PINA

As a large gaseous cloud continues to rise to 18km altitude and drift over all islands, all Tongan residents were advised by geologists to protect their water tanks from possible acidic rainfall, until the volcanic eruption ceases. Hunga Ha'apai is located 65km NNW of Nuku'alofa, from where the bright white gas cloud can be seen on the horizon. Bursts of lightning...

Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. urged senators to reconsider the passage of the proposed Digital Residency Identification bill, which earlier failed to get a majority of the votes in the Senate. In his letter to Senate President Hokkons Baules, Whipps vowed to engage with the Olbiil Era Kelulau to consider amendments to the bill. “I write to urge your consideration and...

The Solomon Islands court has granted bail to one of the instigators of the recent rioting and looting in Honiara. Simon Mannie was arrested and charged by police with one count of unauthorised public assembly and public procession contrary to regulation 14(1) and (3)(a) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.3) 2021; Regulation 4 of the Emergency Powers (Covid-10) (declaration of...

Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services has rolled out the COVID-19 booster dose for a specific target population in the country. According to the Government, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been authorised for use as the booster dose by stringent regulatory authorities with more than 30 countries (U.S, UK, Israel, Singapore and France) administering the dose. “A booster dose will...

Australia must move past "the heavy hand of government" and authorities must stop shutting down people's lives with COVID-19 lockdowns, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday, as daily infections in the country shot up to a new pandemic high. COVID-19 cases have been breaking records over the last several days, the surge fuelled by the more transmissible Omicron variant,...

Kiribati and Tuvalu on 13 December officially started using UNCTAD’s ASYCUDAWorld customs management software to automate import and export clearance processes. The move will make trade easier, faster and cheaper for businesses in the two Pacific island nations, and for those wishing to do business with them. Until now, customs paperwork was processed manually on the islands. This was a time-consuming...

One of the Pacific's leading voices on the aviation industry says it would have been "nice" if Pacific airlines had been used for a COVID-19 aid delivery that cost the Australian government around $600,000 (US$429,000) in private charter fees. The Australian government has come under scrutiny with a report in The Age claiming Canberra spent almost $600,000 hiring private luxury...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is expected to rescue PNG Power Limited before Christmas. This is by way of carrying out a major overhaul of all its power stations throughout the country including Port Moresby. Minister for State Owned Enterprise William Duma accompanied by PNG Power Limited chairman Moses Maladina and Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) acting chairman Dr David Kavanamur made...

Written by Maria Borovnik, Charlotte Bedford, Rochelle Bailey The Kiribati government closed their international border late in March 2020, to keep their island population of approximately 140,000 people safe from COVID-19. Luckily the system worked, and the country has managed well, with only two (unconfirmed) cases. Many I-Kiribati seafarers, however, ended up stranded overseas as a consequence of the...

It is important to seize this opportunity to get dedicated support for people on the front lines of climate impacts, urgently and based on need By Zoha Shawoo A top priority for many developing countries at last month’s UN climate talks was to secure finance for “loss and damage” – the cost of major climate change impacts that can no...