Pacific news in brief for 25 June
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Leaders in the American Samoa government have expressed their opposition to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's proposed commercial leasing of the territory's exclusive economic zone.
They said this was in line with the express will of the people and the protection of American Samoa's natural resources.
The American Samoa Government's moratorium on sea bed mininghas not been repealed, and therefore, remains in full force and effect.
A participant from Vanuatu wearing a T-shirt that says 'Labour Mobility is a Family Journey' during the UNICEF Labour Mobility Conference on the 16th and 17th of July 2024 at Ramada, Port Vila.
Photo:
UNICEF / Bobby Shing
The countries in the Paciifc Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus trade agreement are meeting to address the negative social impacts of Pacific labour mobility.
The PACER Plus labour mobility arrangement aims to strengthen labour mobility cooperation by promoting good practices and enabling mutually beneficial policies.
An earlier review found some workers face difficulties such as poor accommodation, high migration costs, and limited understanding of their rights and responsibilities while abroad.
It also found that employers and systems in Australia and New Zealand are sometimes not well-equipped to understand or respond to the specific needs and cultural values of Pacific workers.
Fijian prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka reaffirmed regional unity at the end of the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders summit in Suva on Monday night.
A government statement said Rabuka, now the chairman of the group, described Melanesia as an immensely strong family.
The Prime Minister said the one-day summit reinforced shared values of sovereignty, solidarity and sustainable development.
Critical issues were discussed, including regional security and economic cooperation, climate resilience and cultural preservation.
Air New Zealand has announced 25,000 new seats on flights to Pacific Islands this summer.
Flights to Rarotonga, Nadi, and Papeete are set to get a boost.
Also, almost 7000 seats to Noumea are being added as the airline resumes flights to New Caledonia from November after last year's deadly riots.
Air New Zealand said the deployment of more widebody aircraft enables them to respond to strong demand.
There is a growing interest in Papua New Guinea coffee from Chinese investors.
Representatives from Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) China have just been in PNG on a 12-day visit, with a keen interest in coffee.
Local media reported importers and distributors conducted on-site inspections at plantations and factories in Port Moresby, Goroka and Mount Hagen.
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More Young Lives Lost In Ukraine, As UN Chief Repeats Call For A ‘Just, Comprehensive And Sustainable Peace'
18 August 2025 The development came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a group of European leaders arrived in Washington on Monday to meet President Donald Trump, who held talks on a possible peace deal to end the war with President Vladimir Putin of Russia in Alaska last Friday. Responding to questions at the regular daily briefing in New York, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that the Secretary-General António Guterres was watching events in the US capital closely. 'We remain deeply concerned over the continuing deadly Russian attacks that we have seen across Ukraine. The Secretary-General reiterates his call for a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in Ukraine, one that fully upholds Ukraine's sovereignty independence, territorial integrity, within it's internationally recognised borders in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions,' he said. 'We of course must stand ready to support any meaningful efforts towards that end.' UNICEF calls for end to attacks 'More young lives lost and devastated in brutal attacks in Ukraine,' UN children's agency, UNICEF, said in an online post condemning the attacks. 'End attacks on populated areas. Protect children.' Footage released by the Ukrainian authorities showed an apartment complex in Kharkiv with a massive hole in the shattered roof and upper floors, where fires had been extinguished. Kharkiv is located in the northeast of the country and just 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) from the Russian border. Ukraine's second city has suffered heavy destruction and repeated shelling since Russia's full-scale invasion began on 24 February 2022. Meanwhile, a separate Russian attack on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia left three dead and approximately 20 injured, according to the Ukrainian authorities, who said they had shot down 88 drones and missiles launched overnight. A recent update from UN human rights monitors in Ukraine noted that July saw the highest number of civilian casualties in the country since May 2022, with 286 killed and 1,388 injured. 'Aerial bombs caused the biggest rise [and] short-range drones made up 24 per cent of casualties,' said the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). Russian troops' push The increase in the number of civilian casualties between June and July 2025 mainly took place in areas controlled by the Ukrainian Government along frontlines. This indicated the ' intensive military efforts by Russian armed forces to capture territory ', the UN monitors explained. And although long-range missile strikes and other munitions caused about 20 per cent fewer casualties in July compared with June, they were responsible for almost 40 per cent of all non-combatant deaths and injuries, including in the cities of Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kyiv. Short-range drones were the second leading cause of civilian casualties, accounting for nearly one in four death and injuries (64 killed and 337 injured), said HRMMU. As in June, nearly all civilian casualties (98 per cent) occurred in areas controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. Civilian casualties were recorded across 18 regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv. In villages and towns near the frontline, civilians are finding it increasingly difficult to access basic services. Older persons increasingly cut off 'In many frontline villages, older persons and people with disabilities are living without medicine, electricity, or even clean water,' said Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU. 'Intensifying short-range drone attacks and the coming winter are compounding fear and hardship, disproportionately affecting those most vulnerable.' With the frontline edging closer, many cities and villages, such as Bilozerske and Dobropillia in Donetsk region, have experienced intense attacks over the past two weeks. In Bilozerske, the local hospital closed down last week, along with pharmacies and banks. Only non-potable water is available, and the electricity supply is frequently interrupted. Most of those remaining in frontline villages are older persons who face disproportionately high risks of being killed or injured. HRMMU documented that people aged 60 years and above accounted for over 43 percent of the civilians killed in frontline areas in 2025, despite representing only 25 percent of Ukraine's general population.
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Pacific news in brief for 15 August
Solomon Islands - marine Community leaders from Vanuatu and Solomon Islands have committed to establish a transboundary marine protected area in their shared ocean space. The Solomon Star reported President of Torba Province, Edgar Haward, saying Torba was honored to host Temotu, its neighbor across national solwara borders. The proposed protected area aims to ensure total recovery of marine ecosystems, strengthen food and nutrition security, and open new opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. The provinces will seek support from the Melanesian Spearhead Group to advance the initiative. The formal legal declaration will be made at the PIF Leaders' Summit. American Samoa - dengue American Samoa is reporting a number of its cases of dengue fever are linked to recent travel to neighbouring Samoa. Territorial epidemiologist, Adam Konrote said as of 8 August, the territory reported 34 lab-confirmed cases. "Of these, 26 cases are travel-associated, primarily linked to recent travel to western Samoa," he said. "Eight cases have been confirmed to be locally acquired." Konrote said Tafuna is the village with the most confirmed cases. Samoa has reported nearly 8000 clinically diagnosed cases of the disease and six deaths. New Caledonia/Australia - travel Australia's government is advising travellers to New Caledonia to exercise "a high degree of caution". This comes more than a year after violence broke out in Noumea over a proposal by the French state to change voter eligibility. That proposal was eventually abandoned. Australia's 'smart traveller' site warns that there's still a high police and security presence in country, and isolated security incidents may occur across the territory. Tonga - election Tonga's parliament has wrapped up its session, ushering in a three-month campaign period for November's general election. Bills passed in the session included the Personal Health Information Protection Bill, and the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Bill. Parliament is set to reconvene in October to formally close the session before the election. Talanoa 'o Tonga reported many of the current members are expected to run.
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Fijian PM Rabuka's 'ocean of peace' proposal set for approval at Pacific leaders' summit
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka first introduced the concept at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Rarotonga in 2023. Photo: Fiji Government Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's 'Ocean of Peace' initiative is slated for approval at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara next month. Rabuka first introduced the concept at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Rarotonga in 2023. He proposed that Pacific leaders agree on a set of principles that "embed peace as the cornerstone of our individual and collective policies". He told the Fijian parliament in August last year that the initiative was "both an inspiration and a pathway to a regional arrangement crafted by the states of the Pacific region by other powers." Marshall Islands' Foreign Minister Gerald Zackios told RNZ Pacific on the sidelines of the PIF Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Suva on Thursday that Rabuka's proposal had passed the second to last hurdle before leaders consideration in Solomon Islands. "We just need to make sure that we address the key important issues for all of us, what peace translates to. Peace can be only achieved when we have economic sustainab[ility], as well as addressing the safety and security of our people. He confirmed Pacific foreign ministers have recommended the inclusion of the proposal in PIF Leaders Meeting agenda next month. "All of us have agreed that we endorse it [and] for it to move forward." The outcomes from the PIF Foreign Ministers' Meeting is yet to be released. Zackios said that, for the Marshall Islands, nuclear legacy issues remain top of mind. This year, the Marshall Islands marked 71 years since the most powerful nuclear weapons tests ever conducted were unleashed. The Micronesian nation experienced 67 known atmospheric nuclear tests between 1946 and 1958, resulting in an ongoing legacy of death, illness, and contamination. The country's President Hilda Heine says her people continue to face the impacts of US nuclear weapons testing seven decades after the last bomb was detonated. "We have now the opportunity, through the mechanisms that we discussed this morning to progress that," Zackios said. "We hope that their inclusion, for example, in the Ocean of Peace concept that we're very grateful that it's been included into that consideration. "But we need to become better are, but we need to be a little bit more collective in moving the issues forward. We need to come with one voice as we discuss these issues, not only regional, but globally." Zackios added the region can always do better. "We need to to combat and restrengthen our collectiveness in working towards regionalism." Responding to a question regarding donor partners being blocked from participating in Honiara in three weeks' time, he said: "There should be space for leaders to discuss our political priorities, and after that, then to share those priorities with all our relationships." "It shouldn't exclude any one of our relationships. We can only learn from what happens if it doesn't take place."
