Pacific Islands News Roundup – June 11 – June 17, 2026
Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security
- Trump reopens Pacific marine monument waters to commercial fishing (PACNEWS)
- Ocean explorers embark on seafloor mapping expedition in Marianas region (Pacific Island Times)
- Pacific leaders call for global peace (Islands Business)
- Pacific Leaders Unite on Regional Security Challenges (Fiji One News)
- Solomons PM says China security pact must stay secret despite review pledge (PMN)
- Palau: Taiwan VP Hsiao says U.S.-China engagement should not come at expense of regional security (Island Times)
- US Territories Have A Voice In Congress But No Vote. Here’s Why (The Conversation/Analysis)
- ‘Scale and urgency’: Guam Industry Forum draws government, contractors, defense officials as DoD spending grows (PDN)
- Pacific immigration leaders mark 30 years of regional cooperation (Islands Business)
- Bougainville dispute deepens as PNG govt defends 89-vote rule for independence decision (PMN)
- Polling cutback sparks anger as New Caledonia heads into tense vote (PMN)
- Vanuatu says France stalling over disputed islands (Islands Business)
- Nauru MPs approve name change to Naoero ahead of referendum (PMN)
- Niue budget under scrutiny as deficit grows and community spending left out (PMN)
- Fiji economic forum draws sharp criticism from high chief over inclusivity (RNZ)
- Palau makes historic call for UN nicotine control ahead of Pacific Leaders’ Forum (Island Times)
People-Centered Development
- Marshall Islands: Non-communicable diseases strategy rolled out (Marshall Islands Journal)
- New Caledonia: Hospitals: Faced with recruitment difficulties, the government wants to change the status of medical practitioners (les Nouvelles Caledoniennes)
- Menopause misunderstanding fuelling marriage breakdowns in Cook Islands (RNZ/Cook Island News)
- Tuvalu Youth leader selected to help lead 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum (PACNEWS)
- French Polynesia: The Fenua has a “very high” level of human development (Tahiti Infos)
- Pacific leaders prove education has no expiry date (Islands Business)
- American Samoa’s governor tears US$50 bill (Samoa Observer)
- Solomon Islands: Minimum wage review gains momentum as nationwide surveys continue (Island Sun)
- Niue minister’s dog warning cuts through Pacific security debate (PMN)
- Authorities Move to Tackle Shortage of Ni-Vanuatu Seafarers (VBTC)
- As Tuvaluans move to Australia, a radio show keeps their culture alive (PMN)
- Kaula Lūʻau production nominated for USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award (Maui Now)
Climate Change and Disasters, Ocean and Environment
- French Polynesia will strengthen the protection of the world’s largest marine protected area (les Nouvelles Caledoniennes)
- CNMI, American Samoa thrilled by restoration of commercial fishing in Pacific marine monuments (Pacific Island Times)
- Hawaii: Trump’s move to reopen fishing at monuments draws mixed reaction (Hawaii Tribune Herald/Honolulu Star Advertiser)
- Federated States of Micronesia: Dead fish, discolored waters reported across several Yap Outer Islands as officials seek answers (Kaselehlie Press)
- Fiji expands protected ocean zones as it targets illegal fishing and declining stocks (PMN)
- Guam’s ocean research, reef protection programs facing shutdown in FY2027 (Pacific Island Times)
- Solomon Islands: Communities trained in mangrove restoration (Island Sun)
- Colonial-Era Coconut Farms Pose Risks To The Survival Of Pacific Atolls (Civil Beat)
- Outrage in PNG over Filipino purse seiner catching dolphins (RNZ)
- Marshall Islands govt declares emergency after Ebeye fire leaves over 100 homeless (PMN)
- Federated States of Micronesia: FEMA approves $8M for Typhoon Sinlaku recovery efforts in Chuuk (HPR/Audio)
- No forms, no waiting: Tuvalu households receive instant climate payouts after flooding (PMN)
- Solomon Islands: The unexploded bombs still threatening a Pacific nation 80 years on (1News/Video)
Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity
- Public AI tools could expose sensitive local data, Pacific govts and organisations warned (PMN)
- French Polynesia: Fake news, real scams: the trap of mirror sites in Polynesia (TNTV News)
- Marshall Islands: World Bank injects $9m (Marshall Islands Journal)
- Pacific fuel crisis exposes gap between renewable targets and delivery (Pacific Island Times)
- New electric motorbikes for local Puna amid global fuel crisis (Cook Islands News)
- New Caledonia: Economy: The recovery is confirmed, but vulnerabilities persist, according to the IEOM (les Nouvelles Caledoniennes)
- Tonga marks WTO fisheries milestone with first subsidy notification (Talanoa ‘O Tonga)
- American Samoa: DMWR report points to concerns about catch of foreign vessels sold locally (Talanei)
- French Polynesia: Albacore tuna: the challenge of adding value and exporting (TNTV News)
- Fiji, South Korea Strengthen Fisheries Partnership (Fiji One News)
- From farm to market: strengthening Pacific agricultural systems (Islands Business)
- CNMI: MVA approves $1.5M deal to keep Korea-Saipan flights operating (Marianas Variety)
- Samoa Govt pursues airline plan despite ADB warning (Talanei)
Disclaimer:
The PIR seeks to include news coverage from news outlets across the Pacific, representing a diversity of coverage in the region. Please note that the inclusion of article links does not represent PIR or PIDP endorsement of the information presented in the articles.
The Pacific Islands Report (PIR) is a project of the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) at the East-West Center and the Center for Pacific Islands Studies (CPIS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
This non-exhaustive news roundup, featuring open-access information, is organized with the thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its implementation plan.
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