Hawai’i – attempted murder charge
A Maui doctor
has been charged with second-degree attempted murder after a
woman was taken to hospital in critical
condition.
Hawaii News Now reported officers
saying they responded to reports of a man beating a woman at
Pali Puka hiking trail.
Police said the victim told
them that her husband attempted to push her off the trail
and then repeatedly hit her head with a rock.
The
suspect fled the scene before officers arrived and a search
was coordinated.
He was arrested that
evening.
Federated States of Micronesia –
infrastructure
The Pentagon plans to invest US$2
billion to build more projects that would enable US forces
to operate in the Federated States of Micronesia
(FSM).
A US Defence Department spokesperson said both
countries have reached a mutual understanding to proceed
with the construction of previously authorised US-funded
infrastructure projects in Yap.
The agreement was
reached during an unannounced meeting between Secretary of
Defence Pete Hegseth and FSM President Wesley Simina on
Guam.
A source told the Pacific Island Times
that Hegseth and President Simina met at Andersen Air Force
Base last Thursday.
Simina declined the Pacific
Island Times’ request for an interview.
Vanuatu –
petitions
The Vanuatu Supreme Court has dismissed one
election petition and struck out three others for
non-compliance with the Electoral Act following January’s
election.
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Local media reported Judge Oliver Saksak
dismissed Uri Warawara’s petition challenging the election
of Allan Molvoke Liki to the Malo Constituency on the
grounds that he did not pay a security deposit on
time.
Warawara complained that 111 voters were allowed
to vote when they should not have during the snap election
in January.
Vanuatu has had five prime ministers in
four years.
Pacific – climate
Fundraising
campaigns are planned to boost the Pacific Resilience
Facility – a fund for responding to climate
impacts.
Matangi Tonga reported Australia has
promised the most money so far, approximately US$63
million.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General,
Baron Waqa said a series of campaigns has been planned for
the fund, including a significant fundraising and pledge
commitment event alongside the UN General Assembly later
this year.
The fund is set to be ratified at the PIF
Leaders’ Meeting in September.
Indo-Pacific –
agreement
The Agence française de développement
(AFD) and the Pacific Community, or SPC, have signed a
funding agreement of €4.5 million Euros.
The money
is to support a project called “Strengthening Health
Security in the Indo-Pacific Region”.
It will span the
next four years and builds upon the agency’s prior support
of €5 million Euros to the Pacific Public Health
Surveillance Network from 2018 to 2023.
The project
will focus on strengthening integrated approaches to human,
animal and environmental health in the region through the
Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network.
Tokelau –
research
An education and research expedition has
arrived in Tokelau.
It is focused on culture-based
environmental education programs, biodiversity research, and
community science training.
The expedition represents
a follow-up to research sites that haven’t been surveyed in
13-20 years, doing bird and invasive species monitoring,
fish surveys, photogrammetry, environmental DNA sampling,
and citizen science training.
All activities are being
documented in virtual reality to create educational
resources for Tokelauan schools.
It is a joint venture
with contributors including Conservation International, New
Zealand Geographic, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade, and the Samoa Conservation
Society.
Fiji – Eid-ul-Fitr
Fiji’s Deputy
Prime Minister Biman Prasad wants to remind the public of
the country’s diversity and the values of inclusivity,
understanding and respect in light of Eid-ul-Fitr
celebrations on Tuesday.
It is the first of the two
main festivals in Islam.
Biman Prasad extended his
best wishes to all those marking the occasion, saying Eid is
a time of faith, compassion and gratitude.
He said it
brings people together and supports those in
need.
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