In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific Economic Ministers remain cautious on Iran-U.S deal as fuel price uncertainty persists
2. PACIFIC — Forum expands effort to tackle Correspondent Banking challenges across Pacific
3. PACIFIC — Pacific Private sector warns Ministers of rising costs as fuel crisis dominates talks
4. UN — Targeting methane is a climate battle ‘we can win’: UN chief
5. VAN — Vanuatu demands France hand back remote Matthew and Hunter Islands in the Pacific
6. AUST — Choosing between U.S and China ‘offensive’: coalition
7. FIJI — Fiji Military shelters three women in suspected sex trafficking case
8. UN — International Day celebrates women diplomats on
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Australia ramps up bird flu testing as PNG blocks poultry imports after confirmed cases
10. PACNEWS BIZ — NZ annouces SBD$14 million budget support for Solomon Islands government reforms
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Military prepared for any budget outcome: Commander
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Navigating the rising tide
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Upgraded Mua nursery to support reforestation efforts in Taveuni
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — How the stories we tell about ageing shape our future
PAC – FEMM MEET: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 25 Jun 2026
Pacific Economic Ministers remain cautious on Iran-U.S deal as fuel price uncertainty persists
By Pita Ligaiula
MAJURO, 25 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)— Pacific countries are not placing significant confidence in the emerging Iran-United States agreement and will continue preparing for fuel market volatility as uncertainty in global energy supplies persists, Marshall Islands Finance Minister David Paul says.
Responding to a question at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) press conference on how developments in the Strait of Hormuz and negotiations between Iran and the United States are influencing Pacific decision-making, Paul said there is still too much uncertainty for Pacific nations to change course.
“Well, first of all, we all know that the MOU that was concluded between Iran and the United States, that’s basically an agreement to negotiate an agreement.”
“Now, let me repeat that. It is an agreement to start negotiating an agreement,” the FEMM Chair said.
Paul said it was too early to draw conclusions from the memorandum of understanding because hostilities continued after it was signed.
“I really cannot say too much on that because just right after the MOU was signed, there were continual hostilities. There were continually changing, blow by blow,” he said.
He said small island countries should not rely on the agreement as a sign that the crisis is nearing an end.
“From the perspective of small island countries like the Marshalls or the Pacific in general, we shouldn’t take too much stock on that one because it does not give you any certainty at all,” he emphasised.
Paul said Pacific countries remain highly exposed because they sit at the end of global fuel supply chains and warned that fuel prices would remain unstable while uncertainty persists in global markets.
“We continue to recognise the fact that we are at the end of the global supply chain when it comes to the supply of fuel in general.”
“As long as there is so much uncertainty in the market, prices are going to continue to be very volatile,” he said.
Paul said governments must continue implementing measures aimed at reducing energy consumption and limiting exposure to global fuel markets.
“As responsible leaders and stewards of this crisis, we have to continue to be cautious and continue to implement the same measures that we’ve been implementing.”
“We have to make sure that we cut down on energy consumption, minimise utilisation of electricity within the economy, minimise consumption of gasoline, diesel and other products that continue to be at the mercy of the global supply chain,” he stressed.
Paul acknowledged that predicting the outcome of the crisis remains difficult.
“Your guess is as good as ours with respect to the environment and the status of the crisis that we are all faced with.”
He said Pacific governments would continue to monitor developments closely and maintain existing response measures.
“We will continue to monitor it.”
“Yes, we will continue to follow the same formula that we would continue to implement while we weather the storm.”
“That’s where we are as far as our continued monitoring and response to the current energy crisis,” said Paul….PACNEWS
PAC – FEMM MEET: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 25 Jun 2026
Forum expands effort to tackle Correspondent Banking challenges across Pacific
By Pita Ligaiula
MAJURO, 25 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)— Forum Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa says the Pacific’s Correspondent Banking Relationship (CBR) office is now fully established and working to address banking challenges faced by Pacific countries affected by de-risking measures.
Responding to a question during a press conference on discussions at the 2026 Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) about correspondent banking and efforts to tackle the issue, Waqa said ministers remain aware of the difficulties countries face.
“Ministers do realise the difficulties that each and every one of the countries go through with these de-risking and so on and so forth, of banking arrangements,” he said.
Waqa said the Forum’s CBR team provided ministers and officials with an update during the meeting.
He said the Forum’s dedicated office dealing with correspondent banking issues is now operational.
“We had our CBR team here to update our ministers and officials.
“As you know, the CBR office in the Forum is now well established. We’ve got our people on board,” he said.
Waqa said the office is expected to begin addressing country-specific challenges.
He said progress to date had been encouraging.
“Hopefully we can start addressing some of the individual challenges.”
“At the moment, it seems like it’s going quite well,” he said.
Waqa said ministers received an update on current correspondent banking arrangements and efforts being explored to address the issue.
“The report to the ministers on the CBR arrangements, they’re looking for all sorts of solutions.”
He also pointed to the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ Lomalo digital payment platform as an example of initiatives that could help improve payment systems.
“There’s also an excellent initiative here. You’re probably not aware, but we were all shown this Lomalo. We tried it out last night at the market.”
“These are little projects here and there that assist us in providing our payment mechanism to make it more easier,” Waqa said.
Despite progress, Waqa said correspondent banking challenges remain and will require continued attention.However, he said the current situation remains stable.
“The problem will continue and hopefully we can keep working on it to reduce the effects of that.”
“At the moment, it’s quite stable,” said SG Waqa…..PACNEWS
PAC – FEMM MEET: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 25 Jun 2026
Pacific Private sector warns Ministers of rising costs as fuel crisis dominates talks
By Pita Ligaiula
MAJURO, 25 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)—Rising energy costs and the impact of the Middle East fuel crisis dominated discussions between Pacific finance ministers and private sector leaders during a Ministerial Talanoa at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting(FEMM), according to Marshall Islands Finance Minister David Paul.
Responding to a question on concerns raised by private sector representatives and the response from ministers, Paul said the discussions focused heavily on the challenges businesses are facing as costs continue to rise across the region.
“There was a Ministerial Talanoa with the private sector, and the subject that was very much relevant and prevalent throughout the discussion is the energy crisis and the challenges that the private sector face in line with all these rising costs,” he explained.
Paul said ministers were not surprised by the concerns raised because the challenges are being experienced across the Pacific.
“There were no surprises to any of us because not only does it affect the private sector here, but it also affects the private sector throughout the Pacific,” he said.
The FEMM Chair said ministers also discussed opportunities that could emerge from the crisis and ways to respond to the challenges facing businesses.
“We try to always look for what are the possibilities and the opportunities, because whether it’s an energy crisis, whether it’s a climate crisis, what is important is what kind of mechanism and response we do in order to absorb and try to ease those challenges,” he said.
Paul highlightedo the Marshall Islands ‘LomaLo Wallet’ initiative and the country’s digital sovereign bond project as examples of efforts to address barriers to business and financial transactions.
“With our partnership, as the Secretary General mentioned, with the invention of the LomaLo Wallet, which is the Marshall Islands doing what we call the digital sovereign bond.”
“With that digital sovereign bond, it allows us to be able to transact and move money beyond borders using blockchain technology and working with a U.S-regulated bank, which is Bank of Guam,” he said.
Paul said the initiative could help reduce barriers that continue to affect private sector growth.
“So we can eliminate that cost barrier that continues to contribute to the impediment of private sector growth and development in our Pacific Island countries.”
He said Pacific economies continue to face the challenge of geographic isolation.
“One of the challenges that we face as economies that are fragmented because of the geographical setting of each of our countries is the tyranny of distance.”
Paul said the government had recently announced a partnership with Bank of Guam to support the digital sovereign bond platform.
“We just made the announcement during the week that the Marshall Islands government announced a partnership with the Bank of Guam in order for them to onboard the digital sovereign bond that is operating on the blockchain that is FATF and CDF compliance,” he said.
He said the initiative demonstrated how governments and businesses can work together to address common challenges.
“That shows the opportunities that both the private sector and the public sector, which is the government, work together to try to overcome all these challenges we face.”
However, Paul said the central issue remained unchanged.
“At the end of the day, the elephant in the room is always the energy crisis,” he stressed.
Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa said ministers and private sector representatives also discussed fuel supply and processing options within the region, including opportunities involving Papua New Guinea.
“During the discussion, ministers and private sector discussed fuel processing in the region as well, with Papua New Guinea, to further explore that,” he said.
Waqa said access to capital was another key concern raised by businesses.
“Most of the discussion we’ve had with the private sector, I heard a bit about the capital issue, gaining enough capital for reinvestment during this very important and critical moment in time,” the Forum SG said.
He said the wider backdrop to the discussions remained the fuel crisis linked to events in the Middle East.
“The backdrop here clearly is the fuel crisis, the Middle Eastern crisis causing all these issues to dawn on us and affect our economies in what are, if I may, the most vulnerable economies in our region,” said Waqa……PACNEWS
UN – CLIMATE CHANGE: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Thu 25 Jun 2026
Targeting methane is a climate battle ‘we can win’: UN chief
LONDON, 25 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—Amid efforts to cool global warming, the battle hinges on targeting such super-pollutants as methane, which emits one third of the world’s greenhouse gases and “is a fight we can win”, the UN chief on Wednesday.
“The climate crisis is accelerating, and we are now on course to overshoot the 1.5°C limit in the coming years,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told delegates at the super-pollutants reception during London Climate Action Week, which runs from 20 – 28 June.
“Reducing methane is a fight we can win and benefit from in our own time,” he said. “Our task is to keep that overshoot as small, short and safe as possible and to bring temperatures back down. That can’t happen without drastically reducing emissions, starting now, and accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels, starting now.”
To do so demands that the world move fast on super-pollutants, which are potent greenhouse gases behind nearly half the global warming to date.
Invisible, odourless and driving nearly a third of current global warming, methane is the key ingredient in natural gas and “is the super super-pollutant”, the UN chief said, adding that, unlike carbon dioxide, it breaks down in a decade or two.
“Cutting methane is the single fastest brake we can pull on a warming planet,” he said, pointing to the newly launched global Call to Action on Methane,
The International Energy Agency finds that around 70 per cent of methane from oil and gas can be eliminated with existing technologies at low or no net cost, and thanks to satellites, “we can track methane pollution where it happens as it happens,” he said.
The UN chief set out three steps governments and industry can take towards tackling methane’s negative effects:
*Detect and fix every leak and eliminate routine flaring and cold venting
*Make emissions measurable, reportable and verifiable
*Adopt a science-based global methane standard and build a market for near-zero-methane energy
“Countries like Norway have already shown the way,” he said. “If every producer matched its standards, methane from oil and gas would fall by 90 per cent.”
The world acted to heal the ozone layer and phase out leaded petrol and now, it must act on methane pollution, the UN chief said, emphasising that “the age of voluntary action is over.”
Indeed, more than 70 percent of the reduction potential lies within the G20 and much of it within the fossil fuel sector, and “that is where we must zero in to zero out methane.”
Developing countries need finance, technology and capacity to accelerate action across agriculture, waste and fossil fuels, the Secretary-General said.
“This is also a test of climate solidarity,” he declared, pledging that the UN will stand with every nation ready to act.
“Let’s be the generation that pulls the climate emergency brake in time.”
Elaborating on that theme at a related financing for development forum in London, the UN chief outlined ways to help countries along a greener path.
The forum focused on unlocking the finance required to help countries transform and adapt to the climate crisis at a time when “climate adaptation is no longer about preparing for a distant future,” Guterres said.
“It’s about managing risks in real time as the searing heat now gripping London and far beyond makes unmistakably clear our climate is changing faster than our systems, our infrastructure and our institutions can handle,” he said.
With the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) confirming that the past 11 years have been the hottest on record and scientists expecting global temperatures to exceed 1.5°C in the coming years, he said “we’re entering a new era of climate risk.”
As such, adaptation is a matter of “climate justice” while also being an economic necessity and development and security imperative, he said.
“Multilateral development banks, climate funds, donors, insurers and development partners must join forces to put per-arranged finance within reach of developing countries.
“Together, let’s ensure that resilience becomes the foundation for a safer, more secure and more sustainable future and that resources are made available for that to be possible,.” Guterres said…..PACNEWS
VAN – DIPLOMACY: ABC PACIFIC PACNEWS 3: Thu 25 Jun 2026
Vanuatu demands France hand back remote Matthew and Hunter Islands in the Pacific
PORT VILA, 25 JUNE 2026 (ABC PACIFIC)—Three hundred kilometres east of New Caledonia are two islands believed by some to be inhabited by a god.
Bruno Senges didn’t encounter one during a sailing trip to Matthew Island in 2021, but after setting foot on its rugged shoreline, he is reluctant to rule the theory out.
“It’s breathtaking, the volcano is active, there are thousands of birds — it’s magic,” he said.
Fifteen kilometres away, Hunter Island is equally striking.
Sulphur-yellow cliffs plunge into the ocean, part of a mineral-rich landscape unlike anywhere else in the French territory.
“New Caledonia is not volcanic, so it’s very untypical for our landscape,” Senges said.
The landscape more closely reflects Vanuatu’s Tafea Province 300 kilometres to the north.
Tafea has strong cultural ties to Matthew and Hunter, yet they are under French control as part of New Caledonia and have been at the centre of a sovereignty dispute since Vanuatu gained independence in 1980.
France reinforced its claim in 1975 by installing on the islands plaques declaring its sovereignty — a move some in Vanuatu saw as carefully timed before it gained independence.
Now, formal negotiations have begun over the future of the islands, with Vanuatu seeking to secure sovereignty.
New Caledonia’s pro-independence president publicly backed Vanuatu’s claim last month, deepening political divisions with New Caledonia’s French-loyalist government, which later suspended trade ties with Vanuatu.
Meanwhile, Vanuatu’s prime minister has publicly accused France of “dragging its feet” ahead of a second round of talks expected in Paris later this month.
Matthew and Hunter are sacred to communities in Vanuatu’s southern islands, who refer to them as Umaenupne and Umaeneg.
A 2011 UN report recognised them as places of worship and ritual that date back many generations.
“On the Tafea island groups, there is a god that looks after them and the god resides on those islands,” acting director of Vanuatu’s Department of Oceans Tony Tevi said.
France, meanwhile, has no cultural attachment to the islands — not even among Indigenous Kanak people, who have inhabited New Caledonia for thousands of years.
In 2009, the Kanak and Socialist Liberation Front (FLNKS) signed the Keamu agreement, formally recognising Vanuatu’s claim after establishing no ties between the islands and their history.
“Paris is very far away from Vanuatu, so coming from the cultural point of view, these islands belong to the Tafea Province and people,” Tevi said.
But culture is not what makes them important to France.
Even though they are tiny specks in a vast ocean, ownership of Matthew and Hunter Islands comes with rights to an exclusive economic zone of roughly 350,000 square kilometres — an area larger than the United Kingdom.
With that comes control over fisheries, potential minerals, scientific research or future military positioning in an increasingly contested region.
If Vanuatu were to gain ownership of the islands, former Vanuatu prime minister Sato Kilman said they would provide major economic benefits for his country.
“There are talks of possibly something under the islands and we believe what’s there will be economic for us,” he said.
But experts say it’s unlikely France will concede them.
The waters around Matthew and Hunter, as well as other French Pacific territories, help give France the largest exclusive economic zone in the world, according to University of Paris-Saclay law professor Géraldine Giraudeau.
“With that comes the right to explore and exploit resources, the main one being fishing licenses, which they can issue to foreign fishing fleets,” she said.
The islands are also politically sensitive in France and New Caledonia.
Last month, Kanak political leaders, seeking decolonisation from France, voiced support for Vanuatu’s claim to Matthew and Hunter during a visit to Vanuatu to drum up business opportunities.
The comments were splashed on the front page of Vanuatu’s largest newspaper.
Soon after, New Caledonia’s pro-France government suspended all trade cooperation with Vanuatu, describing its exclusion as a “lack of respect that cannot remain unanswered”.
“Because the FLNKS have recognised Vanuatu’s sovereignty of the islands, it became an independent versus loyalist issue [in New Caledonia],” Giraudeau said.
“In France, nobody was speaking about Matthew and Hunter until recently when negotiations commenced.
“Then an MP raised the issue and created the narrative that France would concede sovereignty, and that’s unacceptable.”
The French embassy in Vanuatu declined to comment when approached by the ABC.
With French elections to be held in 2027, Giraudeau said the dispute needed to be resolved in the next 12 months, otherwise Vanuatu’s claim would likely fall on deaf ears if there was a change in government.
“If the issue is not solved, we can assume that if the right wing gain power, they would not negotiate with Vanuatu,” she said.
Giraudeau said negotiating a co-managed agreement would likely be the wisest solution for both countries, but even that would likely draw heavy criticism from France’s right wing.
Vanuatu, meanwhile, hasn’t ruled out escalating the matter to the International Court of Justice, but its government concedes it doesn’t have the legal resources that France does.
But Tevi said there was no need for court involvement.
“We had spiritual connections, cultural connections and traditional linkages long before international law or colonisation,” he said.
“I hope one day they realise that legally and culturally the islands belong to Vanuatu,” said Tevi……PACNEWS
AUST – DIPLOMACY/POLITICS: AAP PACNEWS 3: Thu 25 Jun 2026
Choosing between U.S and China ‘offensive’: coalition
CANBERRA, 25 JUNE 2026 (AAP)—Australia is experiencing the greatest global strategic realignment since the end of World War II, but can keep its diplomatic relations intact, according to the coalition.
“The sheer complexity of this age is uncharted territory for Australia.” opposition foreign spokesman Ted O’Brien told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
But global events unfolding simultaneously, without warning and with no pattern were not about to radically change Australia’s diplomatic status quo.
“The notion that Australia must choose between the U.S and China is offensive. It implies a weakness in our national character,” he said.
“The United States is our primary ally, and China our key trading partner. That won’t change.”
It was O’Brien’s first address at the National Press Club since being named opposition foreign affairs spokesman in Angus Taylor’s reshuffled shadow cabinet in February.
He used the occasion to voice fears Australia’s influence on the world stage had diminished, citing falling living standards, red tape, frail fuel security, and an “obsession” with net zero.
‘Our nation seems to have lost its mojo,” he said.
He argued lifting Australia’s ban on nuclear power and looking for more uranium and gas would help maximise competitive advantage in a world where energy is currency.
It was a throwback to the coalition’s 2025 election campaign, which snagged partly on a proposal Mr O’Brien championed to build seven nuclear power stations.
He said climate change, which many Pacific Island nations consider their gravest existential threat, was barely mentioned on a recent official visit to Papua New Guinea and Fiji, with net zero nowhere to be heard.
O’Brien also flagged the coalition would work with Pacific nations on a regional security agreement, “if this is something they wish to co-design.”
It was an idea proposal by Solomon Islands president Matthew Wale on his visit to Canberra in May, when he and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to kick off negotiations on a new bilateral security treaty.
O’Brien also became the latest coalition frontbencher to weigh in on support for multiculturalism, one week after Pauline Hanson argued Australia should become a “monoculture” from behind the same podium.
“If we gave everyone in this room a blank sheet of paper and said define monoculturalism, and then said define multiculturalism … I don’t think we would have a common view”, he said.
“Who’s in the mono? I don’t know. Are you in the mono? I don’t know if I’m in the mono. Who decides who’s in the mono?,” he said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – SEX TRAFFICKING: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Thu 25 Jun 2026
Fiji Military shelters three women in suspected sex trafficking case
SUVA, 25 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Three young women believed to be victims of suspected human and sex trafficking are being sheltered at the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Joint Task Force Command at Blackrock Camp in Nadi amid concerns they could face victimisation and intimidation.
Commander Joint Task Force Command Brigadier-General Manoa Gadai said he decided to take the women into protective care because of the seriousness of the allegations and their ages.
Before travelling overseas two weeks ago, Brigadier-General Gadai and female military officers conducted inquiries into the matter.
RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai confirmed the team at the Blackrock facility had completed its investigation and handed the matter over to Police.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that an earlier report was lodged at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Suva by one of the victims, who claimed she was subjected to domestic trafficking in Labasa.
Naisoro said the alleged offences involved two civilian suspects. The investigation was completed and the matter was now before the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review.
“Another report was lodged at Lautoka Police Station alleging the involvement of one of the two suspects named in the first domestic trafficking case, where the alleged offences were committed in the Western Division,” she said.
“Claims were also made against two Police officers based in the Western Division regarding their interactions with the victims through one of the suspects.”
Naisoro said the investigation was being led by the CID Human Trafficking Unit, which remained in regular contact with the three victims with support from military personnel at the Blackrock facility.
This masthead is reliably informed that women would be sold for sex to businesspeople in Nadi, allegedly with the knowledge of two police officers in Nadi and social media influencer, Ana Masere, who has had run-ins with the law.
These women claim they were getting paid for “extra services”. Attempts to get Masere’s comments were unsuccessful.
Masere, who also runs a spa and restaurant in Nadi, has denied allegations of human trafficking.
“They have been working for so long and only reported when I sent them home,” she said last month.
“About the massage, I run a spa like the other spas in Nadi and Denarau areas. I charge $80 an hour for massage. The customer pays the receptionist and goes to the room for massage.
“After one hour, the receptionist checks on the session. All the masseurs sign an independent contractor agreement.”
Masere said workers received a 50 percent commission from each massage session….PACNEWS
UN – DIPLOMACY: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Wed 17 Jun 2026
International Day celebrates women diplomats on
NEW YOEK, 25 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Despite progress in gender equality, the United Nations notes that women continue to face barriers that block them from advancing to the highest levels of diplomacy and international decision-making.
Women remain significantly underrepresented among Heads of State and Government worldwide and hold less than a quarter of cabinet minister positions.
Moreover, their presence is particularly lacking when it comes to influential portfolios such as foreign affairs, defence and security.
The issue was in the spotlight on Wednesday, the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
“We must all do everything possible to ensure women are at the table, our voices heard and our contributions valued,” said UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
Her message is echoed by Kyrgyzstan’s Ambassador to the UN Aida Kasymalieva who told UN News that “the world is safer when more women’s voices are included at the negotiating table.”
For the first time since joining the UN in 1992, Kyrgyzstan will serve on the UN Security Council starting in January 2027.
Kasymalieva will represent the country, becoming the first woman from the Central Asia region to sit at the iconic horseshoe-shaped table.
While lamenting the low number of women in the foremost UN body on peace and security, she was adamant that women diplomats bring different viewpoints to negotiations and international decision-making.
“Greater participation of women in peace and security is not simply a question of representation,” she said.
“It is a question of bringing every available perspective, talent, and experience to the table when decisions about war and peace are being made,” she said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
AUST – BIRD FLU STRAIN: REUTERS PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 25 Jun 2026
Australia ramps up bird flu testing as Papua New Guinea blocks poultry imports after confirmed cases
SYDNEY, 25 JUNE 2026 (REUTES)—- The Australian authorities ramped up surveillance and testing after confirming two cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu, while neighbouring Papua New Guinea suspended all poultry imports from the country.
Tests are under way in South Australia after two dead sub-Antarctic seabirds and a pelican were found on 22 June near Fowlers Bay, more than 1,200km east of Esperance in Western Australia where the first two confirmed cases were reported.
South Australia state’s Primary Industries Minister Claire Scriven told ABC Radio it could be several days before results from the bird samples are available.
“In terms of the turnaround times, it sort of depends on the outcomes… we hope this doesn’t get to South Australia, but we know, of course, that it may,” Scriven said.
A South Australia Primary Industries Department spokesperson said there were no confirmed bird flu cases in the state, but it will investigate any reports of sick or dead birds and will alert the public if a positive case is found.
Ground-based surveillance and drone surveys are being carried out at sea lion breeding sites along South Australia’s west and far west coasts, while testing frequency has been increased in high-risk areas.
Two more birds are being tested in Western Australia, far from the initial cases, but the authorities said there was no evidence of a wider spread.
A total of 11 samples have been sent for testing in Western Australia from 94 reports of dead or unwell birds over the past three days, the report added.
The confirmed cases have prompted neighbouring Papua New Guinea to ban poultry meat and product imports from Australia, the latter’s Department of Agriculture said on 24 June.
While Australian poultry meat is mainly grown for local consumption, Papua New Guinea is Australia’s largest export market, buying AUD$44 million (US$39.4 million) worth of products in 2023.
The department said the ban was imposed despite the poultry sector remaining free of bird flu, adding that it was “actively engaging with PNG to resolve this issue”.
Until now, Australia had been the only continent without a confirmed mainland case, though the virus was detected in late 2025 on the sub-Antarctic territory of Heard Island.
Human infections remain rare, but the global spread of avian influenza has devastated flocks and disrupted the supply and pricing of poultry meat and eggs in many countries.
In its efforts to tackle bird flu, Australia has tightened farm biosecurity, increased testing of shorebirds, vaccinated vulnerable species and conducted response simulations…PACNEWS
SOL – BUDGET SUPPORT: SBM PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 25 Jun 2026
NZ annouces SBD$14 million budget support for Solomon Islands government reforms
HONIARA, 25 JUNE 2026 (SBM)—New Zealand has announced a significant financial contribution of SB$14 million (US$1.7 million) to support ongoing policy reforms in Solomon Islands, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening economic growth and improving public service delivery.
Speaking at the Business Link Pacific event in Honiara, New Zealand High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Jonathan Curr said discussions during Prime Minister Matthew Wale’s recent visit to New Zealand focused heavily on the development partnership between the two countries.
“Much of the focus was on education, but also more broadly on the need to deliver better and cost-effective public services for our peoples,” Curr said.
He noted that all governments face the challenge of funding essential public services, which requires a strong and growing economy.
“Achieving economic growth that lifts a country’s prosperity requires two separate but inter-related things. First, it requires the wise stewardship of public finances, strong institutions to ensure laws and policies are implemented as intended and with certainty, and the creation of an enabling environment to allow for a vibrant and innovative private sector,” he said.
“To support this, New Zealand provides budget support to Solomon Islands. I’m pleased to announce this evening that a payment of SB$14 million (US$1.7 million) will be made this week to the Solomon Islands Government to support ongoing policy reform in these areas.”
Curr said New Zealand continues to support key sectors including fisheries, aviation and transport infrastructure, which are critical to the country’s long-term prosperity.
He also highlighted New Zealand’s support for the preparatory phase of the proposed Bina Harbour development project, describing it as one of several initiatives aimed at expanding economic opportunities.
Beyond creating an enabling environment for growth, Curr stressed that thriving businesses are central to economic development.
“Through our economic development work, we also support small businesses in Solomon Islands – the lifeblood of any economy and vital for government revenue through taxation and for job creation,” he said.
“It is to recognise the importance of small business in Solomon Islands that we gather here.”
Minister of Finance and Treasury Gordon Darcy Lilo, who represented the Government at the event, thanked New Zealand for its continued support.
He said the funding was highly valued as it directly supports the Government’s efforts in budget execution and implementation.
“This support helps strengthen fiscal stability and ensures that government services and development priorities are delivered effectively to our people,” Lilo said.
He added that budget support of this nature goes beyond financial assistance and reflects the strong policy dialogue between the two countries.
“It demonstrates a shared commitment to structural reforms and bolsters our ongoing efforts to strengthen public financial management and maintain economic stability,” he said.
The announcement underscores New Zealand’s continued commitment to supporting Solomon Islands’ economic reforms, fiscal resilience and private sector development…..PACNEWS
FIJI – BUDGET: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 25 Jun 2026
Fiji Military prepared for any budget outcome: Commander
SUVA, 25 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai says the military will accept whatever allocation it receives in the 2026-2027 National Budget to be announced Friday.
Major-General Kalouniwai was responding to calls by Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) co-ordinator Shamima Ali to reduce the military’s budget allocation.
“We’ll be grateful. Given the current circumstances and what is happening today with the fuel crisis and other challenges, whatever Government provides, that’s okay,” he told the Fiji Sun.
Asked about his tenure as RFMF Commander, Major-General Kalouniwai said any reappointment would be a decision for Government.
He did not indicate whether he would seek another term.
“When it ends, it is up to the Government whether they want me to continue or not,” Major-General Kalouniwai 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
FUNAFUTI, 25 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —For the low-lying atoll nations of the Pacific, climate change is not a distant environmental issue – it is an immediate threat to their existence, identity, and security. As sea levels rise, the loss of land, escalating disasters, and resource scarcity are intensifying the risks of migration and land disputes.
The UN Peacebuilding Fund backed the region’s first major initiative, Climate Security in the Pacific – which is dedicated to enhancing climate resilience. Spanning Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the initiative empowered communities to confront the rising threats head-on, proving that climate resilience is a cornerstone of lasting peace.
Inclusivity at the heart of resilience
Solutions had to be driven by the people most affected. Extensive consultations engaged 1,500 individuals, deliberately elevating the voices of local leaders, women, youth, and people with disabilities.
We are vulnerable groups, and our voices and perspectives should always be taken into consideration.” said Sinkiagi Taulamati, a person with a disability from Tuvalu.
Innovative solutions rooted in local needs
The consultations directly informed community-level initiatives designed to secure resources and defuse potential conflicts over food and land.
In the remote and fragile community of Nui, Tuvalu, the initiative introduced Food Cubes – portable, easily assembled box gardens which were distributed to over 130 households and community centres.
The soil is poor in Tuvalu so it is much easier to grow with the Food Cubes which allowed us to save water. They represent a convenient solution given the increasing coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion,” said Sama Sapakuka, Principal Agroforestry Officer in Tuvalu.
From soil to sea
To combat the negative impacts of saltwater intrusion on crops and overcome the remoteness of the islands of Kiribati, local nurseries and fisheries were upgraded in Tamana and Marakei. The peacebuilding initiative also equipped the government to finalise the demarcation of unresolved maritime boundaries, a critical step in protecting against illegal fishing.
On Mejatto Island in the Marshall Islands, communities turned to climate-smart agriculture to secure their future. Using solar-powered vertical aeroponic gardens, locals started growing crops safely out of reach of saltwater floods and erratic rains—easing the strain on scarce resources and reducing the risk of food-related conflict.
Local voices, global stage
Beyond immediate agricultural and marine interventions, the initiative focused heavily on systemic impact and global advocacy.
The peacebuilding initiative delivered specialized climate-security risk assessments that now serve as the foundation for Tuvalu’s National Climate Security Policy and the Marshall Islands’ National Adaptation Plan.
Furthermore, to ensure the narrative of the Pacific reached beyond its shores, the initiative launched a creative communications campaign. From climate security-themed comic books for schoolchildren to local radio programs, complex issues were translated into local language.
Rising above the tide
By anchoring climate security in both community action and policy reform, Pacific Islanders are not just navigating the rising tide—they are charting a course for a secure, resilient future.
Our partners in peacebuilding in the Pacific Islands
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
Led by the UN Development Programme and the International Organisation of Migration in partnership with the Governments of the three countries, and in close collaboration with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, peacebuilding climate security initiative in the Pacific.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners, including UN agencies and local organisations….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
Upgraded Mua nursery to support reforestation efforts in Taveuni
MUA, 25 JUNE 2026 (SPREP)— The upgraded Mua Nursery in Taveuni was officially handed over to Fiji’s Ministry of Forestry this week, marking a significant milestone in strengthening forest restoration, ecosystem protection, and climate resilience efforts on the island.
The upgrade was completed under the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC+) project and represents one of its key infrastructure investments supporting Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and ecosystem restoration in Fiji.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Ministry of Forestry Deputy Conservator of Forests, Apisai Rinamalo said the upgraded facility would strengthen the Ministry’s ability to deliver on its restoration and conservation mandate.
“The upgrade will allow the Ministry to carry out its functions more effectively in sustaining our forests and strengthening climate resilience. The nursery will continue to provide an important foundation for our reforestation and restoration efforts in Taveuni and ensures we have a reliable source of quality seedlings to support forest rehabilitation, watershed protection and community-based restoration efforts.”
The handover also supports the implementation of the Ministry’s Reforestation and Restoration Programme on Taveuni.
Rinamalo, “Investments such as these are essential for safeguarding our natural resources and ensuring healthy forests for future generations”
SPREP Director for the Fiji Office and Biodiversity Conservation, Amena Yauvoli acknowledged the partnership between SPREP and the Ministry of Forestry and highlighted the importance of the nursery for communities across Taveuni.
“We are grateful for the partnership with the Ministry of Forestry as we continue to serve our people and work together towards a more resilient future. This nursery is here to serve the people of Taveuni by supporting the sustainable protection of one of our biggest forest reserves and providing seedlings needed for restoration efforts.
“We also thank the Kiwa Initiative and the French Facility for Global Environment for their generous support of the PEBACC+ project. The benefits of this investment will extend beyond conservation by supporting communities, farmers, and future generations who depend on healthy ecosystems.”
The Mua Nursery has been key in supporting the reforestation work under the PEBACC+ project through the supply of native tree seedlings since the reforestation started in Taveuni.
It is also expected to contribute significantly to the protection of the Blue Line, which marks the boundary of the Taveuni Forest Reserve and the Ravilevu Nature Reserve. By supplying native tree species for degraded areas, restoring buffer zones, and watershed protection efforts, the nursery will continue to strengthen biodiversity conservation and improve the ecological health of these protected areas.
With a production capacity of 50,000 seedlings, the upgraded and fully operational nursery, handed over on 22 July 2026, will ensure a reliable and continuous supply of planting materials, reducing dependence on external suppliers while supporting the sustainability of restoration efforts well beyond the lifespan of the project.
The PEBACC+ Project is implemented by SPREP and funded by the Kiwa Initiative through its donors, the European Union, Agence Française de Développement, Global Affairs Canada, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with co-financing from the French Facility for Global Environment….PACNEWS
For more information, contact: Setaita Tavanabola, PEBACC+ Communications Officer, SPREP; email: setaitat@sprep.org;
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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
How the stories we tell about ageing shape our future
GENEVA/NEW YOEK, 25 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —The way societies talk about ageing can shape everything from public policy to people’s own expectations of later life, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) said on Wednesday in a new report that calls for shifting away from narratives that portray older persons as a burden.
For many people, ageing is accompanied by familiar messages: slow down, your best years are behind you.
Far from harmless clichés, these assumptions shape how societies view older persons and how people see themselves as they grow older.
In many cultures, ageing is still associated with decline, dependency and withdrawal from public life. Such perceptions can influence attitudes, policies and opportunities, while also leading people to internalise ageist beliefs that ultimately limit wellbeing.
‘Public narratives matter’
The latest UNECE Policy Brief on Ageing, Changing the Narrative on Ageing and Older Persons, argues that the way societies talk about ageing has far-reaching consequences.
Across much of the UNECE region – which spans the continent as well as a handful of countries in North America and Asia – population ageing is frequently framed as a challenge, burden or even a looming crisis.
The brief calls for balanced, evidence-based and age-inclusive narratives that better reflect the opportunities and diversity associated with longer lives. It also presents examples of actions taken across the UNECE region to promote more positive portrayals of ageing and offers practical recommendations for policymakers.
Beyond the stereotypes
People are living longer and, in many cases, healthier lives. Millions of older persons continue to work, volunteer, care for family members and contribute to their communities.
In the European Union alone, around 41 million people aged 55 to 64 are active in the labour market, with participation increasing significantly over the past decade. Older persons also make substantial unpaid contributions through caregiving and volunteering, strengthening families, communities and local economies.
This contribution is increasingly recognised as an economic opportunity rather than a challenge. A recent World Economic Forum report describes longevity as “one of the most consequential, addressable and underestimated potential drivers of economic growth” for countries with both younger and older populations.
The report argues that coordinated approaches linking longer, healthier lives with greater financial resilience could generate multi-trillion-dollar economic opportunities in the years ahead.
However, these realities are often overshadowed by crisis-oriented language focusing on pressures on pensions, healthcare systems and public finances.
“When ageing is viewed primarily through the lens of dependency and cost, policy debates can become narrowly focused on short-term challenges,’ the brief notes.
The report warns that terms such as “demographic time bomb” or “silver tsunami” can reinforce stereotypes and narrow public discussion about how societies can adapt to demographic change.
The hidden impact of ageism
Research has shown that age-related stereotypes can have tangible effects on health, wellbeing and social inclusion. According to UNECE, changing the narrative is therefore not simply a communications exercise but a necessary step towards tackling ageism and promoting participation throughout the life course.
The brief also highlights that ageism affects people of all ages and can undermine trust and solidarity between generations.
Turning words into action
To help countries reshape public discourse on ageing, the policy brief proposes a practical framework for change.
Recommendations include developing a clear and realistic vision of ageing, engaging older persons in decision-making, highlighting diverse lived experiences and communicating consistently across institutions and media.
Crucially, UNECE stresses that narrative change must be backed by policy action.
Building societies for all ages
As populations continue to age, UNECE argues that the challenge is not ageing itself but how societies respond to it.
By portraying ageing as a shared achievement and opportunity rather than a crisis, governments can broaden policy choices, strengthen solidarity between generations and build support for forward-looking solutions.
Across much of the UNECE region, population ageing is frequently portrayed as a “burden” or “demographic crisis”, while older persons are often depicted as dependent or withdrawn from society. According to the brief, such narratives are misaligned with reality.
The message aligns with the goals of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), a global initiative that aims to ensure everyone has the opportunity to add life to years, wherever they live….PACNEWS
