Jan. 5-11, 2024 – Pacific Regional News Roundup
Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security
Fifteen individuals die in riots in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, and its second-largest city, Lae, triggered by payroll dispute. (ABC Radio Australia)
Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine and Cabinet plan to declare two states of emergency to allocate funds for immediate relief efforts, addressing severe starvation on Kili Island and a power crisis in Majuro. (Marshall Islands Journal)
Former New Caledonia-based envoy Patrice Faure becomes Chief-of-Staff to President of France following ongoing diplomatic efforts in New Caledonia. (Radio New Zealand)
Tonga’s acting High Commissioner to Australia Curtis Tuihalangingie reacts to the Australian Defence Force’s consideration of recruiting foreigners. (ABC Radio Australia)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Governor Arnold Palacios discusses critical improvements for CNMI’s air and sea ports with US officials in Washington, DC, including representatives from the US Department of Transportation and US Department of Defense. (Marianas Variety)
People-Centered Development
New Zealand Government accepts Tongan students passing national examinations for direct enrollment into its education system. (RNZ Pacific)
Samoa’s Ministry of Health aims to encourage Samoan doctors working overseas to return and help fill major shortage in the country. (ABC Pacific)
Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health plans to recruit nearly 100 qualified nurses from the Solomon Islands to meet the growing demand for services. (Vanuatu Daily Post)
Climate Change and Disasters and Ocean and Environment
University of Auckland researchers take steps to understand Pacific population dynamics and climate mobility in recently released report. (SCOOP)
Hawaiʻi Governor Dr. Josh Green and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announce US$500 million housing plan to support Maui wildfire victims. (RNZ Pacific)
Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity
China-based airline awaits a license to commence regular flights from Asia to Samoa after bringing in tourists via direct charter flights earlier last year. (Samoa Observer)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands concludes Fiscal Year 2023 with a $4.1 million deficit, mainly due to contributions to the government’s insurance program. (Saipan Tribune)
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 at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Subscribe to get our Pacific regional news roundups delivered to your email inbox and explore our archives at pireport.org. This non-exhaustive news roundup is organized with the thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its implementation plan.