In this bulletin:
1. AUST — Australian Foreign Minister Wong tables Ocean of Peace Alliance, Fiji Vuvale Union in Parliament
2. PACIFIC — China warns Pacific Islands diplomat not to sour ties over Taiwan
3. FIJI — Fiji reopens Kuala Lumpur mission, eyes trade, energy and Asean opportunities: Foreign Minister Ditoka
4. COOKS — Rarotonga could decide who governs Cook Islands after poll signals tight election
5. VAN — Ifira Chiefs give customary blessing to new MSG Director General Naupa
6. PNG — World Bank may lend K300mil for El Nino disaster relief in Papua New Guinea
7. PACIFIC — Scientists warn the Pacific is not ready to battle bird flu
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji eyes Malaysia partnership to strengthen fuel security
9. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG Fisheries industry braces for impact of El Nino, decline in fish stock
10. PACNEWS BIZ — FFA steps up support for PNG Tuna industry as EU market rules tighten
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Unexplained wealth should ‘ring the bell’ for authorities, says Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji’s interim taxi fare increase to end on 30 September
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — The Pacific does not need another alignment test, it needs a veto map
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Barana women grow their businesses with PEBACC+ support
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — More than a crown: Pacific beauty pageants should also promote public health
AUST – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Australian Foreign Minister Wong tables Ocean of Peace Alliance, Fiji Vuvale Union in Parliament
CANBERRA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—Australia says its new security and economic treaties with Fiji will reshape the bilateral relationship for generations and help advance Fiji’s vision of a Pacific “Ocean of Peace”.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told Parliament in Canberra on Tuesday that the Ocean of Peace Alliance and Australia-Fiji Vuvale Union would strengthen cooperation between the two countries at a time of growing regional uncertainty and strategic competition.
“At a time of great uncertainty, risk and contestation, the Albanese Government recognises that Australia cannot afford to be a passive observer of the profound changes occurring around us.
“Peace is never a given.
“And we are not here to just occupy the space,” Wong said.
Wong said Australia had spent the past four years strengthening its engagement with the Pacific through partnerships and regional cooperation.
She said Fiji had been a key partner, particularly under Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who has promoted the vision of the Blue Pacific as an “Ocean of Peace”.
“As Prime Minister Rabuka described it: “a region in which strategic competition is managed; where stability is the touchstone of regional relationships; and where coercion is eschewed.
“A region where differences are resolved peacefully,” Wong said.
Wong said the Ocean of Peace Alliance represented a major step in the Australia-Fiji relationship.
“Australia was honoured to accept Prime Minister Rabuka’s proposal for the Ocean of Peace Alliance
“An Alliance is the highest act of trust between two nations.
“This is Fiji’s first Alliance and only Australia’s fourth,” Wong told Parliament in Canberra.
She said the agreement would deepen military cooperation between the two countries through joint planning, training, exercises and deployments.
“It will build ever deeper levels of interoperability.
“We will, plan, train, exercise and deploy together, strengthening our combined capability, to enhance our respective sovereignty and to ensure our nations’ and our region’s security at a time of fracture and of disruption,” Wong said.
The Vuvale Union Treaty will focus on broader economic, security and people-to-people ties, backed by more than $1 billion (US$706 million) in Australian investment over 10 years.
“It will be a multi-generational endeavour to integrate our economies, our security and our peoples,” Wong said.
On security, Australia will provide $181 million(US$127 million) for cooperation between the Australian Federal Police and Fiji Police Force to combat transnational crime and illicit drugs.
“With an investment of $181 million (US$127 million), the AFP will work hand in hand with the Fiji Police Force to disrupt criminal networks and strengthen intelligence to interdict drugs before they reach Fijian or Australian shores,” she said.
Australia will also support Fiji’s health sector, including specialist training for health workers and assistance in responding to the country’s HIV outbreak.
Wong said the economic pillar of the Vuvale Union would support infrastructure and economic diversification.
“Under our economic pillar, we will finance nation-building infrastructure – ports, and major climate adaptation projects – strengthening Fiji’s role as a regional hub.
“And we will back Fiji’s economic diversification agenda, supporting secure digital infrastructure, enhancing critical infrastructure investment screening, and increasing supply chain resilience,” she said.
The treaty also places a strong focus on people-to-people links, with more than 100,000 people in Australia of Fijian heritage.
Wong highlighted the historical links between Fijians and Australia’s First Nations peoples, including cooperation during World War II between Fijian workers and the Yolŋu people.
She said the Bukmak Forum, established under the Vuvale Union, would bring together government, traditional, faith and business leaders from both countries.
Wong said the two treaties were the first practical response to the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ call to advance the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration.
“I have just returned from Fiji where Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers reaffirmed our Leaders’ call to give practical effect to the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration
“And these are the first two treaties to answer that call,” she said.
Wong said the agreements would benefit not only Australia and Fiji but the wider Pacific, given Fiji’s role as a regional hub for transport, logistics, education and healthcare.
“These two treaties send an unequivocal signal of our commitment to each other and to the Pacific family
“They will help realise the vision of an Ocean of Peace to make us all more secure, prosperous and resilient,” she said.
She formally commended the Ocean of Peace Alliance and Vuvale Union treaties to the Australian Senate for consideration….PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: AFP PACNEWS 1: Wed 12 Aug 2026
China warns Pacific Islands diplomat not to sour ties over Taiwan
BEIJING, 12 AUGUST 2026 (AFP)— China warned a top Pacific Islands diplomat to “avoid affecting the healthy and stable development of ties”, after he said Taiwan would attend an annual meeting of the regional bloc’s leaders.
The island was barred from the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in 2025 after protests from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.
Baron Waqa, the Forum’s Secretary-General, told reporters last Friday that Taipei would attend in 2026.
“China urges the Pacific Islands Forum secretary to strictly adhere to the one-China principle, properly handle Taiwan-related issues and avoid affecting the healthy and stable development of ties between China and the Forum,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday in response to an earlier AFP question about the matter.
China opposes the self-governed island’s participation in international organisations and exchanges with other countries.
Forum members Nauru, Kiribati and Solomon Islands have all cut diplomatic ties with Taipei since 2019, with the latter blocking Taiwan from attending the meeting when it hosted in 2025.
That resulted in all external countries being barred from the meeting, despite the island states’ reliance on foreign aid and investment.
Palau, host of 2026’s event from 30 August to 04 September, is among Taiwan’s 12 remaining diplomatic partners.
“Taiwan is a very important development partner. It is not a dialogue partner, but it engages with members of our forum family,” Waqa said at a news conference last week after ministers met in Fiji.
Along with Palau, forum members Tuvalu and Marshall Islands are also diplomatic partners of Taiwan…..PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Fiji reopens Kuala Lumpur mission, eyes trade, energy and Asean opportunities: Foreign Minister Ditoka
KUALA LUMPUR, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)— Fiji has formally reopened its High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, restoring its permanent diplomatic presence in Malaysia and positioning the mission to strengthen cooperation on trade, investment, energy, technology and regional engagement.
Foreign Minister Sakiasi Ditoka said the reopening marked the return of Fiji’s permanent diplomatic presence in Malaysia after the High Commission was closed in 2020.
“I had the great privilege of officially reopening the Fiji High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, marking the return, in permanent and physical form, of the Fijian flag on Malaysian soil.”
“Fiji closed its High Commission here in 2020 during an extraordinarily difficult period globally. Our friendship with Malaysia continued, but our physical diplomatic presence fell silent.”
“That course has now been corrected,” he said in social media post.
The High Commission reopened its doors in January 2025 under High Commissioner Ratu Etueni Qiolele Caucau, with the formal inauguration of the Chancery held in Kuala Lumpur this week.
Ditoka said the reopening sends a clear message that Fiji intends to maintain a long-term presence in Malaysia.
“The High Commission reopened its doors in January 2025 under our High Commissioner, Ratu Etueni Qiolele Caucau, and has steadily rebuilt Fiji’s presence and relationships in Malaysia. Yesterday we formally inaugurated our Chancery and made a clear statement that Fiji is back in Kuala Lumpur and we are here for the long term.”
He was joined at the ceremony by Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang, members of the diplomatic corps, Fiji officials and members of the Fijian community in Malaysia.
Ditoka said Fiji and Malaysia had a long history of friendship, including the service of Fijian soldiers alongside Commonwealth forces during the Malayan Emergency in the 1950s.
“There is considerable history behind the friendship between our countries. Fijian soldiers served alongside Commonwealth forces during the Malayan Emergency in the 1950s. Generations later, we are building upon those ties in very different circumstances, with our attention now firmly on the opportunities ahead.”
He said Malaysia was an important partner for Fiji and Kuala Lumpur provided a strategic platform for Fiji to expand its engagement with ASEAN and Asia.
“Malaysia is an important partner for Fiji in its own right, and Kuala Lumpur also gives us an important platform for deeper engagement with ASEAN and the wider Asian region.”
Ditoka said Fiji wanted to increase two-way trade and investment while expanding cooperation in energy, technology and education.
“We want to see more trade in both directions, greater investment, stronger cooperation in energy and technology, more educational opportunities and closer links between our businesses and our people.”
He said recent global supply chain disruptions had highlighted the need for Fiji to diversify its economic relationships and strengthen partnerships.
“The recent disruptions to global supply chains have reminded us why a small island nation like Fiji must continue to diversify its economic relationships and build friendships across the world.”
The Foreign Minister also linked the reopening of the High Commission to Fiji’s broader efforts to strengthen energy security and diversify fuel supply arrangements.
“This visit to Malaysia also forms part of the wider work being undertaken by Government, with the support of the Hon. Prime Minister, to strengthen Fiji’s energy security, diversify our fuel supply arrangements and explore opportunities for strategic cooperation and resource pooling with trusted partners.”
“The reopening of our permanent diplomatic presence in Kuala Lumpur gives Fiji another important platform from which to pursue that work,” he said.
Ditoka said the High Commission would also serve Fijians living, working and studying in Malaysia.
“But a High Commission is about more than diplomacy and commerce.”
“For Fijians living, working and studying in Malaysia, these premises are also a little piece of Fiji away from home — somewhere our people can walk through the door and know that their country is there for them,” he said.
Ditoka acknowledged Foreign Service officers who worked to restore Fiji’s diplomatic presence after the mission’s closure.
“I thanked the officers of our Foreign Service, past and present, whose quiet work brought this Mission back from closure and established our new Chancery. The flag-raising and ceremony are the visible part. Considerable work takes place behind the scenes to make a diplomatic mission function and serve our country well.”
Ditoka called on High Commissioner Caucau and his team to use the renewed presence to strengthen Fiji-Malaysia relations and support Fijians in Malaysia.
“My message to High Commissioner Caucau and his team was straightforward: represent Fiji with warmth, integrity and quiet confidence; look after our people; deepen our friendship with Malaysia; and make Fiji’s renewed presence here count.”
He said the reopening was only the beginning.
“We reopened a diplomatic door that had been closed.Now we must make good use of it.
“Vinaka vakalevu to the Government and people of Malaysia for your friendship and hospitality,” he said….PACNEWS
COOKS – ELECTION/POLITICS: PMN PACNEWS 1: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Rarotonga could decide who governs Cook Islands after poll signals tight election
RAROTONGA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PMN)—The battle for Rarotonga could be crucial to deciding who governs the Cook Islands.
This comes as the governing Cook Islands Party (CIP) holds an advantage but the Cook Islands United Party (CIUP) is gaining ground in the capital.
William Numanga, a political analyst, says the race is particularly close across Rarotonga’s 10 constituencies, which make up a big share of the 24-seat Parliament.
“It’s going to be very tight, particularly in Rarotonga,” Numanga told Pacific Mornings. “You can’t overlook the rise in the United Party and how organised they are, particularly in Rarotonga.”
The latest Cook Islands News General Election 2026 poll puts party support for the CIP on 30.5 percent and CIUP on 26.7 per cent while 25.7 percent of voters remain undecided.
Numanga says voters appear divided between those wanting a change of government and those who favour the stability of four terms under the CIP.
“Some people are wanting change. Some people want new representation in Parliament and some people still want stability and security of the last four terms under the CIP,” he says.
Numanga says the CIP also benefits from its relationships with independent MPs who have supported the government in previous terms.
“They’ve got good relationships with the independents that they’ve worked with over the last few terms, and so they have the obvious advantage right now,” he says.
“But you can’t overlook the rise in the United Party and how organised they are, particularly in Rarotonga.”
United Party leader Teariki Heather says he is getting strong feedback from voters on the ground.
“There’s a big sense of change. People now are all quiet, waiting for the day, the hour they cast their votes to change the government,” he told PMN.
But the numbers show the challenge facing the opposition.
The 24-seat Parliament requires a party or grouping to command at least 13 seats to govern alone.
Numanga says United would need to win all 14 seats it is contesting to reach the 13-seat threshold needed to govern alone while the Democratic Party is fielding fewer than 13 candidates.
Numanga also says the Democratic Party has lost ground, pointing to Mangaia, where he says three of its five MPs previously came from.
Only one Democratic Party candidate is standing there this election while two former Democratic MPs are now running as independents.
“It’s a clear indication that maybe the Democratic Party ticket is not a hot ticket at the moment,” Numanga says.
But he says the electorate-by-electorate voting system means independents and smaller parties could still have a major say in who forms the next government.
If neither major party reaches 13, independents could again become crucial.
The CIP has previously governed with the support of independent MPs while the Democratic and United parties have ruled out pre-election alliances.
“There could possibly be a coalition, who knows? It’s all up for grabs,” Numanga says.
The Cook Islands News poll, conducted by Cook Islands News staff, interviewed 120 people across the country between 31 July and 06 August.
About 75 per cent of respondents were interviewed by phone and in person in Rarotonga and 25 per cent by phone in the outer islands. The poll has a margin of error of about plus or minus eight percentage points.
Cook Islanders vote on Wednesday, 12 August, with polling day falling on Thursday in New Zealand. Preliminary results are expected on election night….PACNEWS
VAN – MSG DG: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Ifira Chiefs give customary blessing to new MSG Director General Naupa
PORT VILA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)–New Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat Director General Dr Anna Naupa has received the customary blessing and support of Ifira Island chiefs following her historic appointment as the first ni-Vanuatu and first woman to lead the regional organisation’s secretariat.
Naupa performed a customary protocol with Chief Teriki Paunimanu Mantoi Kalsakau III and the Ifira Farea (Council of Chiefs) on Ifira Island, recognising the important role of customary leadership and governance in the Melanesian Way.
Ifira is the traditional custodian of the Port Vila lands where the MSG Secretariat is located.
The Ifira Farea reaffirmed its support for the MSG Secretariat and stressed the importance of protecting Melanesian values, culture and customary knowledge as foundations for regional cooperation, progress and unity.
Naupa, who was accompanied by traditional leaders from Erromango and MSG Secretariat staff, said she was grateful for the welcome from Chief Teriki Paunimanu and the Ifira Council of Chiefs.
As a daughter of Erromango, Naupa said her customary protocol recognised her ancestral links between Erromango and Ifira, as well as her kinship ties with the Imere community on Efate.
She described the protocol as part of the customary pathways that govern relationships and responsibilities across Vanuatu and help promote dialogue, understanding, peace and unity.
During discussions, Naupa acknowledged the contribution of the Ifira community and its customary leadership to Vanuatu’s development and the wider region.
She also paid tribute to the longstanding support of Ifira leaders for Vanuatu’s independence, regional cooperation and the formation and development of the MSG.
“We stand together with the deepest respect, humility and honour for you Teriki Paunimanu, the Farea and your people,” Naupa said.
She said the MSG and Ifira shared a history through former prime minister Barak Tame Sope Mautamata and former president Kalkot Mataskelekele, who, alongside Walter Lini, Nikenike Vurobaravu and Joe Natuman, played important roles in the establishment of the MSG.
“This thread of history with Ifira has continued over the years, not only by the MSG Secretariat being allowed to work peacefully on your traditional lands since 2008, but also recently when former PM Ma’aukoro Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau chaired the MSG and hosted the 7th Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival, bringing people together from across our vast Melanesian community from Fiji and Kanaky, all the way to Torres Strait and West Papua.”
Chief Teriki Paunimanu congratulated Naupa on her historic appointment and assured her of the Ifira Farea’s blessing and support.
“Without women, we do not have men, a society or a future generation of leaders,” Teriki Paunimanu said.
“Women must be respected totally and play important and influential roles within culture, community and society. This is the Melanesian Way,” he said.
The Council also reaffirmed its support for the work of the MSG Secretariat and stressed the importance of safeguarding Melanesian values, culture and customary knowledge.
The ceremony ended with the presentation of gifts from Chief Teriki Paunimanu and the Ifira Council of Chiefs to Naupa and her delegation.
The traditional protocol was followed by a kava ceremony and luncheon hosted by the chief and the council, reflecting Melanesian hospitality and mutual respect.
The visit was part of Naupa’s introductory engagements following her appointment as MSG Director General.
Under her leadership, the MSG Secretariat said it remains committed to strengthening links between regional institutions, customary governance structures and communities across Melanesia……PACNEWS
PNG – ELNINO: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 1: Wed 12 Aug 2026
World Bank may lend K300mil for El Nino disaster relief in Papua New Guinea
PORT MORESBY, 12 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —The country can access up to K300 million (US$67.40 million) in financing from World Bank to assist the worsening El Nino-induced drought conditions, says Papua New Guinea Treasurer Ian Ling- Stuckey.
He made the announcement after meeting with the World Bank’s new regional office in Singapore recently.
“Work with the World Bank over recent years has deliberately built in the option to obtain disaster assistance,” Ling-Stuckey said.
“Thinking ahead, Papua New Guinea attached a US$50 million (about K220 million) optional financing facility to help with disasters (the Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option) as part of its 2025 budget support loan.
“The meeting confirmed that PNG could use these funds in this emerging El Nino crisis.
“PNG is facing a new crisis, getting worse day by day.
“My visit to the new regional office was an opportunity to discuss how the World Bank could assist with PNG’s El Nino disaster.
“K300 million (US$67.40 million) in good, cheap, concessional support options, building on the hard work of the entire Government, was a productive result.”
The exact amount of funding would depend on whether the El Nino continued, he said.
In addition, the meeting covered the Rural Service Delivery Project Phase 2 project.
This project was going to the World Bank’s Executive Board the same day as the meeting. Within this project, a disaster resilience mechanism has been included (the Contingent Emergency Response Component).
This will enable some of the project funds to be directed towards El Nino relief.
The intent is to ask for 20 per cent of these project funds, or K80 million (US$18.01 million), to be available to assist amid the prolonged dry conditions.
“Together, these two facilities can provide up to K300 million (US$67.40 million) in El Nino disaster relief financing,” Ling-Stuckey said.
“These funds will be on highly concessional terms, with the average interest rate being below 1.5 per cent and repayments over 30 years.
“With such good financing terms, and the growing urgency of the El Nino crisis, the Government will look at finding space within the 2026 budget by slowing down some activities and finding savings elsewhere.
“This could allow use of this K300 million in El Nino funding all within the budget deficit target.
“This option will be considered as part of the Supplementary Budget being considered, noting the high costs of the fuel subsidy, and the poor performance of Kumul dividend payments.
“This is part of good, adaptable, responsible budgeting.
“Discussions also focused on options for dealing with PNG’s ‘youth bulge’, the challenge of finding enough jobs for our young people.
“Two projects were discussed.
“Support for the ‘Enhancing Labour Mobility from PNG’ project provides opportunities for PNG youths to go overseas and gain practical work experience in well-paying jobs.
“The Urban Youth Employment Project Two provides training and practical work experience for urban youths to find jobs.
“There was discussion on options for merging the two projects, with a key focus on ensuring that any programme is cost effective and can be geared up to the national level.”
Ling-Stuckey said discussions also covered the recent World Bank report on supporting investments in human capital, including options for social protection programs, and how these could be integrated into strategies once the budget surplus is achieved next year.
The El Nino is already starting to have severe impacts nationwide….PACNEWS
PAC – BIRD FLU STRAIN: ABC PACIFIC PACNEWS 1: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Scientists warn the Pacific is not ready to battle bird flu
SUVA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (ABC PACIFIC)—Bird flu is at the Pacific’s doorstep, with hundreds of cases confirmed across Australia and New Zealand.
Now scientists warn the region isn’t ready and governments are urging people to remain vigilant.
Eric Raffaele, the coordinator for One Health at The Pacific Community says that viruses in wildlife are inherently difficult to prepare for.
“I guess no one is prepared,” he said.
“It goes with the wildlife. You don’t know exactly where wildlife is, where it evolves,” said Eric….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – FUEL SECURITY: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Fiji eyes Malaysia partnership to strengthen fuel security
KUALA LUMPUR, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—Fiji is exploring strategic cooperation with Malaysia and PETRONAS to strengthen fuel security, build strategic reserves and reduce the country’s vulnerability to disruptions in global energy markets.
Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Sakiasi Ditoka, raised the issue during separate meetings with PETRONAS Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Downstream, Datuk Sazali Hamzah, and Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
The discussions formed part of Ditoka’s official working visit to Malaysia and follow Fiji’s recent high-level engagements with Singapore and Australia aimed at strengthening partnerships amid continuing volatility in global fuel markets.
Fiji, as a small island developing state heavily dependent on imported petroleum products, is vulnerable to disruptions to international shipping, rising freight costs and congestion, which can have significant impacts on fuel supplies and prices.
With PETRONAS, Ditoka explored the possibility of Fiji being included in existing oil storage and stockpiling arrangements involving international partner countries.
“The recent global fuel volatility and Middle East shipping disruptions have underscored that small island developing nations cannot rely solely on spot-market arrangements,” stated Minister Ditoka.
“Securing Fiji’s energy supply chain is vital not only for our 900,000 citizens but also for our maritime neighbours who rely on Fiji as a regional hub. Partnering with a global energy leader like PETRONAS allows the Coalition Government to build true long-term resilience for Fiji and the wider Blue Pacific.”
The meeting also considered technical support for Fiji’s planned National Fuel Security Strategy, including fuel storage and supply-chain infrastructure.
Ditoka also expressed interest in PETRONAS’ investments in renewable energy, sustainable biofuels and lower-carbon energy solutions as Fiji looks to diversify its energy sources.
“Fiji is looking to build resilience, not dependence. We want to work with partners who can help us strengthen our systems, diversify our options and prepare for the future. We see PETRONAS as a potential partner in that journey,” Minister Ditoka said.
Discussions with Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister also focused on strategic fuel reserves, emergency supply assurances, resilient supply chains and long-term energy infrastructure.
The talks included the possibility of pre-positioned offshore fuel storage and stronger maritime supply arrangements.
Johari shared Malaysia’s experience in strategic fuel security and stockpiling arrangements with international partners, providing an opportunity for Fiji to assess how Malaysian expertise could support its long-term energy security.
“Energy security is a critical component of national security for small island developing states,” stated Minister Ditoka.
“Malaysia’s advanced refining capabilities and world-class energy infrastructure make it a natural strategic partner. Exploring a formal and structured arrangement on fuel security and off-shore stockpiling reflects our Coalition Government’s proactive commitment to protecting Fijian families and local businesses from international price shocks.”
The two sides also discussed expanding trade and investment, technology transfer and industrial cooperation, including greater Malaysian investment in Fiji and improved market access for Fijian products.
Ditoka welcomed Malaysia’s continued partnership with Fiji and said the reopening of Fiji’s High Commission in Kuala Lumpur would provide a platform to deepen bilateral relations.
The discussions are expected to continue through official and technical channels to identify practical areas for cooperation on fuel security, energy infrastructure, trade and investment…..PACNEWS
PNG – FISHERIES: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 12 Aug 2026
PNG Fisheries industry braces for impact of El Nino, decline in fish stock
PORT MORESBY, 12 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —The fisheries industry is bracing for the impact of El Niño on the increase in sea temperatures, altered ocean currents, and decline in fish stocks, says Papua New Guinea Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Jelta Wong.
“To address these challenges, it is crucial to promote sustainable fishing practices that prevent overfishing and allow fish stocks to recover.
“This includes implementing catch limits and size restrictions on commercially important species.
“Enhancing monitoring of fish stocks and environmental conditions will provide valuable data to inform adaptive management strategies,” he said.
Wong said that the changes could disrupt fish distribution, spawning patterns, and the overall marine ecosystem, affecting people who rely on marine resources for their livelihood and food security.
“Engaging local communities in decision-making processes regarding fisheries management ensures their knowledge and needs are integrated into policy,” he said.
“Also, establishing marine protected areas can safeguard critical habitats, allowing ecosystems to recover and replenish fish populations.”
Wong plans to develop climate adaptation strategies specifically for fisheries and coastal communities to prepare them for the impacts of changing conditions.
However, it would require international cooperation to manage migratory species and trans-boundary fisheries, enabling collective responses to climate impacts…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: PACNEWS/FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 12 Aug 2026
FFA steps up support for PNG Tuna industry as EU market rules tighten
PORT MORESBY, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS/FFA)—The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has stepped up technical support for Papua New Guinea’s tuna industry as it prepares for tighter European Union food safety and market access requirements.
The FFA Market Access Team completed a technical mission to PNG from 28 July to 7 August 2026, working with the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) and tuna industry to prepare for the evolving EU requirements.
The mission brought together 30 participants, equally split between women and men, from the NFA and PNG’s tuna industry.
A key focus was Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1449, with discussions covering its practical implementation, implications for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems, and new EU requirements for monitoring Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
Across Lae, Wewak and Madang, the FFA team conducted technical training, held discussions with the NFA, visited EU-listed processing establishments and engaged directly with tuna industry representatives.
The mission strengthened understanding of the new requirements and helped identify areas where further technical assistance may be needed.
These include PFAS risk assessment and monitoring, food safety standards, capacity building and industry innovation.
FFA said the level of engagement during the mission reflected the strong partnership between the agency, the NFA and PNG’s tuna industry.
The cooperation is aimed at helping PNG maintain access to the European market while strengthening the competitiveness of the Pacific tuna sector…..PACNEWS
FIJI – UNEXPLAINED WEALTH: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Unexplained wealth should ‘ring the bell’ for authorities, says Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor
SUVA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor Ariff Ali says agencies such as the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) need to raise their “antenna” when acting on financial intelligence reports.
Ali made the comments while responding to questions from the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs about how the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FFIU) responds when a person is suspected of financial crimes.
Committee deputy chair Premila Kumar said there were instances where a person was known or suspected to be involved in suspicious dealings, while the assets they owned did not correspond with the size of the business they operated.
Ali said stakeholders such as the FRCS needed to assist the FFIU in identifying and investigating such cases.
“This is just not the role of the FFIU but it is also the role of the FRCS. It is very easy to know if someone is earning $30,000(US$15,000) to $50,000 (US$25,000) in salary and then there are three cars and two houses. I know for a fact that there are times that these things are reported to FFIU by a whistleblower and FFIU is able to do a few quick checks,” Ali said.
He said such circumstances were “red flags” that should alert authorities to possible financial crimes.
“When a person goes overseas three times a year and every time the ticket is being bought by someone else or that person has gone abroad two to three times with family but has not done any foreign exchange, that rings the bell,” he said.
Ali said the FRCS also needed to pay closer attention to possible tax-related red flags.
“I think the other agency that needs to be raising their antenna is FRCS as well because if somebody is not lodging the right amount of tax, somebody is getting income and it could be legitimate but are not paying tax for it.”
He said lawyers and accountants handling suspicious dealings also had a responsibility to report them to the FFIU.
“The other important thing is, it is also the job of the lawyers and accountants who are handling suspicious dealings to report it. Unfortunately, we do not get so many numbers from them and we can guess the reason for that,” he said.
Meanwhile,more discussion and action should be directed towards tax crimes rather than financial scams, says Standing Committee on Economic Affairs deputy chair Premila Kumar.
Kumar said recent reports by the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) showed that tax crimes accounted for 86 per cent of cases, compared with 34 per cent for scams.
She said there was a perception that scamming was more prevalent in Fiji than tax crime and this needed to change.
“The perception is more on scams than tax crime, so somehow there needs to be a lot more conversation on tax crime because we have a lot more work being done when it comes to scams, but how can we not have tax crime conversation as a key issue in the country?” Kumar said.
Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor Ariff Ali said the focus for years had been on compliance.
“To me it is about tax compliance, so we have a few scammers around but really, we have more people who are not paying tax, avoiding or not paying the right amount.
“Once we start targeting revenue then, we are not saying we are not focusing on compliance, we are focusing on a dollar amount.
“What we should target is making sure that everyone is compliant and there is no tax fraud,” he said while submitting the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit’s 2024 Annual Report.
Ali said stronger attention to tax compliance could lead to investigations into people helping to conceal financial crimes.
“Then we go on to see who is assisting them, is it an individual or is it through an accountant or accounting firm.”
Kumar also suggested that the FFIU clearly indicate its targets for a given year rather than provide an activity report showing concerning figures…..PACNEWS…PACNEWS
FIJI – TAXI FARES: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Fiji’s interim taxi fare increase to end on 30 September
SUVA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Taxi passengers will pay lower fares from 01 October after the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) confirmed the current interim fare increase, introduced during the recent fuel price surge, will end on 30 September.
The FCCC said the temporary fare adjustment, which came into effect on 01 July, was approved to help taxi operators recover higher fuel costs following a sharp rise in international fuel prices earlier this year.
With fuel prices now easing, taxi fares will revert to their previous rates from October.
FCCC said the temporary adjustment was intended to support the taxi industry while global fuel prices were monitored.
FCCC chief executive officer Senikavika Jiuta said taxi fares could not be adjusted every time fuel prices changed because every taxi meter nationwide had to be reprogrammed, tested and calibrated.
“Taxi fares cannot be adjusted every time fuel prices move. Any fare change requires every taxi meter in the country to be reprogrammed, tested and calibrated, which is a significant exercise for both operators and regulators. The interim authorisation therefore provides a defined period of certainty, allowing operators to recover increased fuel costs while giving passengers confidence that authorised fares will remain consistent during that period.”
Jiuta said taxis remained an essential part of Fiji’s transport network, particularly for people travelling to work, school, medical appointments, airports and areas with limited public transport.
“Taxi services are an essential part of everyday life for many Fijians, connecting people to work, education, healthcare and other essential services. The FCCC’s role is to strike a fair balance between protecting consumers from unjustified fare increases and ensuring taxi operators can continue providing safe, reliable and sustainable transport services. A financially sustainable taxi industry ultimately benefits consumers by ensuring that these essential services remain available, accessible and dependable into the future.”
She said allowing operators to recover genuine increases in fuel costs had helped keep taxis on the road while maintaining the industry’s long-term sustainability.
The FCCC said it would continue monitoring global fuel prices and domestic operating costs and would review taxi fares where necessary to ensure they remained fair while supporting a reliable and accessible public transport system.
It noted that any future fare review would involve a full cost assessment rather than focusing solely on fuel prices.
Taxi operators have been reminded to recalibrate their meters before 01 October to reflect the approved fares and avoid overcharging passengers.
The FCCC has also urged consumers to report any instances of overcharging….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The Pacific does not need another alignment test, it needs a veto map
Opinion by Shay Gal
SYDNEY, 12 AUGUST 2026(DEFENCE CONNECT) —The Pacific does not need another test of strategic alignment. It needs the resilience and sovereign capability to say no without losing access to the essential systems on which its nations depend.
On 07 August, Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers left Suva without a joint statement on China’s July submarine-launched ballistic missile test in the Pacific. Concern existed. Consensus did not. The issue now moves to the Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau.
The verdict was immediate: the Pacific is divided, Beijing bought silence and Australia lost influence.
It misreads the contest.
Pacific governments are not candidates for admission to someone else’s alliance system. They owe Australia, China, the United States and New Zealand no performance of alignment. Their strategic problem is harder: preserving the power to decide after saying no.
The Pacific does not need another alignment test. It needs a veto map.
Alignment asks whose side a government is on. A veto map identifies who can stop a national function, how fast and whether the state can replace them.
Can fuel still arrive when a supplier or shipping route becomes political? Can salaries, pensions and emergency payments clear when a correspondent bank, payments provider or cloud service suspends access? Who holds the encryption keys and update authority for the telecommunications core? Which vessel repairs a severed cable, under whose insurance, from which stockholding and how soon? Who restores the grid, operates the port, maintains surveillance or flies relief when the original provider disappears?
These are sovereignty questions.
A dependency becomes a veto when one actor can suspend an essential function faster than the state can replace it. Hostility is unnecessary. The original agreement may be lawful, useful and generous. The danger is singularity: one provider, route, sustainment chain, keyholder, financier or political relationship on which continuity rests.
Small states depend on partners. So do large ones.
Sovereignty is not autarky. It is the power to refuse without ceasing to function.
The missile dispute exposes the distinction. A communiqué cannot detect a launch, verify warning, protect civil air and sea traffic, attribute an incident, restore communications or sustain an island through escalation. Forum members can speak differently and still operate together.
Regional unity should therefore be measured not only by common language after an event, but by common capability before it: early warning, attribution, protected communications, emergency logistics, cable repair, cyber recovery and agreed consultation thresholds.
The Pacific Islands Forum should commission a Pacific veto map under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
It should not catalogue enemies or shame development partners. Each member should retain a confidential national annex. The forum should maintain a regional picture identifying shared external dependencies, concentration risks and disruptions capable of becoming regional emergencies.
Every critical function should answer five questions:
*Who can stop it?
* How quickly?
*How long can the state endure without it?
*Which substitute has been contracted and exercised?
*What is the price of saying no?
The map should cover at least seven systems: energy and fuel; banking, payments and emergency liquidity; telecommunications, cables, satellites and cloud; ports, airfields and strategic transport; disaster relief and climate finance; cyber, policing and surveillance; maintenance, repair, spares and specialist labour.
Each dependency should then be classified: own, assure, substitute.
Own what no external actor may control: sovereign command, core legal authority, decisive encryption, national data rights and the authority to invite, refuse or terminate access.
Assure what partners may provide but only through transparent contracts, redundancy, standing approvals, step-in rights and obligations that survive political friction.
Substitute anything whose loss would stop the state: banks, carriers, repair chains, cloud environments, fuel routes, satellite services, technical teams and emergency finance.
A substitute that has never been tested is not a substitute. It is a sentence in a plan.
*This creates a simple architecture.
*The veto map identifies exposure.
*The Own, Assure, Substitute framework removes it.
*A Pacific continuity compact regionalises the response.
* A Pacific sovereign choice standard prevents new vetoes from entering through procurement, finance or infrastructure.
Palau should launch all four.
The continuity compact would not be a military bloc and would require no common alignment. It would pre-authorise practical support requested by a sovereign member: emergency airlift and sealift, fuel, mobile communications, payments continuity, cable repair, cyber recovery, deployable power, specialist technicians and pooled spares.
The principle is automatic continuity short of automatic war.
The compact should be paired with a sovereign choice standard for major infrastructure, technology, finance and security agreements.
Before approval, every project should disclose beneficial ownership, remote administration rights, software and update authority, data and encryption custody, debt and security interests, dispute jurisdiction, termination rights, emergency step-in provisions, repair obligations and measured substitution time.
The standard must apply to every partner: Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Japan, France, the European Union, Taiwan, India, Turkey, China, commercial providers.
A trustworthy partner does not require exclusivity, opacity or irreplaceability.
The test is brutal and sufficient: if an offer loses value once the recipient gains an exit, the service was never the whole bargain.
The remainder was leverage.
Australia and New Zealand have a particular role. Their strongest regional offer is not loyalty. It is optionality.
They should finance local ownership, open standards, regional spares, redundant cable and shipping routes, resilient payments, shared technical training and Pacific-led oversight. Assistance should remain available without converting every crisis into a referendum on strategic allegiance.
That also means accepting an uncomfortable consequence: a partner with more options may choose differently.
Choice that exists only when it produces Canberra’s preferred answer is not sovereign choice.
The Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) already embodies the correct instinct: Pacific-led, member-owned and governed close to those carrying the risk. Strategic continuity should follow the same rule.
External capital is welcome. External capability is welcome. External vetoes are not.
The authority to define the need, approve the terms and retain the exit must remain in the Pacific.
The leaders gathering in Palau under the theme “Building economies: Life. Action. Unity” can now turn unity from communiqué into operating condition.
Life requires systems that survive disruption.
Action requires authority before crisis.
Unity requires members strong enough to choose together rather than bargain separately under duress.
The Pacific’s strategic future will not be secured by making 18 governments sound identical after every provocation. It will be secured by ensuring that no government, company or financier can silence one by switching off the function on which it depends….PACNEWS
Shay Gal is founder and principal of Line of State, a strategic advisory practice working with governments, institutions and senior decision makers on strategic risk, sovereign capability, access and national security in contested environments.
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Barana women grow their businesses with PEBACC+ support
HONIARA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (SPREP)—– For years, rain meant lost income for many women vendors in Barana in Solomomon Islands.
When the weather turned, they packed up their produce and returned home, often before making enough sales to support their families.
Today, that story is changing.
With support from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), through the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC+) project, women in Barana are expanding their small businesses, increasing their incomes, and building greater financial security for their households.
In November 2025, the PEBACC+ project, funded by the Kiwa Initiative and the French Facility for Global Environment, handed over market-access equipment to women from seven zones in Barana. Around 80 women received practical tools, including market umbrellas, chairs, trays, and containers, helping them continue selling even in wet weather and improving their market setup.
For 33-year-old Lydia Seno, a mother of six, the support has made a noticeable difference.
Before participating in the project’s livelihood training, Lydia earned an income by farming and selling cakes, popcorn, and flour. Through the training, she learned new skills, including baking lolo buns and dyeing lavalava, allowing her to diversify her products and attract more customers.
“My income has increased,” she said. “Before the training, I earned around SBD100. Now I can earn about SBD150(US$18).”
The market equipment has also helped Lydia stay at the market longer.
“When it rains, I now have an umbrella to keep dry, a chair to sit on, and a tray for my products. Before, when it rained, I would go home before I could sell everything.”
Lydia also participated in a two-day Bookkeeping and Financial Literacy Training held in April 2025 at the Barana Community Nature and Heritage Park. Supported by Bethel Enterprises and the Barana Community Nature and Heritage Park Management Committee, the training brought together 32 women to strengthen financial management skills through basic bookkeeping and budgeting.
The training responded directly to findings from the Barana Women’s Market Assessment Report, which identified limited financial literacy as one of the biggest barriers preventing women from growing their businesses. While many women were already selling vegetables, fruits, root crops and handicrafts, few had the skills to track income, save consistently or reinvest profits.
Today, Lydia applies those lessons by recording her earnings and contributing regularly to a women’s savings club established by the catholic mothers in the Barana community as a result of the training.
“We meet every Tuesday and Sunday. From our profits, we save a little every week,” she said.
She has also shared the knowledge she gained with four women in her extended family.
“My advice to other women is to attend training, learn the skills, apply them and share what you learn to help others.”
Like Lydia, 27-year-old Francisca Komalla has seen significant improvements in her small business.
Originally from Western Province and now living in Barana with her husband and three children, Francisca sells betel nut, cigarette rolls, and occasionally barbecue.
Before receiving her market umbrella, rain often meant no income.
“Before, I only sold on good days,” she said. “Now I can continue selling when it rains.”
The extra time at the market has nearly doubled her earnings.
“On rainy days, I used to earn around SBD400(US$49) to SBD500(US$62). Now I can earn up to SBD1,000(US$124).”
For Alice Dola, a community leader and mother of nine, the equipment has also created new opportunities to expand her business.
She sells betel nut, bananas, pawpaw, and other fruits grown in her garden, and occasionally homemade cakes.
“Before, when it rained, there was no market,” she said. “Now we can stay longer and earn more.”
Alice saves up to SBD50(US$6.20) each day from her market sales to help cover her children’s bus fares and household expenses. She has also begun planting tomatoes, beans, and eggplants to increase the range of produce she can sell.
“I want to make my market bigger,” she said. “The profits will help me buy more things to grow and sell.”
As one of Barana’s women leaders, Alice encourages others to take advantage of the opportunities available.
“We must do our best to do a little marketing to earn money,” she said. “I always encourage other women to start selling.”
The experiences of Lydia, Francisca and Alice reflect the broader impact of the PEBACC+ project, which combines practical equipment with skills training to strengthen livelihoods while building resilience to climate-related challenges.
The official women’s livelihood and market-access equipment handover in November 2025.
PEBACC+ is a regional project implemented by SPREP and funded by the Kiwa Initiative through its donors the European Union, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Global Affairs Canada, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), with co-financing from French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM).
The project aims to develop, sustain, and institutionalise EbA approaches in Fiji, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. These efforts will strengthen the resilience of ecosystems, local economies, and communities against the impacts of climate change….PACNEWS
For more information, please contact: Setaita Tavanabola, Communications Officer, PEBACC+ Project, SPREP; email: setaitat@sprep.org or visit www.sprep.org/pebacc- plus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
More than a crown: Pacific beauty pageants should also promote public health
By Caroline Tuipē Marilyn Washington
HONOLULU, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) —Next month, Hawai’i will host the inaugural Miss Showgirl of the Pacific pageant. But this isn’t just any beauty contest. The pageant is organised by United Territories of The Pacific Islands Alliance (UTOPIA) Hawai’i, a nonprofit that provides affirming spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ Pacific Islanders.
For me, the announcement brought a wave of nostalgia, as I recalled all the ways UTOPIA in San Francisco taught me the importance of community and advocacy.
While the pageant in Hawai’i is meant to showcase true representation, it is also a statement of values. And as I considered other Pacific island pageants, like Miss Heilala, I can’t help but think it’s time for pageant committees to use their platform to support local communities in the ways they need it most.
As a Tongan woman, I paid close attention to this year’s Miss Heilala beauty pageant in the Kingdom of Tonga, an archipelago in the South Pacific. Tonga has hosted the Heilala Festival every year since 1980. Named after the national flower, the festival celebrates Tonga’s culture and attracts visitors from all over the world.
Miss Heilala, crowned last month, will spend her reign as a cultural ambassador, attending events globally to encourage tourism and perpetuate the image of Tonga as “The Friendly Islands,” a moniker dating to Captain Cook in 1773.
However, in regions like the South Pacific where pageants are one of the only ways to represent culture and invite economic development through tourism, the most important mission of the pageant should not be how the culture is perceived by others, but how the culture is preserved by those who represent it. And part of preserving the culture is taking care of its people.
As a community organizer and public health advocate, I know that Tongans (especially women) face multiple health crises. More than 80 percent of Tongan women are living with obesity; 30 percent of Tongan women are living with Type 2 Diabetes; and 75 percent of all deaths in Tonga are now due to processed imports of canned meat, sugary sodas and snacks – all priced cheaper than locally grown traditional crops.
The outlook is just as bleak across all Pacific island communities. Studies show that death rates for conditions such as lung disease, diabetes and heart disease were five to 15 times higher among Pacific Islander women compared to Asian American individuals.
To be sure, it is not the sole responsibility of the pageant industry to fix the health woes of any local community. But these showcases can be a powerful platform to bring attention to pressing social issues and even spark change.
That was why I was so excited to learn about UTOPIA Hawai’i’s Miss Showgirl of the Pacific pageant. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I remember the launch of the first UTOPIA in the late 1990s. It was created to foster unity and support during a time when the HIV/AIDS epidemic was heavily hitting the already stigmatized Queer, Trans and Pacific Islanders (QTPI+), also known as Māhū, Vakasalewalewa, Palopa, Fa’afafine, Akava’ine, Fakaleitī and Fakafifine+ (MVPFAFF+) community.
I spent years attending their fundraisers with my mom, as many of its founding members were my moms’ friends and family members from Tonga. From watching them march in the pride parade, to attending drag shows, to my learning hula, my early years witnessing the way UTOPIA San Francisco organized and represented themselves gave me an understanding that representation is crucial and especially powerful when it is hyper focused on providing culturally relevant services and resources.
UTOPIA has since grown. Many of those active in the San Francisco chapter moved to Washington state. Today, UTOPIA Washington is the largest established chapter offering services like youth programs, sex worker empowerment, policy advocacy, mental health services, and leadership training. And yes, there’s also the annual Miss Island Goddess Pageant.
Similarly, UTOPIA Hawai’i provides cultural preservation and education, and wellness programming. Next month’s pageant, which will draw representatives from other UTOPIA chapters all over North America, is an extension of those community services. As people are drawn to the pageantry, they will also be drawn to its mission.
That is how pageants can best serve the communities they represent by supporting belonging, not elevating questionable beauty standards (alarmingly skin-bleaching creams are increasingly popular among Tongan teens, feeding into ongoing incidents of body shaming and cyberbullying).
Organisers of the Miss Heilala pageant state that the pageant is intended to represent Tongan values and culture. Contestants are not only judged on best sarong, best island creation made up of natural materials and best tau’olunga (traditional dance), but also judged on their understanding of the four golden pillars of Tonga identity: Faka’apa’apa (Respect), Tauhi Vā (Maintaining Relationships), Anga Fakatōkilalo / Lototō (Humility), and Tauhi Vaha’a (Loyalty and Commitment).
Given the broader health crisis, however, it would be more meaningful and impactful to ensure that Miss Heilala – and other Pacific pageants – use their platforms to advance the health, well-being, and resilience of local women. …PACNEWS
