Pacific Islands Forum chair and secretary general meet UN secretary-general; Pacific Islands Forum chair pushes US and World Bank for Pacific Resilience Facility funding; Trump signs 'deeply dangerous' order to fast-track deep sea mining; ADB: Slower economic growth for Pacific amid tourism challenges, global uncertainties
Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security
Fukuyama Warns Solomon Islands Against Becoming Pawn In Superpower Rivalry
(Solomon Star)
China dismisses Palau President’s missile test claims as Pacific leaders prepare to discuss issue
(PACNEWS)
Foreign influence could quietly weaken Pacific unity, expert warns
(PMN)
‘Regional ownership matters most,’ Pacific foreign ministers say amid fragile bloc unity (
Pacific Island Times
)
Solomon Islands: Wale’s China reset shows the tightrope facing Pacific leaders, says security analyst
(PMN)
Tonga nominates Ecuadorian diplomat in race to be next UN chief
(PACNEWS/AFP)
PIF 2026: Palau prepares for a Pacific meeting shaped by regional divisions
(Island Times)
Foreign espionage increasing in Pacific, says NZSIS
(RNZ)
US and several Pacific countries hit out at Chinese nuclear missile test, after PIF misses chance
(RNZ)
Papua New Guineans to start serving in Australian defence force
(PACNEWS/AFP)
Guam troops headed to Middle East, Caribbean to back US-led war against terrorism and anti-narcoterrorism
(Pacific Island Times)
Guam lawmaker wants USPS to fix ‘unfair’ private fees on territory mail
(Pacific Island Times)
Cook Islands election gives Brown powerful majority as Mangaia MPs join government
(PMN)
Analyst weighs Guam’s risks as Pentagon reviews nuclear options
(Guam Daily Post)
Samoan Opposition leader alleges government trying to ‘shut me up’ after latest arrest and charge
(National Indigenous Times)
Operation Island Chief identifies 16 vessels of interest in major regional surveillance effort against illegal fishing (
Island Times
)
People-Centered Development
When home was no longer home: Why people left these Pacific islands
(Pacific Island Times)
Ancient DNA reveals how waves of migration shaped the Pacific
(PMN)
Pacific providers want mental health support for youth before crisis
(PMN)
Cook Islands navigator documentary sails into Australian film festival
(Pacific Beat)
From death certificate to statistics: Understanding why people die in the Pacific
(Pacific Community)
Māori and Pacific people have lower stigma towards mental illness – study
(RNZ)
Tonga: Health Ministry targets NCDs with first breastfeeding policy
(Talanoa ‘O Tonga)
CNMI mayors warn of escalating meth crisis, ask for more DEA resources
(RNZ)
French Polynesia: “A greater rejection of violence”: the APAJ, which is under considerable strain, needs reinforcements
(Radio 1 Tahiti)
CNMI youth filmmakers honored for substance-free messages
(Marianas Variety)
Federated States of Micronesia: President Simina Promotes Gender Equality
(Micronesia Sun)
Pacific humanitarian workers face major logistical and access challenges, World Vision says (
RNZ
)
Climate Change and Disasters, Ocean and Environment
Five-year plan endorsed for Pacific seismic network that warns communities
(Pacific Community)
Wallis-et-Futuna and SPREP sign Strategic Partnership Framework
(SPREP)
New coral growth offers hope for Samoa’s damaged reefs
(Samoa News Hub)
‘Utter Devastation’: Lala Turns Hawaiʻi Upside Down, Spares Some
(Civil Beat)
‘On another scale’ – PNG province unprepared for El Niño impacts, warns governor
(ABC Australia)
Australia’s $20m Fiji climate summit bill sparks political fight
(PMN)
Nonprofit sues over US push to auction areas of water around American Samoa for potential mining
(AP)
Derelict vessels threaten Suva harbour as Fiji begins US$1m clean-up
(PACNEWS)
32 climate change projects first to start off under Tonga Climate Change Fund
(Talanoa ‘O Tonga)
Creating pathways for Pacific climate solutions
(PACNEWS/SPC)
Nauru Pitches Climate Citizenship to Wealthy Families Seeking ‘Resilience’
(NMI News Service)
‘Teeming with life’: Cook Islands officials enthuse over NOAA deep dive (
Asia Pacific Report
)
Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity
New Pacific database tracks US$3.7 billion in maritime investment
(PACNEWS)
Guam fishers say shark deterrents fail as disaster aid remains out of reach
(Guam Daily Post)
Fiji: Fuel crisis hits national airline
(FBC News)
Winston Peters points to Cook Islands as Pacific aviation model amid airline crisis
(PMN)
Tonga: Inflation reaches 9.3% as transport, housing, and restaurants drive prices
(Talanoa ‘O Tonga)
Solomon Islands: The Six-Foot Betrayal: How a Generation Lost Everything
(In-Depth Solomons/Investigation)
Palau tourism rebounds in 2026 as major markets post strong gains
(Island Times)
US wants to auction mineral leases for 67M acres of Marianas seafloor by December
(PDN)
Papua New Guinea: Near Australia, energy companies eye untapped gas in the ‘Saudi Arabia of the Pacific’
(ABC Australia)
Papua New Guinea: K46 billion trade surplus recorded with South Korea
(The National)
Vanuatu: Luganville Bans Betel Nut Sales in Public Areas
(VBTC)
IMF commended Samoa’s low public debt & financial stability
(Talamua Online)
**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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