New Caledonia
Three loyalist French Pacific MPs are calling for the French government to respond to pro-independence comments made by Azerbaijan’s president.
In a speech last week, President Ilham Aliyev called for what he described as the freedom of New Caledonia, French Polynesia and other French territories.
The president said in the 21st century, it was not possible to maintain territories located 10,000 kilometres away as colonies.
Aliyev, who has had a testy relationship with France, said the people of those territories do not want that situation, and want to live their own lives.
New Caledonian MP Nicolas Metzdorf, and French Polynesian MPs Moerani Frébault and Nicole Sanquer, have taken issue with the statement.
They have written to Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot asking for a firm response.
Samoa
Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa (La’auli) Leuatea Schmidt and his New Zealand counterpart discussed the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme at a meeting in Wellington on Tuesday.
La’auli is in New Zealand with Labour Minister Fata Ryan Schuster meeting with Samoan RSE workers.
A spokesperson from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s office said the pair had a good general catchup discussing the scheme and how it works for both countries.
La’auli has said he wants to lower the cap of Samoan seasonal workers here and in Australia and American Samoa.
The Samoan leader is set to return to Samoa on Friday.
Papua New Guinea
One of two prisoners still on the run after a recent Papua New Guinea prison escape has been shot dead.
PNG’s Correctional Service last week confirmed three men were killed among a group of ten remandees trying to escape Western Highlands’ Baisu Jail, and police say a brief was being prepared for the coroner.
Five others were also critically injured in the escape attempt.
One of two escapees who remained at large has now been shot dead in a dawn raid by Police and Correctional Services, according to a report by NBC.
Western Highlands Provincial Police Commander John Sagom urged the remaining man at large to surrender.
He also warned the public against hiding or helping the remaining escapee.
American Samoa
American Samoa Congresswoman Uifa’atali Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen has made a public statement reiterating her stance against seabed mining.
This comes after a proposal announced on 18 July by the US government for deep-sea mining leases in federal waters off American Samoa.
In her statement, Aumua said this is her seventh public statement on this issue as she is doubling down against mischaracterisations of her.
She said she is confident that she represents most American Samoans on this, which is her job as the House representative.
Tonga
Tonga’s prime minister has updated the United Nations on his country’s progress.
Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua presented Tonga’s Second Voluntary National Review at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development on 14 July.
Lord Fakafanua noted significant progress in clean water, renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, sustainable communities and
While acknowledging Tonga’s ongoing challenges as a Small Island Developing State, the prime minister reaffirmed its commitment to the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2035.
