Pacific news in brief for 2 June

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. is co-chairing the inaugural Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo, an event expected to influence international negotiations on biodiversity, climate change, and ocean governance. Hosted by The Nippon Foundation in partnership with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the summit's outcomes are anticipated to contribute to discussions like COP31.

In Tuvalu, a significant educational initiative is underway to enhance learning quality by upskilling teachers. UNICEF reports that many educators, especially on outer islands, lack formal training, with national data indicating fewer than half of primary teachers and only a quarter of secondary teachers possess formal qualifications. This $2.5 million program, supported by UNICEF, The University of the South Pacific, and the Global Partnership for Education, will run until 2029 and aims to benefit approximately 970 children by supporting foundational modules for nearly 30% of primary teachers nationwide.

Papua New Guinea faces a growing threat from transnational crime, according to Oro province MP Gary Juffa. He cautioned fellow MPs that law and order issues are a fundamental obstacle to the country's progress. Juffa specifically highlighted the surge in the drug trade across the Pacific and warned that the problem is more established in PNG than many might realize, with proceeds often being channeled into legitimate businesses.

Meanwhile, a meal distribution program that provided breakfast and lunch to children in the Northern Marianas following Super Typhoon Sinlaku is concluding. The CNMI Public School System's Child Nutrition Program will transition to distributing non-perishable food items alongside the Food Stamp Program. The Summer Food Program is set to begin on June 8.

Additionally, citizens from the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia have received a five-year exemption from a new U.S. federal rule. This exemption allows them to continue eligibility for commercial driver's licenses while living in the U.S., a decision that followed coordinated advocacy by the presidents of the three nations.