In this bulletin:
1. AUST — Foreign crew charged after Australian police say ‘smuggling hides’ used in cocaine plot
2. B/VILLE — Bougainville Constituent Assembly set to debate final chapters of draft Constitution
3. PACIFIC — Fiji, Australia step up push to shape Pre-COP31 agenda
4. PACIFIC — A spiritual call for justice echoes across the Pacific
5. FIJI — Higher iTaukei deaths at younger ages, Indo-Fijians at older ages – FBoS report
6. PACIFIC — Amending turtle protection laws proposed to permit cultural use
7. UN — UN condemns killing of two more peacekeepers in Lebanon
8. USA/NZ — U.S, New Zealand step up Space Cooperation after Washington talks
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Air Nuigini’s A220 makes first flight to Cairns
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Manila-Saipan flight returns with focus on visa access, regional connectivity
11. PACNEWS BIZ — 23 percent of Fiji’s youth not in school or work
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Sea mines clearance: A new dimension of difficulty
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Vanualevu Organic Farmers share solutions to restore soil health
AUST – DRUGS FIGHT: ABC PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Tue 31 Mar 2026
Foreign crew charged after Australian police say ‘smuggling hides’ used in cocaine plot
SYDNEY, 31 MARCH 2026 (ABC PACIFIC) —Australian Police have charged six crew members of the high-profile MV Raider vessel with drug smuggling, saying they attempted to bring one tonne of cocaine into Australia after being intercepted by French Polynesian authorities earlier this year.
The MV Raider was boarded in January by French Polynesian police, who dumped almost 5 tonnes of cocaine found on board into the sea before releasing the crew.
The vessel was escorted into Sydney in March after the crew said they were struggling with mechanical issues and running low on critical supplies.
Almost a week later the crew members were taken into immigration detention, but lawyers said they were unlikely to face any criminal charges over the cocaine seized near French Polynesia because the events occurred well outside Australia’s territorial waters.
But in an extraordinary development, the AFP has revealed that French Polynesian authorities failed to find a further tonne of cocaine, which they allege remained hidden in one of the “professionally built and installed smuggling hides” on the vessel.
It’s not clear exactly what happened to the drugs, but the joint statement said police suspected “an Australian-based crew operating on behalf of a larger criminal syndicate was looking to rendezvous with the MV Raider to conduct an at-sea transfer within Australia’s Economic Exclusion Zone.”
The drugs were not onboard the vessel when it was inspected by the AFP.
Six of the 11 crew have now been charged with trying to smuggle a commercial quantity of illegal drugs into Australia, and will face a Sydney bail court later today.
In a joint statement the AFP, NSW Police and Border Force said that when they searched the crew’s electronic devices they found “evidence consistent with the allegation the MV Raider had further drugs on board”.
Ship was found to be carrying nearly 5 tonnes of cocaine near French Polynesia earlier this year.
Photos released by the police also appear to show they found another secret compartment in the vessel hidden under a fixed wardrobe in the ship.
The AFP also said it had seized a “satellite phone which was allegedly used by senior members of the MV Raider’s crew to communicate with the syndicate’s bosses based offshore.”
Five of the men charged are Honduran, while the sixth is Ecuadorian. They range from 26 to 63 years of age.
Police also revealed that Australian authorities met the MV Raider 180 nautical miles off the NSW coast in late February — well before they issued the distress call — and told the crew they wouldn’t be allowed into an Australian port.
Australian Border Force Commander Rose Cracknell said the search of the digital devices “allegedly uncovered further criminality, which will be tested and put before the courts.”
“We know that criminal groups will try to use Australia’s vast coastline to attempt to breach our borders, but criminals should always assume we are watching and ready to take action,” she said.
Jose Sousa-Santos, the head of the Pacific Regional Security Hub at the University of Canterbury, said it was not surprising that Australia believed extra drugs were on board, as a vessel “of this size being used by the cartels would certainly carry more product than what was seized by French authorities.”
“It sends a strong message that Australian ports are not a soft target for cartels and their current trafficking tactics,” he said……PACNEWS
B/VILLE – CONSTITUTION: NBC PNG NEWS PACNEWS 2: Tue 31 Mar 2026
Bougainville Constituent Assembly set to debate final chapters of draft Constitution
BUKA, 31 MARCH 2026 (NBC NEWS)—Bougainville’s draft independence Constitution is now in its final stages, with debate set to resume when the Bougainville Constituent Assembly reconvenes.
Vice President Ezekiel Masatt said steady progress has been made, with only a few chapters left to be deliberated by members.
The Bougainville House of Representatives is currently in its first sitting for this year, and will formally transition into a Constituent Assembly, when debate on the Constitution is brought forward.
The draft document, developed over two years reflects wide consultations with Bougainvillean’s both at home and abroad.
It contains 14 chapters and 8 schedules, with minimal changes since the second draft was endorsed.
Vice President Masatt, says discussions so far have been constructive, as Bougainville moves closer to finalising its supreme law ahead of its independence timeline……PACNEWS
PAC – PRE COP-PREP: PACNEWS/FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 2: Tue 31 Mar 2026
Fiji, Australia step up push to shape Pre-COP31 agenda
SUVA, 31 MARCH 2026 (PACNEWS/FIJI GOVT— Preparations for Pre-COP31 are picking up pace, with Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change hosting Australia’s Special Envoy for the Pacific and Ambassador for Climate Change, Will Nankervis, alongside Peter Roberts and officials from the Australian High Commission.
Talks focused on tightening coordination as Fiji gears up to host key discussions ahead of COP31.
The next phase will see trilateral meetings involving Australia, Tuvalu and Fiji to help shape the Pre-COP31 agenda, ensuring Pacific priorities are firmly placed in global climate negotiations.
The engagement underscores strong Fiji–Australia cooperation, with both sides aiming to deliver a successful Pre-COP and elevate the Pacific voice on the global stage….PACNEWS
PAC – NUKE REMEMBRANCE DAY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Tue 31 Mar 2026
A spiritual call for justice echoes across the Pacific
SUVA, 31 MARCH 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Anin jitbon mar—a spiritual calling from the islands—set the tone for Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day commemorations in Suva today, as Pacific leaders and advocates renewed unified calls for justice and accountability over the region’s nuclear legacy.
Reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual bond uniting Pacific people with their land and ocean, the theme also amplified the voices of communities who continue to live with the impacts of nuclear testing.
Speaking at the University of the South Pacific, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa said remembrance must go beyond ceremony and translate into meaningful action.
“Remembrance is shared across the Pacific, uniting our communities and bridging generations,” he said.
Across the Pacific, more than 300 nuclear tests were conducted. The resulting environmental, health, and social impacts have left a lasting legacy that continues to affect communities today.
Waqa said the Pacific Islands Forum remains committed to supporting efforts to assess the full extent of contamination and its effects, particularly in the Marshall Islands.
“This work is essential to ensuring Pacific peoples have access to the truth,” he said.
Waqa added that those affected by nuclear testing deserved accountability, transparency and long-term support.
The issue of nuclear justice will also play a role in global discussions. As Pacific leaders ready themselves for the upcoming Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference, they aim to present a unified stance.
Marshall Islands representatives at the event highlighted the scale of nuclear testing across the region, including sites in Ma’ohi Nui, Kiribati and parts of Australia.
Nearly 80 years have passed, yet the legacy of nuclear testing continues to affect lives, livelihoods, and cultural identity, they stressed.
Chairperson of the Marshall Islands National Nuclear Commission, Ariana Tibon-Kilma, said the narrative around nuclear testing has often excluded the voices of those most affected.
“This is not just a story of nuclear testing – it is a story of our people,” she said.
By sharing accounts of displacement, ongoing health issues, and intergenerational trauma faced by Marshallese communities, she called for greater recognition of lived experiences.
Marshall Islands Ambassador to Fiji Junior Aini said young people are playing a critical role in ensuring these stories are not forgotten.
“Our region must continue to stand together in unity for a safer future free from nuclear weapons,” he said.
Participants at the commemoration reaffirmed their united and collective commitment to a nuclear-free Pacific.
Together, they called on the international community to take specific, stronger actions—such as increased support for health, environmental remediation, formal acknowledgement of harm, and ongoing monitoring—to address the legacy of nuclear testing and ensure such events are never repeated….PACNEWS
FIJI – LIFE EXPECTANCY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Tue 31 Mar 2026
Higher iTaukei deaths at younger ages, Indo-Fijians at older ages – FBoS report
SUVA, 31 MARCH 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Deaths in Fiji follow a largely predictable age and sex pattern, with higher mortality among young children, a decline in early years, and a steady rise as people age, according to a new report by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics and the Pacific Community.
The report, Making Death Count – Fiji: Assessment of the Quality of Cause of Death Data (2018–2023), found that deaths increased progressively from around five years of age onwards, consistent with global demographic trends.
It noted relatively higher mortality among children aged 0–4 years, followed by a decline before increasing again with age.
Among adolescents and young adults, males aged 15–24 accounted for a higher proportion of deaths than females in the same age group. This trend was linked to increased risk-taking behaviour among young males.
In older age groups, females accounted for a higher share of deaths from age 75 onwards. The report said this reflects women’s longer life expectancy and lower mortality rates at younger ages.
However, when compared with global benchmarks from the World Health Organization, the report found some differences.
For people aged 0–74, fewer deaths were expected than what was reported in Fiji, while for those aged 75 and above, more deaths were expected than currently recorded.
The report suggested these variations may reflect the limitations of using income level as a predictor of mortality, particularly for countries like Fiji that are still undergoing demographic transition.
It also highlighted differences across ethnic groups, with a higher proportion of deaths among iTaukei across most age groups up to around 65 years for males and 60 years for females. Beyond these ages, more deaths were recorded among Indo-Fijians.
The findings provide insight into mortality patterns in Fiji and are expected to support improvements in health planning and policy development.
Meanwhile, life expectancy in Fiji remains slightly below global estimates, with men expected to live shorter lives than women, according to a new mortality report.
The report found that life expectancy at birth averaged 64.5 years for males and 68.3 years for females over the six-year period.
These figures are lower than estimates by the World Health Organisation, which placed life expectancy for Fijian males between 66.0 and 66.6 years, and for females between 68.9 and 70.4 years during the same period.
The report showed some fluctuation in life expectancy across the years, with male life expectancy ranging from 63.9 years in 2021 to 65.1 years in 2019.
For females, it ranged from 67.3 years in 2021 to 69.0 years in 2018.
Despite these variations, females consistently recorded higher life expectancy than males throughout the period analysed.
The findings highlight ongoing gaps between Fiji’s reported mortality outcomes and international benchmarks, and are expected to inform future health planning and policy decisions…PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: THE GUAM DAILY POST PACNEWS 2: Tue 31 Mar 2026
Amending turtle protection laws proposed to permit cultural use
HONOLULU, 31 MARCH 2026 (THE GUAM DAILY POST) — For decades the green sea turtle has been protected under the Endangered Species Act, but with the populations now recovering, members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) resurrected conversations on restoring culturally important sea turtle harvesting during its recent meeting in Hawaii.
At the heart of the conversation is the long-overdue question, “What recovery could mean not only for conservation, but also for the possible return of cultural stewardship and sustainable use in the Western Pacific?” according to a release from the council.
The council recognised that the green sea turtle, although protected, also has played a role in cultures of the Western Pacific.
“They are part of ceremony, identity, family teaching, and a way of life that many say has been interrupted for generations,” the council said following a 01 March international workshop held during the 44th International Sea Turtle Symposium in Kona, Hawaii, where more than 100 participants from 21 countries and territories gathered.
The collective examined how sea turtle use is managed, what systems are working, and what lessons may help make sustainable use viable.
“The workshop highlighted that conservation and use can coexist. With community involvement, locally adapted management, and appropriate biological safeguards, sustainable use can support conservation at any population level. Presentations also showed that sea turtle use continues in subsistence, ceremonial, and customary contexts, with local governance, indigenous knowledge, and accountability central to successful stewardship,” the release said.
The discussions align with past comments the council has made about incorporating cultural take and traditional knowledge, according to Guam Department of Agriculture Director Chelsa Muna-Brecht, a council member who said, “Rather than villainizing culture, there could be incorporation of that community into some form of management of the population.”
“Back in Guam, we try to perpetuate our traditional use of resources while maintaining strong stewardship in how we protect them and take only what we need, especially for events and celebrations,” Guam council member Jesse Rosario added.
The conversations echoed sentiments from other islands and territories, which warned against losing cultural traditions.
“We should not let cultural traditions get lost on our watch, and I encourage our federal partners to take the ball and forge ahead in finding a way for sustainable harvest in our Pacific Island region,” American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Director and Council Chair Nathan Ilaoa said, noting that populations of green sea turtles have continued to increase in places where the ban does not exist.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary and Council member Sylvan Igisomar emphasised that cultural practices left dormant can be lost.
“When a cultural practice is lost, it’s gone forever,” Igisomar said. “My children will never have my childhood.”
Currently, under the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles, or IAC, the council said cultural harvest is not allowed as a result of U.S obligations, which prohibit intentional use of sea turtles with limited exceptions.
In September 2025, the council requested assistance from the Trump administration to explore changes to the IAC to allow for sustainable use of green sea turtles in the region….PACNEWS
UN- PEACEKEEPING: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 2: Tue 31 Mar 2026
UN condemns killing of two more peacekeepers in Lebanon
NEW YORK, 31 MARCH 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—The United Nations has condemned two consecutive days of deadly attacks on peacekeepers serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), amid rising hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants.
Two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed on Monday, and two more were injured, in an explosion that hit a UNIFIL logistics convoy, destroying their vehicle.
The incident took place near Bani Hayyan in southern Lebanon a day after another Indonesian blue helmet was killed when a projectile hit the mission’s base in Ett Taibe and exploded.
A colleague – who was critically injured and evacuated to the capital, Beirut –remains in hospital.
UNIFIL is conducting investigations “to determine the circumstances of these tragic developments,” the head of UN Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, said in New York.
“We strongly condemn these unacceptable incidents. Peacekeepers must never be a target,” he told journalists at a press briefing at UN Headquarters.
“We also remain seriously concerned about several aggressive behaviour incidents against UNIFIL peacekeepers in the past couple of days,” he added.
Lacroix affirmed that UN peacekeepers “remain on the ground, carrying out Security Council-mandated tasks, in these extremely dangerous conditions.”
Tensions continue to rise in the Middle East more than a month after the United States and Israel bombed Iran, prompting Iran to carry out retaliatory strikes on several countries in the region.
At the outset, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the crisis risked “igniting a chain of events that no one can control in the most volatile region of the world.”
Following the deadly shelling incident on Sunday, UNIFIL Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel told UN News that a probe was underway but will take time.
“For the moment, we don’t have a clear idea of exactly what happened, but that’s what the investigation will find out,” she said.
“Once we have that investigation concluded, per usual practice we’ll share that with the parties. And depending on the result, if we find a party responsible, we will let them know and we will formally protest that to them.”
More than 8,000 peacekeepers from nearly 50 countries serve with UNIFIL. These men and women “demonstrate utmost courage and commitment to advancing international peace and security far away from home,” said Lacroix.
The mission was established in 1978 by the UN Security Council to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese Government in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area.
It has played an important role in advancing peace and security, including by patrolling the Blue Line of separation between the two countries.
Peacekeepers also assist in implementing the Security Council resolution that brought an end to more than 30 days of hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in 2006.
The current clashes have led to “a multiplicity of violations” of resolution 1701 (2006), Lacroix said, citing strikes in both directions across the Blue Line as well as the presence of Israeli forces in Lebanon.
“We’ve seen a great deal of Israeli incursions into South Lebanon in different areas, including near our headquarters in Naqoura, where about a week or so ago, in past days, we had some very violent battles that we could hear taking place,” said Ardiel.
“Our headquarters here was impacted by bullets, by shrapnel. Rockets even impacted in our headquarters, so it was a very dangerous and volatile situation.”
Lacroix was adamant that hostilities can only be resolved through diplomatic means.
“There cannot be a military solution. There has to be a political solution,” he said.
“The framework is there for a political solution – resolution 1701 – to which all the parties are still committed, to the best of what we hear from them,” he said …. PACNEWS
USA/NZ – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 30 Mar 2026
U.S, New Zealand step up Space Cooperation after Washington talks
WASHINGTON, 31 MARCH 2026 (PACNEWS)— The United States and New Zealand have agreed to deepen cooperation in space, following a bilateral Space Dialogue held in Washington this month.
In a joint statement released by the United States Department of State, both sides said the talks were aimed at strengthening collaboration across commercial, scientific and security areas.
“Pursuant to the desire of the Government of The United States of America and the Government of New Zealand, the countries held a bilateral Space Dialogue in Washington on 23 March and on 26 March to strengthen bilateral space cooperation. The Space Dialogue demonstrates the robust and growing cooperation between the United States and New Zealand in outer space.”
The statement highlighted growing ties, noting New Zealand’s rise as a major launch player.
“In October 2024, New Zealand became the third most frequent launcher of orbital rockets, with U.S. headquartered and New Zealand founded company Rocket Lab propelling New Zealand to these new heights.”
Officials from both countries discussed the expanding role of the commercial space sector and the need to align policy and regulation.
“A significant focus of the Dialogue was the evolving role of the commercial space sector in supporting both economic growth and shared security interests.”
“Discussions covered the changing role of government in enabling commercial activity and the expanding range of applications, with both sides expressing their intent to continue cooperation on spaceflight safety, launch, payloads, science and innovation, and associated technology security measures.”
Security cooperation was also on the table.
“Both sides also discussed opportunities for further cooperation to address space-related threats to shared security interests, including military space cooperation and managing the risks to ground-based space infrastructure.”
The delegations agreed to tackle regulatory barriers.
“They decided to work closely together to address regulatory constraints that hinder effective cooperation, commercial engagement, and mutual benefits.”
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to responsible behaviour in space under the Artemis Accords.
“Participants welcomed the open and productive nature of the Dialogue, which included discussion on space cooperation grounded in the principles of the Artemis Accords, to which New Zealand was an early signatory. Both sides emphasised the importance of promoting peaceful and transparent behaviour in outer space.”
New Zealand’s geographic advantage and regulatory framework were also recognised.
“Participants acknowledged New Zealand’s geographic advantages have enabled frequent and responsive launches for U.S industry and government agencies, adding strategic resilience to launch capacity.”
“The United States noted New Zealand’s recently passed, world-first legislation on the operation of ground-based space infrastructure, which strengthens its ability to protect New Zealand’s national interests and values.”
The statement also pointed to future collaboration in research and workforce development.
“Participants also welcomed the announcement of the first round of joint research projects between New Zealand research institutes and NASA centres, focusing on Earth observation.”
“New Zealand’s Space Scholarships program, where New Zealand funds post graduate students to complete a three-month internship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where they contribute to cutting-edge space technology projects, was acknowledged as a way to create enduring space connections between New Zealand and the United States.”
Both countries committed to expanding cooperation.
“Both countries resolved to continue working together in these areas and to explore other opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation, including facilitating bilateral commercial connections.”…PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PNG – AIRLINE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 31 Mar 2026
Air Nuigini’s A220 makes first flight to Cairns
PORT MORESBY, 31 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Air Niugini’s Airbus A220 operated its first international service to Cairns, Australia, on Friday as part of the airline’s fleet modernisation programme.
Chief executive officer Alan Milne said the airline would phase out the Fokker and Boeing aircraft servicing the Cairns route, and replacing them with the A220-300 series aircraft.
“Fokkers are basically staying around for another 18 months. These (A220s) are 25 per cent more efficient than the Fokkers,” he said.
Milne said the difference was in fuel consumption and carbon output.
Queensland’s assistant tourism minister Bree James congratulated Air Niugini for choosing Cairns as the first international destination for its A220 aircraft.
“This is a big step forward in strengthening connection between Cairns and PNG,” James said.
“This builds a capacity of about 65,000 more seats (into Cairns).
“And who doesn’t love a brand new aircraft as well, with all the latest technology?”
Cairns Airport head of airline partnerships David Nye said the service reinforced Cairns’ role as North Australia’s international gateway.
“Cairns Airport is proud to welcome Air Niugini on this next chapter of its journey, and we look forward to continuing this vital connection for decades to come,” Nye said.
James said Air Nuigini was the first international airline to operate flights from Cairns.
“It’s wonderful to see it progress and grow in our great region,” she said.
“But this is about growing tourism, supporting local businesses and keeping Far North Queensland strongly connected to our region.”
The A220-300 series, “People’s Balus”, has served domestic routes since arriving in September last year, commemorating the country’s 50th Independence anniversary.
It has operated key ports such as Lae, Kavieng, Manus, Gurney (Alotau), Rabaul and Port Moresby.
The airline operated its first A220 service to Sydney yesterday (Sunday) followed by another flight to Honiara, the Solomon Islands.
Meanwhile, Milne said Air Niugini aimed to use Port Moresby as a transit hub to Asia.
“You can fly out of Sydney, Brisbane or Cairns into Port Moresby and onto Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong and shortly Tokyo as well,” he said.
Milne said there were plans to connect Lae to the Cairns route.
The commercial flight with 57 passengers was under the command of Captain Timothy Narara, Air Niugini’s A220-300 series fleet manager and training captain….PACNEWS
CNMI – AIRLINE: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 31 Mar 2026
Manila-Saipan flight returns with focus on visa access, regional connectivity
SAIPAN, 31 MARCH 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC)—The resumption of direct flights between the Northern Mariana Islands and the Philippines is being framed as more than just a tourism boost, with officials and airline executives pointing to wider regional mobility and economic links.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) relaunched its Manila-Saipan service on 30 March, with its PAL Express arm signalling support for expanding visa access under the CNMI’s Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP).
PAL Express vice president for ground operations Matthew Tamaray said the airline sees growth tied to easing entry requirements for Filipino travellers.
“We had an engaging discussion with our partners here on Saipan about extending [EVS-TAP] for Filipinos,” Tamaray said.
He noted that Philippine outbound travel is increasingly shaped by visa-free or simplified entry regimes across the Asia-Pacific.
“Filipino travellers are expanding their reach to ASEAN … Taiwan, Korea, and Japan where visa processing is streamlined.”
He described the restored route as “a vital lifeline” reconnecting the two island economies, adding it would support tourism, cargo, and access to services such as healthcare in Manila.
The return of the route comes as Pacific island jurisdictions continue to rebuild air links disrupted during the pandemic, with connectivity seen as critical to economic recovery.
CNMI governor David Apatang welcomed the airline’s return, pointing to its role in supporting the local economy.
“We want to welcome Philippine Airlines back to the Commonwealth… we need your help to help with our economy,” he said.
CNMI delegate to the US Congress Kimberlyn King-Hinds linked the development to ongoing efforts in Washington to ease federal restrictions affecting air services to the territory.
“More planes landing means more customers,” she said, adding that work is underway to remove “structural barriers… limiting our ability to expand markets.”
She said the route also strengthens long-standing social ties.
“The Philippines is not just customers. It represents connecting families who call the CNMI home.”
Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Esther Ada said the restored service would improve access and reinforce regional links.
“It represents new opportunities making it easier for families to reunite, cultures to stay connected, and communities to grow stronger,” she said.
Philippine consul Joaquin Ricardo Aragon placed the relaunch in a broader diplomatic context, noting it coincides with the airline’s 85th anniversary and 80 years of Philippines-US relations.
“We are living in somewhat challenging times… and this is something to look forward to. It’s not all doom and gloom,” he said.
He added the direct service would particularly benefit the large Filipino community in the CNMI, providing a more convenient link home.
Passengers on the inaugural flight also highlighted the practical impact of the route’s return, especially the removal of transit stops via Guam or Northeast Asia.
The flight was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute at Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport, marking the airline’s return to Saipan after several years and underscoring the gradual restoration of air connectivity across the Pacific….PACNEWS
FIJI – SOCIAL COHESION: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 31 Mar 2026
23 percent of Fiji’s youth not in school or work
SUVA, 31 MARCH 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Almost a quarter of Fiji’s young people are neither studying nor working.
This was revealed at the National Social Cohesion Stakeholders Conference Monday.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka officially opened the conference, where the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented findings from Fiji’s first Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index.
The index is a major study measuring how united and trusting Fijian society is.
UNDP Resident Representative Munkhtuya Altangerel said 23.7 percent of young Fijians are NEET — meaning they are not in education, employment or training.
“Youth and women’s empowerment, economically, socially and politically, remains one of the most urgent areas for investment and also one of the most powerful levers for social cohesion,” Altangerel said.
The index was developed by international research body SeeD (Centre for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development) in partnership with Fiji National University.
The study also found that acceptance of gender-based violence and gender stereotypes remained high among young men.
However, the index offered a positive finding: nearly nine in 10 people surveyed in the Lomaiviti and Koro Sea areas supported women as leaders.
UN Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener said the data showed public trust in government institutions remained strong, which he described as a “critical asset” for building a stable society.
Rabuka told delegates the conference was a “pivotal platform” for dialogue, urging participants to move beyond differences.
“Working in silos is a thing of the past,” Rabuka said. “We must remain grounded in the spirit of sole-sole-vaki, where our collective strength far exceeds our individual effort.”
The index was funded through the UN Peacebuilding Fund and conducted in partnership with government ministries and civil society groups.
UNDP said further consultations would continue throughout 2026.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has acknowledged public accusations that he once harmed Fiji’s social cohesion but said he is now committed to healing the nation.
“I’ve been accused of being guilty of destroying this in Fiji, but I have started this journey to bring our people together,” Rabuka told delegates.
“I’m honoured to be invited, not as what you remember, but as the Prime Minister of Fiji.”
The remark is widely understood as a reference to Rabuka’s role in the 1987 military coups, which toppled the country’s first Indo-Fijian-led government and deepened ethnic divisions.
Since then, Rabuka has positioned his leadership as focused on reconciliation and national unity.
Central to that effort is the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC), established in December 2024 to address historical grievances.
The commission provides Fijians with a formal process to acknowledge past wrongs and work toward national healing.
UNDP Resident Representative Munkhtuya Altangerel expressed support for the commission, noting that the findings of the new Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index, presented at the same conference, would contribute to the FTRC’s ongoing work.
UN Resident coordinator Dirk Wagener added that “sustaining long-term peace will require continued attention to underlying structural challenges.”
Rabuka urged all sectors of society to engage honestly in the reconciliation process.
“To collectively move forward, we must address and reconcile the pain of our past with compassion and courage,” he said…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Sea mines clearance: A new dimension of difficulty
NEW YORK, 31 MARCH 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Clearing mines laid at sea can be an “extremely challenging and very dangerous” undertaking according to a UN mines expert.
It is still not clear whether mines, which can sink vessels of all types if activated, have been deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, as part of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Most shipping has not been able to pass through the strategically important strait as Iran continues its war with the United States, Israel and other countries in the region, amid ongoing bombing of Iranian targets.
It remains a key objective of the global community to reopen the strait to facilitate the flow of oil and fertiliser.
Paul Heslop is an expert with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) which focuses on clearing land-based mines.
He spoke to UN News’s Nathalie Minard ahead of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance marked annually on 4 April.
UN NEWS: Do you have any information about naval mines being deployed in the Strait of Hormuz?
Paul Heslop: We do know that the Iranian navy had a massive stockpile of sea mines prior to the conflict.
We have no confirmed reports stating exactly the number or types that have been used, but sea mines are relatively easy to deploy.
You can take them out in a fairly small boat, a fishing boat, a dhow, or a dedicated minelayer.
UN NEWS: What types of sea mines could be deployed?
Paul Heslop: If you consider a landmine, it is normally either laid on or below the surface. And once it is laid, it stays in place, unless there is an earthquake, landslide, or a large volume of water that moves it.
The challenge with sea mines is that they can be laid in three layers: floating on the surface, floating inside the water or deployed to the bottom of the seabed.
Obviously, if they’re floating, they are vulnerable to tidal currents and can move location. They can also be tethered and secured in one location.
They can be made from plastic or metal. Their activation mechanisms include contact with a hull, magnetic influence, or they can be remotely detonated, or timed to detonate.
UN NEWS: Why are sea mines more challenging to clear?
Paul Heslop: Clearing landmines is difficult, but clearing sea mines is even harder.
You’re not only working in three different depths, so three dimensions, but also a fourth dimension, which is time.
Over time, the mines may move. If an area is cleared, and there is a tidal surge or other current then that same area may be contaminated again.
Moreover, some mines move through the water, driven by a propellant mechanism so deminers are working in a dynamic and changing environment.
UN NEWS: How can they be detected?
Paul Heslop: If they are metal, a magnetometer (which measures changes in magnetic fields) would find them. There are also a range of sophisticated sonar (sound wave) and radar (radio wave) detection tools for locating underwater devices.
Another challenging factor in water are temperature layers which can act as a reflector and make detection more difficult.
So, if the mine is at a depth where there is a different temperature layer above it, and a sonar has been deployed, the sonar may be degraded or deflected because of those temperature layers.
This is why finding and clearing sea mines is extremely challenging and very dangerous for the ships that are doing it.
UN NEWS: Which countries have minesweeping ships and the capacity to technically intervene in that specific area of naval mines?
Paul Heslop: Most navies will have some capability to deal with mines.
This conflict is happening at a time of transition from the old-fashioned minesweeper boats with crew, to new technologies that use drones or underwater robotics to locate mines.
UN NEWS: If sea mines were a proven threat to shipping, what would be the solution to allow traffic to resume once peace is restored?
Paul Heslop: It’s a bit like in a peacekeeping mission: you may have an insurgent group that, at night, goes and puts a mine on the road to target a convoy.
So, each morning, you do a patrol with a mine-protected vehicle to check that there’s been no mines laid the night before.
If there is a peace deal or an agreement in the Strait of Hormuz and mines have been deployed, then for the foreseeable future, there will probably be a requirement, because of the dynamic nature of sea mines, to form a convoy and sweep for mines in front of that convoy.
A convoy would probably operate in a channel a couple of kilometres wide which has been cleared of mines. It would not be the case that every square metre of the Strait of Hormuz would be cleared every day.
And obviously, depending on currents, tidal shifts, some areas are more likely to become re-contaminated than others…..PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Vanualevu Organic Farmers Share Solutions to Restore Soil Health
MUDRENICAGI, 31 MARCH 2026 (SPREP)— In many parts of Fiji, the signs of soil degradation are becoming harder to ignore. Farmers speak of declining soil fertility, increasing dependence on chemical fertilisers, and the gradual loss of biodiversity that once sustained their crops naturally. These changes are tied to a broader trend where conventional agriculture contributes to environmental degradation.
But for farmers on the island of Taveuni, these challenges are also deeply personal.
“We’re starting to see the harmful effects of chemicals on our land. You don’t always see it immediately, but over time, the soil changes,” said Oliva Maiqalau, Vuna farmer and a member of the Kevin Young Farmers Alumni (KYFA) supported by the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC+) project.
For others, like Tavuki organic farmer Mr Tomasi Sovealoka, the contrast between past and present is striking. “My father and grandfather never used chemicals,” he recalls. “They believed that if the soil is healthy, the food is healthy, and we are healthy. Because of them, the soil on our farm is still fertile today.”
Yet across Fiji, many farmers have moved away from these traditional practices over the past few generations. The introduction of chemical fertilisers promised higher yields, but often at the cost of long-term soil health and ecological balance.
The result is a growing tension on how to maintain productivity while restoring the land that farming depends on.
At Mudrenicagi Organic Learning Farm, part of the Pacific Organic Learning Farm Network (POLFN), a recent hands-on training and farmer-to-farmer learning addressed exactly this challenge. The three-day training that took place on 2-4 February 2026 helped farmers rethink how they interact with their environment. Rather than beginning with tools or techniques, the training started with a change in mindset.
“We want farmers to first understand the relationship between what they’re growing and the environment,” explained Ms Karen Mills, Trainer and Technical Farm Advisor for Mudrenicagi Organic Learning Farm. “To use their senses, to observe, and to recognise that what they grow directly affects the ecosystem around them.”
From this foundation, the training moved into practical solutions. Farmers learned how to rebuild soil fertility without chemicals, through composting, mulching, cover crops, and bio-fertilisers that offer short-term support while natural systems recover.
In regions like Taveuni, where steep terrain presents additional challenges, the training also focused on land management techniques such as contour planting, vetiver grass systems, and agroforestry. These approaches prevent erosion and improve long-term productivity.
Equally transformative is the approach to pest management.
“I don’t try to eliminate insects,” said Ms Mills. “I plant lots of plants that attract insects that are beneficial for my farm. I don’t spray anything, whether it’s organic or not. I don’t have a problem with insects because my ecosystem is complete.”
For participants, these lessons are both practical and empowering.
“This training has shown me how everything is connected, the land, the water, the air,” says Mr Sovealoka. “It’s encouraging, because we can take what we learn and apply it back home.”
The training is particularly distinctive because of the collaboration behind it. Tomasi, and seven KYFA farmers who joined the training are supported through the PEBACC+ project, funded by the Kiwa Initiative and the French Facility for Global Environment, and implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Their participation in the training linked them to the POLFN project, another Kiwa Initiative implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC). The POLFN aims to develop an Organic Learning Farm network to address food security, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity conservation issues to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers in Fiji, Nauru, Tonga, and Solomon Islands.
In this shared space, two streams of work converge, one focused on building climate resilience and supporting young farmers, and the other on strengthening organic farming systems across the Pacific. The result is a training session and an exchange of knowledge, experience, and ideas.
Loraini Sivo, PEBACC+ Project Manager with SPREP, notes that the collaboration is intentional and essential.
“Bringing farmers into spaces like the Organic Learning Farms allows knowledge to flow both ways. We are supporting climate resilience and strengthening local solutions by connecting farmers, projects, and traditional knowledge across the country and the region.”
She added, “For farmers attending through PEBACC+, the experience offers new tools to address the environmental challenges they are already facing at home.”
For Wani Tavata and the KYFA Group, the training is only the beginning. “We’ve been wanting to learn these things,” he said. “Now we’ll go back and share this knowledge with other farmers. We want to restore our land,” said Mr Tavata.
The group plans to apply techniques such as intercropping, tree planting, and soil conservation approaches that improve productivity and protect the environment for future generations.
Oliva Maiqalau is already thinking about how to reshape his farm. “I used to focus on just taro and yaqona,” he said. “Now I’m adding fruit trees and thinking about agroforestry.”
In Fiji, the path toward sustainable agriculture may lie not in entirely new ideas but in reconnecting with old ones. Unlike large-scale industrial systems, Fiji’s small farms and the living memory of traditional practices offer a unique opportunity for change.
“We’re only a few generations removed from organic farming,” Ms Mills said. “That means we can bring those practices back, combine them with new knowledge, and see real improvements quickly.”
For farmers like Tomasi, this is already a reality. For others like Oliva and Wani, it is a future they are actively building.
Across these farms and communities, a shared understanding is taking root: caring for the soil is a commitment to the generations that will depend on it. ….PACNEWS