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Pacific News In Brief For 27 May
Papua New Guinea - pirates
A man has died after pirates reportedly boarded two boats off Madang, PNG, and forced people into the water.
NBC PNG reported the passengers were travelling in two 40-horse powered dinghies from Madang Town to Saidor Station.
Operator of the search and rescue boat Leonard Kudud said a distress call was received from deployed police personnel, reporting a pirate attack near Tabalip Point.
He said during the attack, the pirates forced all passengers overboard and ordered them to swim ashore. One male passenger, unable to swim, drowned.
The survivors were transported to the Basamuk Plant Site, where they received medical attention.
Fiji - enquiry
Fiji's deputy prime minister Biman Prasad said it's up the President to release information on the Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of the anti-corruption office head, Barbara Malimali.
The Fiji Times reported Prasad saying the inquiry was called for and appointed by President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.
He said it's the president who should be asked about former Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry's claim that the inquiry cost taxpayers over FJ$2 million.
Prasad also defended Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's failure to make the report public.
He said Rabuka is an experienced prime minister who knows what is right for the country.
Pacific - fishing
US President Donald Trump's executive order enabling more commercial fishing in the Pacific is being challenged in court.
Environmental activist group Earthjustice said the order, which allows fishing in some protected zones in the Pacific, will have region-wide consequences to marine ecosystems.
AP reported Earthjustice calling the order "piling lawlessness on top of lawlessness" and a threat to "a wide variety of scientific and historical treasures".
The protected zones encompass various US-owned territories, including Johnston Atoll near Hawai'i.
Papua New Guinea - e-cigarettes
Papua New Guinea's health department has approved a ban on the use and importing of e-cigarettes.
The National reported health minister Elias Kapavore saying there are concerns about the use of e-cigarettes among young people aged from 11 to 17.
Anyone breaching the ban could be fined 10,000 kina - about US$2,440.
Companies breaking the rules would face a fine of 100,000 kina, and this can be doubled if it's a tobacco company in breach.
Kapavore said according to statistics, tobacco is estimated to cause 8.8 per cent of all deaths in PNG.
The law was to come into effect seven days after its formal gazettal notice was published.
Pacific - farming
Australia is giving another US$1.9 million for climate and disaster resilience for Pacific Farmer Organisations.
The Climate Resilient Farming in Pacific Islands program is coordinated by Pacific Farmer Organisations, who represent a network of 30 farmer organisations and more than 100,000 smallholder farmers.
Australia's High Commissioner to Tonga Brek Batley said locally tailored climate solutions are essential for a prosperous, resilient and inclusive agriculture sector across the Pacific.
Australia said the program benefited 16,800 farmers in seven countries in its first year.
Solomon Islands - economic zones
Solomon Islands parliament has passed legislation allowing the setting up of Special Economic Zones.
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said the Special Economic Zones can steer the country towards sustained peace, economic recovery, and long-term development.
He said by concentrating government efforts and resources in designated areas, the zones can encourage economic diversification and job creation.
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