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Jul 25, 2024 | 
samoaobserver.ws | Nematullah Bizhan |Stephen Howes |Terence Wood |William Robinson
No one should have been surprised by Donald Trump’s latest expression of reluctance to defend Taiwan. But many were, including those with skin in the game. Shares in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and related tech companies plunged after Trump said Taiwan should be paying for the United States to defend it, “doesn’t give us anything”, and had taken “almost 100%” of the US semiconductor industry.
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Jul 24, 2024 | 
samoaobserver.ws | Nematullah Bizhan |Stephen Howes |Terence Wood |William Robinson
In Papua New Guinea, special support grants (SSGs) are allocated by the national government to provinces with resource projects to fund capital projects. Introduced in 1990, in the context of the Porgera negotiations, SSGs were intended to compensate provinces (initially Enga) for the fact that, following the Bougainville uprising and closure by landowners of the Panguna mine, it was deemed necessary to give a greater share of royalties to landowners rather than the provincial government.
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Jul 22, 2024 | 
samoaobserver.ws | Nematullah Bizhan |Stephen Howes |Terence Wood |William Robinson
This week’s release of the 2024 Aid Transparency Index — compiled biennially by Publish What You Fund from the data contained in its International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) — puts the transparency of donors’ development cooperation programs in a comparative context. The results are not good for Australia. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), which delivers most of Australia’s aid, ranks 48 of 50 (poor) in the 2024 Index.
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Jul 21, 2024 | 
samoaobserver.ws | Nematullah Bizhan |Stephen Howes |Terence Wood |William Robinson
The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) convened its third plenary session in Beijing from July 15 to 18, 2024, and adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPC on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernisation. On the new journey of promoting the Chinese path to modernisation, China's reform and opening up have set a new milestone.
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Jul 21, 2024 | 
samoaobserver.ws | Nematullah Bizhan |Stephen Howes |Terence Wood |William Robinson
At the NATO Summit in Washington last week, leaders noted the rising threats in space. The technology orbiting the Earth is critical to the digital world and underpins both civilian infrastructure and military activities. Yet these space assets are increasingly vulnerable. Diplomatic tensions between the United States, Russia and China have increased in the space domain, with serious concern surrounding the development of space and counterspace weapons.
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Jul 19, 2024 | 
samoaobserver.ws | Nematullah Bizhan |Stephen Howes |Terence Wood |William Robinson
Japan appears to be using the Quad to pursue its ambitions to promote domestic 5G network players. 5G, or “advanced telecommunications” and “critical and emerging technology” in Quad parlance, is one of a small handful of policy initiatives to be addressed at all five Quad leaders’ summits, along with issues such as health and clean energy initiatives. Tokyo has been at the forefront of the group in keeping 5G as a critical technology a consistent focus. Why?
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Jul 19, 2024 | 
samoaobserver.ws | Nematullah Bizhan |Stephen Howes |Terence Wood |William Robinson
This Joint Action Plan was endorsed by the Leaders and outlines specific actions that Japan and PIF Members (The PALM Partners) will jointly undertake over the next three years based on the seven priority areas of cooperation in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent (2050 Strategy). All Joint Action Plan initiatives will consider the national context of each country in which projects are implemented and will respect the national processes, mechanisms and structures in place.
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Jul 18, 2024 | 
samoaobserver.ws | Nematullah Bizhan |Stephen Howes |Terence Wood |William Robinson
The draft of the Constitution of the Republic of Bougainville draws on numerous sources, including the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Constitution, the PNG Constitution, the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA), the consultation reports, and various other constitutions (for example Kenya, 2010). It was also inspired by the 2012 draft constitution of Fiji, prepared by a Commission chaired by Professor Yash Ghai.
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Jul 18, 2024 | 
samoaobserver.ws | Nematullah Bizhan |Stephen Howes |Terence Wood |William Robinson
There is a sense of urgency in the Pacific to establish an Academy of Sciences. It’s not just in response to regional challenges but a resounding call to unify and recognise Pacific scholars and their research to inform decisions about the region. This is a critical step forward for the Pacific, by the Pacific, that has global implications. A historic agreement to establish a Pacific Academy of Sciences was reached at a meeting of 60 Pacific scholars in Apia, Samoa in October 2023.
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Jul 18, 2024 | 
samoaobserver.ws | Nematullah Bizhan |Stephen Howes |Terence Wood |William Robinson
Essential to the growth of the global economy is the ongoing collaboration between financial markets, regions, and countries, as it opens trade opportunities, strengthens innovation through diverse expertise, and optimises production processes. And although positive steps forward are being taken to improve this collaboration, one region continues to face financial and economic exclusion – the Pacific Islands.
