Mt Ulawun eruption could continue indefinitely, the Rabaul Volcano Observatory said. 22 November 2023 Photo: NBC West New Britain
PNG - Mt Ulawan
Several thousand Papua New Guineans remain in limbo, three months after being displaced by the eruption of Mt Ulawun.
Papua New Guinea's Rabaul Volcano Observatory lowered Ulawun's alert level on January 9th, but said it wasn't completely quiet.
Benar News visited two of the makeshift camps - Sogula and Kabaya - and said conditions are difficult due to the rainy season and the flimsy structures people are living in.
One woman said they cannot sleep, fearing the wind and rain will remove their tents.
She said most of them sleep in wet clothes on wet blankets.
Gregory Paulu, the leader of the Kabaya camp, said the province's disaster committee should develop a restoration and resettlement plan and consider moving the camps to higher ground.
PNG - trial
The perjury trial of former Papua New Guinea Prime minister Peter O'Neill has been set for April.
The Post-Courier reports the National Court presided by Justice Teresa Berrigan confirmed these dates when Mr O'Neill appeared in court.
In June last year, Peter O'Neill was charged with lying under oath during the 2014 inquiry into the Union Bank of Switzerland loan.
Police alleged that O'Neill's statements presented before the Commission of Inquiry from 2011-2019 were false and misleading, and contradicted the policy submissions by the National Executive Council also known as the Cabinet of Papua New Guinea
On 12 June last year, he was arrested and charged with three counts of giving false evidence under oath.
Justice Berrigan confirmed his bail was extended.
Tonga - politics
A call has been made for Tonga's King to urgently refine what has been labelled the kingdom's 'fragile democracy'.
Kaniva Tonga reports a group of New Zealand-based Tongan democrats say the King's memo earlier this month - withdrawing his consent to the appointment of two ministers - was a serious threat to the democratic system.
Members of the Democracy and Media for Tonga Political Reform 2010 Committee said the King's action tarnished the executive power that had been given to the people.
The committee's members include Tongan democrats of the Democratic Party (PTOA) and media personnel in Auckland.
They alleged the King's memorandum meant he wanted to use it as a precedent to ensure future Prime Ministers did not nominate any ministers for the defense and foreign affairs portfolios without his consent.
Attempts by Kaniva News to reach the Privy Council and the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa for comment have been unsuccessful.
Hawai'i - burn zone
In Maui, a new system is in place to allow private property contractors to access the Lahaina burn zone for rebuilding, while keeping the area safe during debris removal.
Hawaii News Now reported Maui wildfire survivors who are property owners can get up to three entry placards to give to their contractors.
Officials said contractors who receive these placards can only access the zone during daylight hours and must wear approved personal protective equipment.
They said unless a contractor has an approved Alternate Debris Removal Plan, they will not be permitted to perform cleanup work on a property eligible for the US-ACE Private Property Debris Removal cleanup.
Samoa - university
Japan is giving almost US$16 million towards the National University of Samoa's Faculty of Health Science.
The grant will finance the construction of a three-storey building and the provision of practical training equipment and related materials.
The new infrastructure will include a Learning Resource Centre, a library and other learning support facilities.
New Zealand has also given money - just over US$2 million towards the university's new medical degree.
The university has launched its new Bachelor of Health Science programme, which opened for enrolment this year.
The NZ Herald reported as well as helping with the development and delivery of the degree over the next five years, the funds will also be used to pay for scholarships and student support services.
NZ - meningococcal disease
A nurse from New Zealand's largest boarding school says Maori and Pacific communities are vulnerable to meningococcal disease, because they often live in big households - and she is urging students to get vaccinated.
The latest data from 2023 shows Māori and Pacific infants and toddlers made up more than half of meningococcal disease cases; and while those cases are trending down, the numbers in the 13-25 year age group are actually going up.
Pacific Media Network reports Woodford House nurse, Caryn Williams said teenagers who are heading off to university dorms and flats need to be extra cautious.
Free vaccinations are available until February 28.
Pacific - digital library
A Pacific Digital Library aimed at ECE and primary school-aged children has been launched.
It is a streaming platform aimed at creating and sharing Pacific-inspired content, including songs, dances and stories, for children, parents, and educators.
It was launched by social enterprise Pacific Kids' Learning, which said it is the culmination of years of knowledge collection, community collaboration, and care from the organisation's team and its partners.
Theresa Tupuola-Sorenson, co-founder and Education Director of Pacific Kids Learning, said they know firsthand the importance of trying to preserve Pacific cultures in a world of competing priorities.
