In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific Foreign Ministers back regional security plan as threats grow more complex
2. PACIFIC — Forum Foreign Ministers support stronger Climate push ahead of COP31
3. PACIFIC — Pacific urged to put peace, culture at centre of climate security
4. VAN — Vanuatu PM Napat, MSG DG back Kanak self-determination and regional solidarity
5. PACIFIC — Australia joins U.S-led rebuke of Chinese missile launch
6. PALAU — State leaders seek probe into landslides at US radar project site in Palau
7. FIJI — Fiji security guards want legal power to carry defensive batons
8. NZ — Crunch New Zealand prime minister meeting continues
9. SOL — Solomon Islands journalism mourns veteran George Atkin
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Samoa calls for strong science to protect Pacific Tuna stocks
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Four new boats to strengthen Climate resilience in Bougainville atolls
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Six Indian nationals found with undeclared cash amid suspected money-laundering probe
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — After post-pandemic improvement, youth unemployment is rising again
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — University of Auckland, SPC formalise partnership to strengthen Pacific-led research
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Seaweed-inspired ‘fluffy net’ captures ocean microplastics in freshwater and seawater
PACIFIC – SECURITY/DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Pacific Foreign Ministers back regional security plan as threats grow more complex
SUVA, 12 AUGUST 2206 (PACNEWS)—Pacific foreign ministers have endorsed a new regional peace and security action plan as the region faces an increasingly complex security environment, including illicit drugs, transnational crime, humanitarian emergencies and emerging non-traditional threats.
The 2026 Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting recognised the need for a more cohesive regional security architecture supported by agile and responsive mechanisms.
Ministers endorsed the draft Regional Peace and Security Action Plan 2026–2030 for consideration by Forum Leaders at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau.
They said the plan responds to both traditional and non-traditional security threats and stressed that implementation must be led by Forum members, reflect different national capacities, be properly prioritised and adequately resourced.
The ministers also considered a proposal by the Solomon Islands Government to establish a Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Regional Security Treaty.
The proposed treaty would bring together the Biketawa Declaration, the Boe Declaration and the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration.
Ministers encouraged further consideration of the proposal by Forum members while acknowledging that additional consultations are required.
The ministers also agreed in principle to institutionalise the Pacific Police Ministers Meeting (PPMM) as a ministerial-level decision-making mechanism within the Forum architecture.
The proposal will undergo further national consultations before being referred to Leaders.
Ministers said the final arrangements should avoid duplication, consider the capacity and resource implications for members and complement existing regional security mechanisms.
They also agreed in principle to formally recognise the Joint Heads of Pacific Security (JHoPS) within the Forum’s Peace and Security Architecture and supported taking the proposal to Leaders at the 55th PIF Leaders Meeting.
Further consultations will cover institutional arrangements, including meeting sequencing, membership, Secretariat transition and reporting lines.
Ministers also agreed in principle to the Waqa Moana concept and supported its referral to Forum Leaders for consideration, subject to further national consultations.
They also highlighted the need to address the social impacts of illicit drugs and broader transnational crime through an integrated regional response.
The Forum Sub-Committee on Regional Security (FSRS) was directed to work with relevant regional mechanisms to develop appropriate responses and provide an update to Leaders in 2027.
The ministers endorsed the **Pacific Humanitarian Response Coordination Mechanism (PResCoM) Policy and Operating Guidelines and supported their referral to Forum Leaders.
They also discussed the proposed Integrated Regional Response Mechanism (IRRM) and the Regional Operations Deployment Framework (RODF), while noting that further consultations are needed on both proposals.
The outcomes underline the Forum’s push to strengthen regional coordination and ensure Pacific-led responses to a widening range of traditional and non-traditional security challenges..PACNEWS
PACIFIC – CLIMATE CHANGE/DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Forum Foreign Ministers support stronger Climate push ahead of COP31
SUVA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—Forum Foreign ministers have endorsed a stronger regional push for climate action ahead of COP31, calling for greater climate finance, investment in renewable energy and stronger Pacific leadership at upcoming Pre-COP31 meetings.
The 2026 Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting (FFMM), held last Friday at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, recognised the opportunity presented by Tuvalu, Fiji and Australia hosting Pre-COP31 meetings in the Pacific.
The ministers said the meetings would help amplify the Pacific voice, build political momentum from the frontlines of climate change and strengthen the region’s call for ambitious climate action.
The meeting was chaired by Solomon Islands and attended at Ministerial level by Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Naoero, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
French Polynesia attended at Special Envoy level, while the Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa and Tuvalu attended at Senior officials level.
The ministers recognised and endorsed the continued implementation of the COP31 Pacific Partnership and Pacific COP31 Envoys to advance regional priorities under four strategic pillars: keeping 1.5°C within reach, improving access to climate finance, elevating the ocean-climate nexus, and amplifying Pacific voices and leadership.
They reiterated that the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) remains the region’s pre-eminent climate finance investment priority for Pre-COP31 and COP31 and called on development partners to support its capitalisation.
The ministers also highlighted the need to accelerate the region’s transition to renewable energy, particularly amid global fuel security challenges.
They called for stronger regional coordination and practical investment partnerships, including increased investment in renewable energy projects across the Pacific.
The ministers also backed the development of a focused, high-level declaration from the Pre-COP31 Leaders Meeting to build political momentum towards COP31 and advance Pacific priorities under the four strategic pillars.
They called on the global community to participate in Pre-COP31 events in a spirit of solidarity and to accelerate action and consensus on climate change while upholding the importance of the best available science.
The ministers also committed to high-level advocacy to support successful Pre-COP31 events, including the Leaders Event.
They welcomed progress in implementing the COP31 Pacific Partnership and supported its conveyance to the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and subsequent regional engagements leading to the Pacific Pre-COP31 and COP31 events.
On renewable energy, the ministers recognised that accelerating implementation remains the principal challenge to achieving regional energy transitions.
Recalling the Leaders’ 2023 decision to establish a Regional Energy Commissioner, they supported placing the Commissioner role within the Pacific Community (SPC), with dual reporting arrangements to SPC and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The ministers said the arrangement would reflect the dual mandate of the role and agreed to submit Terms of Reference to Forum Leaders for consideration in Palau.
The ministers also welcomed a proposal by Palau and Tuvalu for a Leaders Declaration on Climate Change at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
The declaration would include a Leaders Climate and Gender Pact.
The ministers further commended Vanuatu for its leadership in securing the adoption of the historic UN General Assembly resolution welcoming and operationalising the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change.
The outcomes set out a common Pacific position as the region prepares for the Pre-COP31 meetings and COP31, with climate finance, renewable energy, ocean-climate priorities and Pacific leadership remaining central to the regional agenda….PACNEWS
PACIFIC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Pacific urged to put peace, culture at centre of climate security
SUVA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—The Pacific Islands region should move beyond the traditional focus on climate change as a driver of conflict and instead build a climate–peace approach centred on social cohesion, cultural continuity, relational security and ecological stewardship, a new policy brief says.
The policy brief, “A Pacific Climate–Peace Nexus,” written by Dr Timothy Bryar of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s Climate Mobility team and Jamie Tarawa of UNDP, argues that Pacific experiences offer a different way of understanding the links between climate change and peace.
It says climate change does not automatically lead to conflict and that international approaches focused mainly on a “climate–conflict nexus” do not fully reflect Pacific realities.
Instead, the brief calls for greater attention to the social, cultural and ecological systems that help Pacific communities absorb climate-related shocks without violence.
“While there have indeed been examples of climate related conflict in the Pacific Islands region, the Pacific Islands region offers more than simply an empirical case within a wider global debate,” the brief states.
It argues that the key question for the Pacific should be what social, cultural and ecological practices allow communities to manage stress without violence and how these practices can inform a stronger understanding of climate and peace.
A regional dialogue on climate security hosted by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in March 2026 identified the need to better understand what climate security means to Pacific Islanders.
The dialogue suggested that a Pacific approach should begin with peace, relationality and social cohesion rather than security and conflict.
The policy brief also points to research in Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands showing that temperature extremes and climate-related disasters did not affect conflict risk, even when political, economic and environmental factors were taken into account.
It says this highlights the need to examine the factors that help Pacific communities absorb climate pressures.
“Indeed, Pacific communities have a long history of practicing cooperation and conflict resolution that have helped them deal with acute crises,” the brief states.
It highlights the Wokbaot wetem kalja project in Vanuatu, where customary relationships enabled communities displaced by volcanic eruptions on Ambae Island to access land on neighbouring islands until it was safe to return.
The brief says collective resilience, family networks and cultural continuity remain central to how Pacific communities manage climate-related mobility.
It argues that climate impacts should not be measured only through damage to infrastructure and livelihoods, but also through disruption to the social, ecological and spiritual relationships that sustain communities.
“Therefore, climate peace is realised not simply when, for example, community infrastructure is protected from hazards but also when the relational fabric of Pacific communities that makes resilience and climate adaptation possible is supported and protected.”
The brief points to several examples of Pacific-led approaches, including Fiji offering land to Pacific governments whose people may be forced to relocate because of climate change, and the Falepili Union Treaty between Australia and Tuvalu, which is based on good neighbourliness, duty of care and mutual respect.
It also highlights the **Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration**, endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2025, which grounds regional peace in “the Pacific Way” and draws on Pacific cultural practices and Indigenous knowledge systems.
The authors say strengthening traditional relationship structures and conflict resolution practices should be part of regional climate security priorities.
The brief also points to Vanuatu’s leadership on the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the obligations of states regarding climate change as an example of Pacific efforts to shape international norms.
During Climate Justice Week in Suva in May 2026, Vanuatu Minister Ralph Regenvanu said:“customary law and traditional knowledge systems have always embodied the essence of environmental rights. Our principles of stewardship, reciprocity, respect for land and ocean, and intergenerational responsibility are not new concepts introduced from outside. They are deeply rooted in who we are as Pacific peoples”.
The policy brief says the Pacific is well positioned to lead efforts to translate the ICJ Advisory Opinion into practical action shaped by Pacific values and traditions.
The authors recommend that the Pacific Islands Forum integrate a regional climate–peace agenda into the Regional Peace and Security Action Plan 2026–2030.
The proposed agenda would link climate change, identified as the region’s greatest security threat, with the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration and establish a Pacific approach to climate security focused on peace, cohesion, relationality and ecological resilience.
They recommend that the agenda be coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in partnership with SPREP, the Pacific Community (SPC) and UNDP.
The brief also calls for the development of a regional instrument on environmental rights to operationalise the ICJ Advisory Opinion of 23 July 2025 and codify the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in the Pacific.
Pacific governments are further urged to integrate customary relational systems into national and regional policies on climate adaptation, mobility and disaster risk reduction.
The authors recommend recognising customary authorities, reciprocal networks, faith-based organisations and community leaders not only as stakeholders but as practical resources for prevention, mediation and resilience.
The Pacific Climate Mobility Partnerships programme is also urged to develop guidance for governments to include Pacific climate–peace assessments in assessments of climate displacement risks.
Finally, the brief calls on development partners and climate finance providers to recognise relational systems as core infrastructure for climate adaptation and preventing climate-related loss and damage.
It says climate finance should not focus only on hard infrastructure and nature-based solutions, but also invest in community-level relational systems that strengthen resilience and climate peace….PACNEWS
VAN – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Vanuatu PM Napat, MSG DG back Kanak self-determination and regional solidarity
PORT VILA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat and newly appointed Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Director General Dr Anna Naupa have reaffirmed support for Kanak self-determination in New Caledonia and raised concerns over the human rights situation in West Papua.
Napat welcomed Dr Naupa to his office Wednesday for her first official meeting with the Prime Minister since taking up her role as head of the MSG Secretariat.
The two discussed key issues affecting the Melanesian region, including decolonisation, human rights, maritime boundaries, regional initiatives and MSG trade policies.
A major focus was the ongoing decolonisation process in New Caledonia and the aspirations of the Kanak people.
Napat and Dr Naupa reaffirmed the MSG’s support for the right of the Kanak people to self-determination.
They also discussed the human rights situation in West Papua and the 2019 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ resolution adopted in Funafuti, Tuvalu, calling for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit West Papua and independently report on the situation of Melanesians there.
The visit remains pending approval from Indonesia.
“It is clear from this very first meeting that the new MSG leadership has not lost sight of the original vision of our founding fathers
“The MSG was established to give voice to our people, to protect our land and sea, and to stand together when one of us hurts. That spirit is alive, Prime Minister Napat said in a statement.
The two leaders also discussed MSG maritime boundary issues, which remain important to the region’s ocean governance and identity.
Vanuatu is engaged in discussions with New Caledonia/France and Fiji on maritime boundaries, while Napat highlighted the 2016 Mota Lava Treaty with Solomon Islands, which resolved their boundary matters through what he described as the Melanesian Way.
Napat and Dr Naupa agreed that maritime boundary discussions should align with emerging regional initiatives, including the “Melanesian Corridor” and the “Ocean of Peace” concepts.
The Ocean of Peace concept was first proposed by Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in 2023.
Dr Naupa also outlined her intention to revisit MSG trade policies to ensure agreements endorsed by MSG Leaders are fully implemented for the benefit of Melanesians.
“Dr Naupa brings heart, intellect, and a deep love for our region.
“Under her leadership, I am confident the MSG will continue to be the home of Melanesian solidarity and action,” the Prime Minister said.
Dr Naupa thanked Napat for Vanuatu’s continued leadership and hospitality and said she was committed to working closely with all MSG members to deliver on the aspirations of Melanesian people.
The Vanuatu Government congratulated Naupa on her appointment and said it looked forward to a new chapter of cooperation, unity and progress within the Melanesian region….PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: AAP PACNEWS 3: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Australia joins U.S-led rebuke of Chinese missile launch
CANBERRA/WASHINGTON, 12 AUGUST 2026 (AAP)—Australia has joined a US-led push for nations to provide advance notice of missile launches, in a direct rebuke of China’s test firing in the South Pacific.
Within hours of Australia’s signing of a mutual-defence pact with Fiji in July, China confirmed a nuclear-capable missile had been launched from a submarine into the region, which is believed to have landed near Tuvalu.
Beijing was widely criticised internationally over the missile test, with a number of Pacific Island nations adopting a stronger public stance against their key economic partner than usually taken.
In a joint statement published by the U.S state department, Australia is among more than 40 nations to call for “all relevant countries” to commit to providing no less than 24 hours’ notice of launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles to affected nations.
Palau, which is hosting the Pacific Islands Forum in September, the Marshall Islands and New Zealand are the only other regional signatories.
“Recent missile testing activity in the Pacific area did not follow the standard practices adopted by most states to notify and deconflict … launches,” the statement reads.
“Conducting nuclear-capable ballistic missile tests without sufficient advance notice and detail is dangerous and disrupts the peace and security of relevant nations in proximity to these tests.
“It increases the risk of miscalculation, undermines global stability and security, and is incompatible with the responsibilities that come with possessing long-range missile capabilities.”
This requirement applied “particularly” to nuclear-weapon states and notifications should include information about the “generic class of the ballistic missile or SLV (submarine-launched ballistic missiles), the planned launch notification window, the launch area, and the planned direction”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong were in Suva when the missile test occurred in early July.
Senator Wong at the time said the government had been notified ahead of time….PACNEWS
PALAU – US RADAR PROJECT: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Wed 12 Aug 2026
State leaders seek probe into landslides at US radar project site in Palau
SUVA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) —U. S military contractors in Palau have resumed construction at the defence project site in Ngaraard State after a brief pause due to landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.
The state government is seeking an investigation into the cause of the soil avalanche, which briefly disrupted the construction of a structural foundation for a tactical multi-mission over-the-horizon radar transmitter.
“Why did the mudslides and landslides occur? What preventive measures failed or were not implemented in the first place and need to be addressed ASAP?” reads the letter signed by Ngaraard’s traditional and political leaders led by Governor Sharp Sakuma.
They said the mudslides, which overran the mangrove areas and the surrounding seagrass marine habitats, indicated that the existing erosion control measures “are not effective.”
The state officials reminded environment and permitting authorities that any violation of the conditions set in the permit issued to the contractor should entail a stop-work order and penalties.
“Continued inaction in the face of a documented discharge event is itself agency inaction subject to challenge as arbitrary and capricious,” states the letter sent to Charles Obichang, public infrastructure minister, and Florencio Yamada, chair of the Environmental Quality Protection Board.
The Department of War’s US$118 million project, being built by Gilbane Federal, was initially scheduled for completion this year.
However, the project was marred by environmental issues, permitting disagreements, and a series of court actions seeking to stop the radar construction on land leased to the U.S government.
Ngaraard State had challenged the outcome of the environmental review process and the contractor’s authority to work in Palau without a locally issued license.
Earlier this year, the Palau Supreme Court denied the state’s petition for permanent injunction.
“These destructive runoff and mudslides being deposited into the mangroves and sea beds of our marine environment are the very concern we had voiced from the very beginning and what we had hoped would not occur. Regretfully, our fears have now become a destructive reality,” the state leaders said in their 06 August letter to the infrastructure and environmental officials.
“How do we address short-term, medium-term and permanent damage of marine and nature wildfire?” they asked.
The state officials also raised concerns about the subsequent damage to road infrastructure, particularly on parts of the asphalt-paved thoroughfare that support major traffic.
“What is the damage assessment? Will we get back to pre-project quality environment status? What is the health and status of the marine life there, inside the mangroves and outside on the seagrass and adjacent fish/marine habitats?” they asked.
They asked what measures are in place to prevent the recurrence of the mudslides and similar incidents.
“We wish to reiterate that we approved and support the TACMOR project and our special friendship incorporated through the Compact of Free Association. All we ask are three things: 1) Respect, 2) Respect, 3) Respect,” they concluded……PACNEWS
FIJI – SECURITY GUARS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Fiji security guards want legal power to carry defensive batons
SUVA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Security guards and operators in Fiji want greater powers, including the authority to carry defensive batons and additional powers of arrest.
The issue was raised during public consultations on the review of the Security Industry Act 2010.
Law Reform Commissioner Ana Rokomokoti, who is overseeing the review, highlighted the concerns during a consultation in Lautoka.
She said the primary objective of the review was to update the existing legal framework and determine whether the Security Industry Act 2010 continued to provide an effective, modern and comprehensive framework for regulating Fiji’s private security industry.
Rokomokoti said the National Security and Defence Review 2024 reported that there were about 3000 security companies registered in Fiji.
She said similar suggestions had been raised during the consultation in Suva, where security guards called for the power to carry defensive batons and additional powers of arrest.
“At the moment, security guards only have the ordinary power of arrest,” Rokomokoti said.
“I think the use of defensive batons gives them the ability to defend themselves, considering the security environment nowadays is very different from what it was 10 years ago.
“The risks are higher and there is more exposure to such risks.”
Rokomokoti said security guards currently only had the ordinary power of arrest available to members of the public and did not have any additional special powers.
She said the suggestions for greater powers would be considered and analysed as part of the review.
“Definitely, they are requesting more powers, but that is for consideration and analysis,” she said.
Rokomokoti said the review could also draw lessons from other common-law jurisdictions, including Australia, New Zealand and Singapore….PACNEWS
NZ – POLITICS: AAP PACNEWS 3: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Crunch New Zealand prime minister meeting continues
WELLINGTON, 12 AUGUST 2026 (AAP)—A crunch meeting to decide the future of beleaguered New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon has entered a third hour.
National party MPs remain locked in a caucus gathering at parliament house in Wellington which could resolve to turf its leader and give Kiwis a new prime minister.
The most likely candidate is Erica Stanford, the Auckland-based education minister, though she has not confirmed a leadership bid.
The showdown began Wednesday, called by Luxon as he sought to end speculation over his leadership ahead of a 07 November.
Key backer Mark Mitchell says he believes Luxon – who has endured poor personal polling and a run of unfortunate gaffes – will survive that meeting and continue on.
However, many political observers are not so sure, with former defence minister Wayne Mapp saying the decision to call the meeting “precipitated this immediate crisis”.
“If he wanted to stay in the job he should have just toughed it out,” Mapp told Radio NZ.
If a no-confidence vote succeeds, Luxon will be replaced inside three months of the 07 November election.
Radio NZ political editor Jo Moir said the 56-year-old’s leadership was “hanging by a thread,” while NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan – who broke the story of increased discontent on Monday – said Luxon surviving was “incredibly unlikely”
Mitchell, the police minister, denied this on Wednesday, saying he sat with Luxon until 11pm on Tuesday night “making sure he’s in the strongest possible position”.
“Discussions will be about calling out (disloyal MPs) and making sure there is loyalty to our leader,” he told Newstalk ZB.
“He’s been a great prime minister during very difficult global times … I’m behind him 110 percent.”
It would be extraordinary and historic if National’s 49 MPs voted to move on Luxon.
Unlike Australia, which had four contested prime ministerial changes without an election between 2010 and 2018, New Zealand governing parties tend not to roll their leaders in office.
They last did so in 1997, when National’s Jenny Shipley convinced her colleagues to ditch Jim Bolger.
And Kiwis don’t seem to like the practice: not since 1940, when Michael Joseph Savage died in office, has the governing party won the following election after a prime ministerial switch.
Adding intrigue to Wednesday’s meeting, there is no obvious contender to replace Luxon.
Deputy Leader Nicola Willis, Stanford and Transport Minister Chris Bishop have been mooted as replacements.
No candidates came forward during leadership speculation back in April, when Luxon moved and won a confidence motion to clear the air.
This week’s crisis is made even more remarkable by the fact that National is currently in an election-winning position.
The conservative party governs in coalition with the support of free-marketers ACT and populists NZ First.
Almost every poll in recent months shows a decent lead for that right bloc over a left bloc of opposition parties Labour, the Greens and the Maori Party.
The key factor behind National’s implosion appears to be their own cratering support, from 38 percent at the 2023 election to a polling average of about 29 percent…PACNEWS
SOL – OBITUARY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Solomon Islands journalism mourns veteran George Atkin
HONIARA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—The Solomon Islands media fraternity is mourning veteran journalist and first President of the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI), George Atkin, who died at his home village of Tawatana in Arosi 1, West Makira,
Atkin served as MASI president from 1985 to 1989 and was widely respected for his contribution to journalism and for mentoring younger reporters.
MASI announced his death, extending condolences to his family, relatives, friends and former colleagues.
Journalist George Herming described Atkin as a veteran journalist, mentor and friend whose influence extended across generations of Solomon Islands journalists.
“It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of Mr George Atkin, who went to rest today at his home village of Tawatana in Makira Ulawa Province,” Herming said.
“George was more than a journalist. He was a builder of storytellers, a quiet giant in Solomon Islands media who gave his life to the truth, and to teaching others how to tell it well.”
Herming said Atkin mentored journalists working in both private newspapers and the Government Information Service.
“He taught us not just how to write a lead or file a clean copy, but how to respect the people behind every story,” he said.
Herming said Atkin was known for combining strong journalism with a gentle personality.
“He had that rare combination: a sharp pen and a gentle spirit. His writing was clear, honest, and fair. His personality was the same — humble, patient, and always willing to sit with a young reporter and go through a draft line by line until it was right.”
Journalist Robert Iroga also paid tribute to Atkin, describing him as one of the first major Solomon Islands journalists he encountered when he entered the profession in the early 1990s.
Iroga recalled meeting Atkin at an SIBC gathering when he was a young journalist working for the Solomon Star.
Atkin asked him, “You must be the young Robert Iroga who now writes for the Solomon Star?”
Iroga said Atkin later asked whether he was related to the Iroga family, particularly James, who had been his schoolmate at Selwyn College.
During that first conversation, Atkin encouraged the young journalist, telling him: “I can see potential in your eyes. Keep writing and keep loving what you do.”
Iroga said those words remained with him throughout his journalism career.
He described Atkin as an English-speaking journalist of the old school who was articulate, sharp, confident and well connected to sources across Honiara.
Before the era of mobile phones and social media, the two would arrange weekend meetings and discuss the major stories of the week.
“George knew almost every major story unfolding around Honiara.
“He knew the players.He knew the sources.He knew the politics.
And, most importantly, he understood the power of a story.” he said.
Iroga recalled Atkin debating story angles with his former editor, the late Imo Ta’asi, saying the discussions reflected their deep commitment to journalism.
He said Atkin believed a strong story should become a topic of discussion across society.
“George often told us that a good story should become the talk of the town.”
Iroga said Atkin became a recognised regional journalist during the tension years, producing stories that were “short, sweet and sharp” but carried weight.
He also described Atkin as one of the founding figures of MASI and credited him with helping shape journalism in Solomon Islands during its early years.
“He worked in radio.
He wrote for newspapers.
He mastered the power of words.”
Iroga said Atkin understood that journalism could influence government decisions, expose wrongdoing and hold leaders accountable.
“That was George Atkin.
A journalist.An editor.A storyteller.A mentor.A man who understood the power of the pen.”
Iroga said Atkin’s influence would continue through the journalists he mentored and the profession he helped build.
“I will always remember that young journalist he saw in me when I was still finding my way — and those simple words:
“I can see potential in your eyes. Keep writing and keep loving what you do.”
“George, I kept writing.And I kept loving it.”
He thanked Atkin for his encouragement, friendship, debates, laughter and service to journalism and Solomon Islands.
“Your voice has fallen silent, but the stories you told, the journalists you influenced and the profession you helped build will continue to speak for you.”
“Rest in eternal peace, George Atkin.
Rest in peace, my brother.Rest in peace, legend.”
“Your chapter has ended, but your story will never be forgotten.
RIEP, George. Thank you for helping shape us,” he said……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – FISHERIES: PACNEWS/SAVALI NEWSPAPER PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Samoa calls for strong science to protect Pacific Tuna stocks
APIA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS/SAVALI NEWSPAPER) —Samoa has called for stronger, credible science to guide the management of Pacific tuna fisheries as the 22nd Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Scientific Committee gets underway in Apia.
The week-long meeting has brought together representatives from 26 countries, along with observers from non-members and territories, to assess the state of fisheries and consider key management and conservation issues in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
The official meeting was opened on Tuesday, by Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt.
In his keynote address, Schmidt said it was fitting for the meeting to be held in the Pacific, where tuna is central to the livelihoods and economies of many island countries.
“For the peoples of the Pacific Ocean, tuna is not just any fish. It is our livelihood, it is revenue, it is food on the table, and for many of our smaller islands, tuna and other pelagic fisheries are the backbone of our economies.”
He told delegates that decisions made at the meeting would have a direct impact on Pacific communities.
“What you decide in this Hall over the coming days will be felt in coastal villages long before it is felt in any capital.”
The Prime Minister said this was why the work of the Scientific Committee was important and why Samoa was proud to host the meeting.
“Over the past year, the Scientific Committee has continued to strengthen the science that underpins fisheries management, and I want to acknowledge that progress.
“The move toward standardised scientific data submission is a welcome step. Thirty-two Commission Members used the new portal in its first year; this is an important achievement.”
Schmidt also welcomed work on size-composition data and conversion factors, saying these investments would support sound scientific advice in the years ahead.
“I also wish to acknowledge the Pacific Tuna Tagging Programme, which remains the backbone of what we know about movement, mixing, and the impact fishing has on all our tuna stocks,” he said.
He urged the Scientific Committee and the Commission to ensure the tagging programme can be sustained.
“We understand that the Scientific Committee and the Commission will need to look at ways this programme can be sustained. I only urge that any search for savings be guided by what the science needs to remain credible, not by the budget line alone.”
The Prime Minister also outlined Samoa’s priorities for the meeting, stressing that scientific advice must be based on evidence and applied consistently across fisheries and proposals.
“We ask, in turn, that the same good faith, and the same flexibility in how that evidence is gathered and presented, be extended when Pacific Island proposals come before the Commission,” he said.
He also raised concerns about the cost of scientific work and the growing workload facing the committee.
“Second, the cost of good science should not fall on those least able to bear it. As this Committee considers new sampling frameworks, new data requirements, and new monitoring systems, we ask that Article 30 shape every decision from the outset.
“Third, as this Committee looks to prioritise its own growing workload, we encourage a scheduling approach that is practical and sustainable,” said PM Schmidt.
He said Samoa and other Pacific countries were not opposed to scientific accuracy, but understood the consequences when sound science was lacking.
The meeting is hosted by Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) and runs until Wednesday, 19 August.
The Scientific Committee will exchange fisheries data and consider stock assessments and the status of fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
Discussions will also cover the Regional Observer Programme, development of the WCPFC harvest strategy framework, and models and methods for managing different fish stocks.
The meeting is focused on strengthening science-based management and international cooperation to support the long-term sustainability of highly migratory fish stocks in the region….PACNEWS
B/VILLE – TRANSPORT ACCESS: PNGVOT/ABG GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Four new boats to strengthen Climate resilience in Bougainville atolls
BUKA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (PNG GOVT/ABG GOVT)—Four new 32-foot passenger boats have been handed over to the Autonomous Bougainville Government to improve transport and access to essential services for some of Bougainville’s most climate-vulnerable atoll communities.
The boats were officially launched and handed over today at Kuri Lodge in Buka by the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA), in partnership with the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), under the Building Resilience to Climate Change (BRCC) Project.
The vessels will serve communities in the Fead atoll in Nuguria, Carterets atoll in Tuloun, Mortlock atoll in Takuu and Tasman atoll in Amotu.
The boats are expected to provide safer and more reliable transportation for people, essential goods and services between the remote island communities.
The initiative is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and implemented by the CCDA.
It is aimed at strengthening climate resilience and connectivity while supporting sustainable livelihoods in communities increasingly affected by climate change and sea-level rise.
The handover marks another step in Papua New Guinea’s efforts to provide practical climate adaptation measures for vulnerable communities.
The BRCC Project is being implemented through partnerships involving national and regional governments, development partners and local communities, with a focus on delivering climate adaptation measures that strengthen resilience and improve living conditions in Bougainville’s remote atoll communities…..PACNEWS
FIJI – MONEY LAUNDERING: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 12 Aug 2026
Six Indian nationals found with undeclared cash amid suspected money-laundering probe
SUVA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—An investigation into a Fiji prominent businessman and six Indian nationals over their alleged links to a suspected money-laundering syndicate is underway.
Ministry of Immigration permanent secretary Aliki Salusalu confirmed the six men were from India and were believed to have come to Fiji to sell products at a showcase in Suva two months ago.
They were found with large sums of undeclared cash at Nadi International Airport earlier this year.
This masthead understands the investigation is being conducted in two parts:
*determining whether the six men breached Fiji’s requirements for declaring large amounts of cash at the border; and
*establishing where they obtained or exchanged the money.
Investigators are also looking into whether the business involved is a registered foreign exchange dealer recognised by the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF).
Salusalu said an alert was issued on the six men and further red flags emerged when they were found with undeclared cash.
“We got an alert from police and customs officers that some of these Indian nationals are suspected of being part of the money laundering syndicate,” he said.
“They were stopped at the border and were found with a large sum of cash that was not declared.
“The police continue to investigate these foreign nationals, and they let us know if they suspect these groups to be part of the syndicate.”
Under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act 2006, anyone travelling into or out of Fiji carrying cash, currency or negotiable bearer instruments valued at $10,000(US$5,000) or more, or the foreign currency equivalent, must declare it to border and customs officials.
Fiji Police Force spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed to this masthead that the investigation was ongoing.
The list of authorised foreign exchange dealers available on the RBF’s website does not include the name of the businessman in question.
The RBF has also issued a statement to police and declined to comment further on the matter.
This masthead sought comment from the businessman, but staff members said he was overseas for surgery.
It remains unclear whether the six foreign nationals are still in Fiji….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
After post-pandemic improvement, youth unemployment is rising again
GENEVA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — Frustrated by skyrocketing youth unemployment, among other issues, tens of thousands of Gen Z activists took to the streets of Nepal last year, demanding a stake in the country’s economic growth. The protest worked and the prime minister resigned.
A new report published Tuesday by the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO) found that worldwide youth unemployment rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic but is now beginning to worsen again, leaving millions unable to get that crucial first job.
After sinking to a two-decade low in 2023, global youth unemployment – covering the 15 to 24 age bracket – ticked up to 12.4 percent in 2025, totalling 67 million jobless worldwide.
The global share of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) also rose from 19.7 percent in 2023 to 20 percent in 2025, bringing the total to 257 million worldwide.
NEET status reflects people who have disengaged from the labor market entirely, making it harder to reverse.
“A generation that cannot find decent work cannot build its future with confidence,” ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said. “When young people are locked out of quality employment, countries lose talent, productivity and social cohesion. Creating decent jobs for young people is not just a social imperative, it is one of the smartest investments a country can make.”
Regional differences
Youth unemployment worsened or stayed flat in eight of 11 global subregions between 2023 and 2025, and 105 countries saw youth unemployment rise, compared with only 58 where it fell.
The Arab States and North Africa continue to record the world’s highest youth unemployment rates at 26.2 and 22.6 percent, respectively.
The increase in the youth unemployment rate between 2023 and 2025 was most pronounced in North America, where the rate climbed from 8.3 percent to 9.8 percent.
Northern, Southern and Western Europe saw smaller increases, but at 15 percent, the overall rate of youth unemployment across the three subregions remained very high.
Volatile market
Jobs that have traditionally provided entry points for young workers in higher-income countries are shrinking, according to the report.
Meanwhile, in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, there aren’t enough jobs to keep up with a rapidly-growing population.
Many workers in developing countries are engaged in informal or unstable work, which often denies them meaningful social protections.
Nearly nine in 10 young workers aged 15 to 29 in low and lower-middle-income countries are employed informally – with the problem especially pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa, the report says.
Transformational technology
The ILO identified slower global economic growth, geopolitical tensions, the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on entry-level jobs, a lack of new highly-skilled positions and the “experience paradox” – employers demanding extensive experience to secure entry-level roles – as factors contributing to the difficult youth labor market.
The report estimates that 6.1 percent of jobs held by people aged 15 to 29 are in occupations highly exposed to AI-related changes. These primarily include clerical and administrative roles.
“Technological progress, including AI, must work for young people, not against them,” said Sukti Dasgupta, ILO Director of the Employment, Skills and Sustainable Enterprises Department.
Still, fields like science, health and engineering continue to grow worldwide, highlighting the need for investments in skill building and education.
To address rising youth unemployment, the report recommends adopting a human-centred approach to AI governance, investing in quality education, strengthening employment services, expanding social protection and creating more decent job opportunities….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
University of Auckland, SPC formalise partnership to strengthen Pacific-led research
SUVA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —The University of Auckland and The Pacific Community (SPC) have formalised a partnership to expand Pacific-led research, strengthen community engagement and create new pathways for students and academics.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed at the University by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Engagement, Dr Erik Lithander, and SPC Director-General, Dr Paula Vivili, will support collaboration across research, education and innovation.
The partnership is expected to support work in climate resilience, ocean governance, public health, education and sustainable development, while helping build a pipeline of future Pacific researchers, professionals and leaders.
“One of the things that excites me about this partnership is that it embodies what is best about collaboration,” Lithander said.
“We have always known collaboration is the way through the world’s problems, but that is more true now than ever. If we look at the challenges facing our region and the wider world, if we don’t do it together, we’re not going to do it at all.”
The agreement is based on shared values, including equity, partnership, and a commitment to making a lasting impact on Pacific communities.
SPC, established in 1947, provides scientific, technical and development support to 22 Pacific Island countries and territories across fisheries, climate change, health, agriculture, education, geoscience and maritime development. It has nearly 1,000 staff working across the Pacific.
Vivili said the agreement would be “more than a document”.
“It’s about creating a genuine partnership between the Pacific’s premier scientific and technical organisation and one of the leading universities in the Pacific region,” he said.
Auckland is often referred to as the Pacific capital outside the region, Vivili said.
“We can’t talk about Auckland being the Pacific capital outside of the Pacific and not have a strong relationship between the University of Auckland and SPC,” he said.
“The issues facing our communities are too significant for any one organisation to tackle alone.”
University of Auckland Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Fonoi’a Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau said the agreement reflected a shared commitment to advancing Pacific priorities through authentic partnership.
“When Pacific institutions work together, we strengthen our collective ability to respond to the challenges facing our people,” she said.
“By combining scientific expertise, community knowledge and Pacific ways of knowing, we can support research and innovation that is grounded in Pacific realities and delivers meaningful outcomes for Pacific communities.”
Tiatia-Siau said the agreement aligned with the University’s commitment to supporting Pacific success and creating pathways for future generations of Pacific scholars and leaders.
“Partnerships like this help ensure Pacific voices, values and aspirations remain at the centre of the work we do,” she said.
“It is through collaboration that we can grow Pacific leadership, strengthen knowledge exchange and create lasting impact for our region.”
Both organisations said the agreement marked the beginning of a deeper relationship that connects research excellence with community aspirations and helps deliver solutions for the Pacific….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Seaweed-inspired ‘fluffy net’ captures ocean microplastics in freshwater and seawater
Biopolymer mesh removes large and small microplastics in lab tests, offering possible tool for removing freshwater and marine plastic pollution
NORTH CAROLINA, 12 AUGUST 2026 (GLOBAL SEAWEED ALLIANCE)—Researchers have developed a seaweed-inspired mesh that captures microplastics across a wide range of sizes in laboratory testing, offering a potential new approach to removing plastic pollution from freshwater and marine environments.
The study, published in Science Advances, describes a highly porous, adhesive mesh made from alginate and chitosan, biopolymers derived from seaweed and crustacean shells. The design was inspired by naturally occurring mats of tangled seaweed and “Neptune balls,” which have been shown to collect microplastics in the ocean.
“We wanted to create structures that mimicked what the tangled seaweed is already doing,” said Orlin Velev, the study’s corresponding author and a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at North Carolina State University.
“Our goal here was to develop a multiscale structure that allows us to capture the full range of plastic microparticles.”
Existing methods can capture either larger microplastic particles or much smaller ones, but efficiently removing both in a single process has remained a challenge. According to the researchers, the new mesh is designed to address that challenge by combining a porous structure that traps larger particles with a coating of branching chitosan nanofibers that adhere to much smaller plastics.
The researchers described the design as a “fluffy net.” The porous mesh captures larger plastic particles, while the fine chitosan fibers coating each strand adhere to even the smallest microplastics and nanoparticles.
“The ‘net’ part of the structure is a mesh capable of capturing the larger plastic microparticles – a millimeter or larger in size,” said Velev.
“Further, the individual strands of the net are ‘fluffy’ because they are coated with soft dendritic colloids, which are able to capture by adhesion even very small plastic microparticles – down to tens of nanometers in size.”
In proof-of-concept tests, the researchers found the mesh was effective at capturing both laboratory-produced nanoparticles and real-world microplastics across a wide range of sizes in both freshwater and saltwater.
“We’ve demonstrated that this design works,” Velev says. “And the materials we used are of natural origin and relatively inexpensive. So, it may present a viable path forward. Can it be used on a large scale? That depends on the extent to which we want to invest in scaling up such cleanup approaches.”
The researchers said the mesh could be collected and reprocessed after use. One possible approach would use microbial digestion to break down both the captured microplastics and the mesh, producing more biopolymer material for future cleanup applications…..PACNEWS
