In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific priorities amplified as findings of global midterm review of the Global Biodiversity Framework placed under microscope
2. COOKS — Opposition rejects coalition, Cook Islands Party counts on independents ahead of 2026 elections
3. NAOERO — Naoero withdraws recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
4. SOL — Premier pushes to make Tulagi Solomons ‘Heritage capital’
5. VAN — PNG’s legacy honoured as Vanuatu marks independence
6. FIJI — Rescued Fiji medical team in stable health condition after sea ordeal
7. FIJI — Germany’s new ambassador pledges stronger ties with Fiji and the Pacific
8. NZ — NZ Army instructors look forward to passing on knowledge and building connections in Timor-Leste
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific AI principles endorsed
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fijians at risk of trafficking through online job scams, says IOM
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Solomon Islands and Hong Kong to begin visa-free travel
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Endangered species at risk as bird flu spreads
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Australia must rethink leadership in the Trump Era – Starting with Climate
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — From Hanoi to Manila: Japan’s Updated ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ takes shape
PAC – BIODIVERSITY MEET: SPREP PACNEWS 1: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Pacific priorities amplified as findings of global midterm review of the Global Biodiversity Framework placed under microscope
NAIROBI, 31 JULY 2026 (SPREP)— Pacific priorities are being amplified on the global stage in Nairobi, Kenya, as the world looks to the Seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia later this year.
A key stepping stone towards Armenia is the Twenty-eighth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice taking place in Nairobi Kenya from 27 July to O1 August. This precedes the seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-7) from 04 -12 August at the same venue.
A strong delegation from the Pacific is working hard to ensure the Pacific’s priorities are reflected in the key issues linked to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — from monitoring and the global review, to business and biodiversity, synthetic biology, sustainable wildlife management, protected and conserved areas and marine and coastal biodiversity.
Fiji, as Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), while delivering the PSIDS Group statement during the opening plenary of the gathering, highlighted some of these priorities as critically vital for the PSIDS.
Topical on the agenda in Nairobi is the first global review of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Current findings indicate that while global engagement has increased, national efforts remain off track to meet the 2030 goals.
“We accept the central finding: the world is not on track, and no target yet shows a fully positive picture. But an honest review must also be honest about who is missing from its evidence,” said Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Chang, Dr Sivendra Michael, who delivered the statement.
Because fewer SIDS were able to submit their national reports in time, the Pacific’s implementation will be under-counted in the very report that will frame COP17, the PSIDS Chair argued.
“Much of what we do is invisible to global datasets — the conservation actions our communities deliver every day, through customary tenure and hundreds of locally managed marine areas, is real, but unmeasured,” he said.
“We ask that this be read as a gap in support and in methods, not a gap in commitment. And we note, with respect, a lesson from this meeting itself: when the central report is revised days before we convene, and statement deadlines must be extended, it is the smallest delegations — often a single official — who cannot re-analyse in time. The timely issuance and translation of documents is a condition of meaningful participation.”
SBSTTA provides scientific and technical advice to the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and also serves the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol.
The SBI supports the review and strengthening of the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols, helping Parties assess progress, address challenges, and improve the effectiveness of actions under the CBD. Together, these subsidiary body meetings constitute an important milestone on the path to the 2026 UN Biodiversity Conference, including COP17.
Science and evidence are essential to turning global biodiversity commitments into action on the ground. For the Pacific, the science of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is the science of their survival.
“The best available science is unambiguous. Coral reefs decline by 70 to 90 per cent at 1.5 degrees of warming, and by more than 99 percent at 2 degrees; the fourth global coral bleaching event has now struck 84 percent of the world’s reefs,” said Dr Michael.
“Our blue-carbon ecosystems tell the same story from the coast: mangroves and seagrass store up to five times the carbon of terrestrial forests, and a recent regional assessment across Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu confirms stocks comparable to global averages — carbon that returns to the atmosphere each time a mangrove is cleared for a road or flattened by a cyclone. Biodiversity, climate and carbon are one system in our islands, from ridge to reef, and the science of this Convention must treat them as one.’’
Pacific countries are also calling for more capacity building and finance to enable meaningful and urgent action.
“We renew the Pacific’s call for a dedicated biodiversity fund under the direct authority of the Conference of the Parties, with access that is simplified, predictable, grant-based and direct — finance a small administration can actually reach, and that does not deepen our debt.”
The outcomes of the discussions in Nairobi will help inform recommendations for CBD COP17 in Armenia. Stronger biodiversity action depends on sound science, reliable evidence and practical tools for implementation.
“The Pacific did not come to Nairobi to renegotiate our ambition,” Dr Michael said.
“We came to implement it, and to bring proven, community-led solutions to share on the road to Yerevan. We ask this body to match our ambition with the science, the finance, and the process that will let us deliver it. Our reefs, our fisheries, our mangroves and our peoples cannot wait.”
The Pacific’s delegation is made up of officials from Fiji, Republic of Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga and Vanuatu.
They are supported by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN). ….PACNEWS
COOKS – ELECTION/POLITICS: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Opposition rejects coalition, Cook Islands Party counts on independents ahead of 2026 elections
RAROTONGA, 31 JULY 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS)—The leading opposition parties are not entering into any pre-election coalition agreements as they seek clear mandates on their own in the 2026 general election, which takes place in two weeks on Wednesday, 12 August.
However, the ruling Cook Islands Party (CIP), which has formed successive governments with the help of independents, is counting on that “continued support” as it seeks a fifth consecutive term.
Opposition parties, the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands United Party, have confirmed there are no pre-election coalition agreements between them or with any independent candidates. This includes Agnes Armstrong, a former Demo MP, who has retained her Ivirua seat uncontested as an independent candidate.
Out of 63 total candidates, the CIP fields the largest slate with 20, followed by the United Party with 14 and the Democratic Party with 12.
The remaining candidates include 12 independents, two from the Progressive Party, two representing Independent-Enuamanu and one from the newly formed Independence Party.
Forming a government requires a 13-seat majority.
Following its 2010 landslide win, the CIP maintained power in 2014 by securing the support of Albert Nicholas, who initially won his seat as a Democratic candidate before switching to the CIP and retaining it in a 2017 by-election.
The CIP has since maintained power through successive coalition governments with the help of independent MPs.
CIP leader and caretaker Prime Minister Mark Brown said the party looks forward to the continued support of its independent MPs.
“Our three independent MPs have served the government faithfully for one term (Stephen Matapo) and two terms (Rose Toki-Brown and Te-Hani Brown) respectively,” Brown told Cook Islands News.
“We have demonstrated stability and a proven track record in being able to work with independents for the benefit of all Cook Islanders.
“We look forward to the continuation of that support”
When asked whether the CIP had approached Armstrong about potentially joining the party ahead of the elections, Brown said they looked forward to the opportunity to welcome her to their team.
“I have congratulated Agnes on her confirmation as our first MP elected unopposed,” he said.
“Our door is always open and I know that Agnes will be talking to her electorate and her team about our CIP manifesto and where Mangaia fits into our plans.
“We look forward to the opportunity to welcome her to the team.”
Te-Hani Brown, who attended the CIP’s manifesto launch in Rarotonga this month, acknowledged party executives for supporting the coalition arrangement that backs herself and her mother, Rose Toki-Brown, as independent candidates for Atiu.
“It has been seven years since I crossed over to the CIP party and you have allowed me to stay as an independent member because you understand the situation in Atiu,” she said during the launch.
“It’s a blessing to be here and a privilege to have served my island for eight years and my country as the youngest MP in the Pacific.”
Cook Islands News reached out to Matapo, the incumbent Mauke MP, for comment regarding a potential coalition arrangement if he retains his seat.
Democratic Party leader Tina Pupuke-Browne and United Party leader Teariki Heather said there were no pre-election coalition arrangements between their parties and that they were seeking clear mandates from the public.
Heather said he was “confident” the party would win the seats required to form the next government.
“Well, there’s no arrangements. We won’t be having any partners, any coalition agreements,” he said. “We’re looking forward to changing the government on the 12th.”
Pupuke-Browne said the Democratic Party is contesting this election on its own manifesto, candidates and record, with the objective of earning a clear mandate from the people to form the next government.
“The Party has not entered into any pre-election coalition agreement with the Cook Islands United Party, Agnes Armstrong, or any other independent candidate. I do not propose to comment on private or preliminary conversations between political figures. Any such conversation should not be treated as an agreement, undertaking or commitment by the Democratic Party,” she said.
“We respect Armstrong’s independent status and will not presume to speak for her or speculate about the decisions she may make. There is no coalition arrangement between the Democratic Party and Mrs Armstrong. The same applies to other independent candidates.”
The party won only five seats in the 2022 election – a significant decline from 11 in 2018. Two of its incumbent MPs, Armstrong and Tetangi Matapo, are now independents.
Pupuke-Browne said they were encouraged by the response to their campaign and were confident in the strength of their candidates and policies.
“We are working to improve substantially on our 2022 result, but we take no electorate or voter for granted. The composition of the next Parliament is for the people to decide.”
Questions concerning the formation of a government can properly be addressed only after the results are known, she adds.
“Any decision by the Democratic Party would then be made through its proper processes, having regard to its policies, the need for stable government and the national interest.
“We are not committing ourselves in advance to any party or individual. Our focus remains on presenting our programme to the country and earning the confidence of voters,” she said…. PACNEWS
NAOERO – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Naoero withdraws recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
YAREN, 31 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS)— The Government of the Republic of Naoero has withdrawn its recognition of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Republic of Abkhazia as independent states and ended diplomatic relations with both territories with immediate effect.
The government said it had withdrawn its recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
“Accordingly, the Republic of Naoero has terminated its diplomatic relations with South Ossetia and Abkhazia with immediate effect,” it said in a statement.
The government said the relevant authorities would be formally notified through the appropriate diplomatic channels.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Naoero had withdrawn its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, adding that the decision was taken on 21 July.
“The aforementioned decision once again confirms that respect for and protection of the norms of international law are the foundation of healthy international relations,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry also said Georgia was ready to establish diplomatic relations with Naoero.
Naoero, then known as Nauru, recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2009 and was one of five United Nations member states to do so, alongside Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Syria.
With the decision, Naoero joins Vanuatu and Tuvalu, which also withdrew their recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and severed diplomatic ties in 2011…..PACNEWS
SOL – HERITAGE CAPITAL: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS 1: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Premier pushes to make Tulagi Solomons ‘Heritage capital’
TULAGI, 31 JULY 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS) —The Premier of Central Islands Province has appealed to the National Government and international partners to support his vision of transforming Tulagi into the heritage capital of Solomon Islands – a place where the nation’s history, culture, faith and tourism converge.
Premier Kenneth Sagupari made the call during the opening of the Nambawan Haus Museum in Tulagi this week.
“A nation that preserves its history strengthens its identity,” Sagupari said.
“A nation that understands its history makes wiser decisions,” he added.
“A nation that honours its heritage gives confidence to future generations.”
Sagupari said Nambawan Haus Museum will stand as a permanent home for the documentary heritage of Central Province and Solomon Islands – a place where the past is protected, the present is informed and the future is inspired.
Housed in the former official residence of the British Resident Commissioner, first built in 1898, Nambawan Haus occupies one of the country’s most historically significant buildings.
Tulagi served as the administrative capital of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate until World War II, when the destruction caused by the war led to the transfer of the colonial administration to Guadalcanal and the eventual establishment of Honiara as the nation’s capital.
The museum’s collections trace Solomon Islands’ history over centuries, covering traditional societies, the colonial era, the arrival of Christianity, the battles of World War II, and the country’s journey to independence in 1978.
One of its centrepieces is a traditional Binabina war canoe, crafted by Chief William Semu, who is believed to be the last living master of the art.
Sagupari said the canoe embodies “the true meaning of preserving and transferring traditional knowledge to the young generation.”
The museum’s interior was designed by Millicent Barty of Millicent Design and Kastom Keepers, who sourced replica British colonial artefacts from Australia to furnish the exhibition space.
The project was funded by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with additional support from local tourism operators and development partners.
Prime Minister Matthew Wale, diplomatic representatives from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the United States, Japan and Australia, as well as traditional chiefs, church leaders and members of the public witnessed the opening ceremony….PACNEWS
VAN – DIPLOMACY: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 1: Fri 31 Jul 2026
PNG’s legacy honoured as Vanuatu marks independence
PORT VILA, 31 JULY 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Papua New Guinea’s historic contribution to Vanuatu’s independence was recognised during the island nation’s 46th Independence Anniversary celebrations, attended by Prime Minister James Marape and regional leaders in Port Vila on Thursday.
Prime Minister Marape joined Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat, Vanuatu President Nikenike Vurobaravu and Timor-Leste President Dr José Ramos-Horta at the official ceremony held at Independence Park, where thousands of people gathered to mark the national milestone.
The celebrations featured a military parade, the hoisting of the Vanuatu flag and cultural performances, followed by Prime Minister Napat’s national address.
During his speech, he acknowledged PNG’s decisive support during Vanuatu’s struggle for independence in 1980 and praised the enduring relationship between the two Melanesian nations.
“Our relationship with Papua New Guinea is a relationship between a Melanesian partner and sister,” Napat said, expressing gratitude for PNG’s unwavering support over the decades.
Following the ceremony, Vurobaravu hosted an official state luncheon where Marape received an award recognising PNG’s longstanding partnership with Vanuatu.
New Ireland Governor Byron Chan was also honoured on behalf of his late father, Sir Julius Chan, for his pivotal role in supporting Vanuatu during its independence movement.
Speaking at a welcome dinner earlier this week, Marape reaffirmed the deep historical ties between the two countries, noting that PNG Defence Force personnel helped restore peace in Vanuatu ahead of its independence on 30 July 1980.
Marape is expected to hold bilateral talks with Napat and Ramos-Horta before officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony for PNG’s new chancery in Port Vila….PACNEWS
FIJI – MARITIME SEARCH & RESCUE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Rescued Fiji medical team in stable health condition after sea ordeal
SUVA, 31 JULY 2026 ( FIJI SUN)—Six Fiji healthcare workers who went missing at sea in the Lau Group are in stable condition after being rescued by the crew of Goundar Shipping Services’ Lomaiviti Princess 12, bringing an anxious nationwide search to a successful conclusion.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services confirmed the missing medical outreach team was located at about 7pm Thursday after an extensive search involving Government agencies, emergency responders, local communities and mariners.
The team comprised a Medical Officer, Dental Officer, Charge Nurse, Peer Educator, Health Inspector and Dental Assistant.
All six were safely brought aboard the Lomaiviti Princess 12 and were reported to be in stable health.
They will be transported to the Lakeba Sub-Divisional Hospital for comprehensive medical assessments and care.
Last night, upon arrival at Lakeba, the six were too weak to disembark from the vessel. The Lakeba medical team instead boarded the Lomaiviti Princess 12 with the medical supplies needed to begin treatment.
The vessel remained berthed at the Wainiyabia inlet last night and was expected to move closer to the Tubou jetty.
The Ministry expressed its gratitude to people across Fiji for their prayers and support during the search.
“The overwhelming wave of prayers, shared thoughts, and solidarity from citizens across the country provided immense strength to the families and emergency teams during this critical period.”
The Ministry also acknowledged the agencies and individuals involved in the successful rescue operation.
“Special commendation goes to the captain and crew of the Goundar Shipping vessel for their alertness, dedication, and swift action in executing the rescue.””
It also recognised the Fiji Navy Rescue Coordinating Centre, the Fiji Police Force, local search parties, the Office of the Commissioner Eastern, the Provincial Administrator Lau, and coastal villagers and mariners across the Lau Group for their role in the operation.
The rescue brought to an end an intensive search after the outreach team failed to reach its destination while travelling in the Lau Group….PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Germany’s new ambassador pledges stronger ties with Fiji and the Pacific
SUVA, 31 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Germany has reaffirmed its commitment to Fiji and the wider Pacific with new Ambassador, Nicole Menzenbach, pledging to strengthen cooperation on climate action, education, trade and community development.
Menzenbach presented her Letters of Credence to President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu at State House, officially beginning her diplomatic mission in Fiji.
She reviewed a Guard of Honour mounted by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces under the command of Lieutenant Moses Kabakoro.
Lalabalavu congratulated Menzenbach on her appointment and reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between Fiji and Germany.
“We look forward to your continued efforts here, particularly in areas such as education and climate change. These are areas where we believe Germany’s support and guidance will help Fiji realise its full potential,” Lalabalavu said.
Menzenbach said it was an honour to serve as Germany’s Ambassador to Fiji. “I look forward to strengthening our partnership with Fiji and the wider Pacific,” she said.
“The establishment of our embassy in Suva reflects Germany’s commitment to the Pacific, and we look forward to expanding cooperation in trade, climate action and community development”.
The ambassador also highlighted Germany’s support for school initiatives, community water supply projects and other local development programmes.
She reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to working with Pacific countries to address climate change and promote an ocean of peace across the region.
Before taking up her role in Fiji, Menzenbach served as Germany’s Ambassador to New Zealand from 2022. She also held senior positions at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, including Head of the Division for Higher Education, Science and Academic Relations Policy. She later served as Consul General to the New England States….PACNEWS
NZ – DEFENCE: NZDF PACNEWS 1: Fri 31 Jul 2026
NZ Army instructors look forward to passing on knowledge and building connections in Timor-Leste
AUCKLAND, 31 JULY 2026 (NZDF)—Eight New Zealand Army instructors have deployed to Timor-Leste where they will help build foundational soldier skills in an all-female Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL) platoon group.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) was invited by the F-FDTL to contribute eight personnel to help deliver training at Baucau Military Base.
The training course has been developed with Australia’s in-country Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) and will be delivered by instructors from the F-FDTL, Australia’s DCP and the NZDF.
Land Component Commander, Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg, says the invitation to provide NZ Army instructors was a great opportunity for the NZDF to maintain the strong connection that it has with Timor-Leste, and to help F-FDTL soldiers enhance their warfighting skills.
The eight personnel are all current instructors in New Zealand.
Senior contingent representative, Sergeant Tinelle Walker, says they are looking forward to sharing their knowledge and experience.
“Our main goal is to train and develop the individual foundation warfighting skills required of a section member within a platoon operating environment which will strengthen F-FDTL capability,” Sergeant Walker said.
This will include instructing the F-FDTL soldiers in weapon handling, section battle drills, radio telephone procedures, navigation, and other essential soldiering skills.
“The deployment provides an opportunity to work alongside partner nations, share knowledge, and further strengthen the relationship between New Zealand, Australia and Timor-Leste,” she said.
As none of the New Zealand team members have previously deployed to Timor-Leste, they were looking forward to representing the NZDF to a high standard, demonstrating the professionalism and values of the NZDF while also taking the opportunity to learn more about the country’s culture, traditions, and customs…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – ARTIFICIAL INTELIGENCE: FBC NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Pacific AI principles endorsed
NADI, 31 JULY 2026 (FBC NEWS)—Pacific ICT ministers have endorsed regional artificial intelligence technology principles that will be presented to leaders for approval later this year.
Speaking at the Pacific Fibre Conference 2026, Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua says the principles will shape the Pacific’s digital future.
He said the framework will guide artificial intelligence development through safety, ethical governance and Pacific cultural values.
Naivalurua said the principles are tailored to the unique needs and priorities of Pacific Island countries.
“This principle will anchor the future of digitalization and AI in safety, cultural values, and ethical governance tailored to the Pacific island needs.”
He said that ministers also agreed to strengthen regional governance and monitoring under the Pacific Islands Digital Transformation Action Plan.
Naivalurua said that regional cooperation is essential for Pacific countries to achieve digital transformation and address shared challenges.
He stated that Fiji remains committed to investing in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and digital services to support national development.
Naivalurua said resilient digital networks will help communities stay connected during disasters while improving access to education, healthcare and government services…..PACNEWS
FIJI – SCAMS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Fijians at risk of trafficking through online job scams, says IOM
SUVA, 31 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fijians and Pacific Islanders are at risk of being trafficked into forced criminality through fake overseas job offers, with victims coerced into operating online scam networks worth billions of dollars.
The warning was issued by International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission Solomon Kantha during the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons event at the University of the South Pacific (USP).
Kantha shared the case of a man who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic and accepted what appeared to be a well-paid overseas job, only to be trafficked to a scam compound in Myanmar after arriving in Thailand.
“He was threatened, forced, and transported to Myanmar, where he worked in an online scam compound,” Kantha said.
He said organised crime groups were increasingly targeting educated, tech-savvy people in their 20s and 30s with strong English skills and experience in information technology, marketing, customer service and human resources.
“If it’s too good to be true, that’s the indicator that you can pick up.”
Kantha cited UNODC data showing annual losses from scam offences across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand totalled between US$88 billion and US$114 billion in 2025.
Head of the UNODC Pacific Office, Marie Cauchois, said traffickers were increasingly using online recruitment and digital platforms to lure victims into forced labour and sexual exploitation.
“Think critically of what we see online,” she urged young people.
Director of Labour Standards at the Ministry of Employment, Daniel Tagivakatini, said Fiji recorded around 1,600 digital scam cases last week, with reported losses exceeding $1.3 million (US$650,000), according to figures from the Consumer Council of Fiji and the UNDP.
Tagivakatini said Fiji remained on the United States Tier 2 Watch List for trafficking and called for stronger collaboration between government agencies and civil society to address the issue.
The event was co-hosted by the IOM, the International Labour Organisation and USP….PACNEWS
SOL – VISA FREE TRAVEL: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Solomon Islands and Hong Kong to begin visa-free travel
HONIARA, 31 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Travel between the Solomon Islands and Hong Kong will become easier from 26 August, when a reciprocal visa-free arrangement takes effect.
The agreement will allow Solomon Islands passport holders and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region permanent residents with valid HKSAR passports to enter, exit, transit and stay in each other’s territories for up to 30 days without a visa.
It follows an exchange of diplomatic notes between the Solomon Islands Embassy in Beijing and the Hong Kong SAR Government.
The Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade said the arrangement marks another milestone in strengthening ties and is expected to boost tourism, business, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
The ministry acknowledged the Solomon Islands Embassy in Beijing and Hong Kong SAR authorities for finalising the agreement.
The visa waiver is expected to make travel more convenient and support closer economic and commercial links with one of Asia’s leading financial and business hubs…..PACNEWS
AUST – BIRD FLU STRAIN: AAP PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 31 Jul 2026
Endangered species at risk as bird flu spreads in Australia
SYDNEY, 31 JULY 2026 (AAP)—Bird flu cases have been detected in a fifth state, prompting warnings of a national wildlife emergency in Australia.
An emergency response plan has been launched in Victoria after its first positive case was confirmed on Thursday in a bird near Portland in the state’s southwest.
Another was confirmed in a giant petrel, a sub-Antarctic species found at Port Lincoln in South Australia, bringing the total number of confirmed Australian bird flu cases to 28.
Confirmed cases of the deadly strain have also appeared at Western Australia, NSW and Queensland.
Thirteen new suspected cases have also been found in a native seabird colony in SA after local transmission was confirmed by state authorities.
The disease, which has devastated bird populations worldwide and has also killed tens of thousands of mammals, arrived on Australian shores in mid-June.
Victoria’s chief biodiversity officer James Todd said authorities around the nation had been preparing for a potential detection given the annual movement of migratory birds to Australia.
He said bird flu presented a risk to more than 600 native species in Victoria.
They include a number of critically endangered species kept in captivity by Zoos Victoria for conservation and captive breeding programs.
Victoria’s official bird emblem, the helmeted honeyeater, is also at risk along with the orange-bellied parrot, plains-wanderer and regent honeyeater.
Alarm bells are ringing for conservationists after one case was confirmed near a key colony of Australian sea lions on SA’s Kangaroo Island, an endangered species with a population of just 12,000.
They warned the virus was moving exactly as predicted and pushed for further investment to protect Australian wildlife.
“We need to stop thinking about bird flu as a series of isolated detections and start responding to it as a national wildlife emergency,” Invasive Species Council advocate John Kelly said.
He called for a federal $200 million (US$140 million) investment to strengthen wildlife resilience.
Bird flu has caused havoc in the poultry industry globally, causing the deaths of about 140 million birds since January last year.
Victorian Farmers Federation president Ryan Milgate said the virus’ detection was not unexpected and claimed the state industry was prepared “for this very moment”.
He encouraged farmers to review their biosecurity plans and remain alert for any sick or dead birds as well as unusual signs of disease around their property.
Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Dr Graeme Cooke said contingency plans had been scaled up to prepare the sector for the virus’ arrival.
“We are extremely well prepared, relative to the situation that other countries may have been found unprepared for,” he said.
Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson said the risk to human health remained low.
There was no evidence of any mass mortality events and no detections in poultry or in our agricultural production system, she said.
Samples from the 13 suspected SA cases – all greater crested terns – found in Port Lincoln have been sent to the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong for testing…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Australia must rethink leadership in the Trump Era – Starting with Climate
By Chris Barrie
CANBERRA, 31 JULY 2026 (THE DIPLOMAT) —We live in a rapidly evolving risk landscape. The conflict in the Middle East has not resolved and its effects will last for months, if not years. The Iran-U.S clashes have transformed into something that strains supply chains, reduces crop yields, rewrites regional politics, and concentrates attention on near-term stability at the expense of the big global challenges.
The decisions by the Trump administration to retreat from the commitments and frameworks of global climate action have created a leadership void that is felt most acutely not in Washington or Brussels, but in the low-lying islands of the Pacific, in the Australian communities already contending with extreme fire seasons and more intense floods and cyclones, and in every boardroom and cabinet room where 30-year infrastructure decisions are being made in the face of deepening uncertainty.
The decline of America as a global leader represents a startling shift in the security space Australia has occupied. The Trump administration’s attack on international conventions and relationships, and its rejection of values that many Australians hold dear, requires Australia to rethink how it exercises leadership and influence in our region.
As someone who has spent over two decades arguing – from inside defence and intelligence institutions as much as outside them – that climate disruption is the most significant strategic threat Australia faces, this is a moment for clear-eyed reckoning.
The world has become more dangerous, and climate disruption adds to the danger. The too-slow pace of the energy transition and faster-than-forecast climate impacts are escalating risks.
For the better part of my career in uniform, climate change was treated as a secondary issue in defence planning – something that belonged to the environment portfolio, not to the strategic one.
We now have more than two decades of analyses – from defence and intelligence agencies in Australia and across allied nations, from the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group, and from the assessments of Australia’s Treasury department and Productivity Commission – all pointing to the same conclusion. The risks of climate disruption are not linear, but compounding and cascading. When one system fails – whether that is a power grid, a water catchment, an agricultural region, or a community’s capacity for self-recovery – it puts pressure on every connected system.
We must redesign critical systems to make those systems more resilient, more sovereign, and less vulnerable to the shocks that are coming.
The choices Australia makes in the next five years about the pace and shape of the energy transition will determine not only our electricity prices, but our strategic position – our credibility in the region, our leverage in international coalitions, and our capacity to lead rather than follow. That is why I no longer think of the energy transition primarily as climate mitigation policy but as nation-building.
Australia’s energy transition broke records in 2025. Renewables generated almost half our electricity. Battery storage capacity tripled. This performance is a genuine achievement.
The pipeline of projects is real, but the delivery gap between ambition and projects on the ground remains large.
Policy consistency cannot stop at renewable energy. A nation cannot simultaneously ask this industry to build the clean-energy economy of the future, while continuing to expand the industries driving climate disruption.
Renewables are half the story, but phasing out fossil fuels is the other, and from that standpoint Australian policy is contradictory, perhaps even delusional.
The Australian government has a clear policy of talking about and championing renewable energy, while avoiding, wherever possible, any discussion of climate impacts and how Australian coal and gas, including new licenses, are helping drive the world toward an unliveable planet.
Our climate minister, Chris Bowen, has said Australia will not use its role as president of the negotiations at the 2026 COP31 climate summit to facilitate an agreement to curtail coal or gas exports, declaring in a recent media interview that it is “not on the agenda” under his leadership.
The Australian Security Leaders Climate Group previously documented how the government has found confronting climate impacts and their security consequences simply “too hot to handle.”
Whatever short-term income fossil fuel exports generate is overwhelmed by the deaths, destruction, and decline in human security caused by accelerating climate disruption. These costs will continue accumulating for decades and be borne by communities, governments and future generations.
The World Health Organisation’s estimate that extreme heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives in Europe since 2022, with millions more affected physically and mentally, is an example of the human consequences already unfolding.
It is a consistent government practice to avoid discussion of the science, the impacts, and Australia’s outsized contribution to them.
We see a similar pattern in the United States, where a faction of Congressional Democrats have embraced what has been called “climate hushing” – scaling back discussion of climate change and shifting the conversation toward energy affordability.
In times of crisis, especially when the future security of the nation is at stake, leadership means confronting the hardest problems head on, as Australia has done during times of war and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taking difficult issues off the agenda does not demonstrate leadership. It demonstrates hesitation. Sweeping problems under the carpet exhibits weakness. And outright denial looks like cowardice to me, wherever it comes from.
We cannot credibly claim to be addressing the climate emergency while simultaneously increasing the very emissions driving it. Australia’s fossil fuel export trajectory is like trying to empty a bathtub while leaving the tap running. Every new fossil fuel project and every expansion in exports cancels out part of the global progress being delivered by the clean energy industry.
We are not short of technology. We are increasingly not short of public support. What we are short of is institutions willing to hold the line once the smoke clears and the cameras move on……PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
From Hanoi to Manila: Japan’s Updated ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ takes shape
By Takahashi Kosuke
TOKYO, 31 JULY 2026 (THE DIPLOMAT)—Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu’s visit to Manila last week was more than another round of ASEAN diplomacy.
It represented one of the clearest public manifestations of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy, demonstrating how Japan is shifting its engagement with Southeast Asia beyond traditional development assistance toward practical security cooperation.
Takaichi outlined that strategy in a foreign policy speech at Vietnam National University in Hanoi on 02 May, marking a decade since the late former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo first proposed the FOIP vision.
Takaichi argued that intensifying geopolitical competition, rapid technological innovation, and the rise of the Global South require Indo-Pacific countries to strengthen their “autonomy” and “resilience.” Her updated FOIP strategy identified three priorities: building economic infrastructure for the AI and data age, including resilient energy and critical mineral supply chains; promoting growth through public-private cooperation and shared rules; and expanding security cooperation to preserve regional peace and stability.
Equally important, Takaichi stressed that FOIP complements rather than competes with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). The message was intended to reassure Southeast Asian governments that Japan supports ASEAN-led regional institutions while helping member states strengthen their own strategic autonomy.
Motegi’s diplomacy in Manila put that vision into practice.
At the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 22 July, he described ASEAN as being “at the core” of Japan’s FOIP vision and pledged closer cooperation in maritime security, economic security, energy resilience, artificial intelligence, and disaster response.
Motegi also said Japan “strongly opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion” in the East and South China Seas, language widely understood as directed at China even when Beijing is not named. He further called for any future South China Sea Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN to conform to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The clearest evidence of Japan’s changing approach is Official Security Assistance (OSA), introduced in 2023 to provide defence equipment and infrastructure directly to the armed forces and related organisations of partner countries. Unlike traditional development assistance, OSA is explicitly designed to strengthen recipients’ security and deterrence capabilities.
Recent projects include monitoring and surveillance equipment for the Philippines, a diving support vessel and equipment for ASEAN observer teams in Malaysia, high-speed patrol boats for Indonesia, maritime search-and-rescue equipment for Thailand, and communications equipment and patrol boats for Cambodia. Phnom Penh’s participation is particularly noteworthy, suggesting that even one of Beijing’s closest partners in Southeast Asia sees value in diversifying its external security relationships.
Japan is also moving beyond equipment transfers. Tokyo and Hanoi agreed earlier this month to begin discussions on the possible joint development and production of fast landing craft. The Philippines, meanwhile, remains Japan’s closest regional security partner: during the Manila meetings, Motegi and his Philippine counterpart exchanged diplomatic notes bringing their Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement – signed in January – into force as of August 22, alongside continued radar transfers and expanding joint military exercises.
Tokyo is also trying to connect Southeast Asia with the wider Pacific security architecture. At the third Japan-Pacific Islands Defence Dialogue in February, ASEAN countries participated as observers for the first time. The meeting focused on climate security, disaster relief, and maritime resilience, but it was also shaped by concern over China’s expanding influence in Pacific Island countries.
The linkage suggests Tokyo increasingly views maritime Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands as a connected strategic space rather than separate diplomatic tracks. This approach also reflects Abe Shinzo’s vision of Japan as a “dot connector” linking like-minded partners across the Indo-Pacific. The Quad reinforced the same approach in Manila by pledging deeper cooperation with ASEAN on maritime security, critical technologies, economic security, and humanitarian assistance.
Most Southeast Asian governments, for their part, are seeking stronger maritime capabilities and more strategic options without wanting to be forced to choose between Beijing and either Washington or Tokyo.
China nevertheless views Japan’s expanding regional role with growing suspicion. Chinese officials warned against a “revival of militarism,” while Beijing rejected Motegi’s account of a brief exchange with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and state media dismissed the episode as political theater. More fundamentally, Chinese commentators increasingly portray Japan’s higher defence spending, long-range missile programs, deeper integration with the United States, and expanding security partnerships in Southeast Asia as evidence that Tokyo is abandoning its postwar restraint.
ASEAN governments are unlikely to respond uniformly. The Philippines and Vietnam have proven the most receptive to cooperation with Japan because of growing maritime pressure from China. Indonesia and Malaysia welcome capacity-building while remaining cautious about appearing aligned against Beijing. Cambodia and Laos remain more constrained by their close ties with China.
Yet even if the progress is uneven with individual partner countries, overall Japan is steadily institutionalizing security cooperation across Southeast Asia while linking it to a wider Indo-Pacific network extending to the Pacific Islands.
Whether that strategy succeeds will depend less on Beijing’s criticism than on whether Southeast Asian governments continue to see Tokyo as a partner that enhances their autonomy rather than constrains it. …PACNEWS
