Pacific Islands Report News Roundup: June 7-13, 2024

Political Leadership, Regionalism, Peace and Security

• New Caledonia reels as President Macron dissolves French parliament (Islands Business )

• Papua New Guinea opposition appeals to Supreme Court to recall parliament (The National )

• ‘Let’s talk’ – PM Rabuka hints at ‘national unity’ government for Fiji (Fiji Times )

• Bougainville officials host independence consultations in Solomon Islands (ABC Australia )

• Vanuatu voters support constitutional change to end political instability (PACNEWS )

• French Pacific prepares for snap elections with mixed expectations (RNZ )

• Chinese premier’s New Zealand visit may influence AUKUS decision (PMN )

• Pacific churches call at UN for France to drop ‘limbo law’ to restore peace in Kanaky (APR )

• Blue Pacific unity the focus as SG Waqa leads first mission to Solomon Islands (PACNEWS )

• New defense command on Guam focused on building ‘very strong deterrent force’ (Pacific Island Times )

• Guam missile defense tests to affect residents living near drill site (Pacific Island Times )

People-Centered Development

• Hawai?i Dept of Health: COVID activity level ‘in the red’ (Hawai?i Tribune Herald )

• Malvatumauri: Same-sex marriage will never be accepted in Vanuatu custom (Vanuatu Daily Post )

• Breast cancer survivor calls for more awareness efforts (Cook Islands News )

• FestPAC 2024: Pacific traditional leaders sign Tuurama Ariki Declaration (RNZ )

• Cultural clash at FestPAC: Respected female carver excluded due to gender protocol (Cook Islands News )

• FestPAC: Absent nations missed but not forgotten (PMN )

• Safeguarding Pacific identities, sovereignty at heart of new exhibition launched in Hawai?i (SPC )

• It’s show time! Micronesia Games to convene in Marshall Islands (Marshall Islands Journal )

• Oceania Athletics Championships come to a close in Fiji (FBC News )

• 17-year-old actor of Samoan descent to play Moana in live-action movie (Samoa Observer )

Climate Change and Disasters, Ocean and Environment

• Thousands to be resettled from PNG's landslide stricken Enga Province (ABC Australia )

• ULMWP president calls for global attention to genocide and ecocide in West Papua (PACNEWS )

• AOSIS proposes new climate finance goal to drive 1.5°C ambition (Pasifika Environews )

• Int’l Court of Justice extends deadline for written comments on climate obligations (PACNEWS )

• Pacific island states team up to harness volcanic aquifers for water solutions (Pacific Island Times )

• Significant progress made in Typhoon Wutip reconstruction in Chuuk, FSM (Kaselehlie Press )

• Fijian conservationist unveil ‘BULA Reef’ as world’s largest underwater coral display (Fiji Village )

• Cook Islands pushes for climate-resistant crops research (SPC )

• Final plan released for Marianas Trench sanctuary (RNZ )

• Pacific Ocean Commissioner calls for global ocean literacy on World Ocean Day (PACNEWS )

• Pacific Ocean Commissioner joins environment and ocean celebrations, meets key leaders (Vanuatu Daily Post )

Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity

• Palau blames China for cyberattack, calls it harassment (Island Times )

• A new Pacific visa is expected to be a hit but some warn it could bring challenges for the region (ABC Australia )

• Growing interest in the Pacific to fund renewable energy project through PPPs (PACNEWS )

• Tonga govt announces balanced budget for 2024/25, emphasizes economic stability, social welfare (Talanoa o Tonga )

• Papua New Guinea census ready to roll out after 13 years (Post-Courier )

• Pacific fisheries level-up negotiation skills to elevate position in international discussions (FFA )

• Validation workshop in Vanuatu aims to operationalize Regional Kava Development Strategy (SPC )

• Solomon Islands and Australia promote Solomon Islands cocoa to boost exports (Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp )

• Northern Mariana Islands eyes Taiwan market (Pacific Island Times )

• Fiji Airways cancels flight after passenger dies onboard US-bound flight (Fiji Sun )

Call for Submissions: Visions & Voices Quarterly Publication

The Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) invites students, scholars, researchers, and professionals to submit their 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.

The submission deadline for the upcoming issue is June 30. For detailed submission guidelines, please visit the Pacific Islands Report website .

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 is organized with the thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its implementation plan.

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