West Papua Liberation Army members outside the torched base camp of Indonesian logging company PT Bangun Katu Irian Photo: Supplied
Indonesian logging camp torched in West Papua
The West Papua Liberation Army says it has torched the base camp of a logging company in Maybrat regency.
A faction of the pro-independence army has released photos of some of its members outside the burning premises of Indonesian company PT Bangun Katu Irian.
But police say the arson attack was done by an employee of the company, and that investigations are underway.
Local Papuan communities have protested against the activities of logging companies who they say are destroying traditional livelihoods without a social license.
Maybrat has been one of the focal points of armed conflict between the Liberation Army's guerilla fighters and Indonesian security forces, with thousands of villagers displaced after violence escalated in September.
Post-election government formation in Tonga streches out
It will now be the third week of December at the earliest before Tongans find out who their new leader will be.
Voters went to the polls on November 18th to elect 17 People's Representatives with the nobles choosing nine from their cohort.
Ever since there has been a period of intense horsetrading, from which the caretaker prime minister, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, and his former education minister, Siaosi Sovaleni. have emerged as the candidates for the top job.
It had been expected that parliament would meet this week to elect the prime minister but our correspondent advises that that date has been put back another two weeks.
Many American Samoa govt employees unvaccinated
Many high level government employees in American Samoa have yet to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 despite the mandate that came into effect last month.
Human Resources director, Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo says of the 5,019 employees in American Samoa's executive branch, only just over half (1931) have been fully vaccinated.
Governor Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Mauga told cabinet it was difficult for the government to ask the public to get vaccinated when there were government workers still to be fully vaccinated.
The governor also directed the Education department to check vaccination rates for teachers as about three quarters of American Samoa's public school teachers have been fully vaccinated.
Nauru's former president Clodumar dies
The former President of Nauru Kinza Clodumar has died at the age of 76.
He served as president from February 1997 until June 1998.
Clodumar also held several ministerial portfolios including minister assisting the president, finance, Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust, foreign affairs, justice, and environment.
Outside of parliament, Clodumar held numerous positions as chairman of corporations such as Nauru superannuation, and Nauru Air Corporation.
He is survived by his wife Miroslawa, five children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Star Marianas Air suspends inter-island flights in CNMI
Star Marianas Air has suspended all its inter-island flights in the Northern Marianas after news that Covid-19 has spread to the island of Tinian.
The Tinian-based carrier said due to the risks presented by an unhealthy flight environment, they are immediately suspending all commercial operations until further notice.
Star Marianas says it is working with customers who have existing bookings for refunds and cancellations.
This is the first time Covid-19 cases have been detected on Tinian. Previously, there were Tinian residents who tested positive, but these were incoming passengers returning to the CNMI.
The positive cases on Tinian comes as the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation reported 43 more individuals were identified and confirmed positive for Covid-19.
This brings the Northern Marianas total to 855.
Support for more NZ Pasifika into home ownership
Pacific organisations in Aotearoa have been given a financial boost to help support more Pasifika into home ownership.
The New Zealand government is distributing more than 41 million dollars over the next four years to 15 specialising in budgeting and financial services.
The goal is for Pacific peoples to gain improved housing conditions and home ownership through understanding financial literacy.
Organisations who recieved the funding boost include The Mortgage Hub Pasifika, Tangata Atumotu and Pasifika for Tomorrow.
Batram Suri named manager of Solomons women's football team
Former professional footballer Batram Suri has been named manager of the Solomon Islands women's team.
Suri coached the Solomon Islands Under 19 men's team to the semi-finals of the Oceania Under-19 Championship, in 2018, and also coached the nation's Under-23 men's team.
Suri, who represented Solomon Islands as a player in 48 games, says it will be a great challenge.
Since the start of November the women's squad has been training three times a week, with work underway to create a philosophy for the team which mirrors the system of their male counterparts.