In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Australian PM Albanese touches down in Fiji ahead of new Pacific deal
2. PACIFIC — PM Wale urges Indonesia to pursue dialogue and reduce tensions in West Papua
3. PACIFIC — Typhoon Bavi may hit Rota
4. PACIFIC — U.S envoy says Cook Islands minerals are a top priority
5. FIJI — Former Fiji PM Bainimarama says One Nation party shares his values
6. PNG — Opa takes Commerce as Daki loses portfolio but stays in PNG Cabinet
7. VAN — PM Wale meets Vanuatu Internal Affors Minister in Port Vila
8. TUVALU — Tuvalu revises Ministerial portfolios, renames Climate Change Ministry
9. JAPAN — Japan, Marshall Islands to cooperate for stable Indo-Pacific
10. TUVALU — Tuvalu unveils National Geographic documentary showcasing landmark Ocean expedition
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Kiribati takes second Brazil jet from China
12. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG-Fiji Business Council to review trade deals
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Business leaders urge investment in mining
14. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — The Pacific cannot reimagine the ocean without speaking to its scars
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Wave of Pacific-led climate solutions ignited in Vanuatu
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — Tuvalu’s Digital Nation: why hope, not doom, drives climate adaptation
PAC – DIPLOMACY: AAP/PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Mon 06 Jul 2026
Australian PM Albanese touches down in Fiji ahead of new Pacific deal
SUVA, 06 JULY 2026 (AAP/PACNEWS) —Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived in Fiji to seal a landmark treaty in a bid to counter China’s influence in the Pacific.
The prime minister landed in Suva on Sunday evening ahead of the signing of the Vuvale Union agreement with his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka on Monday.
Albanese was greeted on the tarmac by Fiji’s deputy prime minister Viliame Gavoka and foreign affairs minister Sakiasi Ditoka.
He was then led to a raised platform as a Fiji Military brass band played Australia’s national anthem.
Albanese inspected a guard of honour as the song I Still Call Australia Home was performed.
During his visit, Prime Minister Albanese will undertake a number of official engagements, including a traditional ceremony of welcome, bilateral meetings, and a courtesy call on the President of Fiji Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.
The visit reflects the strong bonds of friendship between Fiji and Australia and further reinforces both countries’ commitment to the Vuvale Partnership, built on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared regional priorities.
The prime minister will travel to the Solomon Islands on Tuesday to progress negotiations on a new treaty with Honiara.
“Fiji and Solomon Islands are not just our neighbours, we are part of the Pacific family, and we work together for the good of our region.
“I look forward to meeting with my friend Prime Minister Rabuka to uplift the Vuvale Partnership, create opportunities for young people and celebrate the bond between our countries.
“It is a pleasure to take up Prime Minister Wale on his invitation to visit Solomon Islands so soon after his recent visit to Australia and continue discussions on how we can elevate our bilateral partnership through a comprehensive treaty.
“Australia remains a partner that the Pacific can rely on. By working together we can foster a safe and resilient region that enables all of our economies to grow and prosper,” said PM Albanese.
The whirlwind round of diplomacy doesn’t stop there, with Albanese to meet Narendra Modi in Melbourne later in the week.
The Indian prime minister will spend three days in Australia from Wednesday for the annual leaders’ summit between the two nations.
As part of his Pacific trip, Albanese will become the first foreign leader to participate in the Solomon Islands’ Independence Day celebrations.
Newly elected Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale made Australia his first international trip as leader when he visited Canberra in June.
He is also the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and flagged he would review his nation’s controversial policing deal with China, signed in 2022.
Wales has also called for a Pacific-wide security deal, which Australia has said it is open to pursuing.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who is also taking part in the Pacific trip, has previously described Australia as being in a “state of permanent contest in the Pacific”.
“The Albanese Government is working hard to make transformational breakthroughs in the Pacific and shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.
“In Fiji and Solomon Islands, we will continue strengthening our relationships by listening, respecting and acting on Pacific priorities in the Pacific way.
“A stronger, safer and sovereign Pacific is good for Australia and for our region,” Wong said.
Engaged in a diplomatic “knife fight” with China for regional influence, the Albanese government has since inked security and economic deals with Pacific Island nations.
The latest among them is the breakthrough $500 million (US$346 million) Nakamal Agreement signed with Vanuatu, which rules out the use of its territory for foreign military bases.
The deal had fallen through in September after Port Vila raised concerns its sovereignty would be undermined through Australia’s push for a veto over major foreign investment in critical infrastructure.
Canberra has signed a historic mutual defence pact with Papua New Guinea called the Pukpuk Treaty, and the world-leading Falepili Union with Tuvalu, which allows the population to resettle in Australia.
Albanese’s visit would be significant and he had built ‘momentum: with the region’s leaders, Lowy’s Pacific Programme director Oliver Nobetau said.
“Albanese, despite all the domestic pressures, sees that this is a permanent contest, and he’s willing to make those strides and those commitments and build those relationships out in the Pacific,” he told AAP.
“Permanent contest, it is a good framing because it doesn’t allow for anyone to take things for granted as to where the goodwill of the relationships are.”
Under the Nakamal Agreement, both Australia and Vanuatu committed to supporting dialogue addressing the dark historical practice of blackbirding, where thousands of Pacific Islanders were forced to work and live under harsh conditions on Queensland plantations.
They were taken from countries across the region, including Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Fiji.
Nobetau said unlike China, Australia faced the “hurdle” of its colonial past and image in the region.
‘When we saw the mention of blackbirding … that was such a significant step in looking at how mature these relationships can get,” he said.
Albanese addressed the annual NSW Labor conference in Sydney on Sunday morning before departing Australia…..PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: SOL GOVT PACNEWS 1: Mon 06 Jul 2026
PM Wale urges Indonesia to pursue dialogue and reduce tensions in West Papua
PORT MORESBY, 06 JULY 2026 (SOL GOVT)—Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has called on the Government of Indonesia to take constructive steps toward reducing tensions in West Papua.
This includes the consideration of demilitarisation measures and the establishment of an inclusive and credible dialogue process.
The Prime Minister highlights the importance of addressing the human rights situation and acknowledging the legitimate aspirations of the West Papuan people.
Wale said this includes their desire for self-determination, through peaceful and lawful means.
He emphasised that these aspirations must be given due recognition and that a robust and credible process must be established to address them.
“Sustainable peace can only be achieved through dialogue, mutual respect and a commitment to upholding human rights,” Prime Minister Wale stated.
Prime Minister Wale also expressed deep concern over reports of escalating violence, strongly condemning the killing of innocent civilians, as well as the killing of the United States pilot.
“The protection of civilian lives must remain paramount, and all parties must exercise maximum restraint,” he said.
The Prime Minister further expressed concern over what appears to be a continued policy of increasing the number of Indonesian military personnel in West Papua.
He cautioned that further militarisation risks exacerbating tensions rather than resolving them.
“Peace cannot be secured through force. Indonesia cannot expect to achieve stability by attempting to impose control through violence,” he added.
Prime Minister Wale reaffirmed Solomon Islands’ commitment to supporting peaceful engagement, regional stability, and the respect for human rights. ….PACNEWS
PAC – WEATHER WATCH: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 1: Mon 06 Jul 2026
Typhoon Bavi may hit Rota
HAGATNA/SAIPAN, 06 JULY 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) —Guam shelters have reached 50 percent capacity as heavy rains and strong winds set in, with Typhoon Bavi anticipated to make landfall on Monday morning.
The latest weather forecast indicated that Rota may face the greatest risk.
“Right at the centRE, those vicious 120 to 160 mile per hour sustained winds are going to be very close to the centre,” Brandon Aydlett, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said at briefing.
Saipan began experiencing an island-wide power outage, while Guam has power fluctuations and isolated outages.
Meanwhile, residents of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands tune in to the National Weather Service’s live-streamed daily briefings on Facebook for the latest updates on Super Typhoon Bavi’s track, speed and location.
The Joint Information Centres for Guam and the CNMI have also been continuously disseminating pertinent information: utility outages, available resources, where to go, what to do.
In the age of social media, real-time information at one’s fingertips enables island residents to better understand a typhoon’s behaviour, manage their stress and adequately prepare for its potential impact.
“I think we are in a good place as far as preparedness, awareness and the communications from both the governors of Guam and the CNMI, the local media partners; the awareness has been out there for upwards of a week now,” Govenor Lou Leon Guerrero said.
The Aydlett brothers, Landon and Brandon, have become familiar faces and household names. Leveraging technology to reach their audience, the NWS’ twin meteorologists explain weather events in accessible language, translating jargon into words regular people can understand: “Bavi is a monster typhoon; it poses a grim threat. Prepare now.”
“So people are taking it seriously. The roads are clear,” the governor said. “And all of us working together in one unified direction really makes things a lot better in the protection of our people.”
Learning from the lessons of Mawar, Guam and CNMI residents promptly acted when the NWS raised a red flag for Bavi. They shuttered their houses, stocked up on emergency supplies, hit the ATM for emergency cash, gassed up their cars and sheltered in place.
Bavi began forming last week as a tropical disturbance. It rapidly intensified and became a Category 5 super typhoon.
It was packing sustained maximum winds of 160 mph on Saturday. It weakened to 155 mph at 1 p.m today and is now projected to hit Rota directly.
When preparing for the unexpected, one can’t be too prepared. ‘If we over-prepare, no problem,” Landon Aydlett said.
Guam and CNMI are located in the region’s typhoon alley, making residents veterans of disasters.
Bavi was the second typhoon to hit the Marianas this year. While Sinlaku passed over Guam, it heavily battered Saipan and Tinian on April.
In May 2023, Super Typhoon Mawar caused massive devastation on Guam, leaving the island in an almost apocalyptic condition, with broken houses, a scarce water supply and damaged utility infrastructure that led to communication and power blackouts. In some parts of the island, power, water and internet services were down for several months. Due to internet outage, business transactions were done on cash basis.
Mawar was the first devastating storm to hit Guam since Super Typhoon Pongsona in 2002.
The CNMI, on the other hand, has been hit by monstrous typhoons in the past 10 years, including Soudelor in 2015, Yutu in 2018 and Sinlaku in April.
Typhoon Paka caused widespread destruction on Guam in 1997. Before Paka, Typhoon Karen was considered the most destructive in history.
The world’s oceans experienced their hottest June on record and could set fresh highs in the months ahead, the European Union’s Copernicus Marine Service said on Wednesday.
Warmer oceans help tropical storms to intensify and add more moisture, which can fall as heavy rain.
The World Meteorological Organisation warned on Friday that El Nino, which typically occurs every two to seven years and lasts nine to 12 months, has already begun in the tropical Pacific and is likely to be strong.
The natural climate phenomenon warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, bringing worldwide changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns…..PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: REUTERS PACNEWS 1: Mon 06 Jul 2026
U.S envoy says Cook Islands minerals are a top priority
WELLINGTON, 06 JULY2026 (REUTERS)— The new U.S Ambassador to New Zealand and several Pacific Island nations said on Friday that securing Cook Islands seabed minerals was a top priority, and that China’s push for influence in the Pacific carried risks for small island states.
Jared Novelly, U.S Ambassador to New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa, said in a press conference that critical minerals had moved rapidly up his agenda over the last year.
“When I was getting briefings in October, November last year, the critical minerals thing was kind of a lesser item,” Novelly said.
“Fast forward to February, March of this year, critical minerals, and particularly in the Cooks, is either 1A or 1B of my priorities,” he said.
Washington has made securing critical minerals a strategic priority as it seeks to reduce its reliance on China-dominated supply chains and support defence and clean-energy industries.
The Cook Islands’ waters contain deposits of polymetallic nodules, sought for batteries and other technologies, and the government has allowed exploration, but not commercial extraction.
In February, the Cook Islands and the U.S signed a non-binding framework on critical minerals research and supply-chain security, including deep-sea minerals in Cook Islands waters. It has also signed an exploration and research agreement with China.
Novelly, a Missouri businessman and sports team owner who is the inaugural U.S Ambassador to the Cook Islands, said he planned to spend time in the country and would look to introduce U.S companies that could help with the minerals’ extraction.
The Cook Islands government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He said he also believed he needed to warn Pacific countries to be cautious in dealings with Beijing.
“China has made no bones about they want a base in the Pacific, they want an expanded presence there,” he said, adding that island nations needed to understand “what a debt trap is” and that “there can be strings attached”.
China in recent years has become a major player in the region, in development finance, ports, airports and telecommunications, and has sought a greater role in the military, policing, digital connectivity and media. Beijing says its relationships in the region are based on mutual respect and delivering benefits to the Pacific people.
Novelly said he was also exploring ways to support Pacific economies beyond aid, including by reducing the cost of remittances.
He arrived in New Zealand last week and presented his credentials to the NZ Governor general on Wednesday before hosting the embassy’s annual 04 July party.
Novelly said Washington respected New Zealand’s role in the South Pacific, including defence cooperation, but said partners needed to spend more on security.
“It’s important that you care as much about your defence as we care about your defence,” he said, echoing U.S policy towards partners and allies around the globe.
Novelly arrives as New Zealanders’ views of the United States have fallen. A June survey by the Asia New Zealand Foundation found that, for the first time in a decade, they viewed Washington as more of a threat than China.
But Novelly said it was not something he had experienced on his visits to the country and “there seems to be a very friendly camaraderie that occurs between folks from the U.S and Kiwis.”
On New Zealand’s nuclear-free policy, which restricts visits by nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed vessels, Novelly said any change was a decision for Wellington but that he would like to see a U.S aircraft carrier visit in Auckland harbour.
“I would really like the opportunity to work with New Zealand on that,” he said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Mon 06 Jul 2026
Former Fiji PM Bainimarama says One Nation party shares his values
SUVA, 06 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Former Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says the principles contained in One Nation’s constitution mirror the values he stood for while leading Fiji, prompting him to formally endorse the country’s newest registered political party.
Bainimarama made the commitment after meeting a One Nation delegation, which presented him with the party’s constitution and outlined its vision and guiding principles.
According to the party, Bainimarama welcomed its commitment to national unity, equal citizenship, equal opportunity, good governance and accountability.
“What has impressed me is One Nation’s principles which means that it is committed to transparent governance, responsible leadership, national development and reducing the growing socio-economic disparity between the rich and the poor,” Bainimarama said.
One Nation said it appreciated Bainimarama’s endorsement, describing it as an important step in the party’s development ahead of the next General Election.
Party president Roko Tupou Draunidalo reaffirmed One Nation’s commitment to building ‘a united, inclusive and prosperous Fiji” founded on integrity, equality, meritocracy and good governance.
The party said it would continue engaging with communities throughout Fiji as it develops policies aimed at addressing the challenges facing ordinary Fijians.
The endorsement followed a meeting on Thursday between Bainimarama and a One Nation delegation led by party president Roko Tupou Takaiwai Senirewa Draunidalo, along with the party’s general secretary, founding members and Central Executive Committee members.
Bainimarama said the party’s constitution reflected many of the principles he championed while serving as Prime Minister.
“What has impressed me is One Nation’s principles which means that it is committed to transparent governance, responsible leadership, national development and reducing the growing socio-economic disparity between the rich and the poor,” Bainimarama said.
The party said Bainimarama also expressed support for its commitment to national unity, equal citizenship, equal opportunities, accountability and putting Fiji first.
One Nation president Draunidalo said the party remained committed to building “a united, inclusive and prosperous Fiji” founded on integrity, equality, meritocracy and good governance.
The party described Bainimarama’s endorsement as “an important milestone” as it prepares to engage with voters ahead of the next General Election……PACNEWS
PNG – POLITICS: PNG SUN PACNEWS 1: Mon 06 Jul 2026
Opa takes Commerce as Daki loses portfolio but stays in PNG Cabinet
PORT MORESBY, 06 JULY 2026 (PNG SUN) — Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has stripped the Commerce and Industry portfolio from Hon. Win Bakri Daki, appointing Finance Minister Thomas Opa to take over the ministry while retaining Daki in Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio.
The changes come as the Government launches an independent forensic investigation into the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Fund.
In a statement, Prime Minister James Marape said the interim arrangements are intended to ensure transparency, accountability and public confidence while the investigation is conducted.
He also directed Commerce and Industry Secretary David Ganaii to step aside until the investigation is completed.
The Government will appoint a reputable independent audit firm to carry out a comprehensive forensic audit of the SME Fund.
The audit will examine budget appropriations, Treasury cash releases, transfers to partner financial institutions, acquittals and all related financial transactions.
Marape said the Government’s SME policy remains unchanged and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting small and medium-sized businesses across Papua New Guinea.
He said the SME programme was designed to channel funding through recognised financial institutions, including Bank South Pacific (BSP), National Development Bank (NDB) and Mama Bank, ensuring loans are administered through established banking systems rather than direct government cash disbursements.
“Our commitment to SMEs remains unwavering. Every kina appropriated for SME development must reach its intended purpose and be used strictly in accordance with Government policy and the law,” Marape said.
He stressed that the temporary administrative changes should not be interpreted as findings of wrongdoing but are necessary to protect the integrity and independence of the investigation.
Marape reiterated the Government’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, saying appropriate action will be taken if the audit uncovers any misuse of public funds…..PACNEWS
VAN – DIPLOMACY: SOL GOVT PACNEWS 1: Mon 06 Jul 2026
PM Wale meets Vanuatu Internal Affors Minister in Port Vila
PORT VILA, 06 JULY 2026 (SOL GOVT)—Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has held a brief meeting with Vanuatu’s Minister for Internal Affairs, Andrew Solomon Napuat, during a transit stop in Port Vila en route to Honiara last Friday.
Minister Napuat hosted Prime Minister Wale during the short visit, where both leaders exchanged views on key areas of mutual interest.
Discussions focused on the importance of strengthening the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and enhancing border security arrangements between Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Minister Napuat also shared Vanuatu’s experiences and concerns regarding drug trafficking activities across the borders of the two countries.
Napuat highlighted the need for closer cooperation to address the issue.
Prime Minister Wale was also briefed by Minister Napuat on the recent signing of the Nakamal Agreement between Australia and Vanuatu.
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of a more coordinated and strengthened MSG region to address shared challenges and advance common interests.
Minister Napuat also conveyed warm greetings from the Prime Minister of Vanuatu to Prime Minister Wale, noting that the Vanuatu leader is currently undertaking a domestic tour. ….PACNEWS
TUVALU – GOVT: TUVALU GOVT PACNEWS 1: Mon 06 Jul 2026
Tuvalu revises Ministerial portfolios, renames Climate Change Ministry
FUNFUTI, 06 JULY 2026 (TUVALU GOVT) —The Government of Tuvalu has revised its 2026 Assignment of Ministerial Responsibilities, with the changes taking effect from 29 June 2026.
Under the revised arrangement, responsibility for the following Home Affairs and Culture functions has been transferred from the former Ministry of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment to the Office of the Prime Minister:
*Culture
*Falekaupule and Kaupule
*Falekaupule Trust Fund
*Museum
*Non-Government Organisation (NGO)
*Rural and Urban Development
Following the transfer, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment has been renamed the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
While the Departments of Home Affairs and Culture now fall under the Office of the Prime Minister, the Office will retain its current name despite the expanded responsibilities.
The revised ministerial assignment was made by Governor-General of Tuvalu Reverend Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani, under Section 77(1)(a) of the Constitution of Tuvalu and published by the Secretary to Government, Dr Tufoua Panapa.
The changes reflect the Government’s updated administrative arrangements and the realignment of ministerial portfolios with its current governance priorities…..PACNEWS
JAPAN – DIPLOMACY: JIJI PRESS PACNEWS 1: Wed 01 Jul 2026
Japan, Marshall Islands to cooperate for stable Indo-Pacific
TOKYO, 06 JULY 2026 (JIJI PRESS)—Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his counterpart from the Marshall Islands, Kalani Kaneko, agreed Friday to cooperate closely for the stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
They reached the agreement at their meeting in Tokyo.
Motegi noted that the Marshall Islands is a friend of Japan that shares fundamental values and principles, expressing hopes for collaboration in various fields with the Pacific island nation.
The two foreign ministers also discussed North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes, and its abductions of Japanese nationals decades ago, as well as the Middle East situation.
The Marshall Islands maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan….PACNEWS
TUVALU – OCEAN EXPEDITION: TUVALU GOVT PACNEWS 1: Mon 06 Jul 2026
Tuvalu unveils National Geographic documentary showcasing landmark Ocean expedition
FUNAFUTI, 06 JULY 2026 (TUVALU GOVT)—The Government of Tuvalu last week, welcomed the premiere of the National Geographic Pristine Seas documentary, highlighting the findings of a landmark marine scientific expedition that was conducted in Tuvalu’s waters in 2025 at the request of the Government of Tuvalu.
Opening the premiere, Prime Minister Feleti Teo described the occasion as “much more than the premiere of a documentary.”
“It is the unveiling of a new chapter in our understanding of Tuvalu’s greatest natural asset, our ocean.”
He said the expedition was invited by the Government to strengthen the scientific knowledge needed to sustainably manage and protect Tuvalu’s vast marine environment, “Good policies require good science, because we cannot conserve and manage something we do not understand.”
The expedition, undertaken by National Geographic Pristine Seas, carried out a comprehensive biodiversity assessment across Tuvalu’s nearshore reefs and deep ocean, producing one of the country’s most significant scientific baselines for future marine conservation, fisheries management and ocean planning.
Prime Minister Teo thanked the National Geographic Pristine Seas team for their partnership and commitment to Tuvalu, noting that the documentary will share Tuvalu’s ocean story with millions of people around the world while reinforcing the nation’s role as a responsible steward of one of the Pacific’s largest ocean domains.
The documentary and scientific findings build on the Government’s recent soft launch of the National Ocean Policy, reaffirming Tuvalu’s commitment to safeguarding its marine resources for future generations.
The film premiere also included a presentation of the expedition’s scientific findings, followed by a shared lunch with partners to celebrate the successful collaboration between the Government of Tuvalu and National Geographic Pristine Seas……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
KIRIBATI – AIRLINE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 06 Jul 2026
Kiribati takes second Brazil jet from China
TARAWA, 06 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Kiribati has received the second Brazilian-built Embraer-190 aircraft promised by China in 2019 when the small Pacific country severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
The USD$55million dollar aircraft will touch down at Bonriki International Airport on Tarawa after a delivery flight from Sao Paolo in Brazil to Barbados, Miami, Honolulu, and Kiritimati.
Kiribati’s Transport Minister Alexander Teab and Embraer SA representative Ivan Alessandro signed documents earlier this week, transferring ownership of the aircraft to the Kiribati government.
The Embraer-190 is a twin-engine jet which can carry a maximum of 114 passengers over a distance of 2850 nautical miles, allowing it to operate direct flights from Kiribati to Auckland and Brisbane.
This service would be in direct competition with Fiji Airways and Nauru Airlines which currently operate these routes with stopovers at their operating bases at Nadi and Yaren.
However, Air Kiribati’s initial EMB-190 which was received in 2019 has never flown for the airline. Instead it was operated by Pionair, an Australian freight carrier, which no longer lists the aircraft in its fleet.
The COVID-19 outbreak was blamed for the failure of Air Kiribati to operate the aircraft immediately after it was received.
At the time, Air Kiribati proposed to operate its jets to the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands, predicting a boom for the tourism sector and increased capacity for i-Kiribati traveling to work under regional labour mobility programmes.
The Kiribati government acknowledged China’s support for the purchase of the aircraft, saying bilateral relations “strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two nations. Kiribati expresses its deep appreciation for China’s commitment to our national development and aviation advancement’’.
Until 2019, Kiribati was one of five Pacific nations which gave full diplomatic recognition of Taiwan. After a deal was struck on the two aircraft, Kiribati severed its ties with Taiwan and Solomon Islands shifted its allegiance later the same year….PACNEWS
PNG – BUSINESS COUNCIL: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 06 Jul 2026
PNG-Fiji Business Council to review trade deals
PORT MORESBY, 06 JULY 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—The newly-formed PNG-Fiji Business Council plans to review two related trade agreements to identify and assess the effectiveness of existing frameworks, and establish opportunities for greater alignment and synergy.
They are the PNG-Fiji trade agreement and the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) trade agreement.
It was one of three 12-month action plans discussed at the first council meeting held at the Fiji High Commission in Port Moresby recently.
The others are:
*Analysing bilateral trade data between PNG and Fiji to gain a clearer understanding of current import and export trends, identify gaps, and uncover opportunities to strengthen trade and investment flows; and,
*Developing a geo-listing of businesses and strategic economic assets to support market intelligence, improve connectivity between stakeholders, and facilitate targeted trade and investment initiatives.
The gathering was attended by business and industry leaders from the private and government sectors of Fiji and PNG.
The formation of the council was driven by Fiji’s High Commissioner Jackson Evans and supported by Sir Mahesh Patel, the founder and chairman emeritus of the City Pharmacy Limited Group.
Sir Mahesh told The National: “I am particularly keen to see more small-medium enterprises (SME) from PNG and Fiji become involved.
“The small business sector holds enormous potential, and greater participation from both sides will help drive trade, partnerships, and economic growth for our countries.”
The council aims to provide a platform through which the private sector from large corporations to SMEs can engage with the governments of both countries at the highest political and policy-making levels.
The council plans to identify and address trade and investment challenges, foster stronger bilateral economic relations, and promote solutions that support SME development, overall business growth and cross-border investment between PNG and Fiji.
The office bearers are Vele Rupa (president), Rina Antonio-Jang (secretary) and Yogesh Samy as treasurer.
Committee members are Arthur Vera, Sheena Hughes, Salote Mucunabitu and Warwick Vele.
Discussions also focused on creating more accessible and efficient pathways for investors in Fiji and PNG, with particular emphasis on streamlining processes, reducing barriers, and improving the ease of doing business between the two countries….PACNEWS
FIJI – MINING: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 06 Jul 2026
Fiji Business leaders urge investment in mining
SUVA, 06 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Fiji’s private sector has called for greater investment in mining and clearer accountability on excise tax revenue.
Around 50 business leaders gathered this week for the Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation’s (FCEF) Combined Council Meeting.
Representatives from seven councils, including the Mining and Quarry Council, Business Strategy, and Women Entrepreneurs and Business Council, discussed advocacy priorities for the coming financial year.
Mining emerged as a key focus, with Lion One Ltd Mine Manager Sakiua Waqanisau noting the sector’s resilience during COVID-19 — expanding from 58 to over 300 employees while other industries stalled.
He argued that mining’s GDP contribution, currently recorded at less than two percent, failed to capture the FJD$10 million(US$5 million) monthly capital spending by major operators.
“Fiji should consider greater investment in the development of the mining sector,” Waqanisau said.
Meanwhile, Business Strategy Council Chair Viraaj Lad challenged the government to prove the effectiveness of the excise tax on sugar, introduced to combat non-communicable diseases.
“There is a need to clearly demonstrate the impact of the funds collected to date,” Lad said, asking whether revenue was being directed into preventative education and whether the Food and School Canteen policy was being monitored.
FCEF President Eldon Eastgate said the meeting encouraged cross-council collaboration on shared challenges, including skills shortages, ease of doing business, and rising operational costs.
CEO Edward Bernard confirmed confidence in FCEF’s membership growth and highlighted recent digital upgrades, including the Members Hub platform.
The federation urged business professionals to join its councils to help shape policy dialogue and private-sector leadership across Fiji….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
The Pacific cannot reimagine the ocean without speaking to its scars
By Lisa Williams
SUVA, 06 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Conversations are a big deal in the Pacific. Sometimes the hardest decisions are made without words at all, carried in the spaces between, the silences, and the relationships in the room. When the words finally come, what is said – and who is speaking – decides how the message lands.
Take Moruroa. Not “Mururoa,” the colonial mis‑spelling that still litters French official documents and global media, but Moruroa: the atoll where France forced through six final underground nuclear tests between September 1995 and January 1996, a decade after Pacific leaders had declared the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone. An underground test anywhere in our oceanic continent is a test on all of us.
Beyond French Polynesia’s nuclear history, the Runit Dome is the cracked weight of the nuclear legacy and ocean justice conversations we owe ourselves. On Runit Island in Enewetak Atoll, the United States dumped radioactive soil and debris from its Marshall Islands test sites into a bomb crater, then capped it with a thin concrete dome locals call “the Tomb.” Built between 1977 and 1980 as a temporary fix with no bottom seal, that dome now cracks above a rising sea – a wound on the face of the ocean, demanding attention and a ‘reimagined’ healing.
The threads from Runit continued their journey to Rarotonga. It was 6 August 1985, and the 16th Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting was being hosted in the Cook Islands. A month before, French government agents had bombed and sunk the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour, an act of terror to stop the Greenpeace flagship leading a protest flotilla against nuclear testing at Moruroa. The bombing killed photographer Fernando Pereira as he slept in his cabin onboard. The fallout of global condemnation against France was immense.
Meanwhile on that fateful last day of the Pacific leaders meeting in August 1985, I was a school dropout recruited off the road and into the newsroom of the Cook Islands Broadcasting and Newspaper Corporation building. Trying to work out how a camera worked, I was a few doors away from the room where Pacific leaders were signing what would gain international renown as the Treaty of Rarotonga, declaring the South Pacific a nuclear‑free zone. Like many Cook Islanders, I was oblivious to the history unfolding around the corner and up the stairs to the Prime Minister’s office.
By 1995, I had swung full circle and was back at the now‑privatized Cook Islands Newspaper, with a communications degree under my belt and an editor who chose not to accept a funded trip for Pacific journalists to Moruroa, in protest at France’s decision to resume nuclear testing there. Another protest flotilla, this time led by a vaka from the Cook Islands, was stopped by French military vessels at the edge of the French Polynesia EEZ and did its chants of protest and defiant haka at sea. This poignant mana of indigenous voice in the face of global powers is a key part of any reimagining and revival.
And so here we are, in 2026, with an Ocean’s meeting somewhere every minute, it seems. We’re abuzz with Ocean commotion, but what’s next past all the noise? A recent State of the Pacific Ocean gathering launched on World Ocean Day into a call to “Reimagine,” flipping the talanoa from yet another state‑led talkfest to people‑led conversations. The challenges loom large: climate crisis, militarization, resource extraction, dollar signs and profit versus values beyond price. All this plays out in an oceanic continent where corruption, inequality, family violence, and fundamentalism are layered through nations at different stages of nationhood. What do our cultural safety nets really hold once they are frayed? What does an “Ocean of Peace” mean once leaders walk away from the limelight and the photo op?
“Once you see what I am about to share, you can’t unsee it,” warned one presenter on the geopolitics of power, satellites, and armed flags arching across our Pacific skies, seas and land. Security is no longer just women and peace; it is domain, data and identity. It is the uncomfortable awareness that being “friends to all, enemies to none” can be misconstrued and weaponized in ways our founding leaders of collective strength, and the so‑called Pacific Way, could never have imagined.
In truth, the State of the Ocean is demanding we look at the state of ourselves and reimagine how we are governed. How we do business. How safe we make our homes. Whether our regional multilateralism, diplomacy, civil society, media and academic freedoms still protect ocean states from disproportionate burdens – or whether those protections are being quietly eroded. Even when the honest answer to these questions is “I don’t know,” the refusal of beige policy papers in favour of fresh arguments and ideas is a sure sign of people working things out for themselves.
Reimagining the Ocean is not just a clever theme. It is, as one Pacific faith leader said, “a turning – the courage to let an old story die so a truer story can live.” Moruroa’s fissured underbelly and the concrete Tomb on Runit are scars we all bear. They remind us that reimagining an Ocean of Peace begins within. It begins with reimagining what it means to be people of the Ocean of Peace. It begins with reimagining us.
It happens when we take that deliberate step away from the status quo, stop treating the Ocean as a backdrop, and reclaim the words that take us beyond words, to that unapologetically Pacific Ocean space – audacious, authentic and forgiving enough to rebuild a better world where everyone, from all corners of this one blue planet, can own their place in conversations that better connect the Ocean we share to the humanity we are…..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
Wave of Pacific-led climate solutions ignited in Vanuatu
PORT VILA, 06 JULY 2026 (SPREP)— Pacific Wave Makers are leaving the inaugural Pacific Innovation Forum for Climate and Environment (PIFCE) 2026 with a shared commitment to strengthen regional cooperation and advance innovative solutions to address the impacts of climate change.
PIFCE 2026, in Port Vila Vanuatu, ignited a wave of Pacific-led climate solutions, offering a ray of hope as Pacific communities continue to face increasing environmental challenges and pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and disaster risks.
PIFCE closed with the adoption of the PIFCE 2026 Resolution where participants agreed for the Forum to be a biennial Regional Forum, as a platform for climate innovation, knowledge sharing, regional collaboration, and environmental action across the Pacific.
“The adoption of this resolution is more than a procedural outcome. It represents a shared vision for a stronger, more innovative, more resilient Pacific region,” said Vanuatu Minister of Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards and Disaster Management,Ralph Regenvanu.
“It reflects our collective determination to move beyond dialogue into action, implementation, and measurable impact for our communities and future generations.”
For three days in Port Vila, more than 500 Pacific Champions and Wave Makers showcased the strength, innovation, and leadership of our island nations, in the face of the escalating climate crisis.
They leave Vanuatu to continue the wave of action for climate resilience in the Pacific region, and around the world.
“As we depart from Port Vila, let us continue working together as champions and wave makers for climate resilience, innovation, and environmental stewardship across our Blue Pacific Continent,” added Minister Regenvanu.
“The Pacific voice is strong. The Pacific vision is clear. And together, we will continue to lead with courage, unity, innovation, and hope.”
PIFCE 2026 was attended by Government Ministers, government officials, entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups, private sector leaders, and academic institutions from across the Pacific.
Tuvalu Minister of Home Affairs and Climate Change, Dr Maina Talia, expressed the Pacific’s region vote of thanks to the leadership of the Government and the People of Vanuatu for hosting a successful PIFCE2026.
“The significance of this forum cannot be overstated. It has been much more than a conference—it has been a platform that has brought together diverse voices from across our Blue Pacific Continent,” he said.
“We have listened to women, men, boys and girls, youth, Indigenous communities, faith-based organisations, civil society, governments, researchers, development partners and the private sector.”
“Every voice has brought unique perspectives, experiences and ideas that enrich our understanding of the challenges we face and the solutions we must pursue.”
PIFCE was co-organised by the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC)/Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and V-Lab Vanuatu.
SPREP Director General, Sefanaia Nawadra, congratulated the Government of Vanuatu for their leadership in climate action, and for hosting a successful showcase of the Pacific people’s creativity and resilience through innovation and climate action.
The initiative behind PIFCE was originally fostered through a proposal developed jointly by Minister Regenvanu, and the Vanuatu-based charitable association V-Lab, reflecting a shared vision to create a Pacific-led platform for innovation and climate action.
A key part of the Forum was the PIFCE Private Sector Climate and Innovation Pitching Competition, won by Enviromesh, of Australia and Vanuatu.
The inaugural Pacific Innovation Forum on Climate and Environment (PIFCE) was held in Port Vila, Vanuatu from 01–03 July 2026……PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Tuvalu’s Digital Nation: why hope, not doom, drives climate adaptation
By Colette Mortreux, Bateteba Aselu
FUNAFUTI, 06 JULY 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG)—This article builds on a previous Devpolicy Blog piece written by Edwin Venu Pedro and Jess Marinaccio, government employees engaged in Tuvalu’s Digital Nation project. They highlighted growing frustration with media portrayals of the Digital Nation as “a cry for help” and reframed the project as one promoting hope. We offer a complementary, outside-in perspective.
While critiquing international media, we recognise that the Government of Tuvalu has, at times, played into media framings of the “sinking nation”. Nonetheless, the way in which the Digital Nation is being implemented signals a government recalibrating towards hopeful governance. Consistent with hope theory, the framing of the Digital Nation as a project of hope and community development shows a government keen to author its own framing, one that prioritises Tuvaluan agency and resilience.
Tuvalu has long punched above its weight in international climate negotiations. It has used media opportunities to pressure global leaders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As political leaders arrived at the 2019 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, they passed Tuvaluan children seated in a channel of water, symbolic of rising sea levels threatening future generations. It was an effective media moment, pressuring delegates to think of the children’s future, and, as cameras flashed, reminding them that the world was watching.
In 2022, when Tuvalu’s then Minister for Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs, Simon Kofe, announced Tuvalu’s plan to become the world’s first digital nation, he did so from what looked to be an idyllic islet. The camera panned back to reveal the islet was digitally constructed: swaying palm trees and pixelated sands glitching against a dark void. The powerful visual was interpreted by some as a nation surrendering to an inevitable climate fate.
Small island states have few levers, and dramatic imagery like this has been effective in gaining diplomatic influence, to some extent. It should be said that peril framings of Tuvalu’s climate vulnerability have largely been driven by global media outlets, not from Tuvalu itself, and that Tuvalu has sparingly used this kind of framing. Tuvalu’s political nous and domestic strategies to drive climate resilience have been mostly overlooked by media reporting. Residents of Funafuti are understandably frustrated, attuned to being asked the same questions by journalists flying in and out, taking the same photos of children playing in puddles. Carol Farbotko captured this well in 2010 and yet 15 years later the journalistic approach remains. This doom framing, without a sense of agency, is unhelpful — not only for Tuvalu, but for our global efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
Hope theory is instructive here. To navigate the climate crisis, we must foster hope. Hope can be understood as “the belief in the possibility of a favourable outcome“. It allows people to feel emotionally strong in the face of uncertainty even though success is not guaranteed. Cognitive hope relies on two mechanisms: our sense of agency to pursue an identified goal (willpower) and our capacity to identify pathways to meet that goal (waypower). Together, these mechanisms allow individuals and groups to trust their capabilities, deploy multiple strategies and persist in the face of obstacles. A study on Senegalese farmers found that a one-point rise on Snyder’s hope scale doubled the likelihood of adopting drip irrigation, outperforming education, income and proximity to markets. Conversely, narratives of inevitable doom can become self-fulfilling prophecies, eroding the collective efficacy necessary for sustained adaptation effort. Alarmingly, a study on mental health found that despairing narratives about Tuvalu’s climate future were having a greater impact on Tuvaluans’ mental health than sea level rise itself.
Taken from this perspective, the Government of Tuvalu’s push to author its own narrative is not merely a communication strategy but an act of hope-building. Pedro and Marinaccio’s article is itself an expression of this pivot, with government employees taking to the media to recast the Digital Nation as a project enhancing local capacity. The project’s YouTube videos show GPS and drone mapping being used to monitor landscape changes to guide adaptation investments, and a newly announced partnership with Pacific Kids’ Learning to explore ways to create digitally animated local content in cooperation with Tuvaluan youth. On their LinkedIn site, government-led interviews emphasise that residents view the Digital Nation as an expression of hope and commitment to life in Tuvalu. One resident hopes that the project and its partners will establish digitised travel documents to facilitate outer island mobility. Another looks to preserve knowledge on making and giving traditional fans as a symbol of love, belonging and connection to fenua (land).
This kind of commitment to adaptation is not surprising for the Government of Tuvalu. It published its first National Adaptation Program of Action in 2007. It has invested in coastal protection: reclaiming 16 hectares of land under phase I and II of the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, and planting 116,000 mangroves since 2006. The government has established migration pathways with Australia through the Falepili Union Treaty and continues its climate advocacy work internationally. Far from being an act of resignation, the Digital Nation is one project amongst a suite of policies. Now the Tuvaluan Government begins its implementation, we are seeing how this project is evolving, shifting from a focus on international audiences to pragmatic in-situ adaptation.
Being hopeful in the midst of a climate crisis is not easy terrain for a small island state. It is a form of labour which involves negotiating risk, protecting its citizens and sustaining motivation despite setbacks. The Tuvaluan Government is showing its skills in navigating this terrain, demonstrating a form of hopeful governance and recalibrating its narratives to support a sense of agency, continuity and possibility at home. Media, governments, non-governmental organisations and researchers should all play their role in fostering climate hope. We should spotlight Tuvalu’s successes in local adaptation, share experiences of collective efficacy of other small island states, focus on the agency and resilience of communities living with climate impacts and support multiple pathways to achieve climate safety — including but not limited to worst-case scenarios….PACNEWS
