Pacific Islands News Roundup - Jan. 19-25, 2024

Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security

• Tuvalu holds national election (RNZ)
• Hilda Heine inaugurated as Marshall Islands president (PACNEWS)
• Nauru and China sign joint communique restoring diplomatic relations (PACNEWS)
• Vanuatu appoints first special envoy on oceans and maritime boundaries (Daily Post)
• Fiji prime minister meets with European Union ambassador to the Pacific (Fiji One News)
• March draws thousands to commemorate overthrow of Hawaiian Kingdom (HPR)

People-Centered Development

• American Samoa state of the territory report prioritizes healthcare (Samoa News)
• Papua New Guinea prime minister plans to ‘mobilize the youths’ following riots (RNZ)
• Palau aims for 10-day work permit turnaround streamlining process for employers (Island Times)
• Northern Mariana Islands launches program to fill workforce gaps (Kuam News)
• Papua New Guinea Government engages firm to investigate Australian-funded PNG Humanitarian Programme (Islands Business)
• Solomon Islands resumes briefings for workers departing to Australia (Solomon Times)

Climate Change and Disasters and Ocean and Environment?

• Giant waves flood key US military base and other islands in Marshall Islands (RNZ)
• Palau becomes first nation to ratify United Nations Ocean Treaty (RNZ)
• Marshall Islands president declares power emergency (Marshall Islands Journal)
• Cook Islands Meteorological Services issues heavy swell warning (Cook Islands News)
• King tide hits Papua New Guinea’s Buka coastline (Post Courier)
• Vanuatu village prepares for cyclone season with traditional architecture (Daily Post)

Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity

• Google’s Central Pacific Connect Initiative aims to create ‘ring’ of connectivity (Marianas Variety)
• Fiji enters into $300 million China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) deal (Fiji One News)
• USAID to support secure and fast internet connectivity in Pacific Island countries (Matangi Tonga)
• Cabinet of Fiji approves formulation of new national development plan (Fiji Village)
• Marshall Islands tuna operations strong in 2023 (Marshall Islands Journal)
• Fiji Government provides license to Starlink to improve internet connectivity (Fiji One News)

The Pacific Islands Report (PIR) is a collaborative project of the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) at the East-West Center and?the Center for Pacific Islands Studies (CPIS) at the University of Hawai?i at Mānoa.

This non-exhaustive news roundup is organized with the thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its implementation plan.

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