.. Photo: Supplied/UNAIDS PNG
Unwanted milestone reached in West Papua
Cases of HIV and AIDs have reached more than 50,000 in West Papua.
The chairperson of the Papua AIDS Control Commission Anton Mote said the figures were as of September this year.
In a written statement to Tabloid Jubi, Mote said the number of HIV and AIDS patients recorded in Papua province does not reflect the real number as the people are still lacking awareness to check themselves, for fear of being stigmatised and ostracised by the community.
Mote said the Commission continued to accelerate efforts to prevent and control HIV and AIDS in Papua.
Covid could have peaked in French Polynesia
The Covid-19 numbers in French Polynesia appear to have peaked, with a further 58 infections being counted in the 72-hour reporting period covering the weekend.
There are now 313 active cases, which is almost 100 fewer than a week ago.
Three people with Covid-19 are in hospital.
There have been repeated calls for people to update their vaccination status as only 25 percent of those over 60 have had a booster.
Last year when the territory was hit by an outbreak of the Delta variant, more than 600 people died, of whom more than 94 percent had not been vaccinated.
Japanese tourists not returning to Marianas yet
The tourism body in the Northern Marianas admits it is struggling to lure Japanese tourists back to the islands.
The Marianas Visitors Authority said despite a Tourism Resumption Investment Plan visitor arrivals from Japan remain low.
The Authority said Japanese tourist numbers are down 80 percent compared to pre-Covid-19 pandemic numbers in 2019, with just 288 visitors during October.
For the first two months of the investment plan, planes travelling to the Marianas were only about 30 percent full.
The Authority puts this down to lingering fears about travel, low vaccination rates among children, a weak yen compared with the US dollar, and a Japanese Government campaign to encourage more internal tourism.
Nearly two years on, deal remains unratified
A deal between the European Union and the 79-member Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) is at risk and remains unratified, 20 months after been concluded by negotiators.
After several years of negotiations and delays, the pact was initialled in April 2021 by EU Commissioner for International Partnerships and EU chief negotiator, Jutta Urpilainen, and her OACPS counterpart Robert Dussey.
Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Malele has raised concerns about the delay.
The Pacnews agency reports him saying the credibility of the partnership with the European Union hangs in the balance if the signing doesn't go ahead.
Hawaii's final princess dies
A woman dubbed the last Hawaiian princess has died at the age of 96.
Abigail Kawananakoa's ancestors were deposed by American businessmen in the 19th century.
She had no official title but was wealthy, and used her money to fund causes including environmental campaigns and scholarships for native Hawaiian students.
Hawai's government has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast until Sunday.
Cable will connect the Samoas
The set-up of a submarine cable between Samoa and American Samoa has been agreed by the two countries.
The Memorandum of Understanding commits to the setting up of a cable between Upolu and Tutuila.
The cable allows Samoa to access the 15,000km Hawaiki cable that connects New Zealand to the West Coast of the United States.
Woman questioned over road death
A woman is being investigated by Savai'i police following the death of a 32-year-old man who was allegedly sleeping on the side of the road.
The Samoa Observer reports the Deputy Police Commissioner saying the incident happened about 3am Saturday, and the driver reported the matter to police about 5am.
Papalii Monalisa Tia'i-Keti said it would not be treated as a hit-and-run as it was reported within 24 hours.
She said the female driver claimed she was only aware that the car ran over something, but was not aware that it was a person.
The driver is likely to face a charge of negligent driving causing death.
Missing man found dead
A missing persons case has concluded in Tonga today with the discovery of a body inside a car submerged in a fishing wharf in Nuku'alofa.
The missing person, 35-year-old man, Talanoa Lemoto, was last seen on December 7, leaving a nightclub in his car.
Authorities had appealed to the public for Lemoto's whereabouts.
Boost to Solomons' economy
Solomon Islands will receive multi-million-dollar grants and loans to help it bounce back from Covid-19.
The grant part of the package is financed by the Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to ADB's poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries.
The programme was developed in coordination with the World Bank, the governments of Australia and New Zealand, and the European Union, in consultation with
the International Monetary Fund.