Simon Kofe. September 2023. Photo: Twittter.com/@Simon_Kofe
Tuvalu has asserted that it will continue to exist as a country, even if the island disappears due to rising sea levels.
This month it enshrined a new definition of statehood in its constitution.
The definition says the State of Tuvalu shall remain in perpetuity, notwithstanding the impacts of climate change or anything else that results in the loss of its physical territory.
Former foreign minister and government MP Simon Kofe said Tuvalu was the first nation in the world to define itself in this way.
"It's part of our efforts to try and future proof Tuvalu, because for us a state is more than just what's in the physical," Kofe said.
"It's our culture, our history. It's a spirit of the people of Tuvalu, and that's something that that could never be, you know, removed. It's a part of who we are. And we want that to continue."
Papua New Guinea - drug
The Papua New Guinea police commissioner David Manning says the nature of the international drug trade within PNG is changing with more locals now using cocaine and methamphetamine.
Manning said PNG remains a transit point for the bigger markets of Australia and New Zealand but local use of the hard drugs is growing.
Speaking during events marking PNG's 48th anniversary of independence from Australia, he pleaded with parents to ensure that their children don't become users of methamphetamine or cocaine.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister James Marape has told Papua New Guineans that they have a major role in overcoming the lawlessness in the country.
Marape said the country's economy has to grow to support its rapidly expanding population, and restoring law and order is part of this.
He said the country's citizens have a key role to play in this development.
Fiji - scam
Fiji's minister for trade says a task force has been formed to follow up complaints related to the Ebay Shop Online Recruitment scam.
Fijians have who invested in the scam have lost over $NZ500,000.
People who are alleged agents of the scheme are under heavy scrutiny from the government.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica said the government wants those responsible to face the law.
"From the government's perspective, we have created a taskforce to actually look into what can be done, actually working with the police. The first step is to bring the perpetrators of this scam to justice."
Kamikamica said there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to get that going, but his advice is to listen to warnings about the scheme.
Fiji - turtles
New preliminary research shows ongoing turtle harvesting in Fiji, which directly contradicts the rules prohibiting this practice.
The turtle, also known as vonu or ika bula, holds significance within Fiji's customary rituals and events involving chiefs, such as for their installation ceremonies, weddings and funerals.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme said the findings identified major harvesting hotspots in the provinces of Lomaiviti, Macuata, Kadavu, and Bua.
The World Wildlife Fund's Duncan Williams said while the results are still preliminary, they can already determine that sea turtles are targeted on purpose (and at night) rather than caught incidentally, and are targeted consistently year-round.
The preliminary survey results point to the need to re-assess current legislation, strengthen collaboration and partnerships amongst management stakeholders and communities, strengthen enforcement capacity and improve awareness.
Niue - Canada
Niue has established diplomatic relations with Canada.
The two nations exchanged government official notes signifying a deep understanding, cooperation and friendship in strengthening ties between them, according to a government statement.
In a phone call between Premier Dalton Tagelagi and Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, both expressed their appreciation in formalising diplomatic ties.
Tagelagi thanked Joly for hosting the Niue delegation in Montreal, Canada last year during the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Niue's government said it is a significant milestone for both Niue and Canada in fostering greater collaboration in areas of mutual interest, trade and investment, culture, technology and education.
Canada is the 24th country to establish diplomatic relations with Niue.
Vanuatu - COP28
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has been preparing Vanuatu negotiators for Cop28.
SPREP said resource constraints - both financial and human - mean Pacific delegations to COP will be outnumbered by a ratio of 1-to-7 by developed countries.
Vanuatu Ministry of Climate Change director general Esline Garaebiti acknowledged SPREP's help in giving negotiations training.
The training covered an overview of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and a recap of the key Pacific Small Island Developing States issues that came out of Sharm el-Sheikh at COP27.
It also offered an overview of the Pacific SIDS' positions for the upcoming COP28.
American Samoa - discrimination
A lawsuit alleging discrimination against a former American Samoa government employee, who is a transgender woman, has been resolved.
The US Deapartment of Justice has announced a federal judge in Honolulu approved a decree settling the lawsuit.
Provisions of the decree require the American Samoa government to pay $US125,000 to compensate the former employee for the harassment she suffered at the hands of her supervisor.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division said transgender employees must be free from discrimination, harassment or derision in the workplace.
The American Samoa Governor's Office has not responded to a request for comment on the outcome of this case.
Northern Marianas
Police and other law enforcement in the Northern Marianas have been called in after threats against two schools.
Marianas Variety reports on September 12, a school in San Antonio initiated its "Shelter in Place" emergency procedure following a threat on social media directed at the school, regarding "shootout September."
Principal Cherlyn Osung said they have seen three threats posted online; one was taken down.
She said they take all threats seriously, and the partnership with the Department of Public Safety makes their students, parents and staff feel very supported and safe to come to school.
Then on Thursday, police responded to another threat, this time at a school in Kagman.
The Public School System in the Northern Marianas says the school received information on social media regarding a possible threat to 'bomb the school.'
This was later declared all-clear but was being investigated.
