Covid cases on Nauru continue to rise
The number of active covid-19 cases in Nauru has risen to 3,381 as the country's second week of experiencing community transmission comes to an end.
President Lionel Aingimea says 220 new cases have been recorded in the latest 24-hour period.
He said, so far, just under 10-thousand (9890) tests have been processed.
Niue detects two more Covid-19 cases at the border
Niue has detected two Cases of Covid-19 at the border following mandatory day three testing.
That takes the total number of cases in Niue to seven, since the opening of Quarantine Free Travel on Monday, July 27 local time.
The Director-General of Social Services Gaylene Tasmania said the seven active cases and their close contacts are isolated and being monitored very closely by Niue's health officials.
Premier Dalton Tagelagi has been confirmed as close contact and is isolated.
Ms Tasmania said Niue remains at Alert Level Yellow as there is no community transmission.
Anyone experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms has been asked to contact Niue Foou Hospital.
Samoa's Health Ministry reports more Covid cases
The Samoa Ministry of Health has confirmed eight passengers off a flight from New Zealand on June 26 tested for Covid-19 on arrival.
The Ministry's latest reporting period data shows that 50 new community cases were reported from June 27 to 29.
The total number of community and border cases now stands at 14,964.
There were no Covid-related deaths during the period in review and the total number of deaths since 17 March 2022 remains at 29.
So far 158,240 rapid antigen tests have been given since the first community case was confirmed.
The Ministry continues to promote vaccination as the best defense against the severe effects of the virus.
The Northern Marianas has recorded its 35th Covid-19-related death.
Health officials have also reported 189 new community cases.
The CNMI recently moved into Covid-19 community level medium due to an increase in the number of community cases.
Fundraising drive in Auckland for Tongan NGO
A Pasifika group in Auckland is raising funds to buy a 12-seater vehicle for the Women's and Children's Crisis Centre in Tonga.
The centre is Tonga's main public service for women and children needing refuge from domestic violence.
Organiser, Reverend Asora Amosa said January's volcanic eruption has inspired people to help.
"It's in our human DNA to help. Part of our makeup is to help. That is primarily the reason for our team to reach out in this fashion, it's the passion and spirit of giving, to help out someone in need."
The donation drive ends Saturday.
Samoa Under-16 women's basketball team makes history in Jordan
The Samoa Under-16 women's Basketball team has made history by taking out the Division B championship at the FIBA U16 Women's Asian Championship 2022 in Amman, Jordan.
The FIBA Under-16 Women's Asian Championship is an event under the International Basketball Federation's FIBA Asia zone.
The national team captained by Azaleeah Oloapu defeated the Syrian team after a very tight contest finishing off with a 79-76 to win Division B.
In an interview with FIBA media, Oloapu, who is a Samoan living in Australia, said that she hopes to see the sport grow back in her motherland in the near future.
"I live in Australia, where basketball is very strong over there, so there's a lot of people who support and encourage it. But in Samoa, there are not very many people who play basketball or know how to play basketball," she said.
The tournament started in 2009 and is held every two years with the top four teams qualifying for the FIBA Under-17 Women's Basketball World Cup.
Aircalin to fly twice a week from Noumea to Singapore,
Tourism links are set to be boosted between New Caledonia and Singapore with a new airline route now operating.
Noumea airport at La Tontouta New Caledonia Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel
Aircalin will fly twice a week from Noumea to Singapore, with the aim of inducing the tourism market in the territory and adding new links to Asia and Europe.
Director of New Caledonia Tourism Julie Laronde told La Premiere the new route could even help reach other south-eastern Asian markets.
"It is a fantastic opportunity for us to open our tourism market to Singaporeans but also other markets in South East Asia.
It will even help us develop a tourism clientelle with new linking routes from France and Europe," she said.
Cook Islands' football team handed a tough OFC draw
The Cook Islands' top football team, Nikao Sokattak FC, has been handed a daunting draw in the OFC Champions League as they face nine-time winners Auckland City FC in their group.
The draw, which was made on Thursday in Auckland, also pits Nikao with the most recent champions Hienghène Sport and Fiji's Rewa FC.
In Group A, Tahiti's AS Vénus have been drawn alongside Vanuatu's Galaxy FC, Papua New Guinea's Lae City FC, and first-time entrants Central Coast FC.
The winners will represent Oceania at the FIFA Club World Cup at the end of the year.
It's the first time the Champions League has been held since 2019 due to pandemic-induced travel restrictions.
Solomon Islands and Tahiti name their OFC squads
Solomon Islands and Tahiti have named their respective 22-player squads for the upcoming OFC Women's Nations Cup in Fiji.
Solomons coach Batram Suri has called up a team of entirely domestic-based players for the tournament which starts later this month.
Solomon Islands have been drawn in Group C alongside Fiji and New Caledonia.
Tahiti coach Stéphanie Spielmann meanwhile has chosen a mixture of domestic-based players as well as those based in France, India and the United States.
Tahiti has been drawn into Group B alongside Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
The tournament winners then play in an inter-continental playoff for the chance to play in the Women's World Cup next year.
