In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Australia’s PM pressured to confront China over missile test
2. PACIFIC — Pacific pushes back after Chinese missile test backfires
3. PACIFIC — ‘We are family now’: Sāmoa, Tonga leaders strengthen Pacific bonds with Australia
4. MARSH — Pacific cannot be treated as a theatre for force – Marshall Islands
5. NZ — Protecting the Moana: Greens say ocean decisions must put Pacific families first
6. VAN — No evidence yet of local involvement in major drug seizures, says Vanuata’s Minister Napuat
7. FIJI — 76 washed-up parcels test positive for cocaine
8. PACIFIC — ‘Periods don’t stop for a cyclone’: Pacific advocates say menstrual health is vital for disaster preparedness
9. PACNEWS BIZ — ADB’s first non-soverign investment in Cook Islands backs sustainable Pacific fashion
10. PACNEWS BIZ — ADB sees slower growth for Asia and the Pacific in 2026 amid global energy crisis
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific tourism receipts reach US$4 Billion as region shifts to high-value visitors
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Eco-concrete and grass tech take top awards at Pacific Innovation Forum
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Tuvalu’s national labour migration policy ten years on
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Stronger Geospatial and Environmental Data Management Systems lead to stronger Pacific Resilience
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Cancer cases could nearly double by 2050 without urgent action, WHO warns
PAC – DEFENCE/SECURITY: AAP PACNEWS 2: Thu 09 Jul 2026
Australia’s PM pressured to confront China over missile test
CANBERRA, 09 JULY 2026 (AAP) — Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been urged to call the Chinese president after a widely condemned missile test that has outraged Pacific leaders.
The nuclear-capable, long-range missile was launched from a submarine in the South Pacific on Monday with Australia given only a few hours’ notice.
The missile is understood to have landed southeast of Nauru.
Pacific Minister Pat Conroy, who is representing Australia at the NATO summit in Turkey, said the missile test had been a feature of several discussions at the conference.
“NATO is taking plenty of notice,” he said on Wednesday.
“The secretary-general, Mark Rutte, has talked about it publicly.
“Many of the NATO countries also highlighted it, it’s another example of how we’re all interconnected. There’s no such thing as a regional conflict; all conflicts are global now.”
The missile was fired within hours of Australia signing a defence alliance with Fiji, aimed at keeping China at bay in the Pacific.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Pacific Islands Forum was drafting a strong statement in response to the test.
“We want to be responsible for our security. Pacific leaders coming together to provide security for our own region as members of the Pacific family,” he said.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Ted O’Brien said the prime minister and Foreign Minister Penny Wong needed to pick up the phone and hold leader-to-leader discussions as a priority.
“This should not be postponed as one of many talking points at a future multilateral forum, this is important enough for there to be direct-level representations made,” he told AAP.
“The government claims to have stabilised the relationship with China and to have built positive relations.
“If the relationship is as good as Labor suggests, surely a phone call between leaders is not too big an ask.”
Beijing has been seeking to ink its own security deals with Pacific nations.
Conroy said the test only reinforced the need to bolster efforts in the region.
“There’s an element of contrast where China was ignoring the stated wishes of Pacific leaders at the same time as we were signing our fourth alliance ever with Fiji,” he said.
“It demonstrates that the way we’re going about business in the Pacific will be more effective.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning defended the test, saying it was a routine arrangement in its military training programme.
“It is consistent with international law and customary international practice and is not directed at any specific country or target,” she said.
“The countries concerned were informed prior to the launch. The whole process was safe, standard and professional.
“We hope relevant countries will not read too much into it,” she said…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: AFR PACNEWS 2: Thu 09 Jul 2026
Pacific pushes back after Chinese missile test backfires
CANBERRA, 09 JULY 2026 (AFR) — New Zealand may become one of the first nations to join a historic defence alliance between Australia and Fiji as alarmed Pacific capitals prepare a robust response to China’s test launch of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine.
Beijing’s first strategic missile test into the region since September 2024 – only the third time it has conducted a long-range missile test across the Pacific since 1980 – has united neighbouring countries in condemnation of China’s “provocation” and reinvigorated Australia’s regional diplomacy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who hosted the leaders of Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Samoa in Brisbane on Wednesday, said the Pacific Island Forum was negotiating a united and “strong” statement over China’s actions.
“Pacific, of course, derives from the word peace, and so it is appropriate that Pacific leaders issue a strong statement,” he said.
“The Pacific, we want to be responsible for our security. Pacific leaders coming together to provide security for our own region as members of the Pacific family.”
The firing of the missile on Monday came as Australia inked the pivotal “Ocean of Peace” military alliance with Fiji, which commits the two nations to come to each other’s aid at times of greatest need.
Australia and Fiji have indicated they would be open to other nations joining the pact. “The more, the stronger, the better,” said Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
While Tonga, as one of three Pacific Island nations with its own standing military, would be a logical future partner, officials and experts say China’s test has boosted the prospects of New Zealand coming on board first.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon flagged interest in joining the agreement on Monday, although he said final decisions were yet to be made by cabinet.
Asked about the new alliance, he confirmed he had spoken to both the Australian and Fijian prime ministers about it, Radio New Zealand reported.
“New Zealand being in early would be a good thing, because also you would have an ability to ultimately determine which other countries could join from across the Pacific,” he said.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for New Zealand’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade said Wellington welcomed the commitment between two of its closest partners.
“New Zealand already shares a close bond with Fiji, and an existing military alliance with Australia. We will continue to work with both countries on realising our blue Pacific as an Ocean of Peace,” said the spokesperson.
The Ocean of Peace agreement marks a first for Fiji, but it is Australia’s fourth, building on existing alliances with the United States, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
It requires Fiji and Australia to consult on security threats and to “act to meet the common danger” if either is attacked, similar to a defence treaty Australia signed with Papua New Guinea last year.
The PNG pact, known as the Pukpuk Treaty, came into force on Wednesday, formalising an alliance between the Pacific neighbours that also recognises that an armed attack on either country is a threat to both nations and the security of the region.
The enactment of the treaty was a “momentous step” that reflected “deep trust,” Albanese said.
Both recent pacts bolster a step-up in Australia’s Pacific diplomacy as it forms a regional web of economic and defence deals in competition with China’s attempts to expand its own economic influence and deepen security ties.
Albanese, who was set to attend the State of Origin final with his Pacific guests on Wednesday night, said he would continue talks with the leaders of Samoa and Tonga, prime ministers La’auli Leuatea Schmidt and Fakafanua, to improve relations and engagement in a constructive way.
Pacific policy experts say China may have scored an own goal by firing a nuclear-capable missile as it also seeks to expand its soft power footprint.
Connor Graham, a research fellow in the Pacific Islands Programme at the Lowy Institute, said the test may have a “galvanising effect for the Pacific”, boosting interest in joining the Ocean of Peace alliance, and likely sparking this discussion between leaders in Brisbane.
“We’ve already got an alliance with PNG, but this would be a more region-wide security architecture,” he said.
“Rather than having the effect of deterring further cooperation with Australia, this strike may have galvanised the Pacific and certainly justified Australia’s narrative of Pacific-led security with Australia as the main partner.”
Graham said the possibility of New Zealand participating was also “on the table”, potentially paving the way for a multilateral alliance.
While questions remained about how the new pact would gel with existing defence alliances, China’s missile test had “probably pushed people more in that direction”, he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PMN PACNEWS 2: Thu 09 Jul 2026
‘We are family now’: Sāmoa, Tonga leaders strengthen Pacific bonds with Australia
CANBERRA, 09 JULY 2026 (PMN) — Sāmoa Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt says Pacific ties with Australia have moved beyond friendship, describing the relationship as one built on family, people and shared opportunities.
“We are no longer friends, we are family now,” Schmidt told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during leaders’ talks in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The meeting brought together Albanese with the prime ministers of Sāmoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea, as Pacific leaders discussed security, climate change, labour mobility and the role of sports in strengthening regional connections.
Schmidt said generations of Sāmoans living in Australia had helped create strong links between the two countries.
“Our people might live here a long time ago – the second, the third, the fourth generation already here in Australia so we have a very strong connections in all aspects,” he said.
He thanked Australia for its support to Sāmoa and the wider Pacific including development assistance and the completion of Sāmoa’s Parliament.
“We consider Australia as one of the strongest partners to protect us all in the Pacific region and Sāmoa,” Schmidt said.
The Sāmoa leader also highlighted the importance of sports particularly rugby league in creating pathways for young Pacific people.
“I can assure you there are more superstars in the Pacific that need to bring up here,” he said.
Tonga Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua also used his first meeting with Albanese to highlight the importance of deepening ties between the two countries.
Fakafanua said Tonga’s relationship with Australia was strengthened through personal connections, economic links and Pacific labour mobility.
He said the mobility scheme had made a major contribution to Tonga’s economy with around 39 to 40 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) linked to mobility visas.
Fakafanua said remittances from Tongan workers overseas remained a vital part of the country’s economy.
“We hope that planning for the future we can deepen our relationship, look at more two-way pathways, strengthening our economic ties as well as security concerns that are common across the Pacific,” he said.
Albanese said Australia’s relationships with Pacific countries were built on shared challenges and opportunities, and included climate change, economic development and people-to-people connections.
“We’re all part of the Pacific family and that is why I’m so pleased to welcome you here,” he told Fakafanua.
He said Australia wanted to continue strengthening cooperation across the region, including through the Pacific Labour Mobility (PALM) Programme and climate action.
The Australian leader also pointed to the role of sport in connecting Pacific communities, saying the islanders had made a major impact in rugby league.
The talks came as Pacific leaders prepare for further regional discussions including the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Palau next month and climate talks ahead of COP later this year.
Albanese also said Pacific leaders would soon release a joint statement on China’s recent missile test in the region, reinforcing the importance of Pacific countries working together on regional peace and security…. PACNEWS
MARSH – DEFENCE/SECURITY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Thu 09 Jul 2026
Pacific cannot be treated as a theatre for force – Marshall Islands
MAJURO, 09 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — The Republic of the Marshall Islands has sharply condemned China’s reported submarine-launched missile test in the South Pacific, saying the region cannot be treated as a venue for military signalling.
A statement from the office of President Hilda Heine said Pacific nations knew too well the cost of nuclear testing.
The powerful statement said the 06 July launch, which China has described as routine and carrying a dummy warhead, struck a raw nerve in a region scarred by decades of nuclear experimentation.
“No nation understands the weight of nuclear testing in Pacific waters better than ours,” the statement said, noting that Marshall Islanders “bore the cost of 67 nuclear detonations” during 12 years of testing and “live with” the consequences still.
The statement rejected Beijing’s attempt to downplay the launch.
China had called the test “routine” and asked observers “not to overinterpret,” the Marshall Islands said, urging Beijing instead to recognise “that a region asking for peace is not a region inviting a demonstration of force.”
The government also invoked the Pacific Islands Forum’s Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration, endorsed in September 2025, saying Pacific leaders had already made clear their commitment to keep the region free from “conflict and rivalry.”
China is a party to Protocols II and III of the Treaty of Rarotonga, which established the South Pacific as a nuclear-free zone, the statement said.
By ratifying the protocols in 1988, Beijing committed not to test or threaten the use of nuclear weapons in the region.
“Upholding the Treaty’s intent requires not only adherence to its letter, but also good faith in preserving the Pacific as an Ocean of Peace,” the statement said.
The Marshall Islands said it was calling on China “as we have called on every nuclear power before it” to explain its intentions clearly and to respect the security concerns of Pacific states.
“We are a small nation.
“We do not raise this history lightly, nor do we invoke it for rhetorical effect,” the statement said…. PACNEWS
NZ – POLITICS: PMN PACNEWS 2: Thu 09 Jul 2026
Protecting the Moana: Greens say ocean decisions must put Pacific families first
WELLINGTON, 09 JULY 2026 (PMN) — For Pacific communities, the ocean is not just a resource. It is a source of food, culture, identity and connection passed down through generations.
Now, as New Zealand heads towards a general election, the future of the country’s waterways and marine environment has become a major political debate.
The Green Party says its “Drink Swim Fish” campaign is about restoring clean drinking water, healthy rivers and a protected ocean for future generations.
Speaking with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson says protecting the moana requires changes to the way New Zealand manages its natural environment.
“We understand that we need to protect snapper and tarakihi and orange roughy and oysters for our mokopuna to come. Our approach to planning to live in a way that balances the restoration of our seas and our waters and rivers is an important part of our policy,” Davidson says.
“We know that with that ancient knowledge that we have, we have to share with everyone, we can protect our oceans and our rivers for everyone’s mokopuna, not just for Māori and Pasifika mokopuna.”
Davidson says nearly half of the total length of New Zealand rivers is currently in poor health and completely unsafe for swimming.
According to the Green’s policy, up to 100,000 people fall sick every year from consuming unsafe drinking water, while 9000 children in schools and early childhood centres face strict boil water notices.
The party’s eight-part policy package includes giving water regulator Taumata Arowai stronger enforcement powers, reducing pollution in waterways and phasing out “destructive bottom trawling”.
“Banning bottom trawling is something that is going to help restore the fish stocks in our sea for everyone,” Davidson says.
“We want to lower the nitrate levels in drinking water. We’ve got research that shows that when farming moves towards regenerative practices that restore the health of waterways and soils, which can also lead to higher profits as well.”
However, the government has pushed back against a complete ban, saying the fishing sector remains an important part of the economy and supports thousands of jobs.
In a public address on Monday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says moving away from bottom trawling completely would create economic pressure for coastal communities, arguing the focus should instead be on using technology to improve fishing practices.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones also defended the industry, saying in a May press release that commercial fishing remains tightly managed.
The ministry reported that commercial trawling only affects 1.7 per cent of New Zealand’s marine area during the 2024-25 fishing year.
Davidson argues that people cannot restore extinct species following damaged ecosystems, when the industry scrapes out all the fish there would be no jobs left.
“Seamounts are beautiful underwater mountains that have formed over millennia, corals and hot spots for biodiversity and marine life,” Davidson says.
“Bottom trawling destroys those in moments, those that have taken millennia to build and to grow.”
Davidson says a clear line must be established in this decision, where the price for the commercial industry surviving is not at the cost of habitat and species damage in the ocean.
For Pacific communities, the debate reflects a wider regional question: how countries protect the ocean while ensuring people can continue to rely on it for food, livelihoods and culture.
As New Zealand voters prepare to go to the polls in November, ocean protection is set to remain part of a bigger conversation about the future of the Blue Pacific…. PACNEWS
VAN – DRUG FIGHT: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 2: Thu 09 Jul 2026
No evidence yet of local involvement in major drug seizures, says Vanuata’s Minister Napuat
PORT VILA, 09 JULY 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — Authorities have not found evidence linking local individuals to recent illicit drug seizures in Vanuatu, Minister of Internal Affairs and Police Andrew Solomon Napuat says, although investigations remain ongoing.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National Security Summit on Drugs and HIV, Minister Napuat said Vanuatu’s border security agencies continue to inspect every vessel arriving in the country, resulting in several drug seizures and arrests in recent months.
“At this stage, we have no confirmed information that local people are involved in the drug seizures,” he said.
“Those who have been arrested are individuals who came from overseas.
“The drugs they brought into the country have been confiscated, and the suspects have been handed over to police. Their cases have now been filed before the courts, where they will face prosecution.” Minister Napuat said, however, that the absence of confirmed local involvement does not mean investigations have ended.
“It does not mean we have no information or that there is no possibility of local involvement. Our authorities and border agencies are working closely together to gather intelligence and identify anyone who may be connected to these illegal activities,” he said.
The Minister also confirmed that all illicit drugs seized in Vanuatu have been transported to Australia for destruction because the country currently lacks facilities to safely dispose of prohibited substances.
“At the moment, Vanuatu does not have a facility to destroy seized drugs. That is why they are sent to Australia for destruction,” he said.
He expressed hope that Vanuatu would eventually develop its own capacity to safely destroy confiscated drugs.
“Perhaps following this summit, discussions can lead to decisions that will allow Vanuatu to establish a system for destroying seized drugs within the country in the future,” he added.
Minister Napuat also spoke about growing regional cooperation to combat transnational drug trafficking. He noted that Australia hosted a regional security meeting in Fiji last month, bringing together representatives from Pacific Island countries to discuss measures to strengthen border security and address the increasing threat of illicit drugs across the region.
He said the meeting recognised that drug trafficking has become a regional concern requiring collective action.
“We all share one ocean, and that means we also share the responsibility of protecting our borders. We must address this issue before it becomes a much bigger problem for the Pacific,” he said.
Minister Napuat said early intervention and stronger regional cooperation are essential to keeping Pacific Island countries safe from organised criminal networks involved in drug trafficking.
“Our goal is to keep the Pacific free from the growing threat of illicit drugs by working together and acting before these challenges become more widespread,” he said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUG FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Thu 09 Jul 2026
76 washed-up parcels test positive for cocaine
SUVA, 09 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — All 76 parcels of suspected illicit drugs recovered from the Lau Group, Qamea, Kadavu and Beqa shores have tested positive for cocaine.
The latest discovery was made on Tuesday, 07 July, when officers from Savusavu Police Station recovered a clear plastic package containing a white substance believed to be illicit drugs after it washed ashore on Namena Island.
Crime Scene Investigation officers retrieved the package, while the Criminal Investigations Department is leading the investigation.
Police said the latest seizure brings the total number of recovered parcels to 76, all of which have tested positive for cocaine.
The Fiji Police Force is working with the Australian Federal Police to establish the source and intended destination of the illicit commodities.
Police also acknowledged traditional leaders, community leaders and members of the public for promptly reporting the discoveries, allowing officers to recover the packages before they could be interfered with.
Members of the public are urged to immediately report any suspicious packages by calling 1681 and to avoid handling them.
Meanwhile, the Northern Division Operations Sasamaki team, acting on information received during an investigation into the alleged unlawful possession of illicit drugs, uncovered a farm in the Qaravutu farming area containing more than 5,600 plants believed to be marijuana.
The plants were seized and placed in police custody pending analysis.
One suspect has been taken into custody for questioning, and investigations are continuing…. PACNEWS
PAC – DISASTERS: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Thu 09 Jul 2026
‘Periods don’t stop for a cyclone’: Pacific advocates say menstrual health is vital for disaster preparedness
SUVA, 09 JULY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — “Biology does not pause for a cyclone warning.”
That was one of the key messages from this year’s Let’s Talk Periods! Festival in Fiji, where around 200 people gathered to discuss a growing concern across the Pacific – ensuring menstrual health is recognised as an essential part of disaster preparedness.
While Pacific Island countries contribute the least to an ongoing climate crisis, they continue to bear some of its most severe consequences, with severe cyclones, floods and rising sea levels becoming an increasingly common reality across the region.
Homes can be destroyed, communities cut off, water and infrastructure becoming unsanitary, with people forced to rethink how they live.
And while emergency responses focus on food, water and shelter, advocates have said that too often, the basic needs of women and girls are often overlooked.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pacific representative Bidisha Pillai said menstruation does not stop when disaster strikes.
Pillai works with governments and civil society organisations to “make sure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled”.
She said only when these three conditions are met, the population of a country can thrive.
“Periods, unfortunately or fortunately, do not stop for a cyclone or an earthquake, and neither therefore should our commitment to dignity and access to these services,” she said.
Menstrual health is an absolutely fundamental part of sexual and reproductive health and cannot be treated as an afterthought during humanitarian responses, Pillai said.
“It’s a normal biological process. It’s not something to be ashamed about or to hide,” she said.
She said stigma surrounding menstruation continues to shape attitudes towards women’s health, reinforced by cultural taboos and misconceptions that discourage dialogue around women’s health.
“There is sometimes a culture of silence around talking openly about periods, talking openly about reproductive health, talking openly about the bodily changes both young girls and boys will go through.”
Alongside stigma, many women and girls in the region are faced practical barriers, such as limited access to clean water, sanitation facilities, private toilets and affordable menstrual products.
However, Pillai said not all Pacific nations fall under the same umbrella, and period poverty is oftentimes more severe for those living in remote maritime communities, people with disabilities, and gender-diverse individuals who were more likely to be excluded from services and information.
Pillai noted the issue impacts “diverse groups of people that are being excluded and left behind” rather than “whole nations”, and barriers become even greater during climate-related disasters.
“We know the Pacific is living really on the frontline of climate change and crisis … this is our daily life here. And when a crisis strikes, whether it’s a cyclone or earthquake, several of these barriers get amplified, many fold,” she said.
“I think that’s the other aspect that we see here, being particularly vulnerable to climate change, and when there’s a climate-related crisis, I think the services break down even further.
“We know that for women and girls, this infrastructural barrier then triggers a whole cycle of events, which includes they have no access to privacy, they are forced to manage their periods in unhygienic ways, unfortunately, which will impact their health. It triggers a rise in gender-based violence.”
In response, UNFPA has distributed around 2000 dignity kits following recent disasters across the Pacific, including in Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. The kits contain menstrual hygiene products and are distributed through community organisations alongside information on menstrual health and protection services.
However, Pillai said emergency relief alone is not sufficient.
“If a government has a preparedness plan, and that is only about food and water and shelter, then that means that typically population groups like women and girls and young people will get overlooked, or their needs are likely to be deprioritised and overlooked,” she said.
Young Feminist Network representative Sigalima Bola agreed menstrual hygiene remained largely absent from evacuation planning.
“Whenever there is a climate disaster, we get sent to evacuation centres and there is no proper planning … women, children and people with disabilities are just not thought of that way.”
UNFPA Gender and Youth Programme specialist Dr Eunji Kim said menstrual health should be built into disaster preparedness from the outset, rather than considered once an emergency had already begun.
But Pillai said lasting change depends on far more than emergency response alone.
“UNFPA is working with governments across nine Pacific countries to deliver family life education in schools, helping young people understand puberty, respectful relationships and sexual and reproductive health while breaking down the stigma surrounding menstruation,” she said.
Pillai said real progress will also come from communities themselves, pointing to the strength and determination of Pacific women across the region.
“When I hear from young people and young women in the Pacific, I just find that they are incredibly bold, they are incredibly aware, and they are willing to stand up and demand their rights,” she said.
“So, that gives me a lot of hope. The best solutions [to barriers that are faced] really come from within.”
Designing solutions for differently abled people cannot be done without “having them at the table” so they can explain individual barriers and co-create solutions, Pillai added.
“It’s really important to make sure that the solutions that we are developing and supporting are co-created with communities, with civil society organisations, with young people and women themselves, and then, of course, with the governments that we work with, said Pillai…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – INVESTMENT: ADB PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 09 Jul 2026
ADB’s first non-soverign investment in Cook Islands backs sustainable Pacific fashion
RAROTONGA, 09 JULY 2026 (ADB) — Asian Development Bank (ADB) Frontier Seed initiative in the Pacific has announced a USD$130,000 growth capital investment in Manini Wear, a Cook Islands-based contemporary fashion and lifestyle brand designing and retailing modern Pacific-inspired apparel. This marks ADB Frontier’s first investment in the Cook Islands and ADB’s first non-sovereign transaction.
The investment will support Manini to shift to lower-carbon ocean freight, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the company’s supply chain and expand its retail presence into Aitutaki bringing the Manini brand to an underserved market which receives approximately 40,000 visitors annually and is currently underserved by quality retail strengthening its long-term growth.
“The Pacific is home to some of the world’s most innovative and resilient entrepreneurs, and Manini is a testament to that. This investment reflects ADB Frontier’s commitment to backing locally owned businesses that are building industries from within that are creating jobs,” said Azusa Sato, Regional Director of ADB’s Pacific Subregional Office. “We are proud to make our first investment in the Cook Islands and to support a brand that is as purposeful as it is creative.”
While locally designed apparel is common across the Pacific, few brands offer the combination of high-quality fabrics, contemporary Pacific-inspired prints, and versatile designs. Designed in-house and produced using certified sustainable fabrics including ECOVERO, a biodegradable and compostable fibre derived from responsibly sourced wood, the brand offers something distinctive in the Pacific market: fashion with a genuine Pacific identity that is as purposeful as it is wearable. The dresses are produced through a women-owned and women-led manufacturing partner in Bali, where over 95 percent of workers are women, embedding gender inclusion across the supply chain from design to production.
“We started Manini because we wanted to create and express local fashion through a contemporary lens and in our own way; combining Pacific Island influences with a modern aesthetic that felt fresh, relevant, and unique. Since launching from our very first market stall in Rarotonga in 2019, that vision has been warmly embraced by our local people and international visitors alike. This partnership with ADB Frontier gives us the foundation to grow in the right way,” said Tara Tuarae-White, Co-Founder of Manini.
ADB Frontier’s approach is built around providing innovative and flexible financing like revenue-based financing that is tailored to the needs of small and growing enterprises ensuring businesses like Manini have the right support at the right stage of growth…. PACNEWS
PAC – ECONOMY: ADB PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 09 Jul 2026
ADB sees slower growth for Asia and the Pacific in 2026 amid global energy crisis
MANILA, 09 JULY 2026 (ADB) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered its growth forecast for developing Asia and the Pacific economies to 4.9 percent for 2026 compared to 5.5 percent growth in 2025. This is a reduction of 0.2 percentage points from April projections. Prolonged disruptions to energy markets caused by the Middle East conflict have weighed more heavily on the region’s prospects than anticipated, according to ADB’s latest economic outlook released today. The 2027 growth forecast is maintained at 5.1 percent, reflecting recovering activity as these pressures ease.
Asian Development Outlook (ADO) July 2026 expects disruptions to global energy markets to unwind only gradually, despite a framework agreement signed in June. With impacts extending beyond energy to fertilisers, other commodity prices, and supply chains, inflationary pressures are likely to persist. Regional inflation is now forecast at 4.3 percent this year compared to 3 percent in 2025—an upward revision of 0.7 percentage points from April. The inflation forecast for 2027 remains at 3.4 percent.
“Durable implementation of the framework agreement would help normalise global energy markets, but the pace of adjustment is highly uncertain with significant downside risks,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park. “Economic growth in developing Asia and the Pacific remains resilient, but persistent headwinds caused by the conflict require a careful policy balance between supporting growth and containing inflation.”
ADO July 2026 warns that renewed conflict escalation and prolonged geopolitical uncertainty remain key risks to the region’s outlook. These could further tighten energy markets, raise risk premia, and intensify inflationary and external pressures. Tighter global financial conditions pose additional risks, with sovereign bond yields and borrowing costs rising, and fiscal deficits projected to widen in several economies. Higher tariffs and elevated trade policy uncertainty could also weigh on activity, while rising fertiliser prices continue to threaten agricultural output and food security.
Growth projections for 2026 are lowered for most subregions, except developing East Asia. Forecasts for the People’s Republic of China are unchanged at 4.6 percent for 2026 and 4.5 percent for 2027, supported by strong exports and infrastructure investment. India’s growth forecast is revised down to 6.6 percent this year, as higher energy costs weigh on domestic demand, and maintained at 7.3 percent for next year. Growth projections for Southeast Asia and the Pacific are also trimmed, reflecting weaker domestic demand and tourism, rising inflation, and higher import costs.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region…. PACNEWS
PAC – TOURISM: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 09 Jul 2026
Pacific tourism receipts reach US$4 Billion as region shifts to high-value visitors
PORT VILA, 09 JULY 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — The Pacific tourism industry has surpassed pre-pandemic performance, with tourism receipts increasing from US$2.9 billion in 2019 to an estimated US$4 billion in 2025, representing 36 percent growth despite international visitor arrivals remaining relatively unchanged.
Speaking during the recent Vanuatu Tourism Market Forum, Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Christopher Cocker said the figures demonstrate that the Pacific is successfully transitioning from a high-volume tourism model to one focused on attracting higher-value visitors.
CEO Cocker said while international air arrivals have largely returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, visitor spending has increased, reinforcing the region’s strategy of prioritising value over volume.
He said tourism remains one of the Pacific’s most important economic sectors, contributing substantially to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment, foreign exchange earnings and the growth of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs).
“In many Pacific Island economies, tourism contributes more to national development than traditional sectors such as agriculture and fisheries,” Cocker said.
He said that in some Pacific countries, tourism contributes more than 70 percent of GDP, while in Fiji it accounts for more than 40 percent of economic activity. Beyond direct economic benefits, tourism also supports agriculture, fisheries, culture, infrastructure, trade and community development.
Cocker said the SPTO, established in 1983, is the region’s leading tourism body representing 20 Pacific island countries and territories stretching from the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the north to Timor-Leste in the west and the Kingdom of Tonga in the south.
He said SPTO is unique among regional organisations because it operates as a public-private partnership, with both governments and private sector representatives participating at council and board levels.
According to Cocker, SPTO has continued to support member countries through regional marketing campaigns, international trade shows, digital transformation initiatives, sustainable tourism programmes, data collection and analysis, climate resilience projects and regional partnerships.
He said Vanuatu has benefited from several SPTO programmes, including the Pacific Digital Transformation Project funded by the New Zealand Government and regional initiatives aimed at improving tourism data, destination marketing and sustainable tourism standards.
Providing an overview of regional tourism performance, Cocker said Australia remains the Pacific’s largest visitor source market, accounting for about 36 percent of international arrivals in 2025, followed by New Zealand with approximately 25 percent and North America with 15 percent. Europe was the only major source market to record a decline, falling from around 10 percent before the pandemic to about five percent.
Fiji remains the Pacific’s leading tourism destination with close to one million visitor arrivals, followed by French Polynesia and the Cook Islands. Cocker highlighted the Cook Islands as a successful example of destination development, noting that despite having a population of only around 13,000 and no national airline, the country attracts approximately 187,000 visitors annually through strong international airline connectivity.
Cocker also pointed to several ongoing challenges facing Pacific tourism, including expensive airfares, limited regional connectivity, climate change impacts, cumbersome travel processes, digital readiness and the need to improve investment environments across the region.
He said improving aviation connectivity remains one of the region’s highest priorities, stressing that “no route means no access, and no access means no tourism.”
Looking ahead, Cocker said Pacific destinations should continue diversifying tourism products, embrace digital technologies, strengthen data collection and analysis, improve destination branding and attract investment that benefits local communities.
He encouraged Pacific governments to broaden their visitor markets beyond Australia and New Zealand by targeting North America, Asia and other international markets while maintaining a focus on sustainable tourism that protects the region’s culture, environment and people.
“The future of Pacific tourism is not simply about increasing visitor numbers,” Cocker said. “It is about ensuring tourism delivers greater value while protecting the unique cultures, environments and communities that make the Pacific different from the rest of the world.”
He said regional cooperation will remain critical in addressing shared challenges and ensuring tourism continues to drive sustainable economic growth across the Pacific…. PACNEWS
PAC – INNOVATIVE FORUM: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 09 Jul 2026
Eco-concrete and grass tech take top awards at Pacific Innovation Forum
PORT VILA, 09 JULY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — A type of sustainable concrete and grass systems for soil stabilisation were the big winners of the first Wave Makers Pacific Innovation Forum for Climate and Environment held in Vanuatu last week.
The event featured a pitching competition which saw Pacific entrepreneurs – the top ten out of 50 nominees – showcasing Pacific-led climate and environmental solutions.
Competition lead and V-Lab founder and president Marc Antone Morel said the idea of the forum was to look at the challenge of climate change and environmental degradation through a different lens.
“This forum was really about telling a positive story, a story of innovation, a story of people coming together with bold ideas and with a common vision, a common goal,” Morel said.
Morel said the competition was a key element of the inaugural forum to highlight innovation as a cornerstone to any regional development effort.
“The decision was to engage as much as possible the private sector and offer the private sector a space to showcase their solution. This pitching competition basically brought together businesses, entrepreneurs from the region, and possibly, ideally, likely helped them to grow their business,” Morel said.
The competition offered a cash prize winner of AU$10,000 (US$6.936). The winner was ENVIROMESH representative and Envirocrete Pacific managing director in Vanuatu Fred Kalkaua, pitching an eco-concrete from Pacific waste.
“Steel and cement contribute [around] eight percent of [carbon emissions] into the atmosphere … so using waste in New Caledonia to do the GeoMix, which is a geopolymer mix, would replace the cement and recycle all the plastics, which we use as fiber that replaces the mesh wire into concrete,” Kalkaua said.
Kalkaua said the prize money would help expand Envirocrete Pacific beyond Vanuatu.
“We have some plans in visiting Pacific [nations], like Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands, and also probably travel to New Caledonia to see how much they would need, so we could bring in all the products available in Vanuatu and have it accessible and start to inform the people of the importance of the use of this product,” he said.
He said the forum was a great opportunity for face-to-face networking for him and his team.
“I brought in 500 of my business cards there and also with my two partners. I have only 100 left,” Kalkaua said.
The winner of People’s Choice award was Robinson Vanoh from Papua New Guinea-based Eagle Vetiver Systems Ltd (EVSL).
EVSL use vetiver grass systems for soil stabilisation and erosion control to safeguard communities from climate driven disasters such as flooding and landslides.
“Winning the people’s choice award tells me that the audience, or the very people living through these climate challenges, deeply connect with our vision, and their choice has truly inspired me to explore more ways to adapt, expand, and deliver this technology across the region,” Vanoh said.
He said the forum showed him how the Pacific wants immediate solutions and not trails.
“Our communities are past the phase of needing proof-of-concept trials. What we need now is full-scale solutions deployed right now, and we are looking for partners who want to help us deliver on that scale,” he said.
Morel said with the Vanuatu government’s support to make the forum a biennial event and a showcase at COP30 in Turkey.
“It is our hope that through the forum and through the movement that was launched with the forum, we would see a more coordinated and integrated approach for business support in the region, with additional resources … to enable us to accompany the wave makers of today and discover the way makers of tomorrow,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Tuvalu’s national labour migration policy ten years on
By Charlotte Bedford
FUNAFUTI, 09 JULY 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) — A decade ago, the Government of Tuvalu, with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), released the country’s first National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP). Its long-term vision was not large-scale migration, but to provide Tuvaluan citizens with increased opportunities for safe, managed temporary work and residence overseas.
The small central Pacific archipelagic state — with an estimated population of 9,420 in 2026 — is at the forefront of the climate change crisis. The country, which has a long history of labour migration, notably in phosphate mining (Nauru and Ocean Island) and seafaring in the decades before and after British Independence in 1978, seeks to retain self-determination and sovereignty in situ. In this context, migration is seen as an important component of climate adaptation efforts, helping to build Tuvalu’s climate resilience through enhanced access to education, skills, income diversification and alternative employment.
Ten years on, much of the landscape the NLMP addressed has changed. Seafaring, once the anchor of Tuvalu’s engagement with labour migration, has declined dramatically. Temporary migration has shifted to seasonal work under New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme and longer-term employment (for up to four years) under Australia’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
Most significantly, the Tuvalu-Australia Falepili Union Treaty has introduced a permanent migration pathway to Australia — akin to (but more generous than) New Zealand’s Pacific Access Category — of a kind the NLMP never anticipated.
From the late 1970s onwards, seafaring underpinned Tuvalu’s overseas employment. The Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute (TMTI), established just after independence in 1979 with Australian and German support, trained cadets to International Maritime Organisation standards for employment on merchant ships. In 2015, when the NLMP came into force, it was the country’s only formal post-secondary vocational programme, enrolling up to 20 men per intake.
In the early 2000s, more than 350 Tuvaluans were employed offshore as seafarers at any one time. Seafarers’ remittances provided a crucial source of income for many Tuvaluan families, exceeding A$4.7 million (US$3.26 million) in 2000, with 50-60 percent of the population directly dependent on them.
Following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, and amid growing competition in global shipping, work on board merchant ships became harder to secure. By the mid-2010s fewer than 100 Tuvaluan seafarers held jobs at sea, from a qualified pool of around 800.
Ten years on, the numbers have fallen further still. A recent ILO report found that only six Tuvaluan seafarers were employed in 2024. The reasons for the decline are cumulative: advances in maritime technology, stricter international regulation, the rising costs of training and recruitment, and the COVID-era crew-change crisis that stranded Tuvaluan and I-Kiribati seafarers and has had a lasting deterrent effect on potential recruits.
The TMTI continues to train, however, and, early in 2026, announced plans to upgrade its facilities and seek new vessel partnerships. Fishing offers a related alternative. As a party to the Nauru Agreement, Tuvaluans can be employed on purse seiners operating in the region. A Tuvalu Fisheries Authority advertisement in February 2024 listed at least 30 positions on Tuvalu-flagged vessels. The ILO notes, however, that there is no obligation to employ Tuvaluans on foreign vessels licensed to fish in Tuvalu’s waters, or on commercial ships registered under the Tuvalu flag, leaving the opportunity far from guaranteed.
As seafaring has receded, seasonal and longer-term jobs under the RSE and PALM schemes have become Tuvalu’s main offshore opportunities. The numbers were initially small: in 2015 Tuvalu sent 64 RSE workers to New Zealand, of whom 31 percent (20) were women. Fewer than five Tuvaluans were recruited under Australia’s Seasonal Worker Programme (now the short-term component of PALM) in the same year.
Participation in New Zealand’s RSE scheme has remained steady, if modest. Between 2007 and 2025, 677 individuals accounted for just under 1,500 Tuvaluan RSE arrivals, sustained by a handful of employers with long-standing recruitment relationships. One strength has been the high female participation rate: 30 percent of Tuvaluan RSE workers have been women, more than double the 12 percent average across the nine Pacific source countries.
Tuvalu’s participation in Australia’s PALM scheme has followed a different path. Tuvalu joined the Pacific Labour Scheme (now the long-term component of PALM) in 2018, with 42 participants in its first year. Since then, the country has concentrated on longer-term work. In April 2026, 285 Tuvaluans were in Australia on long-term PALM placements, mostly in meat processing; no Tuvaluans were employed as seasonal workers under the short-term component of PALM.
Tuvalu is keen to expand its PALM participation. In May 2026, the labour-sending unit held online briefings with PALM-approved employers to showcase the skills of Tuvaluan workers. RSE numbers remain stable, with around 140 Tuvaluans currently employed for seasonal work.
The most significant change to Tuvalu’s migration landscape, however, is of a different order. The Falepili Union Treaty provides 280 places each year for permanent residence in Australia, under unusually generous terms: no work requirement, no maximum age limit, no disability restrictions, and access to benefits and Medicare.
When the first ballot was drawn in 2025, it was heavily over-subscribed, with more than half the population applying. At 280 places a year, Falepili alone represents almost three percent of Tuvalu’s population. Combined with another 100 places under Australia’s Pacific Engagement Visa, as well as New Zealand’s 75-place per annum Pacific Access Category, the figure rises to 455 visas or almost five percent of the population. This is a per capita level of out-migration Stephen Howes has described as “extraordinarily high … in a single year, let alone in repeated years”. Earlier modelling suggested that sustained net losses of around 200 people a year would see Tuvalu’s population begin to decline by 2030.
Tuvalu’s overriding priority, however, is to protect and maintain the habitability of the islands for its people. Temporary and permanent migration pathways are seen as important components of the country’s overall strategy to build climate resilience and enable people to circulate within the region or remain in their island homes. Under the Falepili Union Treaty there is no “use it or lose it” provision — Tuvaluans are granted indefinite permanent residency, with the intention that people will move back and forth between Tuvalu and Australia (high travel costs notwithstanding). The challenge for policy is to make remaining in Tuvalu attractive.
Looking ahead, Tuvalu’s migration landscape in 2026 bears little resemblance to the one for which the NLMP was written. The decline of seafaring, the pivot towards long-term work in Australia, and the arrival of the Falepili Union Treaty are not changes at the margin — they reset the assumptions on which the NLMP was built. It is time to review the policy so that it reflects Tuvalu’s priorities in this new landscape…. PACNEWS
Charlotte Bedford is a research fellow with the Development Policy Centre and is based in New Zealand.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Stronger Geospatial and Environmental Data Management Systems lead to stronger Pacific Resilience
NADI, 09 JULY 2026 (SPREP) — Stronger geospatial and environmental data management systems, empowers Pacific Island countries to address the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution. These strengthened systems improve monitoring, identify risks, and support evidence-based planning for the three interconnected threats that already place enormous pressure on Pacific ecosystems, livelihoods, food security and community resilience.
Against this backdrop, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) launched a five-day regional training on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and environmental data management in Nadi, Fiji.
The training, from 29 June – 3 July, brought together 21 government environmental officers, GIS practitioners and spatial planners from across the Pacific Islands region.
“You are all here today in our joint endeavours to confront the urgent environmental issues that impact our region and the global community,” said Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General of SPREP.
“GIS and the Pacific Environment Portal are some of the tools that help to management environmental data to inform, safeguard, engage, educate, raise awareness, change behaviours, and influence policies, planning and decision making at all levels while helping to bridge the gap between science, technical assessment and policy action.”
The training guided the participants through a carefully sequenced curriculum that builds from foundational knowledge to practical application, peer -to-peer collaboration, and the development of tangible outputs that participants can utilise to strengthen environmental governance in their respective countries.
The programme featured hands-on, practical capacity building that responds directly to real-world challenges, including fragmented data systems, uneven technical capacity across the region and the lack of standardised protocols that have historically weakened ongoing environmental monitoring efforts.
Participants learnt how to enhance their national environment data portals to organise and store data more consistently, improve metadata and data-sharing practices. This ensures that critical environmental information is accessible to inform planning, reporting, and decision-making.
Participants also strengthened their practical skills in QGIS, the free and open-source GIS software widely used around the world to create maps, edit layers, analyse spatial information, and share results.
“Building confidence in QGIS fundamentals such as working with points, lines and polygons, managing attribute tables, applying symbology, producing map layouts and running analysis tools will enable practitioners to transform environmental observations into usable maps and decision-support products,” said Kasaqa Tora, Spatial Analysis Specialist SPREP.
The regional capacity building initiative is an integral part of SPREP’s continuous commitment towards a more sustainable future for its members. Through building stronger GIS capabilities this will improve environmental data management, and wider use of existing environmental data platforms such as the Pacific Environment Data Portal and the Pacific Islands Protected Area Portal.
“This will enable our Pacific islands to transform data into meaningful action. The knowledge and practical skills gained this week will help countries strengthen planning, support informed decision-making and deliver more effective responses to the triple planetary crisis,” said Tora…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Cancer cases could nearly double by 2050 without urgent action, WHO warns
NEW YORK, 09 JULY 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — The number of new cancer cases worldwide could rise to almost 35 million a year by 2050 unless countries take urgent action to strengthen prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Wednesday.
That’s the headline stemming from a new report from the UN health agency highlighting stark inequalities in cancer survival between high and low-income countries.
Ten million deaths a year
The Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, produced with the International Agency for Research on Cancer – the IARC, a specialised WHO agency – outlines that cancer already causes more than 26,000 deaths every day, with an estimated 20.6 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths annually, making it the world’s second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease.
The report warns that while progress has been made in tobacco control, vaccination and cancer prevention, millions of people continue to face major inequalities in access to life-saving care.
“Cancer is a deeply personal disease that touches nearly all of us. But whether a person survives cancer should never depend on where they were born or what they earn,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, adding that “the inequities documented in this report are not inevitable; they are the consequence of choices, and they can be reversed through stronger and unified action.”
Stark inequalities
According to the report, survival rates differ sharply between rich and poor countries. While 87 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least five years in high-income countries, the figure falls to around 42 per cent in low-income countries.
Fewer than one in three countries currently include cancer care within their universal health coverage packages, leaving many patients without access to essential diagnosis, treatment or supportive care.
WHO also highlighted the heavy social and economic burden of the disease. Its first global survey of people affected by cancer found that:
– at least 45 per cent experience financial hardship
– more than half report mental health challenges
– almost all caregivers face significant pressures, including unpaid care responsibilities and social isolation.
Continental variations
In 2024, Asia accounted for more than half of all cancer cases and deaths, reflecting its large population.
Europe, with only around nine per cent of the global population, recorded 21 per cent of cancer cases and 20 per cent of deaths, giving it a disproportionately high burden.
Meanwhile, many countries in Africa and parts of Asia continue to experience lower incidence rates but significantly higher mortality.
Lung cancer most deadly
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Among men, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers are the most common, while breast, lung and colorectal cancers account for a large share of cases among women.
In 2024, there were an estimated 2.4 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 694,000 deaths globally. Breast cancer occurs in every country of the world in women at any age after puberty but with increasing rates in later life.
Prevention remains key
WHO estimates that nearly four in 10 cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B and C.
The agency underlined the need for prevention efforts that keep pace with emerging risks.
“While we are seeing reductions in some cancer rates in countries that have implemented prevention policies, progress has been too slow,” Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC, said.
“The cancer profile is evolving, increasingly driven by rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and air pollution. Cancer prevention must remain a political priority.”
Progress and persistent gaps
The report points to several important achievements over the past decade including decline in global tobacco use, vaccination programmes, and stronger political commitment.
82 per cent of countries are now reporting national cancer control plans, compared with 50 per cent in 2010. Scientific research has also accelerated, however access to essential medicines remains deeply unequal.
Availability of the 20 priority cancer medicines ranges from just 9 to 54 per cent in low and lower-middle-income countries, compared with 68 to 94 per cent in high-income countries.
Put people first
WHO said cancer control must move beyond medical treatment alone by placing people living with the disease and their families at the centre of health systems.
“Cancer is not just a medical diagnosis – it profoundly, indefinitely affects every aspect of a person’s life, and their family’s as well,” said Clarissa Schilstra, a childhood cancer survivor who helped lead WHO’s global survey.
She urged policymakers to work more closely with people who have lived experience of cancer to design more equitable and effective health policies…. PACNEWS
