Mt Bagana eruption emitting significant amount of ash lava flow to nearby villages. Photo: Facebook.com / Rø Gå Tõ
Bougainville - volcano
A volcano monitoring system has been established at Mt Bagana in the Torokina District of South Bougainville.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government has partnered with the Rabaul Volcano Observatory on this.
Mt Bagana last erupted in July 2023, temporarily displacing several thousand people from the Torokina District and also people from the neighbouring Wakunai District to the east.
The new system includes a web camera for remote viewing and an advanced seismometer to detect volcano earthquakes and explosions, providing early indications of potential eruptions and real-time transmission of data using 4G internet connectivity.
Solomon Islands - abuse
The Solomon Islands opposition leaders says alarming reports of child abuse in the country and in the region as a whole is a serious matter.
He was speaking in response to a UNICEF report.
Mathew Wale said more needs to be done for welfare and protection of children and it is the responsibility of the government to take the lead.
He has also called for the Solomons' Child and Family Welfare Act 2017 to be reviewed.
Solomon Islands/Papua New Guinea - health
A World Health Organisation (WHO) report reveals both strengths and gaps in infection prevention and control systems in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
The report looks at infection prevention and control (IPC) systems across six countries in the western Pacific region.
It said all six countries have established IPC programmes, but gaps exist in policy implementation, compliance monitoring is limited, and efforts rely too heavily on external funding.
The report said limitations must be addressed to strengthen health systems.
Western Pacific regional director Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala said without effective IPC, quality healthcare is impossible.
The WHO said Solomon Islands is adjusting its national IPC plans based on the report's recommendations.
Fiji - kava
Fiji's trade minister is urging farmers to plant more kava as high domestic demand is affecting export volumes.
Manoa Kamikamica told FBC the kava industry has the potential to become a billion-dollar powerhouse but supply constraints are forcing exporters to purchase stock from Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
He said a kava bill aiming to strengthen the industry will be brought to parliament by June or July.
Kamikamica said this will include better standards and controls to ensure kava exports are of a high quality.
Fiji - evacuation
Fiji's Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management says more evacuation centres are being built in Fiji.
Minister Sakiasi Ditoka said the ministry was allocated a budget of around US$430,000 in this financial year, for the retro-fitting of 20 existing evacuation centres and the construction of two new ones.
He said this is on top of the construction of four newly built and four retrofit centres with a budget of US$5.1 million, funded by the Korea International Co-operation Agency.
Aotearoa New Zealand - language weeks
Vanuatu's bislama language has been added to the list of language weeks celebrated in Aotearoa New Zealand for 2025.
Twelve Pasifika language weeks will be acknowledged this year, beginning in May.
New Zealand's Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti said he has heard firsthand how important the language week series is to Pacific communities.
Manawanui - awards
Those who responded to the Manawanui disaster in Samoa have been recognised.
Samoa's government said certificates of recognition, including challenge coins, were presented to individuals whose exceptional bravery and professionalism stood out during the incident.
