News Roundup

Pacific Islands News Roundup – Apr. 25-May 1, 2025 

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Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security

  • Pacific Islands Forum chair and secretary general meet UN secretary-general (PACNEWS/PIFS/PR) 
  • Pacific lagging on women’s political participation, says UN official (RNZ) 
  • Pacific Islands call for stronger global support amid rising challenges (PACNEWS) 
  • Nauru and Australia finalize long-term funding for refugee processing (RNZ) 
  • US Congressman Moylan launches initiative to amplify Guam’s voice in Washington, D.C. (KUAM News) 
  • Northern Mariana Islands: Residents weigh the costs of a US military build-up on Tinian (RNZ) 
  • Compact funds control sparks legal battle between Pohnpei and FSM leaders (Kaselehlie Press) 
  • New Caledonia leaders engage in historic talks with France to shape future governance (PMN) 
  • Political turmoil in the Solomon Islands as former prime minister leads mass resignations (PMN) 
  • Two decades on, New Zealand Police continue as advisors in Bougainville (RNZ) 
  • ‘People want him back’: Sayed-Khaiyum says Bainimarama could stand in 2026 (RNZ) 
  • Fiji PM raises West Papua issue with Indonesian president (Fiji Live) 
  • GNUT reaffirms sovereignty over citizenship: “Solomon Islands is not for sale” (SIBC/PR) 
  • US Deputy Secretary of State Landau meets with Tonga PM Eke and PIF SG Waqa (PACNEWS) 
  • No debt forgiveness from China, analyst warns as Tonga faces repayment pressure (PMN) 
  • Major military maneuvers in Wallis and Futuna (French Pacific Journal) 

People-Centered Development

  • Pacific Islands Forum chair pushes US and World Bank for Pacific Resilience Facility funding (Islands Business) 
  • FSM launches national education transformation to embed Indigenous knowledge into classrooms (Kaselehlie Press) 
  • Kiribati’s human rights record to be examined by UNHRC’s Universal Periodic Review Working Group (PACNEWS/OHCHR/PR) 
  • The continuing struggle in PNG to provide hospital beds (RNZ) 
  • Papua New Guinea project rolling out safe spaces for kids (RNZ) 
  • Change expected for Vanuatu’s constitution on recognized sexes (RNZ) 
  • Fujian Province pledges to offer scholarships to Western Province of Solomon Islands (Solomon Star) 
  • Economic cost of violence against women and girls in Fiji is estimated at over $300 million (Fiji Village) 
  • First Polynesian organ donation day held in French Polynesia (TNTV) 
  • Mitiaro, Atiu, Mangaia ,and Mauke to be declared smoke-free islands in the Cook Islands (Cook Island News)  

Climate Change and Disasters, Ocean and Environment

  • Trump signs ‘deeply dangerous’ order to fast-track deep sea mining (RNZ) 
  • Pacific fisheries heads meet to shape ocean policy (FBC) 
  • Nauru and Banaban leaders forge partnership for sustainable future on Ocean Island (PACNEWS/PR) 
  • Deep sea mapping project to commence in RMI (Marshall Islands Journal) 
  • Fiji unveils plan for climate-resilient blue town development (Fiji One) 
  • Vanuatu communities growing climate resilience (RNZ) 
  • Vanuatu PM demands stronger climate action from major powers (Vanuatu Daily Post) 
  • New Caledonia: 50-year moratorium on deep-sea exploitation (Tahiti Infos) 
  • ‘Die very quickly’: Cook Islands sanctuary raises alarm over malnourished turtles (RNZ) 
  • American Samoa welcomes Trump’s reopening of fishing areas, but environmentalists vow to protect the marine sanctuary (Pacific Island Times) 

Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity

  • ADB: Slower economic growth for Pacific amid tourism challenges, global uncertainties (PMN) 
  • IMF flags debt, remittances, and trade shocks as key risks for Pacific economies (PACNEWS) 
  • Pacific pushes for digital sovereignty and unity at ICT dialogue (PACNEWS) 
  • Lights out at CNMI’s only movie theatre amid economic struggles (RNZ) 
  • Economic forum: Tourism has taken a backseat to military construction on Guam (Guam PDN) 
  • United Airlines launching direct flights from Japan to Palau, Mongolia (Guam PDN) 
  • Palau President Whipps at annual address: Palau’s economy is strong but more must be done (MBJ Guam) 
  • 72% of US goods enter Fiji duty-free: Fiji DPM and Minister for Trade Kamikamica (FBC) 
  • Fiji and China join forces to transform technical and vocational education and training landscape (FBC) 
  • 1 step forward, 2 steps back – Solomon Islands reversing in development (The Island Sun) 
  • Less visitor arrivals in Samoa this quarter (Samoa Observer) 

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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 Hawaiʻi 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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