Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Fiji - bureau
Four officers from Fiji's Counter Narcotic Bureau have been arrested for possession of illegal narcotics.
As a result, the Fijian government is closing the bureau down entirely and returning all officers to the police force.
The Fiji Times reports Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka saying he is very embarrassed and very angry.
Investigation is ongoing into the alleged involvement of the arrested officers.
American Samoa - dengue
American Samoa has confirmed 135 cases of dengue fever as of Friday.
The Health Department said its teams are actively working around the clock to control the spread.
The UN's Relief Web site says Samoa, Fiji, Tuvalu, and French Polynesia all reported cases in epidimiological week 35, from 25-31 August.
New Zealand - polyfest
The Polyfest Trust says next year's event will be held across two venues on two separate dates.
The first will be held at the Manukau Sports Bowl from March 18th to 21st and will feature ASB Polyfest stages from Diversity, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga.
The Māori stage will hold their performances from March 30th to April 2nd, at Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau.
New Polyfest Trust Chair and Principal of Papakura High School, Simon Craggs, says holding the festival across two venues and a few weeks apart allows for growth across all cultural stages over the coming years.
He says it also helps to relieve the pressure on the Manukau Sports Bowl.
Schools and stalls registrations are expected to open later this month.
The 348-foot vessel, once valued at over US$350 million, was detained in Lautoka in 2022 as part of Operation KleptoCapture, a US-led initiative to pressure Russian elites. Photo: AFP or licensors
Fiji - yacht
The US government has put the luxury mega-yacht Amadea up for sale three years after it was seized in waters near Fiji.
The 348-foot vessel, once valued at over US$350 million, was detained in Lautoka in 2022 as part of Operation KleptoCapture, a US-led initiative to pressure Russian elites following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
At the time, the seizure was carried out with cooperation from Fijian authorities and drew global attention to Fiji's role in supporting international sanctions.
The yacht is now being auctioned in a closed bidding process managed by National Maritime Services and Fraser Yachts.
Interested buyers must place a US$10m deposit.
Northern Marianas - services
The president of the Northern Marianas College says it is still assessing which specific services will be affected by the latest cuts from the US Department of Education (DoE).
The DoE has announced last week that it will be terminating funding to grant programs at minority-serving institutions.
The Northern Marianas College is designated as an Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander Serving Institution.
Marianas Press reports Dr Galvin Deleon Guerrero saying the termination of this funding is troubling because it directly impacts hundreds of its students who benefit from these programs.
He said the college will do everything it can to continue supporting its students.
Cricket
Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu will square off in the final of the East Asia-Pacific T20 cricket qualifier in Suva on Monday.
The two teams will clash at Albert Park at 1.30pm local time.
PNG defeated Indonesia by 5 wickets in their semi-final on Saturday, while Vanuatu accounted for Japan by 22 runs to secure their final spot.
The winner qualifies for the T20 World Cup global qualifier in Nepal.
Boxing
Medal winners at this week's Oceania Boxing Confederation (OBC) elite men's and women's championship in Pape'ete, Tahiti will receive prize money.
OBC president Tauhiti Nena said the International Boxing Association (IBA) has offered the monetary rewards for gold, silver and bronze medallists.
Gold medallists will get US$2000 each, silver winners will receive $1000 while bronze medallists will get $500 each.
The event is scheduled to begin Wednesday (NZ time), with finals confirmed for 20 September.
