Eight Papuan students charged with treason for flying banned flag
Human rights groups have called for the release of eight Papuan students charged with treason in Indonesia for holding up a banned flag.
The students raised the Morning Star on Wednesday in the city of Jayapura, to celebrate what many Papuans regard as their independence day.
A former Dutch colony, the region was incorporated into Indonesia in the 1960s, but many Papuans want independence.
Amnesty International said no one should be imprisoned for peacefully expressing their political opinions.
Only vaccinated fans and players allowed at Fiji rugby 7s tournament - organisers
Only fully vaccinated Fijians will be allowed to watch a sevens rugby tournament next week.
Organisers of the Wairiki Sevens Carnival on Taveuni said this was part of the Health Ministry's Covid-19 protocol.
The wearing of masks will also be compulsory and fans are required to bring their vaccination card, showing double dose and their ID.
This also applies to players and team officials.
Amongst the surge in positive Covid-19 cases in the Northern Marianas, the islands recorded its fourth Covid-19-related death.
Governor Ralph Torres confirmed the death during his regular news briefing on Friday.
The CNMI posting its fourth death due to pandemic came shortly after the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) announced 104 new Covid-19 cases.
Covid-19 testing at the former Mariana Resort & Spa Saipan Photo: Mark Rabago
Of the 104 new cases, 23 were identified via community testing and 81 via contact tracing.
Of the 81 identified via contact tracing, 52 were identified while in quarantine.
Domestic violence cases in Samoa on the rise
Samoa Police are concerned at the rise of domestic violence in the last three years.
Assistant Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo was talking following the death of a mother of six, allegedly at the hands of her husband this week.
Auapa'au said the woman - between 30 and 40 years old - had died from stab wounds.
Her husband is in police custody.
Auapa'au said that 878 domestic violence cases were reported in 2019 and 964 in 2020.
He said so far this year Samoa police have received 628 complaints of domestic violence.
Samoan government to distribute stimulus package for businesses
The Samoan government will distribute a 10 million tālā stimulus package for private enterprises
The Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Molio'o, told TV1Samoa this is a continuation of efforts by the FAST government to assist businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Half of the money will go to the tourism industry.
At least 150 tourism related operations will benefit from the package according to the President of the Samoa Hotel Association, Tupa'i Sale'moa Va'ai.
Pacific community service offers financial advice to Pasifika on home ownership
A Pacific community service in New Zealand wants to change mindsets around money for Pasifika.
Pasifika for Tomorrow is one of 15 organisations selected by the Ministry of Pacific Peoples to provide financial advice to help Pacific communities into home ownership.
The service is on offer to the Pacific population of 2000 people in the Horowhenua community in Levin, near Wellington.
Manager Rasela Fuauli said the funding boost will enable them to provide more financial mentoring.
She said after she tried a year of budgeting she was able to afford a deposit on her first home.
Ructions within Samoa's HRPP party
A senior MP and former Cabinet Minister has admitted his HRPP party made a major mistake in thinking that they would not be toppled from power.
The party which had been in power since 1982 was beaten in the April election, and has since lost four seats in by-elections.
Tapunuu Niko Lee Hang told the Samoa Observer the HRPP mistakenly believed that they would remain on top but made a mistake in taking success for granted.
He said they never knew how strong the now ruling FAST party's strategy would be when they prepared their election campaign.
Another former Cabinet Minister, Loau Keneti Sio, has called on former prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and other opposition party leaders to "hang up their boxing gloves", following the party's crushing electoral defeats.