seven new cases of Covid-19 in the week from September 18 to 25.
It said there were no cases at Motootua Hospital and none in the ICU.
The new infections took the cumulative number of cases, both community and border cases, to 15,941.
American Samoa's Health Department issues advisory on hand, foot, and mouth disease.
The Department has issued an advisory about increasing cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease, especially among school-age children.
It said symptoms included fever, mouth sores, and a rash commonly found on the hands and feet.
People with the disease are usually most contagious during the first week they are sick.
And people can sometimes spread the virus to others for days or weeks after symptoms go away or if they have no symptoms.
The advisory said because the illness is common and usually mild, children can continue to go to child care and schools as long as they have no fever, no uncontrolled drooling with mouth sores, and they feel well enough to participate in classroom activities.
Hundreds of travellers left stranded across French Polyensia
Hundreds of travellers were left stranded across French Polynesia after a firefighters' strike crippled domestic aviation.
42 airports run by the Civil Aviation Directorate are affected by the stoppage by some of the firefighters over better pay.
Air Tahiti, which has been forced to cancel some flights, stopped taking bookings pending a resolution of the dispute.
Vice-president Jean-Christophe Bouissou has ruled out accepting demands of a 20-percent indemnity hike.
Further negotiations involving the unions are expected today.
Bouissou has not ruled out calling on the French High Commission to requisition a skeleton service.
The airports exempt from the strike are Tahiti, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, and Raiatea.
Two policemen in New Caledonia given jail terms for fatal car accident
Two policemen in New Caledonia have been given jail terms for causing a fatal car accident while drunk.
The criminal court sentenced the men to three years and two years in prison respectively, for causing the death of a 66-year-old woman in Poindimie.
Driving at excessive speed, they hit the woman's vehicle, killing her and seriously injuring two other people.
Tests showed they were both intoxicated, with the driver more than six times over the legal limit.
Investigations showed while being off duty, the two had been drinking and driving for two days, and minutes before the crash, they bought more whisky and beer.
The prosecutor said the two had a feeling of impunity and mocked the law they were supposed to enforce.
Last year, New Caledonia's road toll was 50, which per capita was four times higher than in mainland France.
In three-quarters of the cases, alcohol was determined to be a key factor.
Samoa Law Society congratulates Judge Ida Malosi on new role
The Samoa Law Society has congratulated Judge Ida Malosi on her appointment as the new Principal Youth Court Judge in New Zealand.
Judge Malosi was seconded to Samoa as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Samoa from March 2013 to June 2014.
During her time on the bench, Judge Malosi established the country's first Family Court and Family Violence Court and was also instrumental in the development of the
Youth Court in Samoa.
The Society said Judge Malosi is an example of humility, integrity, and courage, and she continues to light the way for Pasifika people in New Zealand.
PNG wins MSG cup
Papua New Guinea have won the MSG prime minister's football cup.
PNG defeated the Vanuatu development team in a penalty shoot-out in the final, 4 penalties to 1.
Papua New Guinea wins the MSG prime minister's football cup Photo: Facebook
At fulltime the score was 3-all at Korman Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu competed in the cup.
The cup was resurrected by the government of Vanuatu and FIFA.