PACNEWS DIGEST — HIV, hepatitis, STI gains at risk as funding falls, WHO warnsNAURU – COUNTRY NAME CHANGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Thu 30 Jul 2026Nauru officially renamed Republic of NaoeroYAREN, 30 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS) — Nauru has officially adopted Republic of Naoero as its new official name, with the government describing the change as the beginning of renewed national pride and a return to the country’s traditional identity. The constitutional amendment process began on 29 January 2026, when the Constitution (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2026 was introduced in Parliament. PACNEWSVAN – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Thu 30 Jul 2026Vanuatu appoints Joe Natuman as Special envoy for Maritime Boundaries and DecolonisationPORT VILA, 30 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS) — Vanuatu’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, Marc Ati, has appointed former Prime Minister Joe Natuman as the Special Envoy of Vanuatu for Maritime Boundary and Decolonisation Issues. PACNEWSPACIFIC – DEFENCE: AAP PACNEWS 2: Thu 30 Jul 2026Australia joins Pacific nations flexing military muscleHONOLULU, 30 JULY 2026 (AAP) — Australia has taken part in the world’s largest naval training exercise with its Pacific neighbours, combining to curb the threat of further Chinese militarisation in the region. PACNEWSPACNEWS BIZPACIFIC – DEEP SEA MINING: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 30 Jul 2026Naoero backs fair seabed governance as ISA extends NORI exploration contractKINGSTON, 30 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS) — The Republic of Naoero has reaffirmed its call for fair, transparent and workable seabed governance after the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council approved a five-year extension of Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.’s (NORI) deep-sea exploration contract.