MSG Leadership Crisis: Vanuatu’s government has hit back at the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs after it demanded the revocation of Dr Anna Naupa’s appointment as Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Director-General, calling the chiefs’ stance discriminatory and gender-based, and stressing the selection was made through an independent MSG panel process. Ultimatum Escalates: Malvatumauri has set a 30 July 2026 deadline, warning it will trigger customary actions if the appointment isn’t rescinded, arguing custom requires a male to perform certain ceremonies. Regional Security Push: New Zealand and Papua New Guinea signed a 2026–2029 defence cooperation Statement of Intent in Port Moresby, expanding security dialogue, joint exercises, training and personnel exchanges amid intensifying Pacific strategic competition. Education Funding Pressure: Pacific education ministers and partners say progress on SDG4 has gone backwards, with rising living costs and debt squeezing education budgets, including higher education, at places like the University of the South Pacific. Climate Justice Anniversary: One year after the ICJ’s landmark climate advisory opinion, Pacific youth and Save the Children are calling for stronger, child-focused climate adaptation financing, pointing to Vanuatu’s role in driving the case. Fisheries Subsidies: Forum Deputy Secretary-General Esala Nayasi urged Pacific states to discourage subsidies that support fishing of overfished stocks, linking the push to WTO fisheries subsidy work and the Blue Pacific agenda. Air Vanuatu Fleet Update: Deputy PM and finance minister Johnny Koanapo says Air Vanuatu expects a fifth DHC-6-300 by late July 2026, to support domestic services including the newly opened Lopeni airport.