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Pago Pago, American Samoa— After a severe and prolonged drought, communities in Yap State and its outer islands in the Federated States of Micronesia are preparing for the future of water supply and lifestyle in a changing climate.
Earlier this year, due to droughteven though it’s over, it’s still very Dry in some areas.
By June, the situation was so dire that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that rescue teams and residents on islands across Yap State were seeing drought-related “drying taro fields, drying coconuts, and numerous reports of crops turning brown.”
For many, this latest drought has raised deeper concerns about future climate change.
Victor Nabeyan, head of the state-run water and power business, said they were doing their best to adapt.
“The small Pacific islands are going to be most affected by climate change so we are very mindful of that,” he said.
“Our whole plan revolves around this.
“So if you look at our energy master plan, it’s all about adaptation measures, increasing investment in renewable energy, but also making sure there is enough infrastructure to produce water from our country or enough well capacity during droughts because climate change is exacerbating that.
“We are more affected than other countries.”
(Pacific Radio New Zealand)
TSA Threat List
According to journalist Matt Taibbi, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), who was once a presidential candidate, has been placed on the TSA’s threat list. Gabbard is known for her opposition to Vice President (then Senator) Kamala Harris in the 2020 presidential primary and for her realist foreign policy views, especially It’s Syria.
Two weeks ago, Gabbard and her husband found that their boarding passes were marked with “SSSS” TitleColloquially known as “Quad S,” it means the passenger is on a threat list and subject to lengthy “random” searches. The designation also means that any flight Gabbard is on will have (unbeknownst to her) two teams of explosive-detection dogs, a transportation security specialist, an undercover TSA supervisor and three federal air marshals on board.
Gabbard was placed on a watch list under the TSA’s Quiet Skies program, which was expanded to include people at the Capitol after the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Gabbard, who was not at the Capitol at the time, is the most prominent U.S. politician to be added to the list.
(American Conservative Magazine)
Conference content is published in the newsletter
Governor Lemanu PS Mauga was recently featured in the February 2024 issue of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Newsletter. The feature highlighted his meeting with Louis Obot, Marketing Specialist and Operational Allotment Specialist with the Specialty Crop Inspection (SCI) Division, during Obot’s visit to American Samoa on January 14, 2024.
The meeting took place at the StarKist Samoa facility, where a tour of the Department of Defense’s Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) program saw the production of canned tuna. Governor Lemanu, a 23-year U.S. Army veteran, said he was excited about the greater variety of MREs available today compared to when he served.
Louis Obote and his team visited the region again last week for another MRE production run, continuing their critical work to ensure the highest safety and nutrition standards for our troops. SCI plays a vital role in verifying that suppliers meet stringent requirements, highlighting its ongoing commitment to supporting the health and well-being of our nation’s military personnel.
(ASG Press Release)
Pacific Humanitarian Relief
New Zealand and Australian governments to help build nearly NZ$50 million humanitarian relief warehouse in Pacific
The announcement was made on Friday by the two countries’ foreign ministers who were attending the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Suva.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the Pacific faces a wide range of natural disasters and other risks, including cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, volcanoes and disease.
He said these disasters could create huge humanitarian needs.
“This initiative puts Pacific nations at the centre of the response,” he said.
“It will enable countries to access humanitarian relief supplies within 48 hours of a disaster to help meet immediate needs in emergencies.”
New Zealand and Australia will join other partners including the United States, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom in investing NZ$47.5 million.
The plan is to build warehouses in 14 Pacific island nations and Timor-Leste.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program was an excellent initiative led by the Pacific region.
“Australia and New Zealand are proud to support this project to ensure that when disaster strikes, local communities have easy access to support and supplies,” said Joshua Wong.
“This is a practical manifestation of how we can work together to address common challenges.”
(Pacific Radio New Zealand)
New Caledonia Pacific Mission
France has approved sending a high-level Pacific “fact-finding mission” to New Caledonia to gather information from all parties involved in the ongoing crisis.
“We welcome the Troika’s fact-finding trip to New Caledonia ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting,” French ambassador to the Pacific Véronique Roger-Lacan told RNZ Pacific in an exclusive interview on Friday evening.
“I handed over a letter to Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa and Chairman Prime Minister Mark Brown.
“It’s a good idea. What’s important is that everyone assesses the situation together with (France).”
She said it was important to continue the dialogue.
“We reiterate that these disturbances are the work of a small group of people who are opposed to democracy, transparency and fair procedures, and that the French government has restored security and is rebuilding and organizing the reconstruction of (New Caledonia).”
Forum leaders wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron last month, requesting that the Forum’s Committee of Ministers be sent to Noumea to gather information from all parties involved in the current crisis.
The confirmation comes as Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers meet in Suva at the end of this month ahead of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit in Tonga.
(New Zealand Pacific Channel)
Carjacking
Honolulu police are investigating two men who were arrested following two suspected carjackings Saturday, according to police officials.
Officials said one of the incidents occurred in the Makakilo area around 4:50 p.m.
Police said the second attack happened in the Waipio area around 2 p.m.
In the Waipio case, the suspect attacked the driver and then stole his vehicle.
Both suspects were arrested and charges are pending.
The investigation is still ongoing.
(Hawaii News Now)
Fiji Airways flies nonstop to Texas
Fiji Airways has announced that it will launch the first direct flight between Nadi, Fiji and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, USA in December 2024.
The new direct flights will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with a flight time of 13 hours, using Fiji Airways’ state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 XWB aircraft. The aircraft will be equipped with 301 Economy Class seats, recently awarded the title of ‘Best Economy Class’ for Australia and Pacific at the 2024 SKYTRAX World Airline Awards, and 33 Business Class seats, all of which are lie-flat and all have aisle access.
The first flight is scheduled to take off on December 10, 2024, and special fares are currently available on the Fiji Airways website at fijiairways.com.
Fiji Airways CEO and Managing Director Andre Viljoen said of the new route: “The launch of non-stop flights between Fiji and Dallas is a very exciting milestone for Fiji Airways as we continue to strengthen Fiji’s connectivity to the United States and beyond, providing our guests with more travel options.”
The new route to Dallas will complement several other recently announced initiatives by the airline, including plans to join American Airlines’ AAdvantage® loyalty program next year and become the 15th full member of the oneworld alliance in 2025. American Airlines AAdvantage and oneworld members will soon be able to earn and use frequent flyer miles and earn tier points when flying on Fiji Airways, further enhancing the airline’s connectivity and loyalty offerings.
“The Fiji-Dallas service will make it easier than ever for North American passengers and AAdvantage members to vacation in the South Pacific, adding more than 1,000 additional seats per week from North America to the pristine shores of Fiji,” said Viljoen.
To celebrate, Fiji Airways is offering special return fares between Fiji and Dallas, flying from Fiji Airways points in Australia and New Zealand to Dallas from just AUD$1,599 (from Australia) and NZD$1,199 (from New Zealand) return. Tickets are available now on the Fiji Airways website, fijiairways.com, or through your preferred travel agent (terms and conditions apply – see website for details).
Dallas will become Fiji Airways’ 24th nonstop international destination and will be the fifth North American port served by the airline, joining Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Vancouver.
(Pacific Radio New Zealand)
FBI bomb investigation
An improvised explosive device placed near a trash can on Old Haleakala Highway in Pukalani, Maui, exploded Thursday evening, striking a passing car, according to the FBI.
The FBI said several devices that look like small baskets have been found along the road between Kahului and Kula in recent days, mostly hidden in trash cans or in inconspicuous areas.
The FBI did not say whether the driver was injured or taken to a hospital.
The FBI said one device found by investigators was 7 inches by 4 inches and cylindrical. The agency did not say how many devices were found.
Maui police spokeswoman Alana Pico said in a statement that police are working with the FBI to investigate the source of the IED and are asking the public to report suspicious objects on the road.
“Do not touch, drive over or approach this object for any reason,” the statement said. “If possible, have others move away from the area and call MPD’s 911 immediately to report the object.”
Daniel Perry, who lives in Kahului, said he saw a flash in the sky coming from the direction of Pukalani, about 10 miles southeast of Kahului, just before 8:45 p.m. Thursday.
He said: “I don’t understand what that flash was.”
Later, he spoke to people near the blast site who said it was so loud it shook their houses.
“It’s scary, to be honest with you,” he said. “It’s horrible if someone actually dies from this. … I don’t want another fire on Maui.”
Pico declined to provide more information. An FBI spokesman did not respond to questions about the materials used in the IED or whether investigators have identified a suspect.
IEDs often contain Common materialsThe items include fertilizer, gunpowder and hydrogen peroxide, the Department of Homeland Security said. They are sometimes mixed with other items, such as nails, glass or metal fragments, to increase the damage they can cause.
(Civil Beat)
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