Mauritius is 23rd most peaceful country
According to the latest Global Peace Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Mauritius now ranks 23rd among the world's most peaceful countries. This index evaluates countries based on various indicators such as violence, militarization, security, conflict, and political stability. The top ten countries in terms of peace are Iceland, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Singapore, Portugal, Slovenia, Japan, and Switzerland.
2% drop in unemployment rate
Unemployment in Mauritius has decreased by 2% in the past year. The most recent data from Statistics Mauritius shows that the unemployment rate stands at 6.7%, which is a 0.1% decline compared to the last quarter of 2022. Additionally, it represents a significant drop of 2% compared to the first quarter of 2022 when the rate was 8.7%. In the first three months of 2023, the number of employed individuals reached 551,800, compared to 502,500 in the same period the previous year.
Extension of the country's economic zone
The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, has announced plans to amend the Maritime Act regulations defining Mauritius' maritime zones. This decision follows a ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in the dispute between Mauritius and the Maldives. As a result, Mauritius will extend its exclusive economic zone, and the new coordinates will be communicated to the United Nations after the regulations have been amended. Additionally, Mauritius intends to declare a marine protected area around the Chagos Islands, over which it has exclusive sovereignty. The government will enact regulations under the Fisheries Protection Act for this purpose. Mauritius also aims to collaborate with the Maldives and explore accessing the Chagos Islands through the Maldives, as it is a more cost-effective option compared to the Seychelles or Rodrigues. Furthermore, a visit to the Chagos Islands is planned in the near future to assess the necessary conditions for repopulating the archipelago.
Earthquake off the coast of Rodrigues
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 was reported off Rodrigues at 5:21 am on Thursday morning. The Vacoas meteorological station has confirmed the occurrence, relaying information from the world's primary seismic monitoring center. The earthquake took place 226 kilometers east-northeast of Rodrigues, at a depth of ten kilometers in the Indian Ocean. No damages have been reported on the island, but Mauritius' meteorological services are closely monitoring the situation.
