Dengue fever resurfaces in Samoa, Tonga all but qualifies for world netball cup, and professor says USP needs to bill its students more
Health expert urges caution after disease reappears
Cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in Samoa.
Acting Director General Tagaloa Robert Thomsen said while there is a presence of dengue fever, the evidence does not suggest Samoa will experience an outbreak.
Dr Thomsen said the hospital's surveillance team is on the look out for any new cases after six cases of dengue fever were confirmed for June, and the team has seen cases of the symptoms including diarrhoea, acute fever and rash.
Dr Thomsen said dengue fever usually occurs after rain and flooding and people need to watch out for mosquito breeding places.
Meanwhile, Dr Thomsen said an average of 250 people have been diagnosed with flu every day in the past three weeks.
He said there are currently three influenza viruses circulating in Samoa plus Covid-19 and he expects a surge in cases once Samoa's border opens to international travellers from August 1.
Tonga Tala thrash PNG for third win
Tonga have all but secured qualification to the Netball World Cup after securing their third win in the Oceania qualifying competition in Suva on Thursday night.
The Tala scored a comfortable win over Papua New Guinea, 89 - 28, to follow up on their victories over Samoa and Fiji.
Action from the Tonga (red) and Papua New Guinea game in Suva Photo: Netball Fiji
Tonga are top of the table with six points while three other teams all have two points, after one win apiece.
The Tala play their fourth and final game on Friday night, against the Cook Islands.
Meanwhile, Samoa secured its first victory of the competition, beating the Cook Islands 54 - 35.
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup finals being held in Cape Town, South Africa next year.
Charge Fijian students more says academic
A former professor of economics at the University of the South Pacific (USP) suggests the regional institution could overcome its financial woes by charging Fijian students higher fees.
Fiji has not paid its grant to the university for the past two years and the fee for USP has not been included in the new budget.
Wadan Narsey worked at USP for 40 years until he left in 2011 amid allegations funding would be withheld if he remained.
Narsey said the university could recoup the money by increasing the fees paid by Fijian students.
"For the 11 member countries that are currently paying their bills to USP it will make no difference, this change that I am suggesting.
"But, of course, it will make a difference to one government, and if they then insist on sending students to USP but not paying USP what they owe USP for getting them taught, then the university will be entitled to say to the students 'look, go home, you are not going to be registered until you pay the fees."
Unions want committee to look at deferred Solomons election
The Solomon Islands Council of Trade Unions (SICTU) wants a select committee to consult on Solomon Islands government's plans to defer the national election until next year.
SICTU said this committee should undertake national consultations on the proposal to defer the national election.
The union grouping said the four-year parliamentary term is provided under the National Constitution, which was formulated based on the peoples' views collected under the leadership of the First Chief Minister, Solomon Mamaloni.
New police patrol boat welcomed in the Cooks
A welcome ceremony in the Cook Islands has been held for the country's new police patrol boat Te Kukupa II.
The new boat replaces Te Kukupa I which served the Cook islands for over 30 years.
Prime Minister Mark Brown said in his address that Te Kukupa I had built up a sterling reputation over the years.
Te Kukupa II is one of 15 new Guardian Patrol Boats that have been donated by Australia to Pacific countries, including Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Palau.
Tongan PM visits old school on New Zealand trip
Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni is making a low-profile tour of New Zealand's Te Wai Pounamu, or South Island.
Hua'kavameiliku arrived in Christchurch on Wednesday and travelled to Ashburton and Timaru in Canterbury where he received a warm welcome from the local Tongan community.
He paid a visit to Timaru Boys' High School where he attended as a senior student in 1988 and spoke at a special reception about his teenage years in the town.
"Thirty-four years ago in 1988, four young Tongan students, including me, entered Timaru Boys' High," he said.
"Timaru Boys' High introduced us to the New Zealand way of life and what we needed to do to be successful in this environment in New Zealand."