French frigate Vendemaire (file) Photo: LAURENT FIEVET / AFP
New Caledonia/Bougainville - navy
New Caledonia-based French navy frigate Vendémaire this week delivered humanitarian supplies to PNG's Bougainville Island, where thousands were displaced by the Mt Bagana volcanic eruption and flooding.
When the volcano erupted in early July ash falls destroyed crops and contaminated water supplies, forcing many thousands to seek temporary shelter.
They have since been able to return to their homes while others are homeless as a result of the flooding.
Nouméa-based Vendémaire delivered utensils and hygiene kits, water-filled tanks, tents and fifteen tons of rice, the French High Commission in New Caledonia said in a release earlier this week.
En route to Bougainville, it stopped over briefly in the PNG capital Port-Moresby to load another stock of humanitarian material provided by the UN's International Organisation for Migration.
The French shipment comes as a result of joint efforts from France's ministry of foreign affairs, French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC), New Caledonia's local government and provinces and the local Red Cross antenna.
Samoa - fire
Contrary to his initial reaction, the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority Commissioner now says it wasn't a cigarette butt but an electrical fault that triggered the fire at Maria's Mall last week.
The Samoa Observer reports Tanuvasa Petone Mauga saying on Monday that a study of CCTV footage indicated the fire appeared to have started from the inside of the building.
He says police is also conducting their own investigation which is not completed yet.
Local businesses that were directly affected by the blaze included Talofa Airways and Maria's Healthcare Pharmacy.
The fire also damaged some adjoining businesses with TV3 relocating their operations to their Vaitele offices after equipment had suffered heat damage.
Samoa - filariasis
Samoa's director-general of health has warned of the dangers of lymphatic filariasis, a disease which can cause abnormal swelling of the arms, legs, and other body parts.
In a joint statement with the World Health Organisation and Japan International Cooperation Agency, Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma said people can get infected without them knowing it.
The statement said Samoa has been conducting mass drug administration for several years to eliminate this disease, but the last blood surveys in 2017 and 2018 showed the infection was widespread.
The mass drug administration started September 16th and will end September 24.
American Samoa has been running a mass drug programme for several weeks, which ends on September 22.
American Samoa - relief
The American Samoa government is paying back its $US1.5 million payment from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund.
The money was used to purchase the vessel MV Pago Pago, a move deemed in violation of US Treasury rules.
This is according to an interim audit by the US Treasury Office..
The auditors say the vessel was not a necessary expenditure in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Samoa - privacy
Privacy concerns have delayed the completion of installing CCTV cameras across Apia, Samoa.
Samoa Observer reports deputy Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti saying there are some factors contributing to the delay of the Safe-City Project and one of them is the privacy of members of the public.
But she said the project is still ongoing and it is a major boost for Samoa in terms of security.
The Safe City Project is funded by the Australian Government, under its Samoa-Australia Police Partnership.
Australian Federal Police mission commander Daniel Evans said it will definitely be in place before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting next year.
He said their goal in developing this project is to have infrastructure that works long-term and is not just a short-term fix.
Cook Islands - crime
Crime rates on Rarotonga are on the rise compared with last year.
Road incidents are up 23 percent, burglaries 20 percent, and domestic violence assaults 12.5 percent.
The number of stolen motorcycles has more than doubled.
The number of crashes on Rarotonga roads already matches the 2020 total and has surpassed 2021's total.
A police spokesperson said traffic volume, carelessness, and poor driver behaviour fuel the worsening road performance.
Guam - arrested
Fourteen Chinese nationals who were allegedly trying to enter Guam illegally by boat have been arrested by Homeland Security.
According to court documents, agents conducted an enforcement operation with local and federal partners at Smiling Cove Marina on Saipan.
Prior to the operation, an agent posed as a boat captain and entered into an agreement with one of the individuals to transport a group to Guam in exchange for payment.
All passengers confirmed they did not want to be detected by law enforcement officials during the trip.
