Eight Papuan students charged with treason for flying banned flag

Human rights groups have called for the release of eight Papuan students accused of treason in Indonesia for waving a banned flag.

Students lifted the Morning Star on Wednesday in the town of Jayapura, to celebrate what many Papuans consider their independence day.

A former Dutch colony, the region was incorporated into Indonesia in the 1960s, but many Papuans want independence.

Amnesty International has said that no one should be jailed for peacefully expressing their political views.

Only fans and vaccinated players are allowed at the Fiji Sevens Rugby Tournament – organizers

Only fully vaccinated Fijians will be allowed to attend a rugby sevens tournament next week.

Organizers of the Wairiki Sevens carnival in Taveuni said it was part of the Ministry of Health’s Covid-19 protocol.

Wearing a mask will also be compulsory and fans must bring their vaccination record, mentioning the double dose and their identity document.

This also applies to players and team officials.

Amid the upsurge in positive Covid-19 cases in the Northern Mariana Islands, the islands recorded its fourth death linked to Covid-19.

Governor Ralph Torres confirmed the death during his regular press briefing on Friday.

CNMI reported its fourth death from a pandemic, which came shortly after the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) announced 104 new cases of Covid-19.

Of the 104 new cases, 23 were identified through community testing and 81 through contact tracing.

Of the 81 identified through contact tracing, 52 were identified in quarantine.

Increased cases of domestic violence in Samoa

Police in Samoa are concerned about the rise in domestic violence over the past three years.

Deputy Police Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo was speaking after the death of a mother of six, allegedly at the hands of her husband this week.

Auapa’au said the woman – aged 30 to 40 – died of stab wounds.

Her husband is in police custody.

Auapa’au said 878 cases of domestic violence were reported in 2019 and 964 in 2020.

He said that so far this year, Samoan police have received 628 complaints of domestic violence.

Samoan government to distribute stimulus package for businesses

Samoan government to distribute 10 million tālā stimulus package to private companies

Finance Minister Mulipola Anarosa Molio’o told TV1Samoa that this was a continuation of the FAST government’s efforts to help 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 Samoa Hotel Association president Tupa’i Sale’moa Va’ai.

Pacific Community Service Provides Financial Advice to Pasifika on Homeownership

A Pacific community service in New Zealand wants to change attitudes about money for Pasifika.

Pasifika for Tomorrow is one of 15 organizations selected by the Pacific Peoples Department to provide financial advice to help Pacific communities homeownership.

The service is offered to the Pacific population of 2,000 in the Horowhenua community in Levin, near Wellington.

Director Rasela Fuauli said the increased funding will allow them to provide more financial mentorship.

She said that after trying a year of budgeting, she was able to afford a deposit on her first home.

Reductions in the HRPP party of Samoa

A senior MP and former cabinet minister admitted his HRPP party made a major mistake in believing it would not be removed from power.

The party in power since 1982 was defeated in the April election and has since lost four seats in by-elections.

Tapunuu Niko Lee Hang told the Samoa Observer HRPP mistakenly believed he would stay on top, but made a mistake by taking success for granted.

He said they never knew how strong the strategy of the currently ruling FAST party would be when they prepared their election campaign.

Another former Cabinet Minister, Loau Keneti Sio, called on former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and other leaders of opposition parties to “hang up their boxing gloves”, following the party’s crushing election defeats.