Nauru

After touching down in Nauru Wednesday from Singapore, the baton was officially presented to the Nauru Commonwealth Games association, which coordinated Thursday’s relay around the island.

Maranda Stephen, daughter of Nauru Commonwealth Games association president and seven-time gold medallist Marcus Stephen, conducted the ceremonial firing of the gun at Linkbelt Oval.

It says the 29-year-old Bengali national died when the motorcycle he was on collided with another vehicle.

The man was at the Australian run detention camp on the island.

The government said police were investigating the accident and no other details were yet available but they said reports on social media alleging it was more than an accident were false.

Photo supplied. Caption: Road on Nauru 

Dr Kieren Keke, Chef de Mission for Team Nauru at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, said they are looking forward to seeing everyone out joining in the Relay celebrations.

“This is a very special opportunity to see the Queen’s Baton and celebrate its journey through the Commonwealth.

“Nauru will have a welcome day for the Baton on Wednesday (1 Nov) and a round island relay day on Thursday (2 Nov).

The GCF approved a $35m funding proposal for the Nauru port at its final board meeting of the year in early October in Egypt, one of eleven climate finance initiatives the board approved in different parts of the world.

The Fund’s primary function is to help developing countries such as Nauru respond to climate change.

“One of the keys to our success was the assistance of Australia, who even asked its high commissioner to the UK Alexander Downer to lobby diligently on Nauru’s behalf,” said Minister for Finance David Adeang.

President Waqa said a fully operational mechanism to address Loss and Damage is absolutely essential.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that no country or community is left behind.”  

The Nauru leader made the comments in a statement as Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) at the Pre-COP Session 2 Plenary discussion in Nadi, Fiji.

The centre's legal advocacy director Daniel Webb said the government was bulldozing the Manus detention centre but the men inside had nowhere to go.

The move comes exactly three weeks before its closure, which was declared unlawful by PNG's highest court in April last year, and follows two recent deaths and a spate of violent attacks against refugees held on the island.

Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian journalist held on Manus, said people were really frustrated and disappointed by this news.

The President of Nauru and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia expressed hope that the establishment of diplomatic relations will create an opportunity to develop mutually beneficial cooperation in international platforms.

A statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Armenia said the protocol was signed in New York at the margins of the UN General Assembly last weekend.

Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Armenia. 

According to the Nauru government the park is being developed by Tuvalu as part of its preparation towards hosting the 2019 Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting.

It said a landing craft from Vanuatu will come to Nauru to load and transport the boulders to Tuvalu.

The exact details of the transaction were not disclosed but it is understood Tuvalu made the purchase through the Green Climate Fund.

The signing took place on the margins of the Forum Leaders’ Summit in Apia.

And in a major acknowledgement, Bendigo Bank, which is the only bank on Nauru, is ranked 13th globally. 

FORTUNE's annual list of top 50 companies, announced in the United States, ranks enterprises that have positive social or environmental impacts on their communities. 

“What this means, is that Bendigo Bank has been recognised globally for its untiring efforts to strengthen the connection between the bank and the communities that it serves, and its high ranking confirms that this is working,” said agency manager for Bendigo Bank in Nauru, Greg Watson. 

IFSWF is a global non-profit organization made up of over 30 Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) united by a common commitment of the Santiago Principles that guide appropriate conduct and accountability of investment practices. 

Minister for Finance David Adeang attended the IFSWF annual meeting in Kazakhstan to formally accept the membership, which was achieved after high-level vetting and final IFSWF board approval processes.