In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — COP31 Pacific Climate envoys to elevate climate change impacts on global stage
2. PACIFIC — Palau makes historic call for UN nicotine control ahead of Pacific Leaders’ Forum
3. PACIFIC — Tuvalu Youth leader selected to help lead 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum
4. PACIFIC — Niue Minister’s Security warning highlights everyday challenges facing Pacific communities
5. PACIFIC — Pacific leaders prove education has no expiry date
6. PACIFIC — NZDF and Customs search for illegal activity in Fiji waters
7. PACIFIC — Goblin shark spotted for first time in its natural habitat — one of the deepest parts of the ocean
8. PACNEWS BIZ — U.S and Australian Partnerships drive infrastructure gains and Tourism recovery in Palau
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Schools face spending curbs due to fuel crisis
10. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — WHO report shows progress in blood safety, but there are worrying gaps
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Palau Atmospheric Observatory Turns 10: Why the Air Above Palau Matters for the Whole Planet
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — New Caledonia’s engaged participation in the Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Symposium in Suva
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PIFS PACNEWS 3: Mon 15 Jun 2026
COP31 Pacific Climate envoys to elevate Climate Change impacts on global stage
SUVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (PIFS) — The Pacific COP31 Envoys, endorsed by the Pacific Climate Change Ministers, have now been formally appointed through a joint letter from the COP31 President-Designate and President of Negotiations.
The Pacific COP31 Envoys are Kristina Eonemto Stege from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Envoy for Oceania focusing on keeping 1.5 within reach; Ruel Yamuna from Papua New Guinea, the Envoy for Access to Climate Finance; and Inia Seruiratu MP from Fiji, the Envoy for the Ocean.
The envoys will elevate Pacific climate leadership globally – driving stronger support from governments, international organisations, and non-state actors. Backed by the COP31 Australia-Pacific partnership, the Envoys reflect strong regional ownership and will work closely with Türkiye as host of COP31 to deliver an outcomes-focused COP, based on consultation, mutual respect and shared responsibility.
“Australia is proud to partner with Pacific nations to appoint these three Pacific Climate Envoys,” said Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen MP.
“The climate envoys will be strong advocates for the Pacific on the global stage.”
“Their leadership and expertise will help shape the global response to climate change, and to protect the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the people of the Pacific.”
“COP31 is working to elevate regional voices, leveraging our solidarity to shape the global climate agenda. We are stronger together”
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa highlighted the significance of the upcoming climate negotiations.
“Pre-COP and COP31 provide a critical and unprecedented opportunity for the Blue Pacific to strategically advance this agenda,” said Secretary General Waqa.
“Through the Pacific’s role in hosting pre-COP and helping to shape the COP31 process, we have a unique platform to ensure that our priorities are not only present but clearly heard and reflected in global outcomes.”
“Our Pacific climate envoys carry more than a title, they carry the voices, values, and lived realities of our Blue Pacific. Having strong Pacific Envoys advocating for our people is essential for ensuring our Pacific priorities remain central to global climate action,” said Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The envoys will actively engage in pre-COP31 meetings scheduled to be held in Fiji and Tuvalu and will continue their advocacy throughout the COP31 negotiations in Antalya, Türkiye.
Their appointments reflect a shared regional commitment to ambitious and equitable climate action, while ensuring that Pacific perspectives help shape decisions on adaptation, resilience, loss and damage, ocean protection, and climate finance.
COP31 represents a landmark arrangement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), bringing together a unique Türkiye–Australia partnership that places the Pacific at the centre of global climate engagement. Under this framework, Türkiye will hold the COP31 Presidency, Australia will serve as President of Negotiations, and the Pacific will host the pre-COP31 meetings.
As the world prepares for a pivotal round of climate negotiations, the Pacific COP31 Envoys will help ensure that the region’s priorities, challenges, and solutions continue to influence global action on the climate crisis.
*Kristina Eonemto Stege, a globally respected climate negotiator and current Climate Envoy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands’, will lead regional efforts to rally ambition and safeguard the 1.5°C temperature goal. She brings decades of experience in international climate diplomacy, including leadership roles with the High Ambition Coalition.
*Ruel Yamuna, Papua New Guinea’s Special Envoy for Climate and Environment and an Alternate Board Member of the Green Climate Fund, will focus on unlocking climate finance for Pacific countries. His role will prioritise improving access to finance, strengthening the voice of Pacific nations within multilateral climate funds, and ensuring funding reaches communities most vulnerable to climate impacts.
*Inia Seruiratu MP, previously a Global Climate Champion and senior Fijian leader, will serve as the Envoy for the Ocean. Drawing on extensive experience in climate policy, disaster risk management and ocean stewardship, he will champion the Pacific’s interests in safeguarding ocean health, supporting coastal resilience, and advancing ocean‑based climate solutions.
The Secretariat for the Pacific Senior Officials Taskforce under the COP31 Australia-Pacific partnership is comprised of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, and the Government of Australia…. PACNEWS
PAC – NICOTINE/HEALTH: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Palau makes historic call for UN nicotine control ahead of Pacific Leaders’ Forum
NEW YORK/KOROR, 15 JUNE 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — Ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum, Palau has made history by becoming the first nation to formally request that the United Nations examine nicotine for placement under international drug control systems, a move officials say could reshape tobacco governance across Pacific Island countries and beyond.
The proposal asks for nicotine, the addictive compound found in cigarettes, vapes and pouches, to undergo United Nations scheduling consideration, a step not taken in more than seven years of international drug policy talks.
President Surangel Whipps Jr said, “We may be a small nation, but the scale of a problem has never determined who acts on it. Millions die every year. More than one billion are dependent on nicotine – most of them hooked as children. We could not look away. We call on governments around the world to join us in asking the United Nations to finally treat nicotine like the toxic and addictive drug it is.”
Tobacco and nicotine are linked to more than seven million deaths annually, while about one billion people worldwide are dependent on nicotine.
Among adolescents, 15 million aged 13 to 15 use e-cigarettes globally, nearly nine times the adult rate.
First Lady Valerie Whipps, chair of the Coalition for Tobacco Free Palau, said, “This is about our children. A new generation of young people across the Pacific are being targeted by products that have never been critically reviewed under United Nations law. Every child has the right to grow up free from manufactured nicotine addictions, no matter how small their island.”
In 2023, Palau banned importation, distribution, sale, possession and use of electronic cigarettes under national law.
In 2025, Palau ranked second out of 100 countries in the Tobacco Industry Interference Index, reflecting minimal industry influence on public health policy.
Officials cited data showing 45.7 percent of students aged 13 to 15 report vaping, 33.1 percent exposed to smoke at home, and 69 percent support bans on smoking in enclosed public places.
Cigarette use among youth stands at 20.8 percent, above the United States rate of 14 percent, along with 41.2 percent reporting betel nut chewing with tobacco.
Noncommunicable disease indicators include 75.6 percent overweight or obesity, 47.4 percent hypertension, and 69.4 percent consuming fewer than one serving of fruit per day.
Officials said the initiative seeks to build consensus among Pacific Island nations ahead of the forum where coordinated responses to noncommunicable disease and nicotine products are expected.
Leaders across the region say the proposal aims to strengthen cooperation among Pacific Island states as health concerns linked to nicotine use continue to rise in youth populations and place pressure on fragile health systems.
Supporters argue that aligning United Nations drug control frameworks with emerging nicotine products could improve enforcement, reduce cross border trafficking and limit exposure among adolescents.
While any decision at the United Nations remains uncertain, the proposal highlights a coordinated push from small island governments seeking influence in international policy discussions despite limited population size and geographic isolation.
Will other Pacific Island nations stand alongside Palau in urging the United Nations to act or remain on the sidelines as the momentum for global nicotine control builds? PACNEWS
PAC – YOUTHS: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Tuvalu Youth leader selected to help lead 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum
LONDON/FUNAFUTI, 15 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS) — Tuvalu youth leader Eleala Avanitele has been selected to serve on an international task force responsible for planning and delivering the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) ahead of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda.
The appointment places Avanitele among a group of youth representatives tasked with working alongside the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to help shape one of the Commonwealth’s key youth engagement platforms.
According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Avanitele will support preparations for the forum by contributing to the development of the programme, policy recommendations and logistical arrangements for the event.
The Commonwealth Youth Forum is held alongside CHOGM and provides a platform for young people from across the Commonwealth to discuss priorities affecting youth and present recommendations to heads of government.
Avanitele brings extensive experience in youth leadership, climate advocacy, disaster risk management and community development to the role.
She currently serves as the In-country Coordinator for the Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific Project Phase II (BSRP II), where she leads national coordination efforts aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and resilience in Tuvalu.
Her work focuses on supporting national initiatives that improve community resilience to natural hazards and climate-related challenges facing the low-lying Pacific island nation.
Before taking up her current position, Avanitele held several leadership and communications roles within government agencies, youth organisations and humanitarian institutions.
These included positions with the Tuvalu National Youth Council, the Tuvalu Climate Change Department and the Tuvalu Red Cross Society.
Her experience extends beyond national institutions to regional youth and climate networks.
She previously served as a board member of the Pacific Youth Council and the Tuvalu Climate Action Network, where she helped advance youth participation in climate action, sustainable development and regional policy discussions.
Throughout her career, Avanitele has represented Tuvalu and the wider Pacific region in international forums and Commonwealth youth initiatives, contributing to discussions on issues ranging from climate resilience and sustainable development to youth empowerment and community engagement.
Her selection to the international task force provides Tuvalu with representation in the planning process for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum and ensures Pacific perspectives will be included in discussions on youth priorities across the Commonwealth.
The 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum is expected to bring together young leaders, policymakers and stakeholders from across the 56-member Commonwealth to discuss key issues affecting youth and to develop recommendations for consideration by Commonwealth leaders during CHOGM.
The forum forms part of the wider Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which will be hosted by Antigua and Barbuda and is expected to attract leaders and delegates from across the Commonwealth.
Avanitele’s appointment highlights the growing role Pacific youth leaders are playing in regional and global policy discussions, particularly on issues such as climate change, disaster resilience and sustainable development, areas that remain critical priorities for Tuvalu and other small island developing states…. PACNEWS
PAC – SECURITY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Niue Minister’s Security warning highlights everyday challenges facing Pacific communities
SUVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS) — Security in the Pacific extends far beyond geopolitics, military tensions and strategic competition, according to reflections shared by Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Vice Chancellor Dr Transform Aqorau following discussions at the Pacific Peace and Security Dialogue in Suva.
In a social media statement posted during the three-day dialogue, Dr Aqorau highlighted remarks made by Niue’s Minister of Home Affairs, Police, Corrections and National Disaster Management, Richie Mautama, describing them as one of the most memorable interventions at the meeting.
The dialogue, being held in Suva from 15 to 17 June, brought together regional leaders, officials and stakeholders to discuss emerging peace and security challenges facing Pacific Island countries.
According to Dr Aqorau, a discussion on security threats took an unexpected turn when participants were asked a familiar leadership question.
“The question was simple: ‘What are the threats that keep you busy and awake at night?’”
Dr Aqorau said Minister Mautama’s answer reflected the broad range of issues confronting Pacific leaders on a daily basis.
“The response from Hon. Richie Mautama, Niue’s Minister of Home Affairs, Minister for Police, Corrections and National Disaster Management, was anything but simple.”
He said the minister outlined several major concerns affecting Niue and the wider Pacific region.
“He spoke about community safety. He spoke about climate change. He spoke about illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. He spoke about threats to the ocean and the many challenges that come with managing security in a small island nation.”
But Dr Aqorau said it was Mautama’s final example that captured the attention of those attending the dialogue.
“Then, with a smile, he added another challenge that keeps him occupied:
Niue’s unmanaged dog population.”
Dr Aqorau said the comment illustrated an important reality often overlooked in international security discussions.
“The point was profound.”
He argued that discussions on security are frequently dominated by global strategic issues while overlooking the everyday concerns affecting Pacific communities.
“Too often, discussions about peace and security are dominated by geopolitical competition, military tensions, strategic interests and high-level policy debates. Yet for many Pacific communities, security is not an abstract concept. It is deeply personal, local and immediate.”
According to Dr Aqorau, security for Pacific communities is defined by practical concerns that directly affect people’s daily lives.
“Security means being safe in your community. It means protecting livelihoods from climate impacts.
“It means safeguarding ocean resources from illegal exploitation. It means being prepared for natural disasters.
And sometimes, it means dealing with a growing dog population that affects public safety, health and community wellbeing.”
The comments come as Pacific governments continue to push for broader definitions of security that include climate change, disaster resilience, food security, fisheries protection and community wellbeing alongside traditional defence and law enforcement concerns.
Dr Aqorau said Minister Mautama’s intervention demonstrated how Pacific security challenges often cut across multiple sectors simultaneously.
“Minister Mautama’s response was a reminder that Pacific security is multilayered. The issues that confront Pacific leaders do not fit neatly into traditional security categories. Instead, they span environmental, economic, social and community dimensions, often all at once.”
He also noted that leaders in small island developing states often manage a wide range of responsibilities under multiple ministerial portfolios.
“His comments also highlighted the reality of leadership in small island states, where ministers frequently carry multiple portfolios and must navigate an extraordinary range of responsibilities.”
“One moment they may be discussing regional security architecture and maritime surveillance; the next they may be addressing local concerns that directly affect daily life in villages and communities.”
Dr Aqorau said the minister’s remarks captured an essential aspect of Pacific approaches to security and governance.
“As the Dialogue continues, I will remember this intervention because it captured something essential about Pacific security: its strength lies in its human dimension.”
He said understanding security in the Pacific requires attention not only to regional strategies and policy frameworks but also to the realities faced by communities across the region.
“The Pacific’s security challenges are real and complex. But understanding them begins not only with strategy and policy, but with people, communities and the everyday realities that shape their lives.”
“And yes, sometimes that includes keeping a close eye on the dogs.”
The comments add to ongoing discussions at the Pacific Peace and Security Dialogue about how regional security frameworks can better reflect the priorities and lived experiences of Pacific communities, particularly as countries face increasing pressures from climate change, illegal fishing, natural disasters and other non-traditional security threats…. PACNEWS
PAC – EDUCATION: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 3: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Pacific leaders prove education has no expiry date
MAJURO, 15 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Age is no barrier to learning, and the Pacific has long shown that education can be a lifelong pursuit.
From elder politicians, regarded as a founding father of modern Fiji, the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who returned to higher learning deep into a distinguished political career, to the Solomon Islands contemporary leaders like Dr. David Mapuru, who rose from manual work to doctoral study and now helps train the next generation, the region has long shown that age is no barrier to ambition, growth or service.
That spirit was on full display in Majuro, Marshall Islands, when the University of the South Pacific awarded President Hilda C. Heine an honorary Doctor of Letters during its Marshall Islands graduation ceremony at the Educational Cultural Centre, before more than 120 graduates from across the Pacific.
The ceremony was presided over by King Tupou VI, the university’s chancellor, and became more than a formal recognition of academic achievement.
It became a reminder that learning, leadership and purpose remain intertwined at every stage of life.
Heine’s honour carried a meaning that reached beyond the ceremony itself. In accepting the degree, she framed the recognition as a reflection of a shared Pacific commitment to widening educational opportunity and preparing young people to lead with purpose and integrity.
Education, she said, remains one of the most powerful tools for creating opportunity, strengthening communities and opening doors for future generations.
She dedicated the honour to the people of the Marshall Islands, thanking them for their confidence and support throughout her career as an educator, public servant and national leader.
The tribute gave the moment a personal centre, tying the award not just to Heine’s public service but to the community that shaped it.
The message suited the occasion. In a region where leaders have repeatedly returned to study, reinvented themselves, and pursued new goals later in life, Heine’s recognition stood as both a celebration and an encouragement.
It underscored a Pacific truth that has echoed across generations: you are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream…. PACNEWS
PAC – MARITIME SURVEILLENCE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 3: Mon 15 Jun 2026
NZDF and Customs search for illegal activity in Fiji waters
SUVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — New Zealand air force and Customs units have stepped up operations in Fiji waters in efforts to reduce drug trafficking and illegal fishing.
Two Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft with spotters from the RNZAF and Customs flew 52 patrol hours suspicious activity of vessels carrying out potential illegal activities.
The operation supported the Forum Fisheries Agency’s Operation Tui Moana and New Zealand Customs-led Operation Kiwa to deter and disrupt transnational, serious and organised crime.
Two New Zealand Defence Force analysts, supported by two New Zealand Customs representatives, provided oversight of the operation from the Maritime Essential Services Centre in Fiji.
The surveillance assistance was provided at the request of the Fijian government and the FFA.
A P-8A Poseidon and a MC-12K King Air reconnaissance aircraft flew the patrol with vessels of interest photographed for assessment by authorities.
RNZAF Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Andy Scott, said the operation was important for the economic prosperity and regional security and stability of the Pacific.
“Pacific security is the shared responsibility of Pacific Islands Forum members. This is the third time we have deployed the MC-12K to Fiji in the past 12 months, because threats to regional security and stability affect all of us,’’ he said.
“We are proud to provide this capability to assist in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and transnational serious and organised crime.”
New Zealand Customs Service Group Manager Maritime, Paul Campbell, said strong partnerships across the Pacific were fundamental to strengthening capability, lifting maritime security and combatting transnational, serious and organised crime across the region.
“Sharing information and intelligence to disrupt criminals seeking to use the maritime domain are fundamental elements of Operation Kiwa,’’ he said.
“Through this work, we’re extending our reach, deepening our understanding of regional risks, and enabling faster, more targeted action to protect New Zealand and the Pacific.’’
The FFA operates two King Air aircraft for surveillance of Pacific waters and these are supported by Australia, France, and New Zealand.
Recently, Fiji’s Cabinet approved moves to invest in its own aircraft for use in surveillance, search, rescue, and VIP operations…. PACNEWS
PACIFIC – SHARKS FIND: THE GUARDIAN PACNEWS 3: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Goblin shark spotted for first time in its natural habitat — one of the deepest parts of the ocean
HONOLULU/NUKU’ALOFA, 15 JUNE 2026 (THE GUARDIAN) — Rare and eccentric-looking goblin sharks have been seen alive in their deep ocean habitat for the first time ever.
Prof Alan Jamieson, director of the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre, said goblin sharks were a bit like the colossal squid – creatures with an almost mythological quality. They were almost never seen alive, he said, and previously only when they were accidentally hooked on a fishing line.
“They’ve captured the imagination of so many people, but we’ve never really seen them alive,” he said. “We actually know virtually nothing about them.”
Australian scientists caught the elusive creatures on video during an expedition to the Tonga Trench in 2024, aboard the R/V Dagon. Elsewhere in the Pacific, scientists from the University of Hawaii observed the sharks near Jarvis Island. The two sightings, thousands of kilometres apart, have been published together in the Journal of Fish Biology.
Goblin shark in the Pacific Ocean in the Tonga Trench – cinemagraph
“It’s the most bizarre animal,” Jamieson, a co-author of the paper, said. “They have this incredible mouth that kind of protrudes down from the head and does a kind of slingshot feeding thing.
“Everyone knows the goblin shark from its strange mouth. But when it’s alive, the mouth is actually completely retracted inside its head, so it’s just got a really pointy head.”
The vision captured – a little over 20 seconds long – was only possible due to the sheer volume of hours of footage collected on the voyage, Jamieson said, with over 50 days of continuous filming.
Previously, the goblin shark was thought to inhabit the western coast of the US, as well as Australia and Japan in the Pacific Ocean, and narrow regions in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The new findings expand its geographic range, with both sightings in the central Pacific.
“It’s a classic case of a deep-sea animal that has very low abundance, but an absolutely massive geographical range.”
The individual filmed in the Tonga Trench was nearly 2,000 metres deep, making it the deepest-known recording of a white shark.
Goblin sharks are “arguably the ugliest shark on the planet”, said Prof Culum Brown, an expert in fish at Macquarie University.
“They are ridiculously horrendous to look at,” Brown said. “Not even their mother would love their faces.”
He said, “they have these really weird long noses” and “bizarre protrudable jaws, so when they detect prey with their long snout, their jaws can shoot forward and grab on to it”.
“It’s like something out of a horror movie.”
The common name “goblin” is derived from a Japanese name, he said, which is based on a legendary creature with a long nose and red shiny cheeks.
They were an ancient species that have remained relatively unchanged for about 125m years, Brown said.
Goblin sharks have a long flabby body that can reach up to seven metres in length, and small fins.
“Like many deep-sea creatures, they probably have a really slow metabolism and probably wander around at a very slow pace…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PALAU – TOURISM INDUSTRY: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 15 Jun 2026
U.S and Australian Partnerships drive infrastructure gains and Tourism recovery in Palau
KOROR, 15 JUNE 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — Palau’s international partnerships with the United States and Australia are continuing to shape national development efforts, supporting infrastructure expansion, transport connectivity and tourism recovery, according to officials outlining recent cooperation outcomes.
U.S Department of the Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary Holland Hague highlighted the long-standing relationship between the United States and Palau, noting coordinated work across essential sectors such as health care delivery, education services, road rehabilitation and visitor economy development.
The relationship is anchored in the Compact of Free Association, which provides Palau with financial assistance and access to select U.S federal programs, while assigning the United States responsibility for national defense. Officials say the arrangement continues to support capital investment in public facilities, including hospitals and schools, as well as upgrades to transportation networks that connect communities across the country.
Beyond security and funding provisions, Palauan authorities describe the partnership as a broader development framework that contributes to long-term planning. Continued improvements in public services and infrastructure are being linked to efforts aimed at strengthening economic resilience, particularly in sectors connected to tourism and small business activity.
In parallel, cooperation with Australia is playing an increasingly visible role in Palau’s aviation and tourism recovery through the Palau Paradise Express, a weekly non-stop flight service between Brisbane and Koror operating under the Australian-Pacific Partnership for Aviation (P4A).
The route has become a key contributor to post-pandemic recovery efforts by improving access to Palau for international travelers. Officials report the service has carried more than 3,600 passengers annually, effectively doubling passenger traffic on major routes serving the country.
Tourism indicators linked to the connection show a 21 percent increase in visitor nights and a 26 percent rise in total visitor expenditure. These gains reflect stronger inbound travel flows and extended stays, particularly among visitors arriving through the direct Brisbane–Koror service.
Economic data attributed to the route indicates it has generated approximately US$3.7 million in overall economic activity for Palau, along with an estimated US$1.8 million in additional revenue for the national government. The increase in arrivals has also supported growth in hospitality services, including hotels, tour operators and small enterprises dependent on visitor spending.
Officials say the improved air link has reduced travel barriers, expanded market reach and strengthened Palau’s visibility as a Pacific tourism destination. The increased connectivity has also been linked to broader regional efforts to rebuild tourism networks disrupted during the pandemic period.
Taken together, both partnerships are being framed by officials as complementary elements of Palau’s development strategy. The United States relationship continues to provide foundational support for infrastructure, governance capacity and security arrangements, while Australia’s aviation link is contributing to economic diversification through tourism growth and improved international access.
As Palau continues its recovery and long-term planning efforts, authorities say sustained cooperation with key partners remains central to advancing national priorities, particularly in strengthening public services, expanding economic opportunities and reinforcing regional integration…. PACNEWS
FIJI – FUEL CRISIS: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Fiji Schools face spending curbs due to fuel crisis
SUVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES) —Fiji’s Ministry of Education has imposed sweeping expenditure controls. including a freeze on unsigned capital project contracts and tighter oversight of new spending commitments amid the ongoing fuel crisis.
The measures are contained in Circular 62/2026, issued by Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj following broader government directives aimed at conserving fuel and reducing expenditure.
Under the new directives, no new capital project contracts may proceed without prior approval from the Ministry of Finance.
Any contracts that have not yet been signed have been frozen pending review, while projects that have not reached the contract award stage have been placed on hold.
The move signals tighter scrutiny of government spending as authorities seek to preserve fiscal stability during the current fuel supply challenges.
The circular also states that schools are strongly advised not to enter into new financial commitments, including agreements, memoranda of understanding and project obligations, without prior concurrence from the Ministry of Finance.
In addition, the creation of new positions and the filling of vacancies will now require approval from the Prime Minister, while all Job Evaluation Exercises have been deferred until further notice…. 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
WHO report shows progress in blood safety, but there are worrying gaps
GENEVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — Every day, safe blood helps save the lives of women experiencing childbirth complications, accident victims, cancer patients and people living with chronic diseases. Yet despite decades of progress, access to lifesaving blood remains deeply unequal, with shortages continuing to put lives at risk in many lower-income countries, according to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report.
Released on Friday ahead of World Blood Donor Day on 14 June, the WHO study offers the most comprehensive assessment to date of blood systems worldwide, drawing on data from 168 countries representing 97 percent of the global population.
The report highlights significant advances in blood donation and safety. More than 85 percent of blood donations worldwide now come from voluntary unpaid donors – long considered the safest and most sustainable source of blood.
Progress remains uneven
While many countries have strengthened national blood systems and expanded access to safe transfusions, shortages, weak governance and inadequate financing continue to limit access in many low- and middle-income countries.
“Access to sufficient, secure supplies of blood and blood products, coupled with safe transfusion practices, is a fundamental component of resilient health systems and a critical enabler of universal health coverage,” wrote Deusdedit Mubangizi, Director for Medicines and Health Products Policies and Standards at WHO, in the report’s preface.
“Despite notable progress over the past decade, universal access to safe blood and blood products remains elusive for many countries.”
More than transfusions
A reliable blood supply is essential for treating a wide range of medical conditions, from severe bleeding during childbirth and emergency surgery to cancer treatment, chronic blood disorders and severe anaemia.
Donated plasma – the liquid portion of blood – is also used to produce medicines for people living with bleeding disorders, immune deficiencies and other serious conditions.
When safe blood is unavailable, patients can die from otherwise treatable illnesses and injuries.
The report examines every stage of the transfusion chain, from donor recruitment and blood collection to laboratory testing, clinical use and access to plasma-derived medicines.
A continuing challenge
It identifies inadequate governance and unsustainable financing as among the biggest obstacles facing national blood services in many countries.
It also notes ongoing efforts to diversify plasma collection and strengthen global supply chains for plasma-derived medicinal products, which remain inaccessible or unaffordable in many settings.
Achieving equitable access, WHO says, will require sustained political commitment, stronger national systems and continued international cooperation.
World Blood Donor Day
This year’s World Blood Donor Day campaign carries the theme: “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.”
The campaign aims to encourage regular voluntary blood donation while highlighting what WHO describes as the values of solidarity, compassion and shared responsibility that underpin safe blood systems worldwide…. 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
Palau Atmospheric Observatory Turns 10: Why the Air Above Palau Matters for the Whole Planet
Palau Atmospheric Observatory marks 10 years of transformative research as scientists confirm the western Pacific Island sits above the world’s primary gateway to the global stratosphere
By L.N. Reklai
KOROR, 15 JUNE 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — Every breath of air that enters the global stratosphere passes through a narrow atmospheric doorway — and that doorway sits directly above Palau.
For ten years, the Palau Atmospheric Observatory has stood watch over one of the most scientifically significant patches of sky on the planet. What began as two containers of instruments on the grounds of Palau Community College has grown into the largest scientific observatory in the rural western Pacific, generating data that reaches climate researchers from Germany to NASA and beyond.
At the observatory’s 10th anniversary ceremony, scientists and government leaders gathered to reflect on a decade of discovery — and the partnerships that made it possible.
“Nowhere is the air as clean as here,” said Dr Markus Rex, addressing dignitaries, scientists and students gathered at the Palau Community College to mark the 10th anniversary of the Palau Atmospheric Observatory.
“It is a benchmark site for understanding air chemistry in an undisturbed environment — and this region is the main source of air for the global stratosphere.”
Those words, delivered this week at a ceremony celebrating a decade of uninterrupted scientific measurement, captured the significance of a small island nation that punches far above its geographic size in the study of global climate.
The World’s Atmospheric Gateway
Rex, a leading atmospheric scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany, explained that the ocean surface temperatures around Palau — consistently among the highest on the planet, regularly exceeding 28 degrees Celsius — drive a powerful vertical ascent of air that carries surface-level gases and aerosols all the way to the stratosphere, the atmospheric layer sitting roughly 17 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
Using global tracking models, researchers have mapped the precise locations where air crosses the so-called tropopause — the boundary between the lower troposphere, where weather occurs, and the stratosphere. The highest concentration of those crossing points sits directly above the tropical western Pacific, with Palau at its centre.
“Once the air crosses into the stratosphere in this region, it spreads globally,” Rex said. “A large fraction of the air over Germany has entered the stratosphere right above Palau.”
That makes the chemical composition of the air over Palau a matter of global consequence. Whatever gases, pollutants or aerosols enter the stratosphere here will eventually influence ozone concentrations, heat dynamics and UV protection for populations far beyond the Pacific.
Cleanest Air on Earth — and Why That Matters
Measurements taken at the observatory have confirmed that tropospheric ozone concentrations above Palau are the lowest recorded anywhere on Earth. The finding, Rex said, has fundamentally revised scientific understanding of atmospheric chemistry across the western Pacific.
Before the observatory’s decade of data, he said, global models predicted a substantially higher ozone presence in the region. “The Palau Observatory has already transformed our understanding of air composition in the western Pacific,” Rex said, describing how visualizations based on Palau data show a strikingly dark blue “hole” in global ozone maps precisely where earlier models showed none.
The low ozone environment has a cascading effect on atmospheric chemistry. With less ozone, there is also less of a key cleansing molecule — the hydroxyl radical, known as OH, which scientists call the ‘detergent of the atmospheric laundry machine.’ Without enough OH, gases emitted from the ocean, from ecosystems or from industrial sources linger far longer in the air.
Rex noted that the pollutant sulfur dioxide, which typically persists for about seven days in standard tropical conditions, can survive up to a month in the western Pacific. Another compound, dibromomethane, lasts nearly a year in this region compared to about two months elsewhere — meaning that both natural and human-made emissions here have an outsized influence on global atmospheric chemistry.
A Decade of Measurement — and Much More to Come
Dr Katrin Müller, station manager and head of the observatory’s research program since its founding in 2015, described what has grown from a single container of instruments into the largest scientific observatory in the rural western Pacific and one of the largest in the tropics worldwide.
“We can call our observatory an oasis in the data desert,” Müller said. “Ten years of data are already great, but 20 years can really tell us about trends to come.”
The observatory’s instruments now include ozone-measuring weather balloons launched every two weeks, a green LiDAR laser that tracks aerosols and cloud particles after dark, sun photometers, infrared spectrometers, and a newly deployed PAMOS instrument monitoring fine particulate matter — pollution particles small enough to penetrate human lungs. A week of measurements at a clean-air agricultural site in Babeldaob recorded near-zero PM2.5 levels, a stark contrast to Manila and Taipei, where Müller showed comparison data.
The observatory’s 10-year ozone time series have already produced a key preliminary finding: unlike Southeast Asia, where tropospheric ozone levels have shown a positive — and troubling — upward trend, Palau so far shows no significant trend. Müller noted that spikes in 2016 and 2024 correlate with documented El Niño events, and model analysis confirms those temporary increases are driven by reduced convective activity over the island during those years.
Filling the Data Gap — and Putting Palau on the Map
The anniversary event also featured presentations by visiting scientists from NOAA and the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Alexandre Baron described his Balloon Baseline Stratospheric Aerosol Profile (B2SAP) project, which is now launching specialized payloads from Palau every three to four months to monitor the stratospheric aerosol layer — a thin but critical shield that moderates the amount of solar radiation reaching Earth’s surface.
“The deep tropics was one big data gap that existed before,” Baron said. “Palau sits right there, and it’s a pleasure to have been invited to bring measurements to the observatory.”
The Palau Atmospheric Observatory is now part of three international research networks: the Pandonia Global Network since 2022, the NASA-led Shadows Tropical Ozone Sun Network since 2024, and — as of just one month ago — the prestigious Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC), which includes only a handful of similarly equipped observatories worldwide. Müller said the PAO is the only observatory of its kind in the deep tropics.
University of Bremen researchers Justus Notholt and Xiaoyu Sun, presenting via video, shared findings from the observatory’s measurements of carbon dioxide tied to El Niño cycles. Their data showed that even relatively modest El Niño events in recent years produced surprisingly high CO2 enhancements over Palau — a signal the team attributes to reduced plant uptake during dry conditions, amplified by ongoing global warming.
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, Müller outlined plans to expand collaboration with NASA, the National Centre for Atmospheric Research and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Beijing. The team is also working to integrate the observatory’s balloon data with overpass measurements from the International Space Station’s SAGE III instrument, using Palau’s surface readings to validate and improve satellite ozone data that covers far wider areas of the globe.
Rex closed his remarks with gratitude to the people of Palau — and a reminder of what is at stake.
“The spirit of openness, support and collaboration that we have found here on Palau was a fantastic experience for us,” he said. “What we do here — we do it for Palau, and for the planet.”.
The Palau Atmospheric Observatory is operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute in partnership with the Palau Community College, the Coral Reef Research Foundation, and CTSI, with support from the Government of Palau and the German Honorary Consul…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
New Caledonia’s engaged participation in the Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Symposium in Suva
SUVA, 15 JUNE 2026 (SPREP) — From 18 to 20 May 2026, the Pacific Community (SPC), in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the support of the World Bank’s Pacific ENABLE Programme and the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC), convened for the Pacific Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Symposium (ITK) in Suva, Fiji.
Intended as a coordination symposium, the event brought together Pacific CROP agencies, regional and international organisations to discuss how Culture for development and Pacific Indigenous and Traditional knowledge is currently being applied across various development priorities and programmes.
It provided a dynamic platform for diverse voices to exchange perspectives on how Pacific knowledge systems are informing critical areas such as climate resilience, ocean governance, education, artificial intelligence (AI), data sovereignty, cultural safeguarding and sustainable development.
Members of the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture (CPAC)’s technical working group responsible for the deliver of the Pacific Regional Culture Strategy were also in attendance. This included Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, republic of the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands.
Pacific countries, including New Caledonia, face growing environmental, economic and social pressures. The safeguarding of Indigenous knowledge has become a strategic priority. Traditional knowledge, deeply embedded in community practices, identity, and governance systems, is finally recognised not only as cultural heritage but also as a key resource for sustainable development, climate resilience and social cohesion.
ITK: A regional platform to elevate Traditional Indigenous Knowledge
The actions of the Symposium build upon over two decades of regional work led by SPC and its member countries and partners to strengthen frameworks for the protection of traditional knowledge and cultural expressions. Early regional efforts responded to concerns about the misappropriation of Pacific cultural resources and the need to ensure that traditional knowledge holders remain in control of their traditions and history and benefit from their heritage. These initiatives have progressively but surely evolved into broader cultural strategies that recognise Indigenous knowledge as central to development across the Blue Pacific. To quote only a few: 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, Pacific Regional Culture Strategy, Pacific 2030 Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework, Pacific Regional Eudcation Framework (PacREF) 2018- 2030, Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific, Pacific Islands Framework for Nature Conservation and Protected areas 2021-2025.
As of today, the Symposium provides a timely platform to:
* Facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices
* Strengthen cooperation on policy and legal frameworks
* Elevate the voice of Indigenous knowledge holders in decision-making
* Explore links between traditional knowledge and contemporary challenges such as climate change, biodiversity conservation and digital transformation.
New Caledonia’s strong cultural voice advancing a comprehensive cultural agenda towards FestPac 2028
New Caledonia was represented at the Symposium by 2 members of the New Caledonia government: Hea-Emelie KATRAWI, Cultural Advisor and Ernest Hnacipan, Deputy Director for Culture, Women’s Affairs and Citizenship. Their participation reflects New Caledonia’s commitment to regional engagement and to the promotion of Kanak and Oceanian cultural heritage within Pacific frameworks.
New Caledonia has recently been undertaking a major institutional reform of its cultural sector through the creation of a new Cultural Agency, effective from July 2026. This reform brings together key public cultural institutions under a unified structure centred around the Agence de Développement de la Culture Kanak (ADCK). The initiative will strengthen coordination, visibility and policy coherence across the sector, integrating flagship institutions like the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, the Academy of Kanak Languages, the Bernheim Library, the Conservatoire des Arts, and the Museum of New Caledonia. Together, these institutions represent the full spectrum of cultural expression, from language preservation and artistic education to heritage conservation and documentation.
The Government has also established a territorial committee for major cultural events, mandated to harmonise and promote large-scale cultural initiatives across the country. This new coordination mechanism seeks to strengthen national cohesion and visibility of cultural expression at both local and regional levels. It supports a diverse range of events: national festivals, community-based initiatives, and participation in key regional platforms like the Melanesian Arts Festival (MACFEST) and the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC), to be hold in New Caledonia in 2028.
The committee’s work is guided by three overarching objectives: fostering a shared sense of belonging across communities, strengthening the cultural and creative sectors, and reinforcing New Caledonia’s international cultural engagement. The New Caledonia Gouvernement also puts strong emphasis on engaging youth, supporting creative industries, promoting the heritage of customary areas, and expanding opportunities for artist mobility and regional partnerships.
New Caledonia: an active member of the Pacific Echoes Programme
Like a natural continuation, New Caledonia’s approach is closely aligned with the Pacific Echoes Programme lead by SPC, which promotes regional collaboration to safeguard, digitise and valorise Pacific audiovisual and cultural heritage. With this engagement, New Caledonia shares common ground with other Pacific countries in advancing the protection of cultural memory, strengthening access to heritage, and ensuring that traditional knowledge is preserved for future generations.
Hea-Emelie Katrawi participated in the first convening of the Pacific Echoes Technical Working Group (TWG) held in the week before the Symposium, demonstrating New Caledonia’s active role in shaping this regional initiative. This double engagement: both at the technical and policy levels, highlights how New Caledonia, alongside its Pacific partners, is contributing to a collective effort to reinforce cultural resilience and shared identity across the region.
This regional momentum is closely tied to efforts to better articulate and operationalise the relationship between Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) and the broader framework of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP). As highlighted in the Symposium discussions, ICIP need to cover a wide and interconnected spectrum of cultural heritage, including traditional knowledge systems on land and ocean management, kinship and rituals, as well as cultural expressions such as language, stories, performances, designs, and contemporary creative practices. It also incldes sensitive and sacred knowledge, cultural objects, ancestral remains, and the documentation of Indigenous cultures through films, photographs, archives and digital databases.
In this context, Pacific Echoes Programme plays a critical role by working at the interface between preservation and access, particularly through the digitisation and documentation of audiovisual heritage, and at the same time raising essential questions around intellectual property rights, consent, and cultural authority. Intellectual property rights are a critical component of this work, yet global mechanisms for protecting traditional knowledge remain incomplete, placing greater importance on regional approaches talked about at the Symposium. It is required to create clear recognition that cultural materials contain ICIP, are owned by Indigenous custodians, and must be used in ways that respect these rights. By linking ITK preservation with robust ICIP governance within all projects and programmes, like Pacific Echoes, we need to instaure agreements and data sovereignty principles. This approach ensures that digitisation and visibility go hand in hand with protection, reinforcing the region’s collective commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage while upholding Indigenous rights, knowledge systems, and community control across the Pacific.
New Caledonia Governement preliminary draft bill: Recognising, Protecting, and Promoting Traditional Knowledge
On day 1 of the ITK Symposium, New Caledonia presented a forward-looking and structured cultural agenda, demonstrating a strong national commitment to safeguarding and promoting indigenous traditional knowledge through policy, institutional reform and regional engagement.
Ernest Hnacipan presented the preliminary draft bill under consideration by the Government of New Caledonia which represents a significant and forward-looking effort to establish a dedicated legal framework for the recognition, protection, and promotion of traditional knowledge, addressing longstanding gaps in conventional intellectual property regimes. The draft has been formally endorsed by the Government of New Caledonia in April 2026. This legislative milestone builds on the principles of the 1998 Nouméa Accord and reflects a long-term effort, initiated in 2009, to ensure the protection of Kanak cultural heritage, while also recognising the diversity of communities that shape New Caledonian identity.
The draft proposes the creation of a New Caledonian Intellectual Property Code incorporating a sui generis system of rights specifically designed for traditional knowledge. Defined as knowledge that is collectively held, transmitted across generations, and intrinsically linked to cultural identity. The bill introduces a comprehensive typology building on both:
*Intangible expressions: oral traditions (myths, stories, songs), bodily expressions (dances, rituals), spiritual heritage, as well as naturalistic andecological knowledge (traditional pharmacopoeia, agricultural or fishing techniques),
*Tangible forms: objects, cultural artefacts, and products derived from biodiversity, thereby ensuring holistic coverage of cultural heritage.
The draft establishes a structured mechanism built around three key pillars:
* Recognition and protection of traditional knowledge: the exercise of rights, and benefit-sharing. It proposes the creation of an official registry to document traditional knowledge, providing legal recognition and evidentiary value while preserving its collective ownership, alongside innovative tools such as a “traditional cultural indication” to certify authenticity and prevent misuse or misrepresentation.
*Concrete rights for communities: including the authority to approve or refuse non-customary uses, control the disclosure of knowledge, ensure attribution, and oppose uses that distort or undermine cultural integrity. Robust access and benefit-sharing regime aligned with international best practices, requiring prior, free, and informed consent from communities for any use of traditional knowledge, particularly in cases involving research, development, or commercial exploitation.
* Regulated access and use or exploitation: mandatory agreements governing the terms of use and ensuring both monetary and non-monetary benefits, ranging from financial returns linked to revenues to capacity-building, knowledge transmission, and cultural promotion, are fairly shared with rights holders.
New Caledonia’s commitment to preventing misappropriation and biopiracy, safeguarding cultural heritage, and positioning traditional knowledge as a living and protected asset within its development pathway is on the way!
Safeguarding our past, Looking into our future
New Caledonia’s participation in the Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Symposium underscores its active role in shaping a shared Pacific future grounded in culture, identity and cooperation. As shown with its recent legislative, institutional and strategic initiatives, alongside its engagement in regional programmes such as Pacific Echoes, New Caledonia is positioning itself as a committed partner in collective Pacific efforts to safeguard Indigenous knowledge and strengthen cultural resilience.
As discussions continue in Suva, the contributions of New Caledonia’s delegation reinforce the importance of regional solidarity, demonstrating that safeguarding cultural heritage is not only a national priority, but a shared responsibility across the Blue Pacific…. PACNEWS
