Nauru

A statement said Customs does not bury goods without a good reason and in this instance public safety was a prime concern.

The goods are not only a trade mark infringement but they are also illegally manufactured in unregulated black market conditions in Asia and contain questionable chemical compounds that can cause health issues when consumed.  

Customs said people in possession of or selling these cigarettes cheaply are not only committing a serious criminal offence punishable by imprisonment, but are damaging people’s health for their own small financial gain. 

More than a thousand people sent to camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru are being offered to resettle in the US under a deal announced by Australia three weeks ago.

Speaking at APEC in Peru, Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said officials from US Homeland Security would be going to Nauru shortly.

He said US officials would determine the timeline of resettlement.

Last week, Australia's immigration minister Peter Dutton said the UNHCR is front and centre to the arrangement while the UNHCR said it was not part of the bilateral arrangement.

 Sprent Dabwido, who is one of a number of former MPs charged over a protest outside parliament nearly 18 months ago, had his passport seized last August as he was preparing to depart to meet with a cardiologist in Australia.

After a personal appeal to President Baron Waqa Mr Dabwido's passport is being returned. "The Supreme Court finally let me have my passport back," he said.

Speaking at the United Nations High Level Segment of this year's 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) in Marrakesh, Morocco, President Waqa said the international community entered 2016 riding high on the accomplishments of last year.

He described the Paris Agreement adopted late last year as a diplomatic triumph.

“Momentum continued to build this year as we rapidly approached the double threshold for its entry into force, and has culminated with today’s opening of the CMA – a pace that exceeded all expectations.”

Following the signing of the work commencement document and contract in June of this year, the final interim report on unexploded ordinances (UXOs) assessment was completed and submitted in September.

Work is progressing for the final interim report on geotechnical investigations, topography and bathymetric survey will be submitted by the end of October.

The EU Ambassador to Niue and the Pacific, Mr Andrew Jacobs, said: "This programme will provide a reliable, affordable, secure and sustainable energy supply as well as diversifying the generation base to meet the socio economic development needs of Nauru."

He has called on the Australian Government to return those allegedly involved in the rape of a local, for investigations.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over the weekend announced the one-off refugee resettlement deal between Australia and the US for people on Manus Island and Nauru to be moved to the United States.

Turnbull, alongside Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, over the weekend said the deal would only apply to those currently on Nauru and Manus Island. 

Minister for Justice David Adeang said while the Government has consistently sought to correct false reports about conditions and safety of the refugees, it has also always stated the need to find suitable third countries for permanent resettlement.

"Under the original agreement Nauru was only ever a temporary home, and this has been a focus of our discussions with Australia for a long time.

"Finding appropriate countries is a key part of the success of the refugee processing and temporary settlement arrangements.”

Under Australia's tough border security laws, asylum seekers intercepted trying to reach the country by boat are sent for processing at detention camps (regional processing centres) on Manus island and the tiny South Pacific island nation of Nauru.

Some 1,300 people are currently held in the camps, many of whom have been held for more than three years.

About 900 men are in camp on Manus Island while about 400 people are in the camp on Nauru with roughly the same number living in the community.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed the agreement this morning, but did not provide any details on timeframes or the number of people involved.

Speaking in Canberra alongside Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, Turnbull said the deal would only apply to those currently on Nauru and Manus Island.

"There will be American officials from Homeland Security coming to Australia to begin the process in the next few days."

As of October 31, there were 872 people in the processing centre on Manus Island and 390 people in Nauru's centre.