PNG confirms Omicron case
Papua New Guinea's Pandemic Response Controller, David Manning, has confirmed the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is in the country.
He has told the National newspaper that the carrier was a man who travelled from South Africa last month through London and Hong Kong.
The Controller of the PNG National Pandemic Response, David Manning, receives a shot of the Covid-19 vaccine produced by Astrazeneca. Photo: PNG PM Media
He said the man had not displayed any symptoms when he was initially tested, but a subsequent test returned a positive result and the man is now in quarantine.
Mr Manning said the arrival of Omicron had been expected and said there shouldn't be increased concern as long as people observe public health safety measures.
To date PNG has recorded more than 34,000 cases of the virus, with 594 deaths, but health experts believe the actual figures are much higher.
Plea for Vanuatu Govt to re-affirm West Papua support
The Vanuatu Free West Papua Association is pressuring the government to re-affirm its support for the liberation of West Papua.
The association has launced a petition and says the government must take the lead to push for the UN Human Rights Commissioner visit to West Papua.
It also says the government shouldn't establish a Vanuatu diplomatic office in Jakarta.
And it wants the publication of West Papua Today banned, because it says it's political propaganda from the Indonesian government aiming to undermine the groups advocating for the human rights of the Melanesians of West Papua.
The association is also calling on the government not to send scholarship students to study in Indonesia, because it claims those students will be indoctrinated by Jakarta.
Global programme to fight mosquito-borne diseases underway in New Caledonia
There has been a further release of the Wolbachia bacterium in New Caledonia as part of a global programme to fight mosquito-borne diseases.
In the town of Mont-Dore, 2,400 mosquitos carrying the bacterium were let go - two years after the campaign was launched in nearby Noumea.
Females of the aedes aegypti mosquito become sterile if they contract this bacterium.
According to the public broadcaster, more than 70 percent of these mosquitos in Noumea now have the bacteria, reducing the likelihood of dengue, zika and chikungunya being spread.
It reports that a survey showed more than 90 percent of those questioned in Mont-Dore approve of the programme, which costs about $US1.5m.
In 2019, New Caledonia had a serious dengue outbreak when more than 360 people needed hospital care and two died.
PNG and Vanuatu lose voting rights in the UN General Assembly
Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu are among eight countries which have lost their voting rights in the United Nations General Assembly for failing to pay their dues.
PNG's National newspaper reports the suspensions take effect immediately.
The UN Charter said members whose arrears equal or exceed the amount of their contributions for the preceding two full years lose their voting rights.
The Charter does allow for the General Assembly to decide if there were extenuating circumstances.
People in Samoa should heed disaster advisories
In Samoa, the public has been warned to heed disaster advisories and to not film impending dangerous situations on their phones.
The Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Center, Agafili Shem Leo issued the warning during a press conference following the volcanic activities in Tonga.
Agafili says a warning went out on Saturday evening for residents on coastal villages to evacuate to higher ground but some chose to take photos instead of leaving.
He says when officials drove through the southern coastal areas on Saturday night people were still sitting on seawalls watching and filming on their phones.
Meanwhile, the Meteorology office said it's continuing to monitor the seismic activities and developments in Tonga.
French Polynesia poised to introduce France's new Covid-19 health pass
French Polynesia is poised to introduce France's new Covid-19 health pass which will exclude unvaccinated people from restaurants, sports arenas and other venues.
The new measure was voted in in the National Assembly in view of the surge in the number of Omicron cases.
French Polynesia's president Edouard Fritch, who had spoken out in favour of such a pass to help shore up the healthcare system, is yet to say when the new pass will come into force.
Last year, the territory approved a law making vaccinations mandatory by October but deferred its application to late December.
However, no fines will be issued until after next week.
Among those defying the law are a government minister, Tearii Alpha, and the assembly president, Gaston Tong Sang.
The tourism minister, Nicole Bouteau, resigned last year in protest at minister being allowed to go against government policy.