News Roundup

Pacific Islands News Roundup – June 18 – June 24, 2026

Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security

  • Climate, migration and leadership rise to the top of Pacific’s 2050 agenda (Islands Business) 
  • Pacific: PIFS leans on ASEAN model as it retools for a changing region (Islands Business) 
  • Bougainville’s Toroama accuses PNG of breaching Melanesian Agreement (RNZ) 
  • New Caledonia: French government defends reduced voting centres in Nouméa, points to higher turnout (PMN) 
  • Dramatic cybercrime increase in Asia, South Pacific, says Interpol (RNZ)  
  • FSM citizens enlist in US military, relationship remains strong with funding and aid (Marianas Business Journal) 
  • Report: US plans to host offensive missiles on Guam amid looming China threat (PDN) 
  • Solomon Islands PM floats idea of Pacific-wide security pact (PMN) 
  • Micronesia: Valuable training for Sea Patrol (Marshall Islands Journal) 
  • Appointment of Australians to senior positions in PNG Police Force causes stir (Pacific Beat/Audio) 
  • Palau Receives — Then Loses — First Deported Migrant Under U.S. Immigration MOU (Island Times) 
  • From roaming dogs to a treaty: How a Niuean reality check reshaped region’s security vision (PMN) 
  • Cocaine bricks wash up on remote Fiji island (ABC Australia Pacific) 
  • Solomon Islands link to massive drug haul highlights growing problem for Pacific islands (National Indigenous Times) 
  • ‘No coup can ever be justified’: former rebel tells the Fiji truth and reconciliation hearing (PMN) 
  • PNG Foreign Minister condemns Australian One Nation leader Pauline Hanson (Pacific Beat/Video)

People-Centered Development

  • Labor Shortages Stymie Building Of Schools, Hospitals In Micronesia (Civil Beat) 
  • Fiji: Climate crisis exposing menstrual health gaps (FBC) 
  • American Samoa launches HCBS website to connect residents with Community-Based Care (Samoa News) 
  • Niue advances national research ethics framework through consultation (National Indigenous Times) 
  • Guam: Audits: UOG down nearly 600 students, 50% tuition since pandemic; expenses up $23.4M (PDN) 
  • Sāmoan drama ‘I am Not Your Dusky Maiden’ heads to major US Pacific film festival (PMN)
  • Hawai‘i: Kamaka Ukulele celebrates 110 years of craftsmanship, tradition (HPR/Audio) 
  • Samoa secures seat on World Rugby council (Islands Business) 
  • French Polynesia: ‘A Fano Mai: a monumental tapa enters the Quai Branly Museum (TNTV News) 
  • Historic Māori-inspired Cook Islands bill seeks to formalise customary Ariki title succession (National Indigenous Times)   
  • Fiji: One of the smallest Pacific communities celebrates a unique anniversary (TP+) 
  • Rapa Nui: The giant stone statues of Easter Island (Space Daily/Analysis)

Climate Change and Disasters, Ocean and Environment

  • National Science Foundation reverses decision to dismantle oceans-monitoring network after outcry (AP) 
  • Australian scientists discover new shark species in PNG that walks on its fins (RNZ) 
  • Mixed reactions to fishing flip in several Pacific waters (RNZ) 
  • Palau’s Ocean Sanctuary Found to Be Active Tuna Nursery, Scientists Say (Island Times) 
  • Hawai‘i: Marine debris removal project faces uncertain funding (HPR/Audio)
  • New Caledonia: Intensive nickel mining has transformed the microbial biodiversity of the Thio lagoon (les Nouvelles Caledoniennes) 
  • Decades of ocean governance reform highlighted at regional summit (Talanoa ‘O Tonga) 
  • Our Changing World: Analysing ash and studying Vanuatu’s volcanoes (RNZ) 
  • “Those blocking climate science are not our friends”: Pacific issues strong warning at Bonn talks (PACNEWS) 
  • Marshall Islands: Amid record bleaching, scientists find reefs acting as if there was no heat wave at all (The Cool Down) 
  • Solomon Islands delegation completes climate training in China (The Island Sun) 
  • Vanuatu elevates nature-based solutions in climate planning overhaul (Islands Business)

Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity

  • Record visitors shield Cook Islands from global fuel crisis (RNZ) 
  • CNMI pleads for retention of visa waiver for Chinese travelers (Pacific Island Times) 
  • NMI welcomes return of international flights (Marianas Variety) 
  • Pacific aviation ministers chart bold course for a more connected, resilient region (Islands Business) 
  • Guam: $2K to $4K per flight: Governor asks Congress to waive airline restrictions (PDN) 
  • The New Caledonian timber industry “could create 500 jobs by 2040” (les Nouvelles Caledoniennes) 
  • Fiji and NZ urged to deepen trade ties as push towards $2 billion target continues (Fiji One News) 
  • SPBD Fiji surpasses $FJD150 million in loans to women entrepreneurs (Islands Business) 
  • Marshall Islands: Tuna transfers booming (Marshall Islands Journal) 
  • Solomon Islands tightens control over natural resources (Islands Business) 
  • Pacific finance ministers get hands-on with Marshall Islands digital money (RNZ)  
  • A timeline of how the fuel crisis impacted the Pacific (RNZ/Analysis)

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.

Subscribe to get our news roundups delivered to your email inbox and explore our archives at pireport.org.

We value your feedback.