Photo: RNZ / Walter Zweifel
Vanuatu - parliament
The Vanuatu parliament met briefly this morning to start its first ordinary session of 2023.
Speaker of the house Seoule Simeon welcomed MPs back to parliament and gave the floor to the president of the republic of Vanuatu Nikenike Vurobaravu.
Although the last legislature could not complete its mandate due to political instability Nikenike Vurobaravu commended the Vanuatu people for peacefully electing the current house and noted the first ever unopposed election of the current prime minister Ishmael Kalsakau.
He said it showed Vanuatu's democracy is alive and well but tempered his comments with a warning to the MPs of the current house.
Following today's opening sitting the Vanuatu Parliament was adjourned until Tuesday next week at 8:30am.
Tuvalu - tourism
The Pacific Tourism Organisation has welcomed Tuvalu as the latest signatory of the Pacific Leader's Sustainable Tourism Commitment.
Sixteen other Pacific countries and territories, as well as Timor Leste, have already signed the commitment.
Pacific Tourism Organisation CEO Christopher Cocker noted the need for regional solidarity with serious challenges facing the industry.
Cocker said tourism is not only considering post-Covid recovery, but also thinking ahead to prepare for and respond to climate change, natural disasters and other crises.
American Samoa - measles
American Samoa's epidemiologist says the number of probable measles cases has climbed from 54 to 58 over the last three days.
There are still only two laboratory confirmed cases in the territory.
Scott Anesi said he is still waiting on blood test results and will reclassify the probable cases when they return from the US mainland.
Meanwhile vaccination campaigns are ongoing and about 2000 measles vaccinations have been administered since the beginning of the outbreak.
Tuvalu - apology
An Australian-British author has apologised for comments about Tuvalu, during a Sky News panel discussing which nations may stay with the British monarchy.
In the viral video clip, Kathy Lette said of Tuvalu: "they're about to go underwater," and laughs, and mimes putting a snorkel on.
RNZ Pacific correspondent Kalafi Moala said there has been criticism saying Lette was making light of a situation that is seriously affecting a whole country's population.
"Sea-level rise is a genuine concern for Tuvaluans, [it is] not some fairy tale one person wrote," he said.
The Independent reported Lette issued an apology saying she had not intended to cause offence and was 'so sorry' if the throwaway comment came across as glib or uncaring.
In a statement issued to the news outlet, she said it was meant as a climate change warning as melting ice is jeopardising so many low-lying countries, so please accept her apology for clumsy phrasing.
"I am a committed environmentalist and horrified by climate change and the damage and devastation it inflicts on our poor planet," Lette said.
"I'm so sorry if, during a live Sky broadcast in which I was supporting the King's passion for conservation, a throw away comment I made about Tuvalu sinking, came across as glib or uncaring in any way."
Tuvalu's Finance Minister Seve Paeniu told RNZ Pacific the Sky News presenters needed a lot of education about the plight of Tuvalu and low-lying atoll nations due to climate change.
Samoa - contest
A 15-year-old student in Samoa has won the silver award in the World Children's Picture Contest.
Faamanu Swerlling, who has hearing and intellectual disabilities, joined the contest late last year, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The artwork portrays his views on culture and heritage objects used in the Samoan culture.
His aunt, Malia Upulasi, says Faamanu's parents had always dreamt of their son using his talent to take his place in society despite his disabilities.
Papua New Guinea - ice
Three Papua New Guinea police officers have faced disciplinary action after a video showed them consuming what appeared to be methamphetamine.
PNG Police said the three were only served with administrative charges because when they were apprehended on May 6, there was no evidence of any illicit substance in their possession.
A search warrant was obtained, and one officer's house was searched but nothing was found.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Wagambie Jr said the trio denied consuming methamphetamine.
Wagambie said with the increase in the production, distribution, and consumption of the drug in the NCD Central command, any police officer caught involved directly or indirectly will be dealt with and will be recommended for dismissal.
Australia/Pacific - budget
The Pacific is set to receive $AU1.9 billion over five years, as announced in the Anthony Albanese government's budget.
The money is to expand engagement with Pacific Island countries.
The largest part of the package is a security pledge of $1.4 billion to be spent over four years, with around $900 million of this taken from the Defence budget.
Also included is $371 million in funding to expand and improve the Pacific-Australia labour mobility scheme.
Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers said in his budget speech the Albanese government was upholding the security and stability of the region with the budget.
"Which is why we are implementing the recommendations of the defence strategic review and allocating $1.9 billion to strengthen our relationship within the Pacific," Chalmers said.
Papua New Guinea - corruption
Corruption investigators and prosecutors in Papua New Guinea are this week the first in the world to take part in an advanced training programme to combat corruption.
The programme, delivered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, or UNODC, is organised by the PNG Department of Justice and Attorney General with support from the European Union.
This advanced training aims to further boost skills and enhance cooperation between key integrity agencies to more effectively investigate corruption, money laundering and other financial crime.
The UNODC officer in charge, Graeme Gunn, says effective enforcement of anti-corruption laws is critical to PNG's Vision 2050 by supporting effective systems and processes to bring corrupt actors to account.
He said as criminals get smarter and adopt new methods to conceal their conduct, corruption fighters need the best available techniques and skills to respond effectively.
Samoa - bylaw
The village of Nono'a in Saleimoa on the island of Upolu in Samoa has begun enforcing a bylaw targeting unlicensed drivers to address reckless driving in their community.
The Samoa Observer quoted the mayor Liutagata Soolua Vaoga saying the village is currently working to amend its bylaws so they can implement this change.
According to Liutagata, the initiative comes from a recent meeting between the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development and all village mayors, where they were urged to strictly monitor unlicensed drivers within their villages.
He added it was their way of assisting police with accidents that happen on the road.
A chief within the village, Falealii Mika also said that all chiefs in the village are obliged to inform their families and neighbours of the new village bylaw and its strict conditions.