Pacific Islands News Roundup – October 3 – 9, 2025
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Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security
- The US sees Pacific Islands as ‘tip of the spear’, but locals fear becoming China’s ‘bullseye’ (ABC Australia)
- Another Paris earthquake sends tsunamis to the Pacific (Islands Business)
- Senate Reaffirms Opposition to U.S. Refugee Proposal as Whipps Calls for Renewed Dialogue (Island Times)
- Bougainville president sworn in after landslide re-election, names caretaker government (Asia Pacific Report)
- Japan boosts Tonga’s maritime security (Talanoa ‘O Tonga)
- PM Rabuka calls for unity and progress in Fiji Day address (Fiji Times)
- The Pukpuk Treaty and the future of Papua New Guinea-Australia relations (RNZ)
- Samoa govt says Manawanui disaster compensation to be finalised after budget approval (RNZ)
- China to step up Pacific push after Australia–PNG defense treaty (Island Times)
- UN and Vanuatu Sign Vt9.5 billion Implementation Plan (VBTC)
People-Centered Development
- From a small Samoan village to the top of NZ law – Tiana Epati proves it’s possible (RNZ)
- Government To Declare HIV/AIDS Surge A National Concern (In-depth Solomons)
- Farming Initiative Inspires Hope and Healing for Youth in Fiji (Fiji One News)
- Empowering women, strengthening stewardship in marine conservation (Solomon Star)
- From Drought to Hope: Ahkamb Island Launches Two Other Bold Resilience Projects to Secure Its Future (VBTC)
- Vanuatu Secures 100 University Placements for Students in Papua New Guinea (VBTC)
- Whooping Cough Cases Rises to 270- Epidemiologically Linked To Tanna (VBTC)
- Nearly 500 teen pregnancies in five months: ‘Too often it’s rape, incest, abuse’ – Fiji government (RNZ)
- Farmers learn modern rice technique (FBC News)
- Guam’s SNAP-Ed nutrition education program a casualty of federal cuts (Pacific Island Times)
- La Tahiti Pride Week de retour pour une 3e édition (Tahiti Infos)
- Kiribati’s Atiterentaai Rinimarawa Crowned First-Ever Miss Micronesia (The New Atoll)
Climate Change and Disasters, Ocean and Environment
- Can This West Hawaiʻi Coral Reef Be Saved From Sewage Runoff? (Civil Beat)
- Study sheds light on hidden Biodiversity in Palau’s reefs (Island Times)
- Veo vows to end Gizo’s water woes (Solomon Star)
- Nainoa Thompson joins world leaders to celebrate historic High Seas Treaty at NYC Climate Week (Maui Now)
- Quieting invasive coquí frogs to hear the heartbeat of Waimānalo (HPR)
- Pacific climate hub shutters due to lapse in federal funding (HPR)
- Low dieldrin levels from Camp Blaz wells; governor says dieldrin source investigation underway (Pacific Daily News)
- Fiji unveils $2b plan to go 100% renewable by 2035 (Fiji Sun)
- SI to continue climate advocacy despite Trump’s dismissal (Solomon Star)
- Pacific must lead global Tuna governance, says SINU Vice-Chancellor Aqorau (Pasifika Environews)
Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity
- Dark Money Group Blankets Maui In Ads To Influence Vacation Rental Bill (Civil Beat)
- Growing Fiji–Australia business relationship (Islands Business)
- Here are the CNMI’s tourism numbers: Read ‘em and weep (Pacific Island Times)
- FMF officially launches Amul Cow Ghee in Fiji strengthening ties with India (Fiji Village)
- PNG PM Marape Admits Mining Wealth Not Reaching People (Papua New Guinea Today)
- Forum discusses reasons behind drop in cattle production (Daily Post Digital)
- Kava exports reached VT5.3B last year (Vanuatu Business Review)
- High cost of living: Guam needs more laborers, Jones Act repeal (Pacific Daily News)
- Technology fix for outer islands (Marshall Islands Journal)
- Western Energy Project to inject USD $3.5 billion into PNG’s economy (Post Courier)
Latest Content from the Pacific Islands Report
- Pacific Islands Security In the Era of US-China Competition (Visions & Voices)
- Abandonment of Soft Power, Neglect of Climate Change, and the Shifting Geopolitical Landscape of the Pacific (Visions & Voices)
- Tackling Systemic Inequities in The Solomon Islands Healthcare System: The Race-Health-Governance Nexus (Visions & Voices)
- The Watchdogs of the Blue Pacific: Media Accountability in Regional Security (Visions & Voices)
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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