Kiribati

“Kiribati, as a nation faced with a very uncertain future, is calling for a global moratorium on new coal mines. It would be one positive step towards our collective global action against climate change and it is my sincere hope that you and your people would add your positive support in this endeavour,” said President Tong.

The Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services has announced it is bringing in the vaccine as part of a comprehensive child survival package.

The vaccine helps to prevent severe and life-threatening diarrhoea among infants, and is being introduced across all provinces in Kiribati, with the backing of the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation.

In the past five years Kiribati has experienced repeated diarrhoea outbreaks, many caused by rotavirus, leading to hospitalisation and even the deaths of young children.

A US charity discovered the bodies, which included a Congressional Medal of Honour recipient, at the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific during World War II.

A repatriation ceremony was held in Tarawa on Saturday before the remains arrived in Honolulu.

“I was very pleased to learn of the discovery of the remains of our Marines on the island of Tarawa — one of our most significant and contested battles,” commandant of the Marine Corps, General Joseph Dunford, said.

“This battle demonstrated the indomitable fighting spirit of our Marines.

“Although we flagged that Kiribati is not ready for this change, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre had to go ahead. The centre stopped providing these country specific warnings but they have continued providing tsunami information and guidelines on the propagation and expected risk level from each tsunami that could be generated from an earthquake when it actually reaches our shores,” said Toorua.

KMS is the designated national focal point for tsunami in Kiribati and operates a 24 hours a day, seven days a week, service.

Two more gold medals are on offer in the 105kg division in the Pacific Games weightlifting final day.

Zac Gregurevic (Australia) won silver and Rory Taylor (New Zealand) settled for bronze in the snatch.

PNG lone entrant Geshe Heni managed to lift only 80kg in the snatch.