Oceania

The Pacific nations of Kiribati, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands are facing their first significant outbreaks of COVID-19.

The pandemic is complicating international aid to tsunami-hit Tonga, one of the world’s few COVID-free countries.

More than 80 percent of Tonga's population have been impacted by the volcano's eruption.

Australia may find itself sleep walking into an international environment that it doesn't have the disposition to effectively negotiate. 

Tonga is made up of 169 islands, 36 of which are inhabited. It’s expected to take weeks to survey the scale of the damage. 

Opening up after nearly two years closed off from the world, Australia knew that would mean a rise in COVID-19 cases. But Omicron has surged cases past expectations.

The question that should be at the forefront of the government’s mind is this: How to make it easier for these people to transition to longer term visas, permanent residency, and citizenship? 

The recent frenzy over tennis player Novak Djokovic has helped highlight the cruel detention conditions of refugees in Australia.

"No one is above these rules," Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Protesters include the anti-vax wellness community, Christian fundamentalists, and some of Australia’s most extreme far-right organizations.

It is at the intersection of commercial and hard-security interests that Australia’s relationships with Japan and South Korea are finding their increasing health.