Oceania

A UN Special Rapporteur criticised the government of Kiribati for its treatment of judges and the country's judicial crisis; the country has limited legal services and no court of appeal

Australian Defence Force explosive ordnance disposal specialists recently landed on Nauru to support the safe disposal of a 500lb bomb dating back to World War II as part of Operation Render Safe

Operation Christmas Drop, a PACAF event with numerous partnerships is airlifting food, supplies, educational material and toys to islanders in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau through crews of C-130J Super Hercules cargo planes

Economic recovery remains fragile, according to ADB's latest Economic Outlook, despite tax reforms increased in tax revenues, due to delays in the implementation of the Pact Agreement and 'political pushback' against the contribution to high inflation

The country is further extending visa-on-arrival to passport holders from Micronesian and Polynesian states and territories to strengthen relations with Pacific Island states and Pacific Forum countries

To strengthen the country's position as a tuna production center, a refrigeration expert from FAO worked with local technicians during a training course on freezer container maintenance in Majuro in FAO's FISH4ACP program

A carpet of rubbish was left on Sydney's Bronte Beach after some 10.000 people crowded the shores of the Australian resort for Christmas Day celebrations

Vaiola Hospital Matron, Sr Akesa Halatanu, met again with the Minister of Health, Saia Piukala, to look at a nurses petition that was submitted to the Palace Office, in a protest to increase the nurses salary

It is imperative to safeguard kava as a Pacific product, stated Vanuatu's Minister of Trade and Industry, Anatole Hymack, and to ensure its protection and recognition of its authentic Pacific origins

A team of researchers from the University of Auckland, Victoria University and Sāmoa Scientific Research Organisation claims to have found two extracts from traditional Samoan medicine that have antiviral activity against the virus that causes COVID-19

The global scabies programme of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute completed the first round of mass distribution of an anti-parasitic drug in the Solomon Islands and Fiji, helping to protect millions of people from the disease

Unofficial final election results have been published by the Electoral Administration, confirming that 13 seats in Nitijela will change hands; most absentee postal votes did not arrive in time or were rejected for technical reasons