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Tuvalu Covid-19 cases climb
The number of Covid-19 cases in Tuvalu's first community outbreak has surpassed 2000.
There have been 2364 cases in total, 356 of which have been reported in the latest press release on Sunday evening local time.
The Department of Health said it has not confirmed any deaths which were primarily due to Covid-19.
Ministry of Health spokesperson, Lily Tangisia Faavae said it has been a massive undertaking for health workers.
"We still have an increasing number of positive tested cases here in the capital. We've had about 11 hospitalised cases and five out of 11 have been discharged."
Cook Islands PM could pursue UN membership says local media
Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown said his country could pursue United Nations membership to become a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for future financing options.
Cook Islands News reports Brown saying he wanted Cook Islands to join the IMF as soon as possible, and targeted 2023 to become a member.
Brown said a lot of the financing support spoken about now is going to use the IMF architecture.
He said it's important to be a member of the IMF so they are part of the financing options that are going to be made available to countries.
He said the prerequisite for joining the IMF is to join the UN, so UN membership is back on the table, but he said the country could also try applying directly to the IMF.
New Zealand Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson recently called for the Cook Islands to become a full member nation of the United Nations, without having to relinquish dual New Zealand citizenship.
Company in French Polynesia to relaunch discontinued journal
French Polynesia's last daily newspaper, which ceased publication in April, will be relaunched.
A new company, NAOS, has acquired La Depeche de Tahiti, and said it would restart the publication with an online edition shortly, to be followed with a printed version.
The company said permanent premises have to be found and staffing issues settled.
The paper had been shut down in April after a rescue plan submitted by the previous owner in 2018 had failed.
In 2014, the territory's other daily, Les Nouvelles de Tahiti, was shut down after 57 years of publication.
Both Les Nouvelles and La Depeche used to belong to the French Hersant group, which almost ten years ago also sold off its daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes in Noumea.
Two foreigners get jail time for drug importation
Two foreign sailors have been jailed for seven years in French Polynesia after their yacht was intercepted with more than 420kg of cocaine on board.
The criminal court in Papeete has found them guilty of importation, possession and transport of narcotics, as well as smuggling offences.
The two men, aged 55 and 46, have also been fined $US15 million.
The older man, who was the captain, denied any knowledge of the cargo.
Their British-registered and Swedish-flagged yacht had been intercepted near Tahiti two months ago after it had sailed from Panama.
The sailors were escorted into port where 379 packs of cocaine were found concealed in the stern of the yacht.
PNG police confiscate 125kg of meth
Papua New Guinea police have confiscated 125kg of methamphetamine and apprehended four people in the National Capital District.
Police Commissioner David Manning said the haul is worth about $US10 million at commercial street value.
He said a small quantity of dangerous drugs was to be posted overseas but was intercepted by the police which led to the arrest of two PNG nationals and two Malaysians.
The Comissioner said the suspects are to be charged under the new Dangerous Drugs Amended Act and other Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
He said the Australian authorities will be contacted to do lab tests of the confiscated drugs.
New Caledonia's ASAF crowned league champions
The New Caledonia women's club ASAF have been crowned football league champions after a 2-2 draw with FCF Academia.
A draw was enough to secure the league title.
In the territory's Men Super League, leaders Tiga Sport earned a victory over AS Wetr 4-3.
Meanwhile, Tahiti's Ligue One action saw the AS Dragon beat AS Tamarii Temanava by 7-2.
Other teams enjoyed a win with AS Venus and beating AS Central Sport 3-2 and AS Tefana winning 3-0 over AS Tamarii Punaruu.
In Solomon's Talakom S-league, the Solomon Warriors remained at the top with a 4-0 win over FC Isabel United.
Henderson Eels stayed strong after beating Honiara City 5-2.
Tonga beat Uruguay
Tonga gained a boost for next year's rugby World Cup with a resounding victory against Uruguay at the weekend.
The Tongans won 43-19 in Bucharest, Romania.
Also in Bucharest, Samoa added to the island's sporting success story with a 22-0 win over hosts Romania.
In France, Fiji also had a comprehensive win as they defeated the French Barbarians 46-14.
British Chess Grandmaster visits Tonga
Tongan chess players were given a taste of what world class chess playing feels like, taking on British Chess Grandmaster, Nigel Short in an exhibition match last week.
It took Short less than an hour and half to dismantle all 10 opponents at the event hosted by Hotel Nuku'alofa.
Short, who is the vice president of the International Chess Federation, said he wanted to give local chess players the opportunity to learn by playing the best.
"I'll be quite honest, the standard was not too high, but that's okay they will improved. The important thing is that they get competition that they get regular practice," he said.
