Samoa will host the CHOGM from 21-25 October 2024. Photo: Samoa Government
Samoa - CHOGM
The leader of Samoa's opposition Human Rights Political Party (HRPP), Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, says they have to trust the government's preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Tuilaepa said the road heading to Siumu will not be complete until next year.
The SAT$15 million Cross Island project, funded by the Asian Development Bank, was set for completion within 12 months.
But for CHOGM in October the work remains incomplete.
According to the Samoa Observer, a recent site visit showed construction is far from finished.
New Caledonia - interference
A new report indicates China's spent decades interfering in the politics of New Caledonia.
The report, published in the Australian Strategic Policy Review, follows months of unrest and rioting in the French territory over constitutional reforms.
China's aims are strategic: access to minerals, territory, sea-routes, and communications.
University of Canterbury political scientist Anne-Marie Brady said even the pro-independence camp does not want to swap financial reliance on France for reliance on China.
She said if France was to leave and not support an independent New Caledonia, it would leave a vacuum.
New Zealand/Samoa - crash
The Secretary of New Zealand's Ministry for Pacific Peoples says it is continuing to work in support of the police community and other agencies following the crash on State Highway 1 in Ramarama.
Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone says their deepest thoughts are with the family and community affected in New Zealand and in Samoa.
Uili Fa'aofo and his two nephews were killed in the crash.
Police say a truck blew a tyre and crashed through a barrier.
As well as the three killed, three others were taken to hospital, and a 21-year-old man remains in a critical condition.
Papua New Guinea - Kramer
Madang MP Bryan Kramer will return to office after a judge issued temporary stay orders.
In the National Court last week Judge Susan Purdon-Sally granted three interim orders, including to stay the decision by the leadership tribunal which dismissed him from office on May 1st last year.
She also ordered to stay his automatic suspension from 2022 and issued an interim injunction which allows Kramer to return to the National Parliament.
Judge Purdon-Sully noted the orders sought and granted would effectively stay the suspension, pending the outcome of a judicial review.
The National newspaper reported the matter was adjourned to 21 October.
Northern Marianas - weapons
The Marianas Visitors Authority managing director is opposed to Guam housing nuclear weapons, saying it would negatively impact tourism in the CNMI.
Christopher Concepcion said they are too close geographically to Guam for it not to affect the Marianas in the future.
He said the CNMI is seen as a clean and peaceful tourist destination.
Concepcion said the CNMI constitution specifically prohibits the storage or disposal of nuclear weapons or waste in the Marianas.
Northern Marianas - health
Locals in the Northern Marianas who depend on Medicare for health needs will benefit from a drop in the price of some prescription medications.
CNMI delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan said this follows the Biden-Harris administration completing successful negotiations with drug companies.
He said the agreement will help lower 10 prescription drug prices for millions of people across America, beginning 1 January 2026.
The negotiated drugs were some of the most expensive and most frequently dispensed drugs in the Medicare program and are used to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
The prices for 10 drugs will be cut in 2026 and in 2027, another 15 can be added to the list and 20 per year after that can have costs negotiated and lowered.