New Caledonia – mining
New Caledonia has joined a
list supporting a moratorium on deep sea mining.
The
territory’s parliament passed a law on Tuesday pausing
mining in its waters.
The decision comes amidst
growing uncertainty over the industry following US president
Donald Trump’s executive order fast-tracking a US mining
licence process for international waters.
According to
UN legislation, deep sea mining in international waters
falls under the jurisdiction of the International Seabed
Authority.
Papua New Guinea –
university
University of PNG chancellor Robert Igara
told last week’s graduation ceremony that this is likely to
be the last from UPNG, with a standalone medical school set
to open next year.
The standalone university comes
amid serious concern at the shortage of medical doctors in
PNG.
The Post-Courier reported the secretary
for the Department of Personnel Management, Taies Sansan,
highlighted this issue during her speech at the
graduation.
She said there is a serious shortage of
doctors and health officials throughout the
country.
Fifty medical professionals graduate each
year but Sansan said this is not nearly enough.
Fiji
– health
Fiji’s Ministry for Health has received
medical equipment worth FJ$10 million (approximeately
US$4.4m).
The donation came from the Japanese
government.
The equipment included a CT scanner, six
ambulances, and incubators.
Papua New Guinea –
by-election
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Former Papua New Guinea MP Anderson Mise
is one of two former MPs contesting the by-election for
Aitape-Lumi in West Sepik.
Mise lost the seat in a
successful challenge at the beginning of last
year.
The man he defeated in 2022, Patrick Pruaitch,
is also running again.
Pruaitch, who had held senior
roles in several governments, had held the seat for 20 years
until that loss.
Several other candidates are also
lining up for the vote.
Samoa – police
Samoa’s
Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo has spoken to
his New Zealand counterpart about the areas that local
enforcement officials need support in.
New Zealand’s
Police Commissioner, Sir Richard Chambers is visiting
Samoa.
Auapaau said they are requesting from NZ two K9
dogs – a sniffer dog and a tracking dog to support the the
fight against drugs.
In January, Samoan authorities
intercepted 10 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine reported
as “the largest known drug smuggling operation” on the
island.
Sir Richard told local media New Zealand is
open to all sorts of new opportunities that make Samoa a
stronger, safer
country.
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