In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Former Forum SG Taylor urged Pacific to strengthen ocean governance and reduce economic dependence
2. PACIFIC — Tokelau faces major financial crisis after expulsion from key regional fisheries scheme
3. PNG — East Sepik people to help MP Bird vote on Bougainville’s Independence
4. NZ — PM Wale meets NZ Foreign Minister ahead of PM Luxon Talks
5. PACIFIC — Pacific leaders urge NZ to prepare for climate displacement
6. PACIFIC — Pacific leaders bring traditional knowledge to AIATSIS Summit
7. UN — ‘The ocean has no boundaries’: Beauty and life in a war zone
8. VAN — Vanuatu Ministry of Internal Affairs officials investigated by AFP during China/Australia transit stopover
9. PACIFIC — Raising capability across the Pacific
10. GUAM — Guam finds allies in fight for ocean protection
11. AUST — Australia and PNG authorities target illegal activity along shared border
12. UN — ‘The true cost of peace’: UN honours fallen peacekeepers as dangers mount
13. FIJI — Suspected drug containers found floating near Ogea Island
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific Power: How regional cooperation transformed the world’s largest tuna fishery
15. PACNEWS BIZ — Global meat supply quadruples over the past six decades
16. PACNEWS BIZ — NBC launches Starlink installation as part of digital transition
17. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific Women Leadership in Weather Ready Pacific
18. PACNEWS DIGEST — SPC strengthens climate action capacity in FSM through facilitating agents’ training
19. PACNEWS DIGEST — Five things you need to know about ocean plastics
20. PACNEWS DIGEST — World Environment Day: Communities at the heart of ocean conservation
21. PACNEWS DIGEST — Let’s take climate action now for a more resilient tomorrow
22. PACNEWS DIGEST — European Union strengthens Partnership with Solomon Islands on sustainable development and global gateway
PAC – OCEAN GOVERNANCE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Former Forum SG Taylor urged Pacific to strengthen ocean governance and reduce economic dependence
By Sanjeshni Kumar
SUVA, 08 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)— Pacific nations have been urged to strengthen collective ownership of ocean governance and confront growing pressures on regional independence, with the former Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General calling for unity, resilience and greater economic self-determination.
Opening the State of the Ocean Convening in Suva on World Ocean Day, Dame Meg Taylor said the gathering reflected more than geography, but a shared identity rooted in the ocean.
“We are gathering as people of the Pacific and as people of the ocean. That is not an accident. That is a statement of who we are,” she said.
Taylor traced the region’s deep historical connection to the ocean, describing Pacific societies as communities of “extraordinary ingenuity” with sophisticated systems of navigation, governance and knowledge long before the arrival of colonial powers.
She said modern regional institutions were later built as part of efforts to reclaim control over governance structures established during the colonial era.
“It was to reclaim our institutions, assert our agency, and build something genuinely our own,” she said.
Taylor highlighted the establishment of the Pacific Islands Forum in 1971 as a turning point in regional cooperation, strengthening Pacific voices on the global stage and enabling collective action on shared challenges.
One of the Pacific’s most significant contributions to global governance, she said, was its leadership in shaping the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), particularly the creation of Exclusive Economic Zones extending 200 nautical miles from coastlines.
“The EEZ concept was our response,” she said. “It said, this is our ocean, these are our resources, and we have rights over them that the world must recognise.”
She said Pacific nations had effectively transformed political sovereignty into legal sovereignty through international law, helping establish what is now regarded as one of the world’s most advanced and integrated ocean governance systems.
Taylor emphasised the Treaty of Rarotonga, which established the world’s first nuclear-free zone in a populated region, and regional fisheries institutions that strengthened Pacific control over marine resources.
Among these, she said, the Parties to the Nauru Agreement remained one of the strongest examples of Pacific-led governance.
“It is a model for what our strongest regional institutions look like, combining legal design with political trust and collective restraint,” she said.
Despite these achievements, Taylor warned that the region faces increasing external pressures, including geopolitical competition and rising militarisation in the Pacific.
“The Pacific has become strategically significant to the United States, China and their respective allies in ways that were not true a generation ago,” she said.
She expressed concern over expanding military infrastructure and proposals involving foreign military assets within the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone.
“The language of partnership is often genuine, but the question of whose priorities shape the agenda is one we must always keep asking,” she said.
Taylor said these developments are placing new strains on regional unity, noting that differing interests among PIF members have at times made it more difficult to maintain coordinated positions on key issues, including climate change.
She said the region, however, continues to demonstrate global leadership through initiatives such as the Blue Pacific Continent narrative, the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and sustained climate diplomacy that contributed to securing the 1.5-degree Celsius temperature goal in the Paris Agreement.
Taylor also highlighted recent legal and diplomatic gains for the Pacific, including the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change, which was initiated through a Vanuatu-led process involving young Pacific advocates.
“Small states, acting collectively, change what international law says, and this is an extraordinary outcome.”
She welcomed a recent United Nations General Assembly resolution, tabled by Vanuatu, calling on member states to comply with obligations arising from the advisory opinion, which passed with 144 votes in favour.
“This is the Pacific, through sustained diplomacy, through law, through collective effort, requiring the world to answer for its obligations to our ocean, our community, and our future.”
Taylor identified economic independence as one of the most pressing structural challenges facing the Pacific, warning that continued reliance on external funding creates vulnerabilities for regional institutions and can influence policy priorities.
She highlighted the Pacific Resilience Facility, endorsed by Forum leaders in 2025, as an example of Pacific-owned development designed to strengthen community resilience and reduce dependency on external actors.
“What we are asking of our partners is not charity,” she said. “We are asking for partnership that is genuinely aligned with our own strategies and our own priorities.”
Taylor urged civil society organisations to continue holding governments and regional institutions accountable while maintaining a long-term vision for the region’s future.
She expressed confidence in the Pacific’s ability to navigate current and future challenges, drawing on a long history of collective action and ocean stewardship.
“We have achieved things that many thought impossible,” she said. “We have shaped international law. We have protected our ocean. We have stood together again and again when the world expected us to be divided.”
She called for continued Pacific ownership of ocean governance.
“The ocean has always been our highway, our home, our identity,” she said. “Let us govern it as ours,” said Dame Taylor…PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: PACIFIC NEWSROOM PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Tokelau faces major financial crisis after expulsion from key regional fisheries scheme
MAJURO/NUKUNONU/WELLINGTON, 08 JUNE 2026 (PACIFIC NEWSROOM) — Tokelau is facing a major financial crisis after its membership in a crucial regional fisheries body was abruptly terminated.
The three‑atoll Aotearoa New Zealand territory, home to around 1,600 people, is now poised to lose as much as two‑thirds of its government revenue after being excluded from the Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) operated by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA).
The PNA is an alliance of eight Pacific nations — Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. Tokelau had been a participating party until earlier this year.
Under the VDS, PNA members sell tuna purse‑seine vessels the right to fish in their exclusive economic zones. A single vessel day typically sells for between US$8,000 and US$10,000, and the scheme collectively generates around US$500 million annually for its members.
Tokelau has never publicly disclosed its VDS income, but with an allocation of 1,000 vessel days, available pricing indicates Tokelau earned about US$8 million per year — roughly 46 percent of its NZ$30 million (US$17.39 million) annual budget.
Why Tokelau was expelled remains unclear. The PNA headquarters in Majuro has not responded to questions.
In Wellington, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade — which oversees Tokelau’s administration — confirmed the termination in a statement to Pacific Newsroom: “New Zealand understands from Tokelau that its participation in the PNA Vessel Day Scheme was terminated in February 2026. We also understand that the Government of Tokelau is trying to reverse this decision as a matter of priority. New Zealand stands ready to support Tokelau.”
No further comment was provided.
On 01 June, while visiting Samoa, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters met with Tokelau Ulu (head of government) Alapati Tavite and other Tokelauan leaders.
Posting on X, Peters said: “The Minister remarked on the deep significance of this year for our relationship, with 2026 marking the centenary of New Zealand’s administration of Tokelau. We are proud to stand beside Tokelau as its primary partner… a responsibility to which we remain seriously committed.”
He made no mention of the PNA issue.
Meanwhile, Global Fishing Watch data shows that since Tokelau’s expulsion in February, virtually no legal fishing has occurred in Tokelau’s EEZ, indicating a substantial and immediate loss of revenue.
Fisheries income accounts for around 95 percent of Tokelau’s own‑source revenue, derived from the VDS, bilateral fishing licences, vessel‑day transfers, and the United States Tuna Treaty.
New Zealand’s annual support grant to Tokelau typically ranges between NZ$15 million (US$8.69 million) and NZ$25 million (US$14.49 million), meaning the loss of VDS income would leave a severe funding gap even with increased assistance…. PACNEWS
PNG – BOUGANINVILLE INDEPENDENCE VOTE: NBC PNG NEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
East Sepik people to help MP Bird vote on Bougainville’s Independence
PORT MORESBY, 08 JUNE 2206 (NBC NEWS PNG) — The people of East Sepik will help guide their Governor, Allan Bird, on how he will vote when Parliament decides Bougainville’s future in the upcoming Ratification.
Prime Minister James Marape told Parliament that ratification will take place on 30 August – exactly 25 years since the Bougainville Peace Agreement was signed.
Debating the Bipartisan Committee Report, Governor Bird says, sovereignty for Bougainville is a matter that currently weighs heavily on the nation, stressing that Members of Parliament must be fully informed before casting their yes or no vote.
Bird admits his emotions are leaning one way but insists that it is only fair to consult the people of East Sepik.
All 28 Local Level Governments of the province will state their position, and the Provincial Assembly will then direct his vote.
Allan Bird says Bougainville’s independence is one of the most difficult decisions Parliament will ever face, and East Sepik’s approach is the fairest way forward.
Meanwhile, the National Parliament will reconvene on Tuesday, 09 June with the Bougainville agenda taking precedence.
The session will see the presentation of the sessional order, which provides the legal framework for members to debate and vote on Bougainville’s future.
A sessional order is a rule or decision made by parliament that applies only for a specific parliamentary session [a sitting period], not permanently.
Leader of Government Business and Regional Member for Bougainville, Peter Tsiamalili Jnr, announced this last Friday.
Members of Parliament are set to deliberate on one of the country’s most significant political issues when the House resumes on Tuesday.
This follows calls for deferral of debate on the Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee Report on Bougainville Matters.
Members argued this would give them enough time to read the report and properly consider what has been described as a delicate and sensitive issue.
Tsiamalili Jnr said the third week of the session will focus more on Bougainville-related matters.
The highlight will be the presentation of the secessional order by the Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Manasseh Makiba.
Bougainville leaders continue to call for decisive action from the 11th National Parliament.
Among them is North Bougainville MP Francesca Semoso, who has urged national leaders not to be afraid in making a decision on the region’s future, saying it requires courage and leadership…. PACNEWS
NZ – DIPLOMACY: SOL GOVT PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
PM Wale meets NZ Foreign Minister ahead of PM Luxon Talks
AUCKLAND, 08 JUNE 2026 (SOL GOVT) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale was hosted to a working breakfast this morning by New Zealand Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters ahead of his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon later today.
The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing shared regional priorities.
Foreign Minister Peters welcomed Prime Minister Wale and reaffirmed the deep, longstanding relationship between Solomon Islands and New Zealand.
Prime Minister Wale thanked New Zealand for its continued engagement in the Pacific and reaffirmed the strong partnership between the two countries.
The breakfast sets a positive tone ahead of this evening’s formal talks with Prime Minister Luxon…. PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PMN PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Pacific leaders urge NZ to prepare for climate displacement
WELLINGTON, 08 JUNE 2026 (PMN) — Pacific leaders are calling on New Zealand to act now on climate displacement, warning that current policies are not keeping pace with the scale of change already affecting the region.
New research from World Vision New Zealand shows nearly one million Pacific people were displaced by climate-related disasters between 2010 and 2021 as cyclones, floods and rising seas continue to force families from their homes.
The report, To Stay or Move with Dignity, released last Friday says Aotearoa does not yet have a dedicated framework to manage people dispaced across borders by climate events, even though more movement is expected in the years ahead.
It calls for Pacific-led solutions, stronger planning, and more support for communities facing the difficult choice of staying or moving.
Pakilau Manase Lua, of the Pacific Leaders Forum, says most Pasifika want to remain on their land for as long as possible.
“Our people want to remain on their lands for as long as possible,” the Tongan community leader says in a statement.
“But where movement becomes necessary, it must be planned and supported in ways that protect dignity, strengthen communities, and reflect Pacific leadership and partnership.
Pakilau says Pacific communities should not be left without options.
“We are people of the moana, connected by ocean, whakapapa, and responsibility to one another. Across our region, communities are already living this reality and what matters is that our people are not left without choice.”
Rebekah Armstrong, World Vision New Zealand’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, says climate displacement is already happening and affecting children in particular.
“Cyclones, floods, and rising seas are already disrupting lives across the Pacific, and children are often the first to feel the impacts through disrupted education, food insecurity, displacement, and loss of safety,” she tells Pacific Mornings.
Armstrong says governments across the region, including New Zealand and Australia, need clearer and more coordinated planning to respond to future movement.
The report, based on more than 300 sources and consultations with Pacific communities in New Zealand, also highlights the need for predictable and structured pathways for people forced to move.
It recommends Pacific-led climate finance, stronger disaster resilience work, an emergency protection framework, and the creation of a Pacific-led advisory group.
World Vision also says existing migration schemes, including the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, could be better adapted to support communities recovering from disasters.
“People actually want to go on the RSE scheme in response to disasters,” Armstrong says.
“If there has been a disaster at home, the RSE scheme can be a really valuable way to earn money to rebuild back in the islands.”
Christina Newport, an Honorary Fellow in Māori and Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland, says climate change is already reshaping how Pacific communities live, move and maintain cultural ties.
Speaking at a United Nations science and innovation forum in New York last month, Newport said rising seas are affecting livelihoods, settlement patterns, and cultural systems across the Pacific.
“The tangible and intangible dimensions of loss and damage are profound as the intergenerational physical, social and spiritual attachment to place are threatened,” she says in a statement.
“Dimensions include the loss of cultural knowledge and practices, sacred and cultural sites, loss of biodiversity as well as loss of language, sense of wellbeing, identity and belonging.”
World Vision is calling on political parties to address climate and disaster-related displacement in this year’s general election discussions.
“There are already Pacific groups that are meeting around these recommendations and ready to work with the government,” Armstrong says.
While the impacts of climate change are already being felt, Pacific leaders say the focus now must shift to building responses that protect people, culture and identity – not just managing movement but safeguarding belonging…. PACNEWS
PAC – TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE: NATIONAL INDIGENOUS TIMES PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Pacific leaders bring traditional knowledge to AIATSIS Summit
GOLDCOAST, 08 JUNE 2026 (NATIONAL INDIGENOUS TIMES) — The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (AIATSIS) Summit on the Gold Coast has heard Pacific leaders call for traditional knowledge to be treated as a living system for governance, education, climate response and leadership.
The session, “Cultural adaptation, evolution, and survival: how traditional wisdom strengthens systems of governance, education, and leadership in the Pacific”, brought together speakers from Solomon Islands, Bougainville and Papua New Guinea.
Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People, Justin Mohamed, led the discussion with Natty Dolaiasi, Melvin Wilolopa and Dame Meg Taylor.
Mohamed, a Gooreng Gooreng man from Bundaberg, said the Pacific delegation had been an important part of the Summit because of the shared cultural, regional and community links between Indigenous peoples across Australia and the Pacific.
Dolaiasi, a Solomon Islands cultural leader from Malaita and cultural director of Dreamcast Theatre in Honiara, opened the discussion by speaking about music as a way of carrying knowledge between generations.
His contribution centred on music not as performance alone, but as a system of learning tied to land, sea, ancestors and survival.
He said music, dance, story, ritual and daily work had long been connected in Solomon Islands communities.
“Music and culture were not separated from life,” Dolaiasi said.
“They were how we learn, remember and stay connected.
“In the community, music is a keyway knowledge is passed down between generations.”
Dolaiasi said songs carried practical knowledge, including family histories, land and sea boundaries, fishing, gardening, plants, medicine, animal behaviour, tides and weather.
“In certain songs or ceremonies, it feels like the past and the present come together,” he said.
“Music and culture are teaching systems, a living memory and a connection to nature and spirituality.”
Wilolopa, Minister for Public Service and Community Development in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, spoke about traditional governance, self-determination and the place of women in Bougainville society.
He said Bougainville’s governance systems were shaped by clan systems, customary law, consensus, reciprocity and collective responsibility long before modern parliamentary structures.
Bougainville is largely matrilineal meaning women hold a central place in land, culture and community.
He said those values were reflected in modern governance, including reserved seats for women in the Bougainville House of Representatives.
“In Bougainville, the land is our mother,” Wilolopa said.
“The land is our everything… the sea provides for our people.”
Bougainville voted overwhelmingly for independence from Papua New Guinea in a 2019 referendum, and Mr Wilolopa said community voices were being placed at the centre of nation-building discussions.
Consultations had involved chiefs, elders, women, churches, youth, former combatants and communities.
“Community government bridges modern governance systems and customary leadership structures,” Wilolopa said.
“Chiefs, elders, women leaders, elected leaders work together.
“This reflects the Melanesian principle that leadership is collective, not individual.”
Wilolopa said traditional knowledge had also played a role in peacebuilding after Bougainville’s 10-year conflict.
“Traditional knowledge is not a relic of the past,” he said.
“It is a living system that continues to guide governance, leadership, peacebuilding and, in my context, the nation-building in Bougainville.”
Taylor, from Papua New Guinea, a member of the Pacific Elders Voice and former Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, turned the discussion to climate change, trade and relationships between Indigenous Australia and Pacific peoples.
She said her time travelling through Central Australia and visiting Uluru had created space to think about future relationships between the Pacific and First Nations communities in Australia.
Taylor noted climate change remained the major security threat for Pacific peoples, particularly for island communities facing sea-level rise and warming oceans.
“Climate change, particularly for an ocean continent, is devastating when you have the temperatures of the oceans warming now and our fish stock are actually moving across from Western Pacific across to the east,” she said.
“That’s going to have a big impact on what happens in terms of the survival of our communities.”
She added young people needed access to climate knowledge because they would carry responsibility for future responses.
Taylor also raised the need for stronger trade and investment links between Pacific landowner groups and Indigenous Australian businesses.
Papua New Guinean landowner groups have been looking at business opportunities with Indigenous communities in Queensland, and that investment should be reciprocal, according to Taylor.
The session ended with reflections on the Pacific delegation’s visit to Uluru and Alice Springs before arriving at the Summit.
For Dolaiasi, travelling from an ocean country to stand before Uluru was a deep experience he planned to share with his people.
The visit also reinforced for Wilolopa the importance of recording and digitising cultural knowledge so future generations could learn from it.
For Taylor, the experience showed how country can hold knowledge in ways that are not immediately visible to outsiders.
Mohamed closed the discussion by saying the session had reinforced that traditional knowledge was essential to resilient systems of governance, education and leadership…. PACNEWS
UN – OCEANS DAY: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
‘The ocean has no boundaries’: Beauty and life in a war zone
NEW YORK/TEHRAN, 08 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — When U.S and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran on 28 February, triggering one of the most serious geopolitical crises in years, the Strait of Hormuz – a narrow channel just 34 kilometres wide at its narrowest point – became a global flashpoint overnight.
Iran closed the waterway to foreign shipping, attacking merchant vessels and cutting off around 20 percent of the world’s seaborne oil trade. Some 20,000 seafarers were stranded in the Persian Gulf. The UN Secretary-General called for an immediate ceasefire.
Three Chinese divers based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – diving instructor Rui Li, freediver Shanshan Du and technical diver Jie Zhang – had been locked out of the water for weeks by the coastal closure. When a ceasefire allowed limited access in mid-April, they went straight back in.
World Oceans Day, marked each year on 08 June, carries the theme this year of Reimagining the Relationship Between Humans and the Ocean. For these three, that reimagining is anything but abstract.
“We were actually a little worried before setting off,” says Du, who dived the narrowest stretch between the UAE and Oman on 18 April, just days after the UN welcomed Iran’s announcement that the strait would be open to commercial vessels during the ceasefire.
“But after more than two months, we all felt it was fantastic to be able to dive again. We encountered a large group of dolphins. There was none of the war-torn atmosphere I had imagined – only peace and beauty before my eyes.”
Zhang, who dived the area as recently as last week, describes coral diversity she has rarely encountered elsewhere – soft and hard corals varying with the topography, and sea turtles gathered in such numbers they evoked a nature reserve.
She also noticed something more troubling. “I saw more white debris on the seabed than before,” she says, uncertain of its origin. And when she and her companions followed dolphins near the eastern side of the strait, the water around the animals was streaked with green algae, oil fumes and floating rubbish.
“I recalled that when I used to chase dolphins, the water was blue. Seeing this scene with my own eyes is still very heartbreaking.”
Li is careful to hold both realities at once. The strait is not the world’s most biodiverse marine zone, he notes, but its complex topography sustains coral reefs of unusual variety – formations “as white as silver needles” alongside colonies “as purple as pine forests” – as well as seahorses, whale sharks and species rarely seen elsewhere.
He describes witnessing a boat captain who, unable to dive and with no other means of communication, could reliably find a pod of dolphins that seemed to recognise him. “We would greet each other and then go our separate ways,” Li says. “This place is truly magical.”
Yet he is also acutely aware of what armed conflict can do to such a place. An attack on oil storage facilities, he points out, could be catastrophic for marine life. “Many marine organisms are small and vulnerable. A single attack could be enough to wipe out some amazing species that have never been seen by humans.”
Zhang frames the underwater world’s vulnerability in blunt terms. “No one can speak for the underwater ecosystem – fish can’t speak, and neither can large animals.
“We dump all the disputes, wars and pollution on land onto the ocean, ignoring the fact that the ocean has no good self-protection capabilities and can only bear all the conflicts and damage caused by human activities.”
Diving has quietly dissolved certain certainties for all three. “Underwater, the ocean has no borders,” says Zhang. “Ocean currents and schools of fish move freely. When whale sharks cruise, they follow fixed routes through different countries – they are free. Humanity should share this blue world instead of tearing it apart with disputes.”
Li reaches for a different metaphor – warmer, and perhaps more honest about the limits of human agency. The relationship between people and the sea, he suggests, is something like that between a child and a parent: the ocean sustains us, nurtures us, occasionally punishes us.
“We have grown old enough to want to protect it, he says, yet what we can actually do remains small. “Our parents are still quietly waiting for us, helping us, and continuing to nurture us.”
Du, diving in a country where people of dozens of nationalities converge, has found that underwater, borders feel beside the point. Communication happens through gesture alone. “Because of this hobby, and because of the ocean, it has created a wonderful environment for us.”
The conflicts raging above the surface have not ended. Talks between Washington and Tehran remain fragile, conditions volatile. But 71 percent of the Earth is ocean – and, as Li says to anyone who has yet to see it: come and touch the refreshing water whenever you can…. PACNEWS
VAN – INVESTIGATION: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Vanuatu Ministry of Internal Affairs officials investigated by AFP during China/Australia transit stopover
PORT VILA, 08 JUNE 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — Senior officials from Vanuatu’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) have voiced concern over the treatment of an official delegation during a transit stop in Australia while returning from China, which involved Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers, as Australian authorities provided their account of the events that took place.
According to Simon Tor, Executive Officer (EO) of the MoIA, members of the delegation encountered difficulties at Sydney Airport on 30 May 2026 when attempting to board their connecting flight to Port Vila.
Tor said that despite all members holding valid travel documents and return tickets, they were informed that one member’s name did not appear in the airline system.
The EO said efforts were made to resolve the issue; however, the delegation was later advised that the flight to Vanuatu had closed, requiring members to remain in Sydney overnight while alternative travel arrangements were organised.
According to Tor, the matter escalated later that day when AFP officers visited the Sydney hotel where members of the delegation were staying.
The AFP officers were reportedly investigating a complaint relating to a missing wallet allegedly lost in a taxi used by members of the delegation.
Tor said members of the delegation were subjected to searches of their belongings, but no evidence was found linking any member to the missing item.
The government ministry’s officials subsequently condemned what it described as inappropriate treatment of its officials and indicated it would seek clarification from both the Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu and senior AFP representatives regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The government officials emphasised that Vanuatu expects its representatives to be treated with dignity and respect while carrying out official duties abroad. At the same time, officials reaffirmed the country’s commitment to maintaining its longstanding relationship with Australia, highlighting cooperation in areas including development assistance, security, education, labour mobility and regional engagement.
In a statement provided following the incident, the AFP said its officers responded on 30 May 2026 to a report from a taxi driver who alleged personal property had been stolen after transporting three men from Sydney International Airport.
According to the AFP, subsequent inquiries identified the men as guests at a Sydney hotel. Investigators spoke with the individuals, who cooperated fully with police inquiries and voluntarily consented to searches of their hotel rooms.
The AFP stated that nothing was located during the searches and officers thanked the men for their cooperation. Police were later informed that the missing property had been found, and the matter was subsequently finalised with no further police action required.
The AFP also stated that its officers were not aware at the time that the individuals were officials from Vanuatu and said the men did not identify themselves as such during the inquiries.
While differing perspectives remain regarding aspects of the incident, both sides have indicated a willingness to address the matter through appropriate channels. Vanuatu officials have expressed confidence that discussions between the relevant authorities will help clarify the circumstances and prevent similar situations in the future.
The incident comes against the backdrop of strong bilateral relations between Vanuatu and Australia, with both countries maintaining close cooperation across a range of regional and development priorities…. PACNEWS
PAC – DEFENCE: ADF PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Raising capability across the Pacific
BRISBANE, 08 JUNE 2026 (ADF) — Senior military leaders from Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga have visited a Pacific-led police programme in Brisbane that provides specialist training to hundreds of officers from 22 nations across the Pacific.
For many of the police men and women undertaking the intensive 24-week course, it is the first time out of their country. And for some, a challenge to travel to Australia.
Two officers from Tokelau, a remote territory of 1500 people, arrived late for their course as poor weather delayed their 24-hour boat ride to Samoa before flying to Australia.
Despite the hurdles, the benefits of the training run by the Pacific Police Support Group (PPSG) are significant. Officers emerge more confident, armed with enhanced skills including public order management, search and rescue coordination, special event planning and close personal protection.
For the senior military chiefs from the Pacific Response Group, a multinational military unit providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) across the region, it was a valuable opportunity to see their policing compatriots far from home.
Detective A/Superintendent Adrian Morton, of the PPSG, said it was about a united Pacific, bringing all Pacific nations together.
“It is being driven by Pacific police chiefs across the region to develop their police forces and promote regional stability and security,” he said.
“We have a group of people who know how to work together, have connections and are trained in the skills they need to support their brothers and sisters across the Pacific.
“We are showing we are united and we look after each other.”
On completion of the current programme, more than 100 Pacific police members will have been trained at the PPSG complex, an unused COVID quarantine facility near Brisbane Airport.
The ultimate goal is to create deployable forces to respond to security issues across the region.
PPSG members on site at the Pinkenba training facility have a 12-hour rapid turnaround enabling a swift response in urgent situations.
The current cohort come from Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tokelau, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Vanuatu, Guam and Kiribati.
“We want to raise the capability across the Pacific and upskill the police officers who come in to develop their own police forces,” Detective A/Superintendent Morton said.
Establishing regional centres of excellence in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa is also part of the ambitious Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI). These centres will focus on regional capability uplift in investigations (both standard and specialist), recruiting, forensics and transnational and organised crime, where courses will be designed on the PPI’s model of ‘By the Pacific, for the Pacific’.
“We work under a clear policing mandate but train the PPSG to work in a multi-agency environment including with military experts and fire and rescue teams,” Detective A/Superintendent Adrian Morton said.
For the officers, their 24 weeks in Australia is life-changing, instilling enormous pride and unbreakable bonds.
“They become family,” Detective A/Superintendent Morton said. “They even chant ‘PPSG’ during their physical training at the gym.”
Each day begins with a devotion, with officers singing and a member saying a prayer.
Every time a new cohort arrives, the existing group prepares a Pacific welcome consisting of a ceremony and dance incorporating each nation’s traditions.
“It’s like being invited to a village where the local chief welcomes you,” Detective A/Superintendent Morton said.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” he said…. PACNEWS
GUAM – OCEAN PROTECTION: THE GUAM DAILY POST PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Guam finds allies in fight for ocean protection
WASHINGTON/HAGATNA, 08 JUNE 2026 (THE GUAM DAILY POST) — When María Hernandez walked into the Upwell 2026 ocean conference in Washington DC, on Tuesday and Wednesday, she was not just there to listen.
She was there to make sure Guam’s voice was in the room.
More than 400 ocean policy and environmental justice advocates gathered 02-03 June for the two-day conference, formally titled “Upwell 2026: A Wave of Ocean Justice.”
The event brought together ocean leaders, Indigenous community advocates, environmental attorneys and policymakers from across the country. For Hernandez, co-director of the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance and a Right to Democracy Environment and Democracy fellow, the gathering arrived at a critical moment for Guam and the broader Pacific.
“It was an amazing gathering of ocean leaders from all across the world,” she told The Guam Daily Post on Saturday.
“What I really loved about Upwell is they gave space to all members of the public, so there was a lot of youth representation, there was a lot of knowledge being passed down from elders who have been doing this work for decades.”
She added, “Just those reminders to continue the work even in the face of so much that is going against us around climate change, around deep-seabed mining. The work must go on.”
The conference opened with a panel on decolonising ocean conservation, moderated by Frances Colon, a senior fellow at the Centre for American Progress. Adi Martínez-Román, co-director of Right to Democracy, joined the panel alongside Austin Shelton, director of the University of Guam Centre for Island Sustainability, and representatives from the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. The panel examined how meaningful conservation must begin with the people who live in territorial communities, given that they face unique environmental challenges yet lack the democratic representation needed to influence federal decision-makers.
“As a result of the colonial legal framework, the people of the territories face the environmental consequences of imposed unilateral decisions,” Martínez-Román said.
“Yet local and Indigenous communities in the territories continue to create, through solidarity and coalition building, innovative solutions to their unique challenges.”
A second panel focused squarely on deep-seabed mining, a threat Guam knows well. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has already expanded its proposed lease area near the Marianas to roughly 69 million acres, with potential mining operations as close as 46 miles from Guam’s coastline.
Last week, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed Public Law 38-129, banning seabed mining in Guam’s territorial waters. But territorial jurisdiction extends only 3 miles offshore. Everything beyond that falls under federal authority.
That gap between local action and federal power was precisely what the Upwell panelists addressed. Advocates from American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam described how tens of thousands of public comments and letters opposing deep-seabed mining have been effectively set aside by federal regulators. BOEM has already scheduled lease sales for American Samoa in August 2026, the CNMI in November and the Alaska region in December.
Hernandez said being at the same table with advocates from across the territories sharpened the sense of shared stakes.
“On the cross-territorial level, having representation from all of the U.S. territories who have concerns about our waters as well, and just being able to see the similarities between our struggles was so, so powerful,” she said.
The conference also gave Guam’s delegation an opportunity to raise concerns about the military buildup and its environmental pressures on the island.
Hernandez told the Post that advocates used meetings with congressional staffers to push an issue that has gained little traction locally: a proposed firing range complex in northern Guam that, she said, is designed to fire millions of lead rounds above the island’s primary water source. She also noted that her family’s ancestral land sits within the surface danger zone for the range.
Hernandez said she and other fellows briefed congressional representatives about their intention to support an amicus brief in the open burn and open detonation case, another environmental fight playing out on the island.
“We were able to really push for it because of the fact that Guam is being asked to bear disproportionate military burdens without full political representation or meaningful consent of the CHamoru people,” she said.
That argument, she said, resonated more this year than it did during last year’s visits.
“The first time I had done a D.C. fly-in last year, we were introducing Right to Democracy and the fellowship. Those were more introductory meetings,” Hernandez said. “What shifted in the meetings now, after a year of this fellowship, was getting to share with all of the delegates and their staff about the work that we’ve been doing and the power of cross-territorial movement building.”
She said the response from lawmakers and their staff was noticeably different.
“I could see their eyes light up. They were really interested in working more with us.”
The momentum, she said, extends beyond Washington. The Upwell gathering reinforced lessons Guam learned after Typhoon Sinlaku, when it took two to three weeks for FEMA and other federal agencies to fully mobilise.
Conversations among territorial leaders at the conference sparked plans for a long-term typhoon relief framework, identifying resources from FEMA, the Red Cross and other major nonprofits before the next storm, not after.
“It really is through solidarity that we’re going to be able to continue to do the work that we do to protect our lands, waters and peoples,” Hernandez said.
Right to Democracy plans additional visits to Washington in the coming year, and Martínez-Román is scheduled to testify before the United Nations Committee on Decolonisation on 22 June…. PACNEWS
AUST – BORDER SECURITY: AFP PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Australia and PNG authorities target illegal activity along shared border
BRISANE/PORT MORESBY, 08 JUNE 2026 (AFP) — Australia and Papua New Guinean authorities have completed the latest joint patrol across the Torres Strait and PNG’s Western Province as part of ongoing efforts to protect local communities from organised crime, illegal fishing and cross-border trafficking.
Conducted from 20 to 24 April 2026, the patrol brought together border, police, fisheries and immigration officers from both nations to visit Daru Island, and Bula, Jara and Tais villages in PNG, as well as Saibai Island and surrounding waters in the Torres Strait.
The Torres Strait sits less than four kilometres from the PNG mainland at its closest point and remains one of Australia’s most strategically important border regions.
ABF Assistant Commissioner James Copeman said criminal syndicates continue to try to exploit remote coastlines and traditional movement routes to traffic drugs, weapons and other illicit commodities between the two nations.
The patrol delivered a visible law enforcement presence in those communities and demonstrated the value of our partnership with PNG, he said.
“The Torres Strait is right on Australia’s doorstep, and these patrols send a clear message that Australia and PNG are working together to stop criminals exploiting remote communities and border vulnerabilities,” AC Copeman said.
“The ABF and our partner agencies are committed to protecting the communities,
AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said working together with trusted partners is a key part of combating organised criminals operating at Australia’s border.
“The AFP has strong ties with our Pacific family and is committed to facing strategic challenges and finding tangible solutions to the unique threats at the border between PNG and North Queensland,” Assistant Commissioner Gough said.
“Organised criminals have consistently sought to find vulnerabilities in our region to exploit for profit. This joint activity shows our joint intelligence, resources and capabilities are poised to effectively target illicit operations.
“Our PNG colleagues are valued and trusted partners for the AFP, and together we are resolute in protecting our region from threats which undermine community safety and security.”
Queensland Police Service (QPS) Far North District Chief Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon said the patrols bolster the strong police presence in the Torres Strait.
“These joint patrols are an important opportunity to strengthen our ability to respond to emerging threats in a geographically challenging area,” Chief Superintendent Fitzgibbon said.
“The QPS is committed to working with our national and PNG partners to support coordinated border security efforts and ensure the Torres Strait remains a safe and secure environment.”
Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) General Manager Fisheries Operations, Justin Bathurst said AFMA was committed to combatting illegal fishing in the Torres Strait: “We will continue to work with our partners to detect and deter illegal fishing in Australian waters.”
Joint Cross Border Patrols have taken place since 1997 and remain a cornerstone of the Australia and PNG security partnership.
Australian and PNG authorities conduct a number of joint patrols across their shared border each year.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity is encouraged to contact ABF Border Watch, with information able to be provided anonymously…. PACNEWS
UN – PEACEKEEPING: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
‘The true cost of peace’: UN honours fallen peacekeepers as dangers mount
LEBANON/NEW YORK, 08 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — The commemoration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers came hours after another blue helmet serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) died from injuries sustained in a mortar attack, as hostilities continue between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants.
The day began with UN Secretary-General António Guterres laying a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial on the Secretariat grounds in New York before presiding over a solemn ceremony in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) attended by senior officials, the diplomatic community, and bereaved family members and colleagues.
“Unfortunately, as events of this very week remind us, peacekeepers continue to face peril in the cause of peace – and we pay the highest tribute to their service and sacrifice,” he said.
The Secretary-General posthumously bestowed the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal on 68 peacekeepers from 33 nations, including 59 who paid the ultimate price last year. Their photos were displayed on a screen and their names read out as country representatives accepted the boxed medals.
“They represent the best of humanity – people prepared to risk everything to keep others safe,” he said.
Bravery awards
Two peacekeepers were rewarded for their bravery, receiving the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage – named after a Senegalese military officer killed in Rwanda in 1994.
Sergeant Matias Reyes of Uruguay saved lives serving under the UN flag in the restive eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in January 2025. The Ebola outbreak there prevented him from travelling to New York.
The other recipient, Sergii Prykhodko of Ukraine – a private contractor with a helicopter crew at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – sacrificed his life during a dangerous mission to evacuate besieged soldiers in March 2025.
“This medal honours his bravery, but it also reminds us of the true cost of peace – the sacrifices made by those who serve far from home for the sake of people they may never meet,” his widow Tetiana Prykhodko told the gathering.
Speaking afterwards to UN News, she recalled that her husband “always went where help was needed, knowing that danger could be unavoidable,” and had agreed to volunteer with the UN because he wanted to help others.
“He did what he had always done — he put others before himself. And I believe his example of serving peace is an example for all of us,” she said.
Prykhodko, who attended the ceremony with their six-year-old daughter Elizabeth, wanted her husband to be remembered for his humanity, courage, and sense of responsibility.
“For our family, it is a great honour that the United Nations remembers Sergii not only as a fallen hero, but as a person who chose humanity every single day.”
More than 50,000 peacekeepers are currently deployed across the globe where their mandated tasks include protecting civilians, supporting elections, delivering humanitarian assistance and clearing landmines.
“The courage we recognise this morning is not abstract,” said the head of UN Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. “It is lived every day by peacekeepers serving in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult environments.”
The peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon on Thursday, Sergeant Milovan Jovanović of Serbia, was the seventh UNIFIL blue helmet cut down since hostilities escalated in March.
Lacroix said this was his first peacekeeping deployment, having arrived in the country in January, and he would have turned 37 on Saturday.
He highlighted how peacekeepers are working in increasingly complex environments marked by rising geopolitical tensions, fragmented conflicts, disinformation, rapidly evolving technologies and growing pressure on multilateral cooperation.
At the same time, peacekeeping operations face serious financial constraints resulting from delayed and incomplete payment of mandatory contributions.
The consequences include forced reductions in patrols and air operations, delayed infrastructure projects, and limited support to local communities. Meanwhile, expectations continue to grow.
“And yet, peacekeepers continue to deliver,” he said.
Lacroix stressed the importance of continued investment in peace, including “ensuring that peacekeepers have the political backing, resources, training and capabilities required to carry out the mandates entrusted to them by Member States.”
During the ceremony, the UN also celebrated two trailblazing women peacekeepers.
Major Abhilasha Barak of India, deployed with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), received the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Inspector Stephanie Königs of Germany, who served at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), received the 2025 Woman Police Officer of the Year Award.
Friday’s events fell under the annual observation of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 29 May – the day when the first field mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation in the Middle East (UNTSO), was established in 1948.
Since then, more than two million women and men have served in 71 peacekeeping missions on four continents…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Suspected drug containers found floating near Ogea Island
SUVA, 08 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji Police are investigating the discovery of suspected illicit drugs after sealed containers allegedly containing a white substance were found floating near Ogea Island in Lau on Friday night.
This marks the second time in eight years that illicit drugs have been recovered in similar circumstances in the same area.
In July 2018, nine bars of cocaine were found floating near Ogea Island.
Fiji is a trafficking route and the latest find points to the vast open waters and poor surveillance.
The Fiji Police Force confirmed the find and said the white substances recovered have been sent for laboratory testing. Authorities are now trying to establish how the containers ended up drifting near the remote island.
Ogea Island is a small and isolated community in Fiji’s eastern maritime zone, heavily dependent on fishing and the sea for its livelihood.
Its location along open ocean routes make it vulnerable to debris carried by long-distance currents.
Local divers discovered the containers while out fishing. One of them, Ilaitia Mocelutu, was among the first to notice the drifting packages…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Pacific Power: How regional cooperation transformed the world’s largest tuna fishery
HONIARA, 08 JUNE 2028 (FFA) — UNDP and The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) have released a major report documenting two decades of transformative work in tuna fisheries management – a story of unprecedented collaboration between scientists, government officials, fisheries workers, NGOs, and international development partners.
Pacific Power: A 20-Year Journey of Regional Leadership in Tuna Fisheries distils hard-won lessons from the Oceanic Fisheries Management Projects, revealing how regional solidarity and science-based decision-making have turned the Western and Central Pacific Ocean into a global model for sustainable fisheries governance.
The report produced as part of the Oceanic Fisheries Management Project 3 (OFMP3).
The achievements are remarkable: all four economically important tuna stocks – skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye, and South Pacific albacore – remain healthy and sustainably fished, making the Pacific the only ocean basin tuna fishery to achieve this milestone. The region now accounts for 54 percent of the world’s tuna catch, generating an average of US$480 million annually in licensing and access fees for Pacific governments over the past five years.
A snapshot of tuna fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific
From Fragmentation to Regional Unity
Pacific Power chronicles a fundamental shift in how Pacific Island nations manage their most valuable marine resource. Ludwig Kumoru, director of fisheries management at FFA and former CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, recalls the early days: “In the beginning, every country tried to do their own thing. With the help of FFA, and eventually, the Commission, we were able to push ideas through as a bloc” he noted.
This unity empowered Pacific nations to negotiate collectively, shifting control from distant-water fishing nations to local hands.
“People began to really take ownership… If we were to benefit, we had to step up,” says Kumoru.
The establishment of coordinated regional frameworks through the FFA, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, and sub-regional bodies like the PNA, enabled Pacific nations to speak with unified voices in international negotiations.
This unity delivered tangible results. The pioneering Vessel Day Scheme, introduced by PNA members in 2007, quadrupled purse-seine revenues by 2016 by setting hard caps on fishing days based on scientific advice about stock health. Employment in the tuna sector grew 44 percent between 2015 and 2022, directly supporting nearly 28,000 Pacific livelihoods.
Ten Lessons for Sustainable Fisheries
Pacific Power distils over two decades of collective Pacific experience into ten key lessons, grouped under three themes: foundations for success, managing for resilience, and enabling long-term change.
Regional cooperation emerges as the most powerful driver of progress, but one that requires sustained commitment, trust-building, and carefully structured processes. Coordination mechanisms such as the ‘Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Working Group’, and pre-meeting consultations, have been central to aligning national priorities and strengthening collective oversight.
Science-based management has proven effective, but only when understood and applied in context.
Targeted investments in stock assessment workshops, technical exchanges, and long-term scientific positions have enabled Pacific nations to engage confidently with complex models and incorporate scientific advice into decision-making. This is where OFMP has played an important role over two decades: supplying funding, scientific expertise, and capability-building programmes and expertise to help support sustainable tuna fisheries.
The region has also pioneered advanced monitoring systems: 100 percent observer coverage on PNA-licensed purse seiners, electronic reporting technologies, and satellite-based vessel tracking have significantly reduced illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The adoption of harvest strategies represents a fundamental shift from reactive, year-by-year negotiations to pre-agreed, science-based rules that guide management responses to stock changes. As Kumoru explains: “What used to happen is that we would negotiate every year what could be taken. But with harvest strategies, we have to agree well in advance.”
Climate Change and Equity at the Forefront
The report emphasises that climate change is no longer a future threat but a pressing reality requiring immediate action. While Pacific nations contribute minimally to global carbon emissions, they face disproportionate risks as ocean warming alters tuna distribution, potentially shifting access rights and revenues between countries. The report calls for climate considerations to be embedded in harvest strategies, access agreements, and governance systems, with Pacific nations playing meaningful roles in shaping global responses.
Gender and social inclusion emerge as critical priorities requiring structural change beyond participation targets.
“One of the key lessons from OFMP is that gender equality in fisheries is not just about participation numbers,” writes Lisa Buchanan, Chief Technical Advisor, OFMP3, in Pacific Power.
“Real progress requires addressing influence, safety, and opportunity across the value chain, and removing structural barriers through intentional policy, systems, and programme design from the outset.”
The report highlights that women and marginalised groups play vital roles across the tuna value chain, particularly in processing, administration, informal trade, and compliance functions. These contributions have not always been reflected in formal policy and planning. Effective initiatives must intentionally incorporate specific goals for women and marginalised groups into activity design, addressing barriers such as safety, leadership access, and decision-making power.
Looking Ahead to 2050
The report underscores that the region’s most important resource is people. The strength of Pacific tuna governance comes from skills, experience, and relationships built across national and regional institutions over many years. Long-term professional development, consistent training grounded in Pacific contexts, and knowledge-sharing across countries and generations have reinforced regional identity, peer learning, and shared ownership of outcomes.
Building on these foundations and maintaining a focus on evidence-based fisheries management and regional collaboration will be crucial as the Pacific tuna fisheries face pressures from climate change, growing demand, and geopolitical uncertainty.
As Midori Paxton, Global Head, Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Planet Hub, UNDP, notes in the report’s foreword, the learnings captured are “not only a record of what has been achieved, but also a roadmap of next steps”.
Pacific Power demonstrates that sustainable fisheries management underpins food security, creates economic opportunity, and helps sustain cultural identity across the Pacific…. PACNEWS
UN – MEAT SUPPLY: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Global meat supply quadruples over the past six decades
ROME, 08 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — The global supply of animal-based food products has increased significantly over the past six decades – mainly eggs, poultry and pork – according to a new study by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The report found that poultry meat showed the most pronounced growth, approximately five-fold, followed by eggs and pig meat – both of which nearly doubled, while beef products remained stable or declined in many regions.
In 2022, global production reached 361 million tonnes of meat, up from around 71 million tonnes in 1961.
The production of milk was 930 million tonnes up from approximately 342 million tonnes, while egg production in the same period increased from 15 million tonnes to 94 million tonnes.
Per capita land animal products supply remains highest in Northern America, while in Asia – despite being the leading producer – meat is still relatively hard to get hold of.
In sub-Saharan Africa, per capita supply has remained largely stagnant, with only limited gains in certain countries, such as milk in Kenya and poultry in South Africa.
Food loss and waste further exacerbate these disparities and present a growing sustainability challenge.
An estimated one-third of all food produced globally never reaches the plate, including roughly 14 percent of animal food products. Losses are often linked to inadequate cold chain infrastructure and poor temperature control.
Meanwhile, three months after warning that the escalating Middle East crisis could push millions more people into hunger, a new analysis from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) shows that the fallout from the conflict is already having deep and long-lasting effects in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries.
The new WFP report focused on three countries with differing exposure to the supply chain bottleneck, found that an additional 2.5 million people in Somalia, 1.3 million in Sri Lanka and 2.3 million in Afghanistan are struggling to meet basic food needs and, in some cases, being pushed into acute hunger.
“We warned that this crisis could push millions more people into hunger; now we are watching it happen in real time.” said Jean-Martin Bauer, Director of WFP’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service.
These impacts are expected to intensify in the coming months, even if the crisis in the Middle East de-escalates.
In many parts of the world, farmers are going through planting seasons with severe fertilizer shortages and high fuel prices. This is expected to have a devastating impact on crop yields and, consequently, on food prices months down the line.
The report also shows how the conflict in the Middle East forcing the WFP into a triple squeeze with rising needs, increased delivery costs and shrinking funding all culminating in devastating consequences.
WFP estimates it will now serve 1.5 million fewer people than originally planned in 2026.
However, if the conflict continues in the coming months, the WFP warned that more than 9 million people could lose assistance…. PACNEWS
PNG – STARLINK: NBC PNG NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 08 Jun 2026
NBC launches Starlink installation as part of digital transition
PORT MORESBY, 08 JUNE 2026 (NBC PNG NEWS) — The National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) headquarters office in Port Moresby has completed its first installation of a Starlink unit.
NBC is one of the first organisations to order 10 units from Lightspeed, the Starlink reseller.
It is a part of the organisation’s ongoing digital transition to improve operations and service delivery to its listeners and viewers as well as its in-house business back-end support.
Deputy Managing Director, Michael Samuga, confirmed nine more-unit installation will be deployed to NBC locations within Port Moresby and outside provinces.
Samuga said, “There is a plan already in place for other units to be ordered.
“They will be deployed into the country basically to enhance our service delivery and our business back-end support.”
Samuga thanked the Board and senior management for this foresight.
He said the organisation is looking forward to improved service delivery and stronger back-end business support for the media organisation’s operations…. PACNEWS
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific Women Leadership in Weather Ready Pacific
HONIARA, 08 JUNE 2026 (SPREP) — The 4th Steering Committee Meeting of the Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) Programme in Honiara, Solomon Islands, ended with a milestone moment when the leadership of the Committee passed from Fiji to Niue.
Since its inaugural Steering Committee meeting in 2024 in Vanuatu, Chair, Mr Misaeli Funaki, Director of the Fiji Meteorological Service, has steered the Committee through the programme’s critical inception and early implementation phases, providing the strategic direction, governance and regional coordination, moving the WRP from concept to delivery.
In Honiara, Mr Funaki passed the baton to the new Chair, Rossy Mitiepo, Niue Meteorological Services Director and currently the longest serving Pacific Met Director, whose appointment was confirmed by the Committee.
“It has been a privilege to chair this Committee through the foundational years of the Weather Ready Pacific,” said Funaki. “When we first met, our task was to map out the work plan and turn a shared Pacific vision into a working programme. Today, we can point to radars on the ground, staff being trained, and communities better prepared. This has always been about the livelihood and safety of our people, and I am proud of what we have built together as a region. I hand over to Niue with full confidence that the programme is in good hands.”
The new Chair, Ms Mitiepo, embraced her appointment and the acknowledged the hard work of the outgoing Chair.
“I thank our previous chair, Misaeli Funaki, for his dedicated leadership over the past two years,” she said.
“He has built strong foundations for the programme’s stewardship by this committee. Niue may be small, but our commitment is significant because Weather Ready Pacific belongs to all of us, and every Pacific community deserves timely, reliable warnings that save lives and protect livelihoods. I look forward to working closely with our members and partners to ensure a seamless handover.”
The WRP Programme, implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Environmental Organisation (SPREP), is a Pacific-owned and led decadal programme of investment, designed by the region’s National Meteorological and Hydrological Services through the Pacific Meteorological Council and endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2021.
At the core of the programme human and economic costs of severe weather, water and ocean-related events across the region, and serves as the primary vehicle for delivering the global Early Warnings for All initiative in the Pacific. The programme has a target of raising close to USD 200 million over ten years to strengthen the capacity of Pacific Met Services, with the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom among its founding supporters.
Under the Committee’s guidance, the WRP has recorded tangible progress with the first WRP-funded weather radar was installed in Nuku’alofa, Tonga launched in August 2024; a second radar is currently under construction in Honiara, Solomon Islands; and a third radar is being prepared for Samoa.
The weather radars are specialised monitoring equipment capable of detecting weather systems outwardly, up to 300km away.
The programme has also funded capacity-building and training for Pacific forecasters and Meteorological Technicians, supported satellite connectivity through the purchase and instalment of Starlink dishes and subscriptions for Niue, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, with support underway for Kiribati and Nauru. These are only a few examples of some of the progress WRP has made to date.
“The progress we have made reflects the strength of a programme designed by the Pacific, for the Pacific,” said ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, Weather Ready Pacific Programme Manager.
“We are well on our way to delivering results that save lives, from radars in Tonga, Solomon Islands and soon Samoa, to training that builds lasting capability in our Met Services. These are the building blocks of a genuinely weather-ready region reaching the last mile where vulnerable communities are protected, and we are grateful to our partners and member countries for their continued faith and support of this Pacific-led initiative.”
The Steering Committee meeting was followed by the WRP Donor Committee Roundtable on 03 June, where development partners reviewed progress and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting a weather-ready Pacific.
The Roundtable also marked a significant governance milestone as New Zealand assumed the Chair of the Donor Committee from Australia.
Rebekah Robertson of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) was appointed Chair, succeeding Peter Wilson of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The transition reflects the strong partnership between the Programme’s founding donors and their continued commitment to supporting Pacific-led weather, climate and early warning services across the region.
“It’s a pleasure to have been nominated to chair the WRP Donor committee for the next year. NZ is proud and committed partner of the WRP programme and we excited to see the programme continue to build momentum to deliver early warning systems for all to build a safer and more prosperous region,” saidRebekah Robertson, Senior Adviser Climate Change and Environment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand.
The appointment of both Ms Mitiepo and Robertson as the first women to chair a Pacific Meteorological Council-affiliated initiative, is a significant milestone for the programme and the wider Pacific meteorological community.
It reflects a growing commitment to inclusive leadership and recognition that diverse perspectives strengthen decision-making and outcomes. As a Pacific-led programme, WRP is committed to reaching the last mile and leaving no one behind, and this historic appointment signals the transformational change needed to build a more climate and disaster-secure Pacific.
The Committee confirmed that the next face-to-face WRP Steering Committee Meeting and Donor Committee Roundtable will be held in May 2027in Alofi, Niue.
The Programme will work closely with the two incoming Chairs Rossy Mitiepo and Ms Rebekah Robertson over the coming months to ensure a seamless handover of leadership from Fiji to Niue.
The one-day Steering Committee meeting was held on 3 June 2026 immediately following a two-day technical meeting in Honiara, bringing together Pacific Hydromet service Directors, National Disaster Management Office representatives, development partners and technical agencies…. PACNEWS
For more information, please contact: ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, Manager, WRP Programme – ofaf@sprep.org
Angelica Salele-Sefo, Communications & Knowledge Management Officer, WRPP – angelicas@sprep.org
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
SPC strengthens climate action capacity in FSM through facilitating agents’ training
POHNPEI, 08 JUNE 2026 (SPC) — Workshop prepares state-based agents to support rollout of climate adaptation projects under the FSM Enhancing Direct Access Programme.
The Pacific Community (SPC) Micronesian Regional Office has successfully delivered a targeted capacity-building workshop for State-based Facilitating Agents to strengthen readiness for the grant implementation phase of the FSM Enhancing Direct Access (EDA) Programme.
Funded by the Green Climate Fund, the workshop underscores SPC’s commitment to equipping Facilitating Agents with the knowledge and practical tools needed to effectively support Municipal and State governments as they begin implementing priority climate adaptation initiatives across the Federated States of Micronesia.
Director of the Micronesian Regional Office, William Kostka, commended the Facilitating Agents for their dedication in guiding local governments through the proposal development process.
“As the EDA Programme moves into the implementation phase, it is important to continually reflect on efforts and apply lessons learned. Through your support, the adaptive management capacity of grantees will continue to grow,” he said.
Seven Facilitating Agents representing Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae participated in the training held in Pohnpei. The workshop was delivered by Dr Iain Hall, Dr Victoria Syddall, and members of the EDA Programme Coordination Unit.
Participants gained practical insights into implementation processes, monitoring and evaluation tools, and approaches to strengthening community engagement in climate projects.
One participant, Isao Mike from Kosrae State, highlighted the value of the tools introduced during the workshop:
“The monitoring and evaluation format developed through the EDA Programme is user-friendly, something that community members can easily understand and use to provide regular progress updates,” he said.
Under the EDA Programme, Municipal and State Governments are eligible to apply competitively for grants in the thematic areas of food security, water security, disaster risk reduction and coastal protection. This Programme focusses on capacity-building, aiming to enhance project management skills of local communities and their ability to implement priority adaptation interventions.
The training marks another important step in advancing locally led climate action in FSM, ensuring that communities are better supported to deliver sustainable and effective adaptation solutions on the ground.
Under the FSM EDA Programme, at least two Facilitating Agents are stationed in each of the four States of Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk and Yap. The FSM EDA Programme is executed by the Pacific Community Micronesian Regional Office in partnership with the national government, through the National Designated Authority for Green Climate Fund, the Department of Finance and Administration….PACNEWS
Media Contacts: -Floyd Robinson, Programme Coordinator FSM Enchancing Direct Access, Pacific Community (SPC) | floydr@spc.int
Nabil El Halwani, Strategic Communications Coordinator, Pacific Community (SP) | Strategic Communications, Outreach, Publications and Engagement office | nabilh@spc.int
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Five things you need to know about ocean plastics
NAIROBI/NEW YORK, 08 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —From surgical gloves to water bottles, shopping bags and chewing gum, every part of our daily lives includes plastic. They epitomise convenience – their durability makes our dependence on them inextricable, but it also stifles the environment.
Once plastics are released into the marine environment, large pieces choke wildlife and disturb fragile habitats like coral reefs before breaking down into toxic microplastics that poison the food chain. Even when they have fully disintegrated physically, their chemical bonds remain and the impacts persist.
Today, more than 4,000 marine species are known to be affected by plastics, according to the World Ocean Assessment, the only analysis of the world’s ocean across the three pillars – environmental, economic and social – of sustainable development.
Dr Ian Butler, an editor of the 1,600-page report that includes contributions from over 650 experts, said the whole marine system is being affected: “it’s their feeding, their metabolism, their immune function, their growth and reproduction. It weakens and kills them and changes populations.”
Ahead of World Ocean Day on 08 June, here are five things you need to know about ocean plastics:
1. Ocean plastic pollution is still rising
The amount of plastic in the ocean is still rising, driven by mismanaged waste, littering, microplastic abrasion and marine activities. Plastic waste emissions are estimated at 52.1 million metric tonnes per year.
There are also different regional patterns: littering is described as the largest source of pollution in the Global North, while uncollected waste dominates in the Global South.
These ‘leakages’ are what causes the ocean so much damage. “What our eyes see is the tip of the iceberg,” Dr. Butler warned.
Floating and beach macro- and microplastics account for only three to four percent of total ocean plastic, meaning much of the problem is dispersed, submerged, fragmented or otherwise hard to recover.
2. The smallest plastics are the biggest unknown
Once plastic reaches the ocean, it is not just confined to beaches or floating garbage patches – microplastics have been found from surface waters to the deepest depths of the ocean.
It is estimated that there are some 24.4 trillion microplastic pieces in the world’s upper oceans. Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than five millimetres long, often breaking down from larger plastic items, and can cause alterations to the immune system, inflammation, decreased growth rates, and energy imbalance.
However, our understanding of nanoplastics and their long-term biological effects is still very limited – the less visible the plastic becomes, the harder it is to detect, monitor, remove and assess for risk. At the same time, it becomes easier for the plastic to penetrate natural biological barriers such as cell membranes.
The concentration of these tiny plastics also “magnifies through the food chain – from the smallest creatures, who get eaten, and then it accumulates higher and higher up,” Dr Butler said.
3. Single-use plastic a major source of litter
Single-use plastics make up about 40 percent of global litter, while fishing contributes around 15 percent, with patterns varying between higher- and lower-income countries.
Reducing the problem requires reducing production, promoting reuse, rethinking product design, improving recycling innovation, and finding alternatives to single-use plastics. The attached water bottle cap is one quite pithy recent invention, although the single use bottles must also be tackled.
Recycling should not be treated as the whole answer – the bigger shift is towards preventing waste before it reaches the ocean.
When it comes to sustainable alternatives to plastics, Dr Butler said that “changing the recipe of the plastic helps but changing our dependence on throwaway plastic matters more for the ocean.”
4. Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue – it is a social and economic one
While plastic pollution poses a significant threat to marine habitats, it also significantly reduces ecosystem resilience, human livelihoods and food security
The costs of pollution fall heavily on ocean-dependent sectors. Tourism, fishing, and shipping lose billions of U.S dollars every year through reduced revenue and cleanup costs.
Small-scale fisheries may be especially vulnerable – plastic pollution is now a major coastal and fisheries challenge, with possible human health implications, including evidence of plastic ingestion in 386 marine fish species.
5. Prevention is key, a global plastics treaty is needed
The solution is not just more beach clean-ups or more recycling. According to the Assessment, action must also focus on reducing production, improving material science, and finding alternatives to single-use plastics.
Potentially the most effective method of reducing plastic pollution is through an international agreement or treaty. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), was founded to develop an international legally binding ‘instrument’ on plastic pollution.
After six years of negotiations, an agreement has not been reached between the 193 member states of the UN.
“Some countries feel they’re unfairly hurt by certain types of restrictions, and their economies will disproportionately suffer compared to those other countries, which are not dependent on plastic manufacture,” Dr Butler said…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
World Environment Day: Communities at the heart of ocean conservation
HONIARA/PORT MORESBY, 08 JUNE 2029 (IUCN)—This World Environment Day, communities in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are showing that effective conservation starts with local leadership.
Through IUCN, communities, governments and partners are working together to protect some of the Pacific’s most important marine ecosystems through the SOMACORE in the Coral Triangle Programme and the COLORS Project.
In Papua New Guinea, recent regional dialogues and community engagements have strengthened cooperation across the Bismarck Solomon Seascape, one of the world’s most ecologically significant marine regions. These efforts help address shared challenges such as biodiversity loss, unsustainable resource use and climate change while supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities.
A key part of this work is the IUCN Green List, a global standard for effective and equitable conservation. The Green List helps protected and conserved areas improve governance, management and conservation outcomes while ensuring local communities play a central role in decision-making.
Through the SOMACORE Programme, communities in Papua New Guinea’s Murat and Lovongai marine areas are working towards Green List standards. Assessments show both sites have strong governance and planning systems rooted in customary stewardship, providing a solid foundation for long-term conservation success.
In the Solomon Islands, custodians of the Arnavon Community Marine Park recently undertook a Green List self-assessment as part of their certification journey. The process highlighted the important role of community leadership and traditional knowledge in protecting marine biodiversity for future generations.
Supporting these efforts is the COLORS Project (Communities, Local Outcomes, Regional Science), which connects scientific knowledge with Indigenous and community-led conservation. The programme helps communities strengthen stewardship of their lands and seas while respecting customary rights and traditional knowledge.
As we celebrate World Environment Day, these initiatives demonstrate that lasting conservation is achieved when communities, science and traditional knowledge work together to protect nature and build a more resilient future.
The SOMACORE Programme is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The COLORS Project is implemented by IUCN with funding support from the European Union…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Let’s take climate action now for a more resilient tomorrow
In his op-ed for World Environment Day 2026, UNDP Resident Representative, Nicholas Booth, calls for increased investments in conserving and harnessing the full potential of Papua New Guinea’s natural heritage
PORT MORESBY, 08 JUNE 2026 (UNDP) — On this World Environment Day, UNDP joins the Government and people of Papua New Guinea in celebrating the country’s extraordinary natural heritage and reaffirming our commitment to climate action.
This year’s global theme, “Climate Action Now,” reminds us that climate change is not a future challenge. Across Papua New Guinea, communities are already experiencing its impacts through floods, droughts, coastal erosion and other climate-related hazards. Climate action is therefore about more than protecting the environment—it is about protecting people, livelihoods and the nation’s future.
Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s most biologically rich countries and has long been a global leader in climate action. PNG played a pioneering role in advancing the REDD+ agenda and continues to champion stronger climate action through international forums. At home, the country has invested in the policies, institutions and frameworks needed to respond to climate change and unlock climate finance. Today, those investments are beginning to pay off.
Through our global Climate Promise Initiative, UNDP has supported Papua New Guinea in the development of its NDC 3.0, helping strengthen national coordination, stakeholder engagement and the country’s pathway towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.
Climate finance is critical to turning climate commitments into action. UNDP is supporting PNG to strengthen access to international climate finance, build national capacity and develop investments that accelerate renewable energy, protect forests and biodiversity, and strengthen resilience.
A major milestone has been the establishment of the PNG Biodiversity and Climate Fund (BCF), the country’s emerging financing mechanism for biodiversity conservation and climate action. Through community grants, local organisations and landowners across 19 provinces are protecting forests, restoring ecosystems and strengthening resilience to climate change.
Support for sustainable land-use planning is also helping communities balance economic development with environmental protection. Across landscapes in East New Britain and West New Britain, more than 30,000 hectares are under improved management, while farmers are benefiting from more sustainable cocoa, oil palm and agroforestry systems.
Our work extends from the forests to the oceans. In Kimbe Bay and the Louisiade Archipelago, communities and businesses are demonstrating how reef-positive enterprises, sustainable fisheries and other blue economy opportunities can create jobs while protecting marine ecosystems. UNDP is also supporting renewable energy solutions, including in Buin, while strengthening disaster resilience through the modernization of the National Emergency Management framework, improved early warning systems and stronger disaster risk governance.
The solutions to climate change already exist in Papua New Guinea’s forests, oceans, communities and people. The task before us is to scale them through stronger partnerships, increased investment and decisive action.
Together, by protecting our oceans, restoring our forests and acting on climate now, we can build a more resilient, prosperous and sustainable future for all Papua New Guineans…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
European Union strengthens Partnership with Solomon Islands on Sustainable Development and Global Gateway
HONIARA, 08 JUNE 2026 (EU PACIFIC) — The European Union reaffirmed its enduring partnership with the Solomon Islands through a three-day official visit by Barbara Plinkert, EU Ambassador to the Pacific, and Peteris Ustubs, Director for Asia, Central Asia and the Pacific at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), from 04 to 06 June 2026.
During the visit, Ambassador Plinkert and Director Ustubs held high-level meetings with Solomon Islands Government representatives, including the Deputy Prime Minister Francis Sade, the Minister of Finance and Treasury Gordon Darcy Lilo, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Franklyn Derek Wasi (in his capacity as supervising Minister of Fisheries and Forestry), the Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Derrick Rawcliff Manu’ari, and the Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening Alfred Lazarus Rimah.
Talks centred on shared strategic priorities: green and inclusive growth, sound economic management, resilient infrastructure, and robust democratic institutions. Meetings were further complemented by a site visit to the future Bina Harbour and a courtesy call on the Premier of Malaita Province, Elijah Asilaua.
Solomon Islands is the second-largest bilateral recipient of EU financial assistance in the Pacific, focused on climate change adaptation and resilience, water infrastructure, good governance, and energy. Further support is provided through regional programmes on ocean governance, gender equality, waste management, and trade integration.
“The EU is a long-standing and reliable partner of the Solomon Islands, with deep experience across the priority areas of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent,” said Ambassador Plinkert.
“Working alongside our regional partners, we are committed to reinforcing our role as a trusted and valued partner for your country.”
A central focus of the mission was the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which marks an evolution in the EU’s role in the Pacific – from development partner to long-term strategic investor. In Solomon Islands, this shift is already tangible: bilateral budget support and regional projects are mobilising investment in renewable energy, clean water, and the sustainable blue economy.
Two projects covered during the mission illustrate this commitment. At Bina Harbour in Malaita Province, the EU considers support to the development of port infrastructure and an associated tuna processing plant, anchored in Solomon Islands’ position as its largest tuna export market under the interim Economic Partnership Agreement.
The Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) – co-financed by the EU, the Asian Development Bank, and the Global Environment Facility, and a key Global Gateway initiative for the Pacific – has already provided access to clean water for more than 79,000 people across Honiara and selected provincial centres.
A Partnership Built on Mutual Interest and Shared Responsibility
The EU and Solomon Islands are united by a common stake in a stable, rules-based international order and a sustainable future for the Pacific.
The EU welcomes and appreciates Solomon Islands’ active engagement in regional and multilateral fora, including its Chairmanship of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2025-2026, its prompt ratification of the Samoa Agreement on 26 September 2025, and its support for key UN General Assembly resolutions on Ukraine, reflecting a shared commitment to principled multilateralism grounded in the UN Charter.
Looking ahead, the EU and Solomon Islands will continue to deepen their partnership around green and inclusive growth, resilient infrastructure, sustainable fisheries, and climate action, anchored in the Samoa Agreement and powered by the ambition of Global Gateway…. PACNEWS
