Pacific Islands News Roundup – Sep. 27 - Oct. 3, 2024

Political Leadership, Regionalism, Peace and Security

• South Pacific Defense Ministers address regional security in Auckland (PACNEWS)

• China’s missile test triggers diplomatic shockwaves in French Polynesia (RNZ)

• Guam National Guard attends first Joint Committee Meeting with Palau (KUAM)

• In the shadow of global conflicts, Nauru and FSM appeal for world peace (Pacific Island Times)

• Summit meeting held between Japan PM and Palau president for the 3rd time this year (Island Times)

• Retired US rear admiral: Military picked ‘worst possible solution’ for Guam missile defense system (Guam PDN)

• Japan’s incoming PM calls for establishment of Japanese military base on Guam (Pacific Island Times)

• Kiribati boycott planned after presidential vote becomes a one-horse race (RNZ)

• Papua New Guinea reaffirms commitment to nuclear-free pacific (PNG Haus Bung)

• Fiji PM declares ‘never again’ as Republic of Fiji Military Forces reconciles (Post-Courier)

• Fiji election of the country’s president deferred to a later sitting in Parliament (Post-Courier)

• French PM scraps divisive New Caledonia electoral change after months of unrest (Benar News)

• Solomon Islands PM opens Solomons first embassy in the Arab world (In-depth Solomons)

• Bougainville independence talks moderator Sir Jerry Mateparae in Port Moresby (RNZ)

People-Centered Development

• UNITAR workshop kicks off in Fiji to enhance Pacific leaders’ skills in sea and human security (Mai TV)

• WestPac creates Indigenous Committee to strengthen traditional voices in Pacific fisheries (Samoa News)

• Kalafi Moala elected new PINA president as new board takes shape at Niue summit (Post-Courier)

• National University of Vanuatu strengthens partnership with New Caledonia (Vanuatu Daily Post)

• 50 Samoans chosen for Commonwealth Youth Forum (Samoa Observer)

• Training program raises awareness on gender-based violence in the Pacific (Cook Islands News)

• Excitement builds as over 3000 prepare for Cook Islands Games (PACNEWS/Cook Islands News)

• Solomon Islands?calls for urgent action to address global antimicrobial resistance (SIBC)

• Samoa’s first vaccine delivery vehicle a boost in the health system (Talamua)

• American Samoa’s minimum wages increase by 40 cents per hour (Pacific Island Times)

Climate Change and Disasters, Ocean and Environment

• Tuvalu?and?Palau?urge global action on climate and maritime decarbonization at IMO (PACNEWS)

• Paris Agreement ‘a failure’: Solomon Islands foreign minister (SIBC)

• Pacific leaders look for more support for Pacific Resilience Facility (TP+ NZ)

• Samoan academic appointed to COP29 Scientific Council (Samoa Observer)

• Road to COP29: Call to act in hope as Pacific countries gather to advance push for climate ambition (PACNEWS/SPREP)

• Micronesian president calls for global solidarity at UN General Assembly (PACNEWS)

• Palau VP calls for action on climate, oceans, and equality at UNGA (PACNEWS)

• UN report highlights scars of US nuclear testing in Marshall Islands (PACNEWS)

• RMI president pushes nuclear justice in Geneva (Marshall Islands Journal)

• Solomon Islands demands action on shipping emissions at MEPC82 (PACNEWS)

• PNG PM warns of climate, calls for sea-level rise as standalone UN agenda item (PACNEWS)

• Vanuatu?PM calls for climate justice, backs?New Caledonia?and West Papua self-determination at UNGA (PACNEWS)

• Niue launches three key documents to fight climate change (TV Niue)

• Australia’s ‘immoral’ coalmine decision akin to drowning its Pacific neighbors,?Tuvalu’s climate minister declares (PACNEWS/The Guardian)

Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity

• Port Authority of Guam seeks to outsource fuel facility operations (Pacific Island Times)

• US Department of Defense engages with Saipan, Tinian businesses (KUAM)

• Vanuatu digital transformation masterplan launched (Vanuatu Daily Post)

• French development agency re-establishes presence in Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post)

• Disturbing finds: Solomon Islands govt stimulus package mismanaged, lacked transparency (In-depth Solomons)

• Papua New Guinea high risk of debt distress: ADB Report (PNG NBC)

• 5G to be rolled out in Fiji next year (Fiji Village)

• Papua New Guinea’s ports ranked among best in the world (EMTV)

• PNG PM calls for collective push to become high-income manufacturing economy by 2045 (Post-Courier)

• Australian Immi App launched to simplify visa applications for Pacific countries (Fiji One News)

• Pacific utilities advised to set strategic planning to gain savings from renewable energy investments (Islands Business/PIT/PACNEWS)

• 76 electric vehicles launched in Samoa for CHOGM (Samoa Observer)

• US Census Bureau details sectors driving economies in US Pacific territories (Samoa News)

• Samoa opens $11 million tala VIP lounge at Faleolo Airport (Talanei)

Latest Content from the Pacific Islands Report

• A Legacy of Pacific Leadership and Cultural Preservation: A Conversation with?Congresswoman Amata Radewagen (Visions & Voices)
• ?Pacific Academy of Sciences: A Pivotal Step Towards a Resilient Future (Visions & Voices)

Call for Submissions: Visions & Voices Quarterly Publication

The Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) invites students, scholars, researchers, and professionals to submit work to Visions & Voices, a quarterly publication dedicated to the Pacific Islands region.

Submissions of essays, articles, commentaries, and concise pieces that pertain to the Pacific Islands are welcomed. Next deadline: December 31.

For detailed submission guidelines, please visit: www.pireport.org/submissions

The Pacific Islands Report (PIR) is a 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, featuring open-access information, is organized with the thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its implementation plan.

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