Indonesia s Covid-19 numbers rise sharply
The death toll from Covid-19 is rising sharply in Indonesia along with the number of confirmed cases.
There are 991 reported new deaths, and more than 54-thousand cases in one day, taking the total to over 2.6 million.
So far just under 70-thousand people are reported to have died in Indonesia from the virus.
The Health Ministry said the highly contagious Delta variant has spread to 11 areas outside the main island of Java.
FAST has 26 seats to HRPP s 17
In Samoa s latest electoral petition hearing for the Vaisigano No. 1 seat, both candidates have been cleared of corruption.
The court has found that neither the caretaker HRPP Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Lopao o Natanielu Mua or Niuava Eti Malolo from election night FAST party winner, were guilty of bribery.
General voting is underway across Samoa to decide who will govern the country for the next five years.
After four days of pre-polling, the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) leads with 27 seats, Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) leads in 20 seats, and Tautua Samoa Party leads in one constituency.
There s a dead heat between HRPP and FAST in another constituency.
HRPP which has controlled Samoa for close to four decades, is facing its stiffest challenge yet from FAST.
Samoa Election office staff
Photo: RNZ Pacific/Tipi Autagavaia
Led by former HRPP deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, FAST looks set to cause major upsets.