.. Photo: Supplied/Save the Children
Cyclone-hit villages get NZ aid, there are more Covid-19 cases in Wallis and Futuna, repatriation flights to American Samoa will bring construction workers into the territor, and more.
Cyclone-hit villages get NZ aid
Cyclone-ravaged villages along the coast of Fiji's northern islands have received a boost from New Zealand.
Fiji has been hit with four cyclones in the past 12 months - three of them category five superstorms. The most recent was Ana in January.
The cyclones left one preson dead, thousands of people fleeing their homes and a recovery bill in the millions of dollars.
The NZ government this week injected another $US120,000 in its cyclone recovery assistance to the Fijians.
The New Zealand High Commission's development counsellor, Virginia Dawson, visited Naividamu Village (Nai-V-duh-moo) and said her government would continue to support and help cyclone-affected communities.
More Covid-19 cases in Wallis and Funtuna
Another seven people have tested positive for Wallis and Futuna, bringing the tally to 392.
All infections were recorded since March 6th when the territory discovered its first case in the community.
Four people had died as a result of the pandemic.
A vaccination drive managed to inoculate more than 41 percent of the population.
Eight people with the virus are in hospital care and another seven have been flown to New Caledonia.
Repatriation flights to bring workers into American Samoa
Some of the upcoming repatriation flights to American Samoa are intended to bring construction workers into the territory.
The Covid-19 Taskforce mentioned a request for a charter flight from Samoa by Fletcher Construction.
According to the American Samoa Power Authority CEO Wallon Young, a $US11.7 million contract was awarded to Fletchers to extend the sewer system from Aua to Onesosopo.
Young said the notice to proceed was issued on the first of March but work hadn't started because the company's construction engineers were stuck in New Zealand and Apia.
The Taskforce said the Fletcher Construction charter flight was tentatively planned for early April, and may also bring essential workers for other businesses.
Minors turn themselves in after fatal stabbing
Four minors in New Caledonia have turned themselves into police after a fight which left a 15-year-old stabbed to death.
The incident happened in a residential area of Paita on Monday night.
Reports said the Wallisian teenager was stabbed in the chest twice in circumstances yet to be established.
Firefighters were called to the scene but the boy died on the way to hospital.
The four teenagers were being questioned as part of an investigation into voluntary manslaughter.
Vanuatu students utilise online study
Most Vanuatu students who were due to study in New Caledonia under the Vanuatu government's scholarship programme are now studying online.
Others are studying in different institutions in Port Vila, such as the Vanuatu Institute of Public Administration and Management unit.
The Chairman of the Scholarship Board, Collin Natonga, confirmed that 37 government-sponsored students were not able to travel to New Caledonia due to the Covid-19 issues there.
He said the board made all possible arrangements to make sure that these students were occupied while waiting for the situation in New Caledonia to normalise.
Samoa's FAST party makes multi-million dollar promise
Samoa's Fa'atuatua I le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi, or FAST party, has pledged $US20m annually to the country's 51 electoral constituencies if they win the next week's election.
The pledge for development projects within electorates was among FAST's main focus areas in its new manifesto.
The five areas include: improved human development, sustainable economy, secure environment, trusted governance, and public works and infrastructure.
The party's stated vision is "To secure an environment that embraces freedom, safety and social harmony for all the people of Samoa."