Harvested logs in PNG Photo: RNZI/Johnny Blades
Papua New Guinea - logging
A Papua New Guinea advocacy group says the country's log export volumes are too high and the Forest Authority may fail to meet the government's reduction targets.
Act Now! says Prime Minister James Marape has repeatedly stated his government's aim of ending all round log exports by 2025 and called on the forest industry to focus instead on downstream processing and adding value.
This is seen as a chance to deliver greater export revenues and increase employment, while helping PNG fulfil its international commitments to reduce deforestation and conserve forests.
The government targets call for annual limits on log exports, starting from 1.695 million cubic metres in 2024, then cutting back each year to reach just a maximum of 200,000 cubic metres by 2027.
Samoa - police items
Samoa law enforcement have received more than 143,000 items from the Australian Federal Police.
It includes nine police motorcycles, 100 first aid kits and helmets and gloves.
Samoa Police, Prison and Correction Services Minister Faualo Harry Schuster said the support upgrades security for next year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Dozens of leaders from Commonwealth member states are scheduled to arrive in Apia in September next year.
Tonga - equipment
Japan's government has donated emergency equipment to Tonga.
The first batch included protective gear, loud-hailers and chainsaws.
On behalf of the Japan Government, Kensaku Munenaga says the total assistance is worth $1-point-5-million US dollars.
Tonga prime minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni said the handover of equipment is a reflection of Japan and their people's commitment towards building resilience of Pacific communities.
American Samoa - death
American Samoa police are investigating the death of a man who was arrested after his wife was beaten to death.
The man was taken to the Territorial Correctional Facility last Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Vaipuna Foifua Foifua says an autopsy will be requested.
The couple's five young children are in the care of Child Protective Services.
Pacific/Indonesia - meeting
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape says Indonesia's President Joko Widodo is open to meeting with the leaders of Melanesian countries this year.
Marape met with Widodo in Jakarta last week on the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN summit.
He said he had conveyed a resolution from the Melanesian Spearhead Group that calls for a UN Human Rights Commissioner to visit West Papua.
"President Widodo assured me that there's nothing much happening on the otherside except development. I did inform him that the other Melanesian leaders wanted to meet him. He said they are very much welcome, in fact he proposed a date in October."
Tonga - US President
Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni says he will meet with US President Joe Biden when he travels to New York later this month to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly where the climate crisis is expected to be at the top of the agenda for Pacific Island leaders.
Hu'akavameilku said discussions would cover a range of issues such as deportees, security and illegal fishing.
"We will also raise with President Biden, hopefully to fastrack the consular service down here in Tonga so we get visas faster. Those are the issues we will discuss with the President."
Papua New Guinea - court
Former Papua New Guinea MP Nixon Duban and former Madang district treasurer Helen Kanimba have been found guilty of misappropriating K600,000 kina ($US161,000).
The money, from the National Gaming Control Board, should have gone to the Yagaum Lutheran district hospital in Madang but Duban directed to other purposes in the province.
The Post Courier reports Kanimba, as the district treasurer, knew the money was for the hospital but allowed its drawdown for other uses.
The duo will be sentenced on October 20.
Cook Islands - training
Six dedicated livestock and biosecurity officers from the Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture are a step closer to completing para-veterinarian training.
They are undertaking final assessments this week.
The Pacific Community, the SPC, in collaboration with the Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Biosecurity New Zealand has facilitated the para-vet school, which is the culmination of a 16-week training programme launched in April.
Ministry of Agriculture secretary Temarama Anguna-Kamana said they had faced a situation where they had not had a veterinarian on their staff for a considerable amount of time.
