Breaking News

Papua New Guinea
In a recent debate in Papua New Guinea Parliament, an oppostion member raised the question of foreign vessels fishing in local waters. The debate came in the wake of 20 foreign vessels being impounded in Milne Bay Province. PNG's National Executive Council has overruled a National Fisheries Authority directive by ordering the release of 20 fishing boats which had been impounded in Milne Bay.
Update
Each of the 20 vessels had a so-called trial licence issued under the Access Agreement which allows foreign vessels into PNG waters for the purposes of fishing. And now the National Fisheries Authority officer who issued the order for the licences to be cancelled has since had her status in the position revoked.
Foreign Vessels

Corruption
The Police Minister has threatened to set up a Royal Commission-style inquiry into his force unless it shows that it can deal with endemic corruption. It comes as more detail emerges of allegations against senior police being in the pockets of Asian crime figures.
Inquiry

Harmony Gold
Harmony Gold has won in-principle approval for the Environmental Impact Statement for its new Hidden Valley Gold mine near Lae. If the mine opens on schedule, mid-this year, it will be the first new large-or-medium-sized gold mine to open in PNG in eight years.

Hidden Valley has been 20 years in the making and it has taken nine months for the Department of Environment and Conservation to assess the all-important Environmetal Impact Statement.
Harmony Gold

French Polynesia
The government of President Gaston Flosse is today conducting a series of post mortems, after losing office at the weekend in a motion of no-confidence. The motion was filed last week by the opposition leader Oscar Temaru, after closely fought by-elections the previous weekend. The French Polynesian Assembly is due to convene within 14 days to elect a new President. And until then, Mr Flosse will remain as caretaker leader. Mr Flosse lost support within his own party by not keeping his promise to resign after failing to win a clear majority in the by-elections. Jean-Christophe Bouissou, a high ranking minister in the Flosse government, resigned in a protest at Mr Flosses's lack of commitment to his promises. French Polynesia's Assembly will gather in Tahiti on Monday to vote for a new President. And for the first time in over two decades,long-serving politician Gaston Flosse won't be a candidate. Mr. Flosse's Tahoeraa party has nominated Gaston Tong Sang for the Presidency, while the opposition Union for Democracy has nominated long-time independence

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