In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Solomon Islands prime minister raises Pacific security pact proposal during Australia visit
2. SOL — The unexploded bombs still threatening a Pacific nation 80 years on
3. PACIFIC — What the arrival of El Niño means for the Pacific Islands
4. AUST — Drier, hotter conditions forecast as El Nino confirmed
5. PNG — Anglimp to get MP in 2027, New PNG electorate to elect its own leader next year
6. NAURU — Nauru launches videos to help victims of gender-based violence navigate Justice system
7. PALAU — Palau Journalists train to cover Climate disasters as Pacific faces growing risk
8. UN — UN urges adherence to mine ban treaty
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Samoa PM dismisses ADB airline warning: ‘They don’t know what we are facing’
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Samoa Govt committed to airline relaunch despite warnings from IFC and ADB
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Palau taro flour shines on the local and international stage
12. PACNEWS BIZ — ABG to award licence for Panguna revamp
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Rising debt costs squeeze development funding: New UN report
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — A milestone for Nature-based Solutions in Tonga’s national planning journey
PACIFIC – SECURITY PACT: ABC PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Wed 17 Jun 2026
Solomon Islands prime minister raises Pacific security pact proposal during Australia visit
CANBERRA/HONIARA, 17 JUNE 2026 (ABC PACIFIC)—The new prime minister of Solomon Islands has floated the idea of a Pacific-wide security pact during a visit to Canberra, in a move that could have significant strategic implications for the region.
The ABC has been told that Matthew Wale, who is also the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), raised the proposal with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his visit in early June.
Wale has made a sharp pivot towards Australia since taking office, kickstarting negotiations on a new treaty and promising to “review” the China-Solomon Islands security pact, although he has backtracked on a previous commitment to publish the text of the contentious agreement.
He has been careful not to criticise Beijing, saying it is a valued economic partner for Solomon Islands and insisting he wants to maintain a policy of “friends to all, enemies to none”.
But the ABC has been told that Wale has made it clear that he shares Australia’s conviction that China should not play a major role in Pacific security and that there should be a “Pacific-led” security architecture.
The ABC has been told Wale raised the idea of a Pacific-wide security treaty as a way of cementing regionalism, while adding he was in a strong position to kickstart formal discussions on the proposal as he holds the PIF chair until September this year.
Wale made a veiled reference to the idea during his press conference in Canberra when he spoke about a treaty “at some stage at the regional level”, saying the “first reference point in these matters is within the region”.
But it is not yet clear whether either Australia or New Zealand are willing to throw their weight behind the idea, which analysts say would carry both significant opportunities and risks.
A spokesperson for Wale declined to comment on the discussions, as did a spokesperson for Albanese.
One federal government source did not criticise Wale’s idea, but stressed that Australia’s main focus for now was on negotiating its new treaty with Solomon Islands.
Several senior Australian politicians are expected to visit the Pacific nation in the coming months as the federal government tries to cement the progress it made during Mr Wale’s visit.
Oliver Nobetau from the Lowy Institute said while there might be “real merit” to the idea, it could “easily backfire for Australia and New Zealand if they put their weight behind it before there’s wide buy-in from the Pacific”.
“This seems like a no-brainer, but there’s also an obvious reason why it hasn’t happened yet,” he said.
“Trying to get one cohesive approach when there’s such varied approaches to security across the region is an uphill battle, which has to be fought.”
Nobetau also suggested Australia might prefer to focus on bedding down a host of bilateral agreements it is negotiating or has recently signed with a host of Pacific nations, including Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga and Nauru.
Pacific security expert Anna Powles from Massey University said Wale seemed to be “acting with considerable urgency in the face of what he may fear is a short political window of opportunity”.
But she said that it would “take time to secure consensus across the region” for any new pact.
“The key political and legal questions Wale’s proposed regional security agreement raises are, for example, would it be a legal or non-binding instrument?” she said.
“How would it reflect Pacific concerns about militarisation? Where in the regional security architecture would it sit, and who would have oversight?
“And ultimately, what would its purpose be in times of regional crises, such as instability in non-sovereign states such as New Caledonia or in the case of renewed instability in Bougainville?”
The ABC understands Wale is expected to discuss this idea, which is in its early stages, with several other Pacific leaders, including Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during a visit in the coming weeks.
The ABC has contacted Rabuka’s office for comment.
It comes as the federal opposition presses the government to resume bipartisan trips to the Pacific, with Shadow Foreign Minister Ted O’Brien travelling to Papua New Guinea and Fiji, his first overseas trip since taking on the portfolio in February.
O’Brien told the ABC he wanted to send a “clear signal that Australia is a trusted partner and will continue to be a trusted partner no matter who is in government”.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong coordinated two bipartisan trips to the Pacific in the Albanese government’s first term, but none so far in its second, and O’Brien said he would like to restart them.
“I’d welcome the opportunity to be showing bipartisan force when it comes to the Pacific in particular,” he told the ABC.
The foreign minister has lashed the Coalition over its record in the Pacific, calling the 2022 China-Solomon Islands security pact a strategic disaster for Australia and pointing to fierce Pacific criticism of the Morrison government’s climate policies.
She has also criticised the Coalition for refusing to give full backing to the Pacific Engagement Visa, which offers permanent residency to 3,000 Pacific Islanders per year, because it opposes the use of a lottery to select applicants.
Senator Wong has warned the opposition’s position could undermine Australia’s reputation in the region, but O’Brien said he was “disappointed” by that criticism.
“We cannot afford to have important relationships, such as those with the Pacific, undermined by our own domestic partisan debate,” he said.
He did not rule out shifting the Coalition’s position on the Pacific Engagement Visa, but said he was not yet “convinced” by the government’s arguments.
“The Coalition supports the principle of the Pacific Engagement Visa, but continues to have concerns about the lottery-style ballot system,” he said.
“I am yet to be convinced the lottery system meets the needs of employers or aligns with the approach of other Pacific Island nation programs like the PALM scheme.”
A spokesperson for Senator Wong said the government would “consider opportunities for bipartisan engagement where appropriate”.
“Pacific leaders have made clear what matters most is support for their highest priorities, particularly meaningful action on climate change,” they said.
“A ballot ensures the Pacific Engagement Visa is allocated through a fair and transparent process.” …. PACNEWS
SOL – UXO DISPOSAL: TVNZ PACNEWS 2: Wed 17 Jun 2026
The unexploded bombs still threatening a Pacific nation 80 years on
HONIARA/AUCKLAND, 17 JUNE 2026 (TVNZ)—More than 80 years after World War II, unexploded bombs are still being found near homes, schools and gardens in Solomon Islands.
Cleo Fraser, producer of a new documentary on the issue, explains how ordinary daily life in the Pacific nation can turn deadly.
Up to 20 people are killed or injured there each year by unexploded ordnance, or UXO.
The ongoing danger is the focus of our Solomon Islands-New Zealand documentary The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands, a new screening at the Doc Edge Film Festival.
Everyone we’ve spoken to has said: I can’t believe that this is happening, because you’d think, why don’t they just go and clean these up?
Guadalcanal (the most populated region in the Solomon Islands) was the site of a major battle during World War II between the Allies and Japan, including some New Zealand soldiers. And when the war finished, they left everything behind.
The War Below, available on YouTube, follows two everyday women whose lives have been changed forever by UXOs, including Lorettalyn Ale, whose husband and son were killed when a bomb exploded at a family BBQ.
Film director Tuki Laumea hopes New Zealand audiences will connect with our shared histories, as well as the injustice of another country having to live with this danger.
“The Solomon Islands was a key battleground in the Pacific Theatre of War – the sacrifice of people in that country meant New Zealand stayed safe,” Tuki says. “Now they’re asking us to help them.
“These people live with this every single day. Children go to school and the bombs sit right there under their school.”
In August 2024, more than 200 bombs were found at a school in Honiara, the country’s capital.
“We were given access to the police stockpile where bombs found in communities are stored before being decommissioned.
“My heart was just racing, it was absolutely frightening. It also points to: imagine living there with these everyday because kids are finding them, they’re finding them just going for a walk somewhere.
Just days before we held a community screening of the film in Honiara a bomb exploded, seriously injuring one person”.
The documentary was created in close collaboration with Bomb Free Solomon Islands, the country’s only registered charity assisting survivors.
Mother and education specialist Maeverlyn Pitanoe, who founded the charity, says a regional solution is needed as Solomon Islands does not have the resources to clear all the bombs.
She’s hopeful that with a wider understanding of the issue, other countries will realise their responsibility and contribute to a collective response.
She told TVNZ’s Breakfast this week: “I would like to thank you for coming to see this film, a very moving film that I thought everybody should see because of the impact of war on us survivors and victims.”
We as filmmakers and Bomb Free Solomon Islands are working towards creating longterm impact through the film – creating awareness, direct support for survivors and through encouraging the Solomon Islands government to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions….PACNEWS
PACIFIC – WEATHER WATCH: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Wed 17 Jun 2026
What the arrival of El Niño means for the Pacific Islands
APIA/WELLINGTON, 17 JUNE 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC)—The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) says that El Niño has arrived in the Pacific Islands.
An El Niño event occurs when the ocean becomes warmer than usual, affecting rainfall and wind patterns.
SPREP, which is the region’s primary scientific organisation, says that sea surface temperature readings and Southern Oscillation Index values have met the thresholds.
This means that over the coming months, countires in the Western Pacific are likely to experience drier-than-usual conditions, increasing the risk of drought.
Meanwhile, those countries in the Central and Eastern Pacific can expect above-average rainfall.
“While El Niño conditions are generally associated with drier-than-normal weather and increased drought risk in the Western Pacific, short-term heavy rainfall events can still occur within this broader pattern,” SPREP said in a statement.
“Even where such events take place, monthly and seasonal rainfall totals may remain below average overall.”
Earth Sciences New Zealand chief forecaster Chris Brandolino said there is reason to be concerned.
“All indications are that this will be a very strong event to perhaps something we haven’t seen before, and what that means, we’ll have to wait and see,” he told RNZ Pacific.
“Impacts aren’t always directly related to intensity, but certainly a very strong El Niño does increase the odds for higher-end impacts.”
Brandolino said the expected intensity could drag on beyond the usual winter months and past September.
“It’s one thing to have a dry month or two, but obviously it’s a different thing to have several consecutive months of inadequate rainfall.
“Every El Niño is different … we know the average outcome of El Niño, but no El Niño is average.”
SPREP climate science director Salesa Nihmei cautioned against mistaken reporting on what an El Niño actually is.
“Past El Niño transition phases have shown that short-term weather events of this kind can create the potential for mixed messaging,” he said.
“There is a risk that such events may be misinterpreted in the media, affecting how the broader El Niño outlook is understood and communicated.”
The United Nations warned of a looming El Niño event at the start of the month, emerging between June and August.
The U.S National Weather Service in Guam has warned that the Northern Mariana Islands could see between three to five additional typhoons and up to seven named tropical cyclones before the end of the year due to the El Niño event.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology has also officially declared El Niño active…..PACNEWS
AUST – WEATHER WATCH: AAP PACNEWS 2: Wed 17 Jun 2026
Drier, hotter conditions forecast as El Nino confirmed
CANBERRA, 17 JUNE 2026 (AAP)—Australia’s meteorological agency has confirmed an El Nino event in the Pacific, potentially bringing drier, warmer weather to parts of the country.
While forecasts signal a “strong to very strong” El Nino climatic pattern, the Bureau of Meteorology says a potent system does not necessarily equate to strong weather impacts for Australia.
The U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Friday ascribed a 63 percent chance of an El Nino of record-breaking strength developing later in the year.
Australia’s climate is driven by more than just the El Nino–Southern Oscillation patterns that cycles in the Pacific Ocean periodically, including the Indian Ocean Dipole, which is presently neutral, and regional sea surface temperatures.
Climate change caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases trapping heat in the atmosphere is also pushing average temperatures higher and leading to more erratic and extreme weather.
The latest long-range forecasts from the bureau, which merge all potential climate drivers, point to below-average rainfall across parts of southern and eastern Australia over the next three months.
Higher daytime temperatures are predicted south of the tropics and warmer-than-normal evenings for much of the country.
Previous El Nino events have been linked to less rainfall in winter and spring in eastern Australia, higher temperatures in southern areas, and increased frost risk due to clearer skies.
“However, in a warming climate, past patterns are less reliable as a predictor of future impacts,” the bureau said.
Fires agencies in the eastern states are already gearing up for a possible earlier, busier season, and some farmers say livestock and cropping decisions have already been complicated by the forecasts.
Other producers are wary of long-term weather predictions, particularly after livestock prices tanked amid a forecasted El Nino in 2023.
Despite its association with drier, warmer weather in Australia, El Ninos can still bring a mixed bag to the continent, with the last cycle in 2023 experiencing a dry August-October but a rainy November.
An El Nino is caused by the warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, generating more energy and cloud cover in the region and leading to higher rainfall in South America and parts of the US, with drier conditions typical for Australia.
They typically last six-12 months and the present pattern is projected to stick around until the latter half of 2026.
Climate Councillor Andrew Watkins, formerly of the Australian Climate Service and Bureau of Meteorology, said El Nino and climate change were an alarming combination, with the latter already adding about 1.5C of warming to the system.
“Together, climate pollution and El Nino are loading the dice towards record heat and fire conditions.”
Dr Watkins said the La Nina years – the opposite pattern linked to cooler and wetter weather in Australia – are already hotter than El Nino years of last century.
“We saw exactly that play out over summer when heat records tumbled across Australia during a La Nina,” he said…. PACNEWS
PNG – ELECTION/POLITICS: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Wed 17 Jun 2026
Anglimp to get MP in 2027, New PNG electorate to elect its own leader next year
PORT MORESBY, 17 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —The people of Anglimp in Jiwaka will elect their own Member of Parliament in Papua New Guinea General Election 2027 (GE27) after the Electoral Boundaries Commission declared the area a separate electorate.
Electoral Boundaries Commissioner Francis Kaigerua made the declaration in Anglimp Kuli, the new Anglimp district headquarters, saying the creation of the electorate would improve service delivery by bringing government services closer to the people.
Anglimp is among six electorates approved by Parliament in 2022 for creation next year.
The others are the National Capital District’s Motu-Koita, Milne Bay’s Baniara, East New Britain’s Baining, Middle Sepik (East Sepik), and Southern Highlands’ Mendi Central.
Kaigerua urged the people to understand that the creation of the new electorate was aimed at decentralising national and provincial government functions.
He discouraged leaders of Jiwaka and Anglimp from politicising the new electorate, but to view it as a pathway for development, including service delivery.
Kaigerua said politics and administration must work hand in hand to ensure effective service delivery, adding that neither could operate effectively in isolation.
Anglimp is a split from the existing electorate of Anglimp-South Waghi.
“You must choose the right leader to represent you on the floor of Parliament in General Election 2027,” Kaigerua told the people of Anglimp.
“A good leader will determine the equitable distribution of basic government services to people living in the remote parts of the new district.”
This will bring the number of seats in Parliament from 118 to 124 next year.
Meanwhile, residents of the new Anglimp electorate have called for the removal of 14 extra wards that were recently created, bringing the total number of wards from 37 to 51.
But Kaigerua clarified that neither the Electoral Boundaries Commission, the Lands and Physical Planning Department, nor the Electoral Commission, had the authority to remove the wards, as they had already gone through the required process, including gazettal and approval by the governor-general.
He said any attempt to remove the wards must follow the proper process, including consultations with local communities, district development authorities and ward councillors, before being tabled at a provincial assembly meeting for endorsement by the Provincial Executive Council and relevant authorities…PACNEWS
NAURU – JUSTICE SYSTEM: PACNEWS/NAURU GOVT PACNEWS 2: Wed 17 Jun 2026
Nauru launches videos to help victims of gender-based violence navigate Justice system
YAREN, 17 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS/NAURU GOVT)—-Nauru’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has launched three short educational videos aimed at helping vulnerable witnesses and victims of gender-based violence better understand the criminal justice process and encouraging them to come forward and seek justice.
The videos, which feature local staff acting in key roles within the justice system, were developed as communication tools to explain court procedures and introduce the agencies and personnel involved in criminal investigations and support services.
According to the Nauru Government, the initiative is designed to support vulnerable witnesses, particularly victims of sexual and gender-based violence, by building confidence in the justice process.
Narrated in the Nauruan language with English subtitles, Director of Public Prosecutions Andie Driu said the videos are intended to educate and assist members of the community.
Driu said the videos aim to educate and support the community and vulnerable witnesses including women, children, and people with special needs, who are victims of sexual violence.
Australian High Commissioner Matthew Barclay welcomed the initiative and praised the efforts behind the project.
He described the initiative as “nothing short of inspirational”, highlighting that child protection and preventing sexual and gender-based violence are global issues that Naoero is taking seriously.
Acting President Lionel Aingimea said Nauru has strengthened its legal framework to better support victims and emphasised the role of government agencies in protecting citizens.
“The laws of Naoero are strengthened to support victims,” Aingimea said, reiterating that agencies play a vital role in protecting the safety and well-being of dei-Naoero.
The project, titled *”Supporting and protecting vulnerable witnesses in the prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence in Nauru”, was supported by the Australian Government through the United Nations Development Programme and the Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance Project (NAIG).
The videos form part of ongoing efforts to improve access to justice and strengthen support services for victims and vulnerable witnesses involved in criminal proceedings in Nauru….PACNEWS
PALAU – MEDIA TRAINNING: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Wed 17 Jun 2026
Palau Journalists train to cover Climate disasters as Pacific faces growing risk
KOROR, 17 JUNE 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — Media representatives from across Palau gathered last Sunday for the first day of a disaster reporting training hosted by ABC International Development.
The workshop brought together participants from several local outlets, including TMC, Palau Wave Radio, Island Times, and Ngerel Belau.
Fred Hooper, advisor and content maker for ABC International Development, and Kate Seymour, the organiSation’s project director, facilitated the training. The program is designed to strengthen journalists’ skills in covering disasters, climate change and related issues affecting Pacific Island nations.
During the opening session, participants explored the role of audio storytelling in helping audiences visualiSe events and experiences. Attendees also had the opportunity to work with professional interview equipment used in radio, video and multimedia reporting.
Hooper stressed the urgency of disaster reporting in the region.
“I think it’s important for people to know how to report on disasters and climate change because the place that’s most affected by these events is the Pacific and Pacific nations,” he said.
Hooper added that the program aims to help local journalists produce stronger, more effective stories from their own perspectives.
“We just want to help people make better radio stories about disasters, climate change, and disaster preparedness, basically, so they can tell better stories from their own perspective, from their own countries,” he said….PACNEWS
UN – MINE BAN: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 2: Wed 17 Jun 2026
UN urges adherence to mine ban treaty
GENEVA, 17 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — Countries must uphold international law limiting the use of anti-personnel mines, which kill and maim civilians long after conflicts have ended, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said in a report published on Tuesday.
At least 58 States and territories remain contaminated with these weapons, which are designed to detonate when a person comes into contact with them.
Some have even been around since the two World Wars along with other unexploded ordnance, and millions more remain in national stockpiles.
“It is deeply troubling that almost 30 years since the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty was adopted, these explosive weapons continue to kill and injure people, often decades after they were placed,” said Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
He stressed the need for States to “recommit to putting an end to the production, use and transfer of these weapons and redouble their efforts to cooperate in clearing mines already placed”.
Anti-personnel mines affect the full range of human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural, the report said, and they are still being used today, including by non-State actors.
At least 1,945 people were killed and 4,325 injured by landmines and explosive remnants of war in 2024, the latest numbers reveal.
The highest rates of casualties were in Myanmar, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Nigeria, Mali, Yemen and Burkina Faso.
Civilians account for roughly 90 percent of all recorded casualties, and children have made up over 40 percent of all civilian casualties recorded since 1999.
The report details how anti-personnel mines inflict harm and impact the enjoyment of human rights.
Civilians have had limbs amputated, suffered eye injuries, including blindness, or sustained hearing loss because they stepped on or handled these weapons.
Moreover, children experience more severe physical trauma and higher fatality rates from anti-personnel mine injuries than adults, with the probability of survival decreasing the younger they are.
Mine contamination also turns areas into no-go zones, which can prevent civilians from accessing essential services, block humanitarian assistance to those in need and drive displacement. It can also contribute to food insecurity and economic hardship by making farmland unsafe to use.
Meanwhile, mines planted in and around schools have endangered children and hindered their education.
Contamination of explosive remnants of war, including anti-personnel mines, also can hamper economic development for decades and delay post-conflict reconstruction.
Currently, 162 States are party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention, which opened for signature in the Canadian capital in December 1997.
OHCHR noted that numerous States, including permanent members of the UN Security Council and others whose armed forces have used or maintain considerable stockpiles, are not yet parties.
Furthermore, five States – Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – have recently withdrawn from the treaty, while Ukraine, a State party, has indicated suspension of its implementation of the convention.
“States that have not yet ratified the treaty should promptly do so, and those that have withdrawn should quickly rejoin. States that are parties to it should adhere to its provisions in good faith,” Türk said.
He commended Lebanon’s recent decision to join the treaty, even when faced with grave security threats.
The High Commissioner also called on States to provide reparations for violations that result from the use of anti-personnel mines and to ensure that survivors and affected communities have access to healthcare, rehabilitation, education, employment and social security.
The report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 26 June……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
SAMOA – AIRLINE: SAMOA OBSERVER PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 17 Jun 2026
Samoa PM dismisses ADB airline warning: ‘They don’t know what we are facing’
APIA, 17 JUNE 2026 (SAMOA OBSERVER)—Samoa Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt has defiantly brushed aside warnings from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that a government-backed airline could prove financially devastating for Samoa, telling Parliament that development partners “don’t know anything we are facing.”
The sharp exchange unfolded on Tuesday after Deputy Leader of the Opposition Fonotoe Pierre Meredith raised concerns over the government’s plan to relaunch international jet services, citing an ADB warning reported by the Samoa Observer on Monday.
The report revealed that fact-finding meeting with a Samoan government delegation raised questions about whether Samoa could sustain two airlines on key international routes and warned that a new airline venture could carry significant financial risks.
Laaulialemalietoa immediately pushed back against the criticism.
“Leave it to me, you worry about things you can’t do,” the Prime Minister told Fonotoe.
“We already prepared for it.”
The Prime Minister accused critics of undermining the government’s ambitions.
“It’s just discouraging. It weakens the heart,” he said.
Laaulialemalietoa also insisted the project would attract investors without requiring support from those questioning its viability.
“Don’t worry. Even you don’t need to invest in the plane. But the country, they’re waiting and will come and invest in the plane,” he said.
In his strongest remarks, the Prime Minister dismissed the concerns raised by development partners.
“Leave our partners and donors. They don’t know anything we are facing.”
Fonotoe responded with what appeared to be a sarcastic remark, saying the Prime Minister remained confident the government would eventually acquire an aircraft.
“The Prime Minister is still courageous and adamant he’ll get a plane,” he said.
Fonotoe then pointed to previous comments by the Minister of Finance, who had indicated the acquisition could take up to five years.
“The Minister of Finance said we’ll get it in five years. So therefore, we will not get it in this political term,” he said…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – AIRLINE: SAMOA OBSERVER PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 17 Jun 2026
Samoa Govt committed to airline relaunch despite warnings from IFC and ADB
APIA, 17 JUNE 2026 (SAMOA OBSERVER)—Despite “frank” and “direct” warnings from the World Bank arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Government of Samoa said nothing has changed its commitment to relaunching jet operations for Samoa.
The government, through a statement issued by the Unit Trust Office of Samoa (UTOS), said the discussions held with the fact-finding mission and aviation industry experts in Australia around the government’s proposed national airline do not affect its confidence in the project.
“The government wants to reassure the public that nothing in these internal discussions changes our commitment to this initiative or our confidence in its long-term success,” the statement said.
According to documents obtained and verified by the Samoa Observer, the ADB warned that relaunching jet operations could be financially devastating if Samoa were to compete against Air New Zealand.
The IFC instead pointed Samoa toward agricultural supply opportunities, including copra, coconuts, and poultry supply.
In the statement, the government said the airline initiative aims to relaunch jet operations for Samoa Airways and described it as an important long-term project for the country.
“This is an important long-term project for our country’s connectivity, economy, and national pride,” the statement said.
The government also acknowledged media reports which revealed documents verified and confirmed by the Samoa Observer on discussions with aviation industry experts.
“These discussions have been thorough by design, reflecting the scale of the undertaking and our determination to get this right for the people of Samoa,” the statement said.
“We can confirm that fundraising through UTOS represents one part of a broader, multifaceted funding strategy still being developed.”
However, it said that engagement with international aviation industry experts forms part of the same process of ensuring “Samoa’s plan is realistic, sustainable and well-informed,” while stating that it preferred that discussions of the matter remain “internal.”
“While the government would ordinarily prefer that planning discussions of this nature remain internal until finalised, as is normal practice for any major national project, we also recognise the high level of public interest in this initiative and the importance of keeping our communities informed,” the statement said.
The government said discussions on fleet and route options remain ongoing as part of “normal due diligence.” The government thanked the media and the public for their interest in the national project and particularly thanked local investors and diaspora communities.
“The government will continue to provide updates as this initiative progresses, and we look forward to sharing further milestones in the months ahead,” the statement said.
The fact-finding mission included UTOS Chief Executive Officer Malaeulu Aysha Rimoni, Minister of Finance Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molioo, Attorney General Mauga Precious Chang and Taskforce Chairman Taimalie Charlie Westerlund, who had engaged in those discussions…PACNEWS
PALAU – TARO FLOUR: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 17 Jun 2026
Palau taro flour shines on the local and international stage
TOKYO/KOROR, 17 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS TIMES) —Palau’s locally produced taro flour recently took centre stage on both the international and national stage, making its debut at Beauty World Japan 2026 on 18 – 20 May and then at the Palau Development Symposium on 28 May.
The appearances highlighted Palau’s potential in value-added agricultural products and showcased a traditional staple crop.
The journey began at Beauty World Japan 2026, one of Asia’s leading trade exhibitions for beauty, wellness, and lifestyle products. Held in Tokyo, the event brought together exhibitors, buyers, and industry professionals from around the world, providing a platform for innovative products to reach international audiences.
Participating through the Pacific Islands Pavilion, Palau showcased its taro flour alongside products from neighboring Pacific Island nations, introducing the product to new markets and highlighting the potential of Palauan agriculture internationally.
Representing the Food Processing Centre at Beauty World Japan 2026 was Business Adviser Ltelatk H. Fritz, who viewed the event as an important opportunity to introduce 100 percent Palau Taro Flour to an international audience.
“As the business adviser and in charge of the operations at Food Processing Centre, I am delighted about this opportunity to showcase 100 percent Palau Taro Flour to businesses in Japan, even if it is just the health and beauty industry,” Fritz said.
“It is an opportunity to learn about the other people and products from the Pacific Islands and hear feedback from Japanese businesspeople.”
Following its international debut in Tokyo, Palau Taro Flour was featured during the week of the Palau Development Symposium on 28 May, engaging with the event attendees.
To showcase its versatility, the Food Processing Centre prepared a variety of food samples for visitors. Freshly made waffles were served throughout the event, cookies and puddings were also available for tasting.
The showcase successfully drew a large crowd; visitors had a chance to see how taro flour can be used as an ingredient for cooking and they were able to learn more about the use of taro flour.
The appearances of 100 percent Palau Taro Flour at both Beauty World Japan 2026 and the Palau Development Symposium reflect the goals of the ADB-PAL COVID-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups project, which aims to strengthen food security, support local farmers, and expand economic opportunities through value-added agricultural development.
The work of the Food Processing Centre has been a key deliverable under Output 2 of the project, helping provide small agricultural producers with access to markets by purchasing locally grown taro and transforming it into value-added products such as Palau Taro Flour and taro pudding. In doing so, the Centre creates additional opportunities for local farmers while increasing the value of agricultural products grown in Palau…..PACNEWS
B/VILLE – MINING: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 17 Jun 2026
ABG to award licence for Panguna revamp
PORT MORESBY, 17 JUNE 206 (THE NATIONAL)—The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) plans to award the redevelopment licence for the Panguna mine to a Bougainville-owned mining company, President Ishmael Toroama announced during Bougainville Foundation Day celebrations in Lae, describing the move as crucial to the region’s economic independence.
President Toroama said the Bougainville Executive Council had recently approved changes under Part VII of the Bougainville Mining Act 2015, paving the way for greater local ownership and participation in the redevelopment of the mine.
“A Bougainville-owned mining company will be given the redevelopment licence to operate in Panguna,” he said.
He said economic independence needed to go hand in hand with Bougainville’s political aspirations, arguing that control over natural resources is essential for sustaining an independent nation.
Toroama said the government envisioned landowners and a Bougainville-owned company working together to redevelop the world-class copper and gold mine, which had remained closed since civil conflict erupted in 1989.
He also acknowledged the presence of Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) but said legacy issues surrounding the mine needed to be addressed first.
“As we acknowledge BCL as a foreign company, let BCL address all legacy issues in Bougainville,” he said.
“They have to compensate all the people in Bougainville surrounding the Panguna mine.”
The Panguna mine was once among the world’s largest open-cut copper mines and a major contributor to Papua New Guinea’s economy before operations ceased during the Bougainville crisis.
Toroama linked the mine’s redevelopment to Bougainville’s broader push for self-determination following the 2019 referendum, in which 97.7 percent of voters chose independence.
He said Bougainville was pursuing two parallel pathways: political independence through the National Parliament’s consideration of the referendum outcome, and economic independence through greater control of its key resources.
“Our people have decided their future. The people have spoken plainly, loudly, and clearly, saying that they want independence,” he said.
Toroama urged national leaders to respect the democratic wishes of Bougainvilleans, saying the region’s future rests on both constitutional processes and economic self-reliance.
The announcement signals the ABG’s determination to place Bougainvilleans at the centre of future resource development as the region advances its political and economic aspirations….PACNEWS
UN – DEBT: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 17 Jun 2026
Rising debt costs squeeze development funding: New UN report
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 17 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—Rising borrowing costs are leaving many developing countries with less money to invest in schools, healthcare, infrastructure and climate action, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the UN trade agency, UNCTAD.
Between 2018 and 2024, 99 developing countries, which are home to 5.5 billion people, saw rising interest payments reduce the fiscal space available for development, the new report found.
The report shows how rising external borrowing costs, shorter repayment periods and persistent risk premiums are putting growing pressure on public finances.
Here are some key findings:
*Developing countries received far less external finance than developed countries in 2024. External sources accounted for 11 percent of investment financing in developing economies, compared with 38 percent in developed economies
*External financial inflows to developing countries fell 18 percent between 2014 and 2024, while domestic financing rose 60 percent
*Africa received only 10 percent of total external inflows to developing countries, despite accounting for 22 percent of the developing world’s population while Asia and the Pacific attracted more than 70 percent
At a time when developing countries continue to pay significantly more for external financing than developed economies, UNCTAD called for national reforms and stronger international action to reduce financing costs and expand the scale of and access to affordable, long-term finance….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
A milestone for Nature-based Solutions in Tonga’s national planning journey
NUKU’ALOFA, 17 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —The Government of Tonga, in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), are celebrating a significant milestone in Tonga’s journey to strengthen climate resilience through Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
Held in Nuku’alofa, the “Strengthening Nature-based Solutions Policy Mainstreaming: Tonga Promoting Pacific Islands Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) Policy Launch and Handover Event” marked the receipt of three key policy outputs under the Project.
The three policy outputs are Guidelines for Integrating Nature-based Solutions for Resilient Agriculture and Forestry in Tonga, National Policy Framework Assessment Report on Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Resilience and Forestry Sectors Tonga, and the Policy Briefing Paper on Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Resilience and Forestry Sectors, Tonga.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests, ‘Elisaia Ika, highlighted the significance of the new policy tools for Tonga’s agriculture and forestry sectors.
“These outputs provide an important foundation for Tonga as we continue strengthening resilience across our agriculture, forestry, and coastal systems,” he said.
“By bringing Nature-based Solutions into national planning, Tonga is better placed to protect the ecosystems that support our people, strengthen food security, and build resilience for communities across the country.”
Implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme in partnership with International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Global Green Growth Initiative (GGGI), and the Pacific Community (SPC) under the Resilient Ecosystems for Climate Change Adaptation (RECCA) programme, the PPIN Project supports Pacific Island countries to strengthen the integration of Nature-based Solutions into national systems, policies, and planning processes.
The event, attended by government agencies, development partners, technical stakeholders, civil society organisations, and community representatives, reflected not only the completion of a technical process, but also the strength of collaboration and shared commitment across Tonga’s environment, climate, forestry, and agriculture sectors.
First Secretary of the New Zealand High Commission to Tonga, Ms Esther Shaw, acknowledged the importance of regional partnerships in supporting Pacific-led climate resilience solutions.
“We recognise the significant benefits of environment- and conservation-focused initiatives for Pacific ecosystems and community resilience,” she said. “Today’s launch reflects that spirit of collaboration, leveraging SPREP’s regional expertise while developing solutions that are firmly aligned with Tongan Government priorities and Tongan realities.”
Over the past two years, Tonga’s PPIN policy mainstreaming work has involved extensive stakeholder consultations, technical assessments, policy reviews, and collaborative discussions with national agencies and partners.
The process focused on identifying how Nature-based Solutions could be more effectively integrated into Tonga’s national and sector planning systems, particularly across agriculture, forestry, and coastal resilience sectors.
This work resulted in the development and official handover of the three important policy outputs. Together, these outputs provide both practical implementation guidance and strategic policy direction to support Tonga’s climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development priorities.
SPREP Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Adviser, Ms Juney Ward, reiterated SPREP’s broader regional commitment to support Pacific countries in strengthening resilience through Nature-based Solutions.
“As the Pacific’s regional environment organisation, SPREP is committed to supporting our members to strengthen climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development through approaches that are grounded in both science and Pacific knowledge systems,” she said.
“These policy outputs show how regional partnership and nationally led action can strengthen the integration of Nature-based Solutions into planning and support long-term resilience for Pacific communities and ecosystems.”
The NbS Guideline was developed to help strengthen the integration of ecosystem-based approaches into Tonga’s agriculture and forestry planning systems, while strengthening alignment between Tonga’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), Joint National Adaptation Plan (JNAP), and Tonga Agriculture Sector Plan (TASP II).
As Tonga’s overarching national framework for biodiversity conservation and the promotion of Nature-based Solutions, the NBSAP provides the guiding foundation for strengthening how NbS priorities are integrated across sector planning and implementation. The guideline therefore provides practical recommendations for applying Nature-based Solutions in ways that support climate resilience, food security, sustainable land management, and community livelihoods across Tonga’s agriculture and forestry sectors.
Complementing this, the National Policy Framework Assessment reviewed Tonga’s policy and legislative landscape to identify where NbS principles are already reflected and where opportunities exist to strengthen alignment across national frameworks and institutions.
PPIN Project Coordinator Utulei Lui, extended SPREP’s appreciation to the Government of Tonga for its leadership and collaboration throughout the PPIN policy mainstreaming process, particularly the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) and the Department of Environment as SPREP’s national focal point, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF) as the key technical focal point for the implementation of the policy mainstreaming work in Tonga.
She also acknowledged the contributions of all government agencies, technical stakeholders, partners, civil society organisations, and community representatives who contributed to the consultations, assessments, validation processes, and development of the policy outputs launched during the event.
The event concluded with the formal handover of the policy outputs to the Government of Tonga, symbolising a shared commitment to continue strengthening the role of Nature-based Solutions within Tonga’s national planning and resilience-building efforts.
The Promoting Pacific Island Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) project is funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). PPIN seeks to support the development of policy and legislation for Nature-based Solutions (NbS), build regional awareness and capacity, and strengthen regional cooperation amongst Pacific Island countries on NbS. PPIN is managed by IUCN in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)….PACNEWS
