Photo: Koji Ito / The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP)
Civil appeal to Japan over nuclear dump fear
Pacific civil society groups are calling on Japan to stop its plans to dump radioactive nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean.
Earlier this month the government of Japan started construction on facilities needed for the discharge of treated, but still radioactive, wastewater from the defunct Fukushima nuclear power plant.
In a joint statement Pacific civil society groups, non-governmental organisations and activists described the Fumio Kishida Government's plans as a fundamental breach of Pacific Peoples' right to a clean healthy, and sustainable environment.
It said the Pacific Ocean is not a dumpsite for the government of Japan.
The Pacific collective is also seeking clarity from the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Henry Puna, and the Pacific panel of Independent global experts on Nuclear Issues, on the outcome of numerous meetings with Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Nauru's general election will be next month
Nauru will go to the polls next month.
The Speaker has issued a Writ for September 24 as the date to elect the 19 members of the 24th Parliament for a three-year term.
The Nauru Electoral Commission says the voter roll is up on its walls and will be published in the Gazette on September 1.
It said it's vital for people to check that they are included in the roll correctly.
The roll closes on September 3 and cannot be easily changed after that date.
The Commission said early voting is now open to all voters, and that mobile voting will also start before Polling Day.
It is also conducting community outreach sessions for voters.
The commission aims to use these sessions to inform and educate the public on the processes and procedures of voting in the forthcoming general elections, especially for first-time voters.
Pro-independence camp in New Caledonia strengthened by Pacific Awakening
New Caledonia's three Congress members from the Pacific Awakening party have formally joined the pro-independence Caledonian Union members to form a new group in the legislature.
This was registered on Sunday, with Congress expected to re-elect the Caledonian Union's Roch Wamytan to the Congress presidency for another one-year term.
The Pacific Awakening party, which holds the balance of power since the 2019 election, had already said it would vote for Mr Wamytan for the sake of stability to progress urgently needed reforms.
The party, which emerged from civil society and represents New Caledonia's Wallisians and Futunans, has over the years given support to both main political camps to sustain a balance.
With a pro-independence president emerging from last year's government crisis, the anti-independence parties had hoped that Pacific Awakening would support their candidate Gil Brial for Congress president.
PNG police officers investigated for criminal behaviour during election
The Commissioner of police in Papua New Guinea has confirmed an internal investigation into allegations of criminal behaviour by his officers during the recent national election.
This comes after an official complaint was lodged on Monday at the national police headquarters by the former Governor of the Eastern Highlands province, Peter Numu.
The allegations against officers in Numu's complaint, which was also delivered to police internal affairs, include arson, assault and unlawful arrest.
Police Commissioner David Manning said the complaint will be investigated and appropriate action taken if required.
Tongan passports can now be printed in Auckland.
Tongan passports can now be printed at the country's consulate in Auckland.
The Foreign Minister for the Kingdom of Tonga, Fekita Utoikamanu, attended a launching ceremony on Monday. It is the first time Tongan passports can be printed outside of the country.
Renewing passports has long been an issue for Tongan citizens in New Zealand, who often had to return to Tonga to apply.
More than 82,000 Tongans live in New Zealand.
PNG financial group takes disciplinary action against employees
The BSP Financial Group in Papua New Guinea has revealed it has "taken disciplinary action" against its employees who were found to take bribes from customers.
Group chief executive officer, Robin Fleming, told the Post Courier, that the bank's staff were asking customers for a commission to fast-track their loan applications.
Mr Fleming said Papua New Guinean clients did not have to pay any additional fees for any of the services that BSP provides, especially when having their loans processed.
He said the bank has used its internal processes to identify the staff involved in the dishonest practice and "will deal with them".
He said the BSP has a whistleblower policy and is encouraging customers to directly contact him with their complaints concerning its employees asking for additional money.
Samoa's Tuilaepa continues to criticise parliament through media
The Samoan opposition leader continues to be a thorn in the side of the Government.
Human Rights Protection Party leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has been criticising the running of the parliament through the media and on social media.
Speaker Papali'i Ta'eu Masipa'u said he was disappointed with the accusations but told the House he had forgiven Tuilaepa.
Opposition deputy leader Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo called for Tuilaepa to be reinstated and this led to heated discussion.
Papali'i then called for calm, saying he had already forgiven the false accusations.
He said 'we are leaders of this country and we should always remain calm and maintain peace."
Quarantine changes for people visiting Tuvalu
Quarantine for passengers coming into Tuvalu has been reduced after it was reported that 85 percent of the population were vaccinated.
From September, passengers leaving Fiji will only need to quarantine for three days on departure but still stay in quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
From next year, no quarantine will be required for people travelling into the country.
The Tuvalu government and National COVID Taskforce have decided that from October and November, there will be no quarantine prior to departure from Fiji, and the quarantine days on arrival in the capital will reduce to seven days.
In December, there will be no quarantine in Fiji prior to flying to Tuvalu, while the quarantine days on arrival in Tuvalu will further be reduced to three days.
Bangladeshi asylum seeker desperate to stay in Vanuatu
A Bangladeshi asylum seeker has threatened to kill himself if the Vanuatu Government does not grant him safety.
Moshaed Miah testified at the trial of Somon Sekdah, the mastermind of trafficking organisation Mr Price, who was jailed in June.
Mr Miah has been living in Vanuatu for almost five years after being trafficked by Mr Price, and he says he cannot go back to his home country because his life is under threat.
The International Organisation for Migration has been funding his stay in Vanuatu, but his funding will run out at the end of August. He has been offered a ticket home but said he is not safe in Bangladesh.
State Prosecutor, Christopher Shem, stated that no witness is called with the view of providing testimony in exchange for promises, guarantees, or rewards.
Many of the Bangladeshi witnesses have returned to the country, he said.
Tourist arrivals in the CNMI on the rise
Visitors to the Mariana Islands have exploded almost 800 per cent compared to July last year following a new plan to encourage tourists.
The Marianas Visitors' Authority said 10,367 tourists visited this July, compared to 1197 in the same month last year.
So far in this financial year, 51,532 visitors have come to the Marianas. In the same period last year, 3707 tourists visited.
The numbers are still low compared to before the Covid pandemic, but still mark a significant increase thanks to the visitor authority's Tourism Resumption Investment Plan.
Palau delegation are in quarantine in Taiwan due to Covid
In Taiwan, the vice-president of Palau is in quarantine with her team after two members tested positive for Covid-19.
Palau vice president J. Uduch Sengebau Senior was due to meet Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen. But her eight-member delegation had PCR tests the day after arriving, with two returning positive results.
The conditions of their quarantine remain unclear. Taiwan has gradually relaxed its Covid-19 restrictions but testing and quarantine rules for foreign arrivals remain in place.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said the official schedule has been suspended for the time being.
Palau is one of the 14 countries still maintaining formal relations with Taiwan, which China claims as its own.
In a statement, the ministry gave no details on who in the delegation tested positive or how long they would remain in Taiwan but said it would "continue to provide them with the proper care."
The visits come amid heightened tensions between Taiwan and China, following China's threatening military exercises and missile launches staged in retaliation for a trip to the island earlier this month by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
