Samoa – politics
Samoa’s Tuilaepa Sailele
Malielegaoi, 44 years after he first won a parliamentary
seat, is intending to stand again in the upcoming national
election.
Tuilaepa has been re-confirmed as the leader
of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) which has been
in opposition since 2021.
His deputy, Lauofo Fonotoe
Pierre, has also been re-confirmed in his role.
HRPP
has dominated Samoa’s politics for the past 40 years, with
Tuilaepa at the helm for much of that time.
He served
as the country’s prime minister for 23 years, until losing
the 2021 election to Fiame Naomi Mata’afa.
Cook
Islands – shipping
The Cook Islands government has
commended the outcomes of the 83rd session of the
International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environment
Protection Committee in the decarbonisation of maritime
transport, amidst the global challenge of climate
change.
For the first time, a global multilateral
organisation has successfully adopted a mandatory provision
to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from
international shipping.
However, Fiji, the Marshall
Islands, the Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and
Vanuatu, as well as a representative of Palau, abstained in
the outcome of the IMO negotiations, refusing to support an
agreement that would do too little, too late to cut shipping
emissions and protect their islands.
In a statement, a
Cook Islands government spokesperson said it is not about
winners or losers – rather the whole world loses in the face
of climate change.
Papua New Guinea –
economy
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Papua New Guinea’s economy is forecast to
continue to grow despite development
challenges.
According to the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) the country’s economy grew by 4.3 percent in 2024, its
forecast to grow by 4.2 percent this year and 3.8 percent in
2026.
An ADB spokesperson said power blackouts and the
high cost of doing business are further compounded by
escalating trade tensions.
They said inflation fell to
its lowest level in recent years in 2024.
Pacific –
produce
Trade and investment promotion agency Pacific
Trade Invest (PTI) says fresh produce growers and exporters
in the region are struggling.
PTI said they are facing
factors such as unfavourable weather conditions and changing
global environments.
It said challenges include
excessive rainfall – which has disrupted production in
countries such as Fiji; there are also gaps in agricultural
practices that could help mitigate the risks of a changing
climate; widespread labour shortages; and a lack of
necessary certifications.
PTI said another growing
risk is climate-related changes elsewhere, along with
advancing technology, that enables international farmers to
grow items traditionally sourced from the Pacific, such as
eggplant and okra.
But it said there are promising
initiatives – including a project in Samoa aimed at setting
up agricultural rental equipment for the Farmers’
Association.
PIF – tariffs
Pacific Islands
Forum leaders have ramped up discussions on the future of
the regional architecture in light of the US
administration’s recent tariffs and policies impacting the
Pacific.
The US holds dialogue partner status in the
premier regional body, which has identified climate change
as the greatest security threat to its member
countries.
Before Trump’s tariffs, the administration
had caused concern for Pacific nations by pulling out of the
global climate treaty, the Paris Agreement.
The
Pacific Islands Forum Troika, made up of the past, present
and future hosts of their annual meeting, will meet again in
June to consider an update on the progress of key regional
initiatives.
Niue – cyberbullying
An anonymous
TikTok account has been reported to Niue High School by
concerned parents.
Described as a “confessions” page,
the account shared defamatory posts, targeting Year 9
students and calling them names.
Principal Charles
Ioane told local media it’s not an isolated case, as online
bullying through anonymous social media accounts has been
common in recent years.
The school had banned phones
and access to social media from the school’s network was
prohibited.
Niue has no existing laws on cyber crime
or online harassment.
It relies on existing laws
containing provisions for distributing indecent documents
and search and seizure powers, but it has yet to be updated
to include electronic materials and
devices.
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