Independent candidate wins by-election in Samoa
In Samoa, an independent candidate has won the Gaga'ifomauga 2 by-election.
After the final and official counting of votes on Saturday, Foisala Lilo Tuu Ioane polled 441 ballots, and Human Rights Protection Party candidate So'oalo Fineaso Poka So'oalo polled 360 votes.
Foisala has indicated he intends to join the ruling FAST Party.
Two other candidates, independent candidate Falesaopule Vaialia Iosua polled 287 votes, and the FAST candidate, Lomia Tauloa Moafanua Sia'aga received 259 ballots.
The by-election was triggered by the death of FAST MP Va'ele Paia'aua Iona Sekuini, who died in March this year.
Two Tapura Huiraatira party candidates top first round of voting for a new French National Assembly
Two of the three candidates of French Polynesia's ruling party have come out on top in the territory's three constituencies in the first round of voting for a new French National Assembly.
Provisional results show Tepuaraurii Teriitahi and Nicole Bouteau of the Tapura Huiraatira party secured the most votes and are through to the second round in two weeks.
Also through to the run-off are the three candidates of the pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party, Temata'i Le Gayic, Steve Chailloux, and Moetai Brotherson.
Mr Brotherson, who is the only French Polynesian member seeking re-election for a second five-year term, narrowly topped the result of Tuterai Tumahai.
A total of 27 candidates contested the election.
Preliminary figures show turnout was higher than in 2017.
Polling in French Polynesia was held a week before the rest of France will vote to renew the 577-member legislature.
French Polynesia records more Covid-19 cases
Another 68 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in French Polynesia in the last 48-hour reporting period as the pandemic again appears to worsen.
The number of active cases is now 124, which is more than a doubling in a week although the figure is well below the outbreak's peak last year.
The health authorities say one Covid-19 patient is in hospital.
The death toll of the pandemic is 649, with most fatalities registered during last year's outbreak with the Delta variant.
Vaccinations have continued and more than 81 percent of those 12 years and older have had two jabs.
Travel restrictions have been eased and most pre-pandemic air links have been resumed, with tourism showing a strong rebound.
Samoa Tourism Board says CEO should be given just a warning
The Samoa Tourism Board says the chief executive of the Samoa Tourism Authority, Fa'amatuainu Lenata'i Suifua, should be given a warning and allowed to return to work.
Fa'amatuainu was placed on leave in February this year, pending an investigation by the Board following complaints by current and former staff at the Authority.
He has been accused of misconduct, and of fraudulently taking government materials for use at his residences.
Fa'amatuainu has denied the claims.
The Board says there is insufficient evidence to warrant the dismissal of the chief executive, and they agreed he should be issued a "warning" and allowed to return to work.
Separately, in March, Fa'amatuainu was criminally charged for using insulting words, following a criminal complaint by an STA staffer over an incident last December.
Traditional myths and legends used in anti-violence programme
Using aspects of traditional myths or legends to reduce violence seems to work, according to a coordinator with the Pacific Community's Social Citizenship Education programme.
The SPC's Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls last week published a paper detailing what they have been doing.
They have discovered while promoting human rights in the region, using traditional myths, customs, and folklore can get the message across.
The SPC's Arieta Moceica said in the Marshall Islands they identified those traditional stories that show respect and dignity for human beings and asked teachers to use them within the curriculum.
"Because they grew up with those legends and [we] said, how do you want to use them to strengthen your teaching outcomes. There's big agreement and they are very happy with the new curriculum, but let's strengthen the learning outcomes, let us develop teaching resources or teacher guides to augment the learning," she said
Qantas resumes flights to New Caledonia
The Australian airline Qantas has resumed its flights to New Caledonia after a more than two-year interruption because of the pandemic.
Photo: AFP
The first flight at the weekend came from Brisbane which is a popular destination for Noumea residents.
Qantas is also restarting flights from Sydney to Noumea, where passengers need to take a Covid-19 test two days after arrival.
Aircalin, which is New Caledonia's international carrier, had restarted flights to Australia in February and to New Zealand in May.
Qantas has been flying to New Caledonia for 80 years.