Samoa's health ministry continues to encourage all the eligible population to get their booster doses. Photo: Supplied
Samoa - covid
The week between 25 and 31 December saw 44 cases of Covid-19 reported in Samoa.
The Ministry of Health's surveillance report - dated 1 January but released on Monday - shows the 44 cases were reported over the previous seven days, but none of them from the border.
It takes the country's total cumulative cases to 17,006.
The health ministry continues to encourage all the eligible population - especially those who are high risk - to get their booster doses at any health facility in Upolu and Savaii.
Samoa - doctors
The Dean of the Oceania University of Medicine says Samoa is in need of about 100 more doctors.
Professor Asiata Dr Satupaitea Viali wrote in the Samoa Observer that the country needs a minimum of 200 doctor to cater for its population.
According to World Health Organisation, the ideal doctor to people ratio is one to 1000.
Asiata said this number could be achieved through Samoa's school of medicine and additional doctors coming in from New Zealand or Australia universities.
Tonga - airline
The Lulutai Airlines plane involved in a crash last month remains out of commission as it struggles to find a replacement to service the domestic routes during the busy holiday season.
The plane, which had 35 passengers, was damaged when it hit a cement block while taxiing at Fua'amotu Airport on 8 December 2023.
No passengers were injured.
Matangi Tonga online reports the Civil Aviation investigation into the cause of the crash continues.
Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, the chairman of the board of Lulutai Airlines, said the travelling public will just "have to make do" because the airline has difficulty finding a replacement.
Lulutai Airlines also has another aircraft out of service, the Y12.
Only one aircraft, a new Twin Otter, is flying the domestic routes between Tongatapu to the outer islands.
Lulutai Airline Saab 340 aircraft that slid off the runway at Tonga's Fua'amotu airport on Friday. 8 December 2023 Photo: Facebook.xom/Paongo F George
Cook Islands - infrastructure
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says more money is going to be allocated to Rarotonga's critical infrastructure.
Brown, who is also the finance minister, will allocate the money in a supplementary budget next month when Parliament sits.
Brown said the budget will specifically target completing road projects.
He told the Cook Islands News he thought the country's books were in good shape for the first half of the financial year.
Palau - arrested
Four Chinese visitors in Palau have been arrested for the suspected homicide of a tour guide.
The victim, 37-year-old Peng Li, a Chinese national, was found in the Ewall area on 21 December last year.
Island Times Palau reports charges were expected to be filed in court on Thursday local time.
Prior to the arrest police were offering a $1000 reward for information leading to the capture of the suspects.
Police later found the suspects in a hotel.