International Seabed Authority (ISA) launched three new studies describing opportunities offered by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). The three publications were produced by ISA Secretariat in response to priority capacity-building needs identified by LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS in 2020. The launch of these three publications took place virtually on 16 November 2021. The publications are available on ISA website.

Yesterday, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) successfully concluded an Expert Scoping Meeting on Advancing Technology to Support the Sustainable Mining of Mineral Resources in the Area organized in collaboration with the UK National Oceanography Centre (NOC). The meeting took place virtually between 2 and 4 November 2021 and involved 120 participants from 41 countries, including representatives from research institutions, contractors, relevant industries and United Nations and other international organizations. Former ISA trainees with relevant expertise were also in attendance.

The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) shared on Thursday 14 October with all its Members and Observers the indicative programme of work and the information note on matters for consideration by the ISA Assembly during the in-person meetings of the 26^th session scheduled on 13-15 December 2021.

Today, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) successfully concluded a three-day online workshop on Enhancing Image-based Biodiversity Assessments to Advance Deep-Sea Taxonomy. The workshop, which was organized with the support of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of Korea and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, involved over 120 participants from 41 countries.

The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) shared today with all its Members and Observers the indicative programme of work and the information note on matters for consideration by the ISA Assembly during the in-person meetings of 26^th session scheduled on 13-15 December 2021.

The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) shared on Friday 1 October 2021 with all its Members and Observers the indicative programme of work and the information note on matters for consideration by the ISA Council during the resumed 26^th session scheduled to take place on 6-10 December 2021.

The Government of the Republic of Nauru will be conducting a stakeholder consultation on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) developed by Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) to conduct technical trials of a prototype nodule collector in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean next year, in 2022.

Following communications held with the President of the Assembly and the President of the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the 26^th session, the Secretariat of ISA informed on Friday 17 September all Members and observers of ISA of the new schedule for the meetings of the twenty-sixth session of the Council and the Assembly.