Solomons gets health boost from Washington
Solomon Islands has received additional critical health support from the United States in the on-going battle against Covid-19
The US Government has supplied Solomon Islands' Ministry of Health and Medical Services in Honiara with essential medical supplies and Covid-19 vaccines. File photo Photo:
The US Government handed over essential medical supplies, together with more critical vaccines, to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in Honiara to support its response activities against Covid-19.
The Solomons' Minister of Health, Culwick Togamana, said while the Covid-19 situation had improved, the Solomons was not yet in the clear due to re-opening the borders.
He said, therefore, that Covid-19 testing and the continued roll out of vaccines remained critical.
Togamana also revealed an outbreak of Viral Respiratory Illness in Honiara, and parts of Malaita and Guadalcanal provinces.
NZ foreign minister's pledge to Niue
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has confirmed a further NZ$500,000 dollar investment to complete design and planning for Niue's renewable energy projects.
She said this built on the NZ$5 million for solar generation from a 2018 climate package.
A senior delegation of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined her on the trip to advance work on Aotearoa's Pacific Resilience and climate action priorities.
During the trip Mahuta met with the Premier of Niue, Dalton Tagelagi and his Cabinet, and attended a special session with the Niue Legislative Assembly at the new Fale Fono II.
US nuclear-capable weapon lands near Marshalls atoll
The United States has successfully tested a long-range, nuclear-capable ballistic missile after twice postponing the launch to avoid stoking tensions over Ukraine and Taiwan.
The Air Force Global Strike Command launched the unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile over the Pacific from California just after midnight local time.
The re-entry vehicle travelled about 6,760km to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
The missile carried a test re-entry vehicle, which, in a strategic conflict, could be armed with a nuclear warhead.
The Air Force said the test launch was part of routine and periodic activities and was not because of current world events.
Samoa College has become the first school in Samoa to reduce classes to cope with an increasing number of students and teachers being infected by the coronavirus since the lifting of emergency measures.
The Samoa Observer reports a teacher has said they have had to split classes, by adding an extra class to each level so they now have six classes per level instead of five.
That reduces numbers from a maximum of 36 in a room to 28.
Samoa's audit report delayed due to variety of factors
Samoa's Auditor General says the delay in publicly publishing audit reports is due to a number of factors, including the measles epidemic in 2019, Covid-19, the election impasse, the constitutional and judicial crisis, and the transition to a new government.
Audit reports identify any shortcomings in ministries or government agency internal controls, to ensure they are complying with laws and regulations.
The Auditor General, Fuimaono Camillo Afele, said the Covid-19 state of emergency and lockdowns had only recently been lifted this month since their commencement in early 2020, soon after the measles epidemic.
Region's top cops to meet in Fiji
Heads of police from 21 Pacific Island nations and territories are due to meet in Fiji for their annual conference next week.
Fiji Police will be hosting the 49th Pacific Island Chief of Police (PICP) Conference, which will also mark the 50th anniversary of the organisation.
The annual gathering could not be held for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year's conference will be held from 24-27 August in Nadi and focus on the theme of 'Wellbeing and Resilience' to make the Pacific safer.
PICP was founded in 1970 in Suva, Fiji and is one of the oldest regional bodies in the Pacific.
100 people on sex offender registry
Five years after the Samoa Government launched a sex offender registry there are just over 100 sex offenders registered, including one woman.
Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo said the registry protected women and children.
In March, Supreme Court Justice, Vui Clarence Nelson, expressed concerns over "serious sex offenders being repatriated to Samoa as returnees without any information".
He said this presented a danger to residents and that the sex offender registry should also ensure proper monitoring of such people.
New Zealand appoints high commissioner to Kiribati
Andre Van Der Walt has been appointed as New Zealand's new High Commissioner to Kiribati.
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced the appointment.
She said Aotearoa was working with Kiribati on its ambitious development goals.
Mahuta said New Zealand would also continue to support Kiribati following the declaration of a nationwide State of Disaster due to a prolonged drought.
Van Der Walt is currently managing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's humanitarian and disaster management team.
Fuel costs drive inflation in French Polynesia
Figures released in French Polynesia show prices rose by 1.6 percent in July, bringing the annual inflation rate to 6.9 percent.
The increase was mainly due to higher transport costs, which went up by nearly 8 percent. Air travel became 17.3 percent more expensive as fuel costs rose by almost 24 percent.
While restaurant prices have been largely unchanged, the cost of seafood has dropped by nine percent and vegetable prices by one percent.
Inflation in mainland France is slightly lower at 6.1 percent.
PNG's prime minister condemns burning of ballot boxes
Papua New Guinea's prime minister, James Marape, has condemned the burning of ballot boxes in the Mendi Police Station in Southern Highlands Province.
He described those who undertook the acts as "constitutional terrorists" and said police would go to Mendi to conduct an investigation and arrest those responsible.
Marape also announced that a police team had been established to ensure criminal charges were laid against those who had engaged in illegal practices and election-related violence and offences.
Pacific neighbours help each other out
The Northern Marianas is to donate 50,000 Covid-19 test kits to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.
Governor Ralph Torres said the donation was a reciprocal arrangement after the help the Marianas received in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018.
The Northern Marianas will also ship personal protective equipment such as gowns, gloves, face masks, and hand sanitiser to the two countries from this weekend.