In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — “We need to make Pacific economies more resilient”: Green Climate Fund
2. PACIFIC — Forum Leaders endorse Kava declaration, fisheries fund review and regional labour ministers
3. PACIFIC — Australia strikes in-principle agreement with Solomon Islands for new treaty
4. FSM — FSM to host historic 80th CRGA in Pohnpei 2027, marking a first for FSM
5. PACIFIC — China piles pressure on Taiwan with new patrols off Pacific coast
6. NAOERO— Pacific island nation Naoero opens its first Israel embassy in Jerusalem
7. SOL — Parliament adjourns Sine-Die
8. FSM — President Simina and Deputy Secretary Landau Reaffirm Strength of FSM–U.S Partnership
9. SOL — Solomon Islands PM: We will roll out free education despite the challenges
10. FIJI — Fiji urged to prepare for El Niño
11. PACNEWS BIZ — ANZ MoneyMinded extends impact in Samoa
12. PACNEWS BIZ — TotalEnergies to lower stake in Papua LNG, hand operatorship to Exxon
13. PACNEWS BIZ — FAO Members celebrate 10th anniversary of landmark fisheries treaty
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Kanak Vision of the Ocean
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Crafted by Culture, Inspired by Nature
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — Global Climate and Health Alliance Receives Award for Mobilising Health Community on Climate Change
PACFIC – CLIMATE FUND/ECONOMY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Tue 08 Sep 2026
“We need to make Pacific economies more resilient”:Green Climate Fund
By Pita Ligaiula
SUVA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Climate change is already threatening key Pacific economic sectors, but the Green Climate Fund (GCF) says its investments are being designed to ensure communities can continue to benefit from tuna fisheries, agriculture and food production long after individual projects end.
In an interview with PACNEWS in Palau last week, GCF Executive Director Mafalda Duarte said the Fund was backing major programmes aimed at protecting food security, livelihoods and the region’s critical tuna industry.
Duarte highlighted a major tuna initiative with Conservation International, which she said would benefit Pacific countries through measures including improved fisheries systems, better forecasting and stronger community access to tuna.
“Thirty percent of the world’s annual tuna catch comes from Pacific economic zones,” Duarte said, underlining the importance of the resource to the region and globally.
She said the project would enhance coastal and urban community access to tuna, strengthen national fisheries systems and improve forecasting to help countries manage the redistribution of tuna stocks as climate change alters their movement.
“It’s quite a significant project,” Duarte said.
She said about 25 percent of the region’s population was expected to benefit directly or indirectly from the initiative.
The GCF executive director said the project was also significant because it drew on Pacific-based science and institutions.
“It draws on the knowledge and the science that is generated here in the Pacific,” Duarte told PACNEWS.
She said the project would be implemented through a Pacific institution, with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) serving as the executing entity.
“So really strong ownership with the knowledge and institutions of the region,” she said.
Duarte also highlighted a separate US$44 million programme covering Tonga, Vanuatu and Samoa aimed at strengthening food production and smallholder livelihoods.
The programme is expected to directly benefit more than 50,000 people, while almost 220,000 others are expected to benefit through broader policies, extension services and improved local food supplies.
The project will cover about 20,000 hectares, equivalent to 13 percent of the agricultural land across the three countries, Duarte said.
“These are significant programmes that really stand to make a significant impact in these countries,” she said.
GCF Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Hemant Mandal said the Fund’s approach was not simply to provide financing, but to ensure projects create lasting capacity within Pacific communities.
“The main focus is also a paradigm shift. So, it’s what happens after GCF intervention actually ends.
“How do we actually make sure that this continues?” Mandal asked.
He said project design and investment decisions needed to consider what would happen after GCF funding ended.
“It’s not just to, as a traditional donor, give money, but to make sure the communities have the wherewithal, the skillset to take it forward,” Mandal said.
Mandal said the tuna project was designed to build on existing regional arrangements, including the treaties governing tuna fisheries among Pacific countries.
He said climate change was changing the distribution of tuna stocks, creating new challenges for fishing fleets and national fisheries authorities.
“How do you make sure with the climate change the tuna shoals are moving, the ships have to get the right information, but they’re licensed to go over there,” Mandal said.
He said better information would also help prevent overfishing and ensure more of the economic benefits from tuna were retained in Pacific countries.
“So, it’s not just about the catch. The protein intake in the country goes up, but jobs are created within the country in food storage for the private sector to move in,” he said.
Mandal said the wider objective was to strengthen the resilience of Pacific economies as climate impacts intensify.
“It’s adaptation with the climate change, but also to be more resilient,
“That’s the way the GCF looks at the Pacific as a very important partner,” he told PACNEWS.
The GCF’s approach, he said, was to ensure climate investments strengthened existing Pacific systems rather than create parallel structures.
Duarte said the tuna initiative demonstrated that approach by combining international climate finance with Pacific science, institutions and fisheries systems.
The GCF’s investments in fisheries and food production come as Pacific leaders continue to push for greater access to climate finance to protect economies and communities from rising climate impacts…. PACNEWS
PACIFIC – FORUM LEADERS COMMUNIQUE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Forum Leaders endorse Kava declaration, fisheries fund review and regional labour ministers
By Pita Ligaiula
KOROR, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have endorsed new regional measures on kava, fisheries and labour, including the establishment of a dedicated Regional Labour Ministers Meeting to strengthen coordination on workforce and labour mobility issues.
Leaders endorsed the KAVA Declaration, recognising kava as a unique Pacific cultural and economic asset and calling for stronger protection of its Pacific origins, traditional knowledge, cultural identity and heritage.
The declaration is intended to strengthen Pacific ownership of kava, expand value addition and market opportunities, and protect the interests of Pacific producers and communities as the product gains greater international trade exposure.
Leaders said the declaration was an important step towards safeguarding the long-term interests of Pacific kava producers.
On fisheries, Leaders recognised the sector as a strategic asset of the Blue Pacific and backed a phased, Member-led consideration of the Regional Fisheries Development Fund feasibility assessment.
The work will also consider broader activities linked to the East New Britain Initiative (ENBI), informed by the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) process.
Leaders stressed the need for greater Pacific participation across the fisheries value chain so that Members can secure more economic benefits from the region’s fisheries resources.
They said any development of the proposed fund and related initiatives must maintain national ownership, economic accountability and equitable access, while ensuring sustainability and consistency with existing fisheries governance arrangements.
The focus is on moving beyond harvesting resources to increasing Pacific participation in processing, value addition and other parts of the fisheries value chain.
Forum Leaders also endorsed the establishment of a Regional Labour Ministers Meeting as a dedicated ministerial mechanism within the Forum architecture.
They also endorsed its associated Business Case and Ministerial Charter, while taking into account the ongoing review under the Regional Review and Assessment (RRA).
Leaders said labour and workforce governance had become strategic regional priorities, with growing implications for economic resilience, labour mobility, skills development, workforce sustainability and inclusive growth.
The new meeting is intended to provide dedicated political leadership on labour and workforce issues across the region.
Leaders said it would complement the existing Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) and Forum Trade Ministers Meeting (FTMM) rather than duplicate their roles.
FEMM will continue to provide oversight of regional economic policy and integration, while FTMM will oversee regional trade and labour mobility policy.
The Labour Ministers Meeting will focus specifically on labour and workforce priorities.
Leaders said the three ministerial mechanisms would strengthen policy coherence, regional coordination and implementation of the Resources and Economic Development priorities under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: ABC PACNEWS 2: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Australia strikes in-principle agreement with Solomon Islands for new treaty
CANBERRA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (ABC) — Australia and Solomon Islands have reached an in-principle agreement on a landmark new treaty, with a leaked text message revealing the federal government has promised to plough more than $980 million (US$707.55 million) in additional funding into the Pacific nation as it tries to lock in the pact.
The federal government is racing to get the treaty signed in the coming weeks after Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale successfully warded off a leadership challenge on Monday.
Wale was forced to scramble back to Solomon Islands last week just hours after landing in Palau for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting when his Home Affairs Minister, Manasseh Maelanga, launched a motion of no confidence, accusing the prime minister of making major decisions without consulting cabinet.
A message from Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Jeffrey Roach, to the deputy prime minister Francis Sade last week, which is verified by ABC News and now circulating in political circles, reveals the details of the deal, and shows how Australia was keen to buttress Wale’s position as he fought for his political survival.
Roach writes that there had been “terrific progress” on the treaty negotiations, and that Australia was willing to contribute an additional $280 million (US$202.12 million) into the Pacific nation over the next two years under the deal and a further $700 million (US$505.32 million) after that.
He says that will include 820 million Solomon Islands dollars (US$102.86 million) in funding for Wale’s signature “free education” policy and SI$275 million (US$34.46 million) to provide “visa improvements” and deal with “security requests from Solomon Islands”.
Australia also looks set to ramp up support for a sometimes-contentious scheme which funnels money directly to MPs to spend on their constituencies as part of the comprehensive treaty.
The message says Australia would contribute SI$5 million (US$626,603) to every constituency for MPs’ “development priorities” before the end of this year, along with a further SI$3 million ($376,450) per constituency for 2027 and a further $500,000 (US$62,744) per constituency in 2028.
Solomon Islands parliament has 50 seats, so it would see Australia funnelling a total of some $43 million (US$31.03 million) into constituencies before the end of this year, along with a further $25 million (US$18.04 million) in the following two years.
The message reflects Australian government anxieties that the treaty could be endangered if the prime minister was toppled and replaced by Maelanga or another candidate more sceptical towards Australia, like former leader Manasseh Sogavare.
“I very much hope both countries can hold steady to seize this opportunity and lock this in ahead of the November budget session,” he writes.
While Roach never directly endorses Wale in his text, the message could still be politically contentious given it was sent in the midst of wrangling over the top job in Solomon Islands.
Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare has repeatedly accused Australia of foreign interference in Solomon Islands, including when he was prime minister.
Sade told the ABC there was nothing “political” about the message from the Australian High Commission.
“This was simply an update regarding the progress of the treaty discussions; it was never intended for political expediency,” he said.
“I routinely receive these briefings to stay informed about the Community Partnerships Programme.”
The leak comes the day after Wale managed to see off the challenge to his leadership, with the GREAT coalition winning back several defectors and recruiting additional opposition MPs to join their side.
On Sunday, Maelanga announced he would withdraw his challenge, effectively acknowledging the prime minister still had the numbers.
Wale told parliament on Monday morning that he wanted to “thank those that stood firm” behind him, as well as his new supporters, while praising Maelanga for backing down.
“I would like to thank the member for withdrawing the motion … and bring[ing] down the temperature, both in the house, but also in the public mind,” he said.
“What is clear, Speaker, is that the public, not just in Honiara but right across the country … want to see the government be given adequate, reasonable opportunity to be able to deliver on its vision.”
The prime minister also acknowledged that he had moved at breakneck pace since taking office, saying “many things are changing fast”, adding that he had learned lessons from the whole episode.
His clear political victory will cause relief in Canberra, which was worried by the prospect of the prime minister being ousted.
Wale only seized power in May but has tacked sharply towards Australia and the U.S since then, signing a new agreement with the U.S Coast Guard and making it clear that he was deeply sceptical of China’s attempts to embed itself as a security partner for the Pacific nation.
Australia has also been racing to complete negotiations on the new treaty with Solomon Islands while Wale retains power, with the government keenly conscious that Solomon Islands politics remains inherently fluid and unpredictable.
The Pacific Minister Pat Conroy and senior Australian officials held multiple discussions on the treaty with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Rick Hou and minister Peter Kenilorea Jr on the sidelines of the PIF leaders meeting last week.
In a statement, Wale’s office said the discussions “covered key national priorities including education, health, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, skills development, natural resource management and economic growth”.
“A key focus was how Australia’s development assistance can be better aligned with Solomon Islands’ national priorities and contribute to tangible and measurable outcomes for communities,” they said.
The talks came just a week or so after the Foreign Minister Penny Wong also held talks on the treaty with Hou and a host of other Solomon Islands cabinet ministers in Adelaide.
While negotiations are officially ongoing, the ABC has been told that talks are rapidly coming to a close, with one source saying they are “substantively concluded.”
An official from the Solomon Islands also said that the two countries had reached a “bilateral understanding” on the treaty.
Conroy would not be drawn on exactly when the treaty would be signed, saying negotiations were “underway”.
“Consistent with all of Australia’s bilateral treaty negotiations, we will not comment on the details of the negotiations until the treaty is signed,” he said.
The government has previously signalled it wanted to sign the pact before the end of the year, but the rapid progress meant the government was beginning to eye possible signing dates within the coming weeks.
Anthony Albanese and Wale are both expected to attend several high-profile global gatherings, including the September United Nations General Assembly in September and possibly the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda in early November.
The former Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Lachlan Strahan, said while the idea of a treaty was not new, the major commitments being made by Australia were “significant”.
“If that’s all new money then that’s a step change in the amount of funding,” he said.
James Batley from the Australian National University said Australia’s decision to tip much more money into the constituency funds showed it was willing to do “whatever it takes” to get the deal over the line.
But he said while the risks around corruption and transparency connected to constituency funds were very real, they were manageable.
“I can’t imagine that Australia would just tip in money and say go for it. I imagine there would be standards of transparency and accountability that they will insist on,” he said.
“There’s no question that it’s a strongly held bipartisan view in Solomon Islands that MPs understand their constituencies best and should have a role promoting development in their constituencies.”
Dr Strahan said that Australia had already been ramping up the quantities of money it was funnelling directly into local constituencies in Solomon Islands over several years.
“This is actually a fairly effective way of getting money out into constituencies and local communities. The main issue is making sure it’s spent well and ensuring it isn’t used simply to prop up incumbents,” he said.
However, Tess Newton Cain, Associate Professor at the Griffith Asia Institute, said she was worried that Australia was trying to “pick winners” by throwing cash behind Wale, which could backfire.
“It’s not very strategically smart, because this is Melanesia and the politics are fluid and he’s got elections on the horizon … if he’s seen as Australia’s man, that can have blowback,” she said.
Dr Newton-Cain also said she would “need to be convinced” that the constituency funds were the best way to drive development in Solomon Islands.
“We’ve seen other attempts to make these funds more accountable and transparent and better governed, but they haven’t really had much success,” she said.
Conroy did not confirm the increase in funding but said Australian development projects would always maintain high standards.
“All Australian official development assistance is provided in line with Australia’s high-quality development programming guidelines, and OECD eligibility criteria for Official Development Assistance,” he said…. PACNEWS
FSM – DIPLOMACY: FSM GOVT PACNEWS 2: Tue 08 Sep 2026
FSM to host historic 80th CRGA in Pohnpei 2027, marking a first for FSM
POHNPEI, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FSM GOVT) — The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) National Government has finalised a landmark agreement to host the 80th Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) in Pohnpei in 2027. The convening will mark the first time the FSM has hosted this regional executive body, following Saipan as only the second location in the Micronesian sub-region to do so.
Distribution and hosting arrangements were formalised in Koror, Palau, on the sidelines of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. The Host Country Agreement was signed by Ricky Cantero, FSM Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Dr Paula Vivili, Deputy Director-General of the Pacific Community (SPC), with Pohnpei State Governor Stevenson A. Joseph attending the ceremony as an official witness.
The CRGA serves as the executive governing body of the SPC, meeting annually to oversee regional development priorities, approve work programmes, and guide governance decisions across its 27 member countries and territories.
The high-level regional convening in 2027 is projected to bring between 150 and 200 delegates to Pohnpei, including foreign diplomats, regional agency leaders, and international development partners.
Pohnpei State will work in coordination with the FSM National Government and the SPC Secretariat on venue, logistical, and protocol preparations leading up to the 2027 session…. PACNEWS
PAC – POLITICS: JAPAN TIMES PACNEWS 2: Tue 08 Sep 2026
China piles pressure on Taiwan with new patrols off Pacific coast
TOKYO, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (JAPAN TIMES) — For decades, China’s maritime pressure on Taiwan centered on the major shipping strait separating the two neighbors. Now, Beijing is piling unprecedented pressure on its Pacific coast — a vital lifeline with U.S allies.
China has deployed on average two Coast Guard cutters per month east of Taiwan since June, after Japan and the Philippines announced plans to define their overlapping maritime border in the region. The appearance of those vessels marks the first time such patrols have been reported in the area in data going back to January 2025.
Patrols in these waters covered a vast area of 27,100 square nautical miles — more than twice the size of Taiwan — based on Bloomberg calculations using ship-tracking data. Ships stayed 30 nautical miles from the island’s eastern coast, remaining outside Taiwan-claimed waters.
Controlling the east would become essential to enforcing an effective blockade of Taiwan during a Chinese invasion of the island. Disrupting shipping off the Pacific coast would have global implications for commodities. Vessels ferrying oil, gas, iron ore and agricultural products made 527 transits through the east in June, exceeding the 420 through the generally busier Taiwan Strait, according to MarineTraffic data.
“If the Taiwan Strait is the front door, the eastern waters have often been treated as the back door,” said Jing Ge, instructor at Florida International University’s politics and international relations department. “Beijing wants to demonstrate this back door is no longer uncontested.”
While the Taiwan Strait handles almost half the world’s container fleet, the island’s eastern coast holds strategic importance by forming a maritime link with the Philippines and wider Pacific. Sea lanes in the area lead to key ports and military facilities, where the U.S and its regional allies could deliver supplies, while its deeper waters are ideal for submarines and undersea surveillance.
China’s Coast Guard has described such deployments as “routine law-enforcement” patrols and has pledged to strengthen patrols to safeguard Beijing’s maritime rights. China has in the past also conducted military drills, including in this area, to rehearse encircling Taiwan, the self-governed island the Communist Party considers its own despite never having ruled it.
China’s activity is an attempt to “leverage ‘law enforcement patrols’ to establish a new normal for its maritime presence in the waters east of Taiwan,” the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration said in an email. Vessels have been dispatched in a timely manner in response, it added.
The U.S has called China’s actions “deeply destabilising.”
The role of China’s Coast Guard has moved beyond traditional law enforcement in recent years. That was laid bare by the introduction of a Coast Guard Law in 2021, which expanded the agency’s reach by authorising it to “take all necessary measures, including the use of weapons” to protect what Beijing defines as China’s sovereignty.
Its new operations around Taiwan started on June 1, when China’s Coast Guard deployed two large patrol cutters — the 5,000-ton Daishan and the 3,000-ton Baita — to waters east of the island. Those vessels were previously used around the East China Sea, including the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, which China also claims and calls the Diaoyus.
Days earlier, Japan and the Philippines had announced plans to start negotiations to delimit their sea boundaries, as part of broader efforts from the two U.S allies to deepen their partnership. China opposed the talks, saying they’d interfered with its own maritime claims in that region.
“Beijing is using the joint statement issued by Japan and the Philippines as a pretext for greatly expanding its presence in these waters,” said Ryan Martinson, assistant professor at the China Maritime Studies Institute of the U.S Naval War College.
Later in June, China sent larger law enforcement ships, the 10,000-ton Haixun 09 and the 6,600-ton Haixun 06, to circle Taiwan. That rare multi-agency operation included China’s largest deep-sea survey ship and a rescue vessel.
During their five-day voyage, the vessels for the first time questioned foreign commercial ships passing along Taiwan’s Pacific coast. According to Chinese state media, the ships also “inspected” 198 passing vessels during the mission to reinforce traffic-control capabilities. It was unclear what the report meant by “inspected.”
“If those interactions become routine, the next question is whether Chinese authorities begin to request more information,’ said Zack Liao, political risk analyst at U.K.-based think tank China Strategic Risks Institute. “After that, whether they issue navigational instructions.”
U.S-based independent monitor Armed Conflict Location & Event Data has separately reported “a significant increase in research vessels operating at unusually slow speeds east of Taiwan” near undersea communications infrastructure.
China kept up the pressure by sending two more Coast Guard cutters to relieve the Daishan and Baita after a month in the area. That was described by a U.S congressional commission as Beijing’s way to establish a continuous presence.
“Using the CCG rather than the PLA Navy avoids military confrontations and allows Beijing to portray these activities as law enforcement while establishing the persistent presence necessary for a future blockade,” said the U.S-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
As the activity ramped up, Taiwan held military exercises in mid-July on Orchid and Green Islands, off its southeastern coast, for the first time in three decades. Weeks later, China staged passing exercises with Indonesia in the area, the first time Beijing has announced training with another country in the eastern waters.
China’s push to establish a presence east of Taiwan ultimately puts pressure on the U.S to respond, analysts say.
“What Beijing is testing east of Taiwan is whether it can gradually rewrite expectations about who governs navigation and maritime order in the Western Pacific,” said the China Strategic Risks Institute’s Liao. “That means the response should also be international.” …. PACNEWS
NAURU – DIPLOMACY: TIMES OS ISRAEL PACNEWS 2: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Pacific island nation Naoero opens its first Israel embassy in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (TIMES OF ISRAEL) — The Pacific island nation of Naoero inaugurates its first embassy in Israel in Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announces alongside visiting Nauruan Foreign Minister Lionel Aingimea.
“Israel’s relations with the nations of the South Pacific are advancing tremendously,” Sa’ar says in a readout from the Foreign Ministry.
He adds that through MASHAV, the Foreign Ministry’s international development cooperation programme, Israeli emergency-care doctors will work to strengthen local medical capabilities in Nauru, and Israel will provide the nation with “medical equipment, including cardiac ultrasound equipment, as well as water-purification systems capable of producing tens of thousands of liters of clean water each day.”
Aingimea asserts Nauru’s “unwavering” support for the Jewish state, saying it is “one of Israel’s most reliable and consistent diplomatic allies at the United Nations,” voting with Jerusalem 71 percent of the time — a number he says, “will increase very quickly.”
Israel has previously thanked Naoero – among the smallest nations in the world, with a population of about 12,000 – for its support in the UN and other forums, where Jerusalem has faced increasing isolation in the aftermath of its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Sa’ar and Aingimea agreed on the embassy opening during a June 2025 meeting in Fiji. Israel is currently represented in Nauru by a non-resident ambassador based in Fiji.
The move reflects efforts by the Foreign Ministry “to strengthen Jerusalem’s international standing and encourage additional countries to expand their diplomatic presence in the capital,” according to a ministry statement.
Eight other countries have opened or relocated their embassies to Jerusalem in recent years, including the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Paraguay and Somaliland, as well as Pacific countries Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced plans last month to move their embassies to Jerusalem.
Most countries do not recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and base their embassies in Tel Aviv, often opening smaller consulates in Jerusalem…. PACNEWS
SOL – PARLIAMENT: SOLOMON STAR PACNEWS 2: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Parliament adjourns sine-die
HONIARA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SOLOMON STAR) — The National Parliament of Solomon Islands has concluded its Fourth Meeting of the Twelfth Parliament following the passage of Motion No. 27 – Motion of Sine Die, moved by the Prime Minister, Matthew Wale, on Monday 7 September 2026.
The Motion provides that, at the adjournment of Parliament on Monday 7 September 2026, the present Meeting shall be concluded and Parliament shall thereafter stand adjourned sine die.
In moving the Motion, Prime Minister Wale explained that the adjournment would provide sufficient time for the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) to undertake further consultation on the Mineral Resources Bill, particularly in relation to proposed amendments arising from a petition received by Members on both sides of the House from resource owners.
The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of allowing the Committee adequate time to undertake the necessary consultation before the Bill returns for further consideration by Parliament.
Prime Minister Wale also highlighted the close connection between the Motion of Sine Die and the earlier Motion No. 26 – Motion on Resolution under Section 103(1) of the Constitution, which was passed by Parliament to provide for the continued funding of public services pending the commencement of the 2027 Appropriation Act.
He said the adjournment would provide the Government with “a bit of space” to undertake the necessary preparations for the 2027 Appropriation Bill, while also allowing parliamentary committees to progress matters requiring further consultation.
The passage of the Motion therefore brings the current Meeting of Parliament to a formal conclusion while allowing work to continue outside the sitting period on matters that will require consideration when Parliament next meets…. PACNEWS
FSM – DIPLOMACY: FSM GOVT PACNEWS 2: Tue 08 Sep 2026
President Simina and Deputy Secretary Landau Reaffirm Strength of FSM–U.S Partnership
WENO, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FSM GOVT) — Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), held a bilateral meeting with United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, reaffirming the enduring FSM–U.S partnership and the mutual respect that underpins the two countries’ unique relationship under the Compact of Free Association.
The two discussed the United States’ announcement of an additional $96 million for Typhoon Sinlaku recovery and reconstruction, expected to support the rebuilding of approximately 700 homes and repairs to around 1,000 buildings, including schools, hospitals, and other essential facilities. The U.S delegation noted the unprecedented pace of the response and reconstruction effort.
The President also addressed concern over recent inaccurate public commentary regarding the FSM’s political status. Deputy Secretary Landau reaffirmed the U. S’s respect for the sovereignty of the FSM, while President Simina underscored the importance of that sovereignty and expressed appreciation for the continued mutual respect shown by both partners.
President Simina raised infrastructure and implementation challenges under the Compact and welcomed progress on the Chuuk State Hospital project.
The two also discussed defense site projects in Yap, with President Simina noting positive discussions with Yap State leadership and its commitment to moving the projects forward.
President Simina thanked the United States Coast Guard for its continued search and rescue support and welcomed further opportunities for assistance in disaster response, including the ongoing Typhoon Sinlaku response and recovery…. PACNEWS
SOL – EDUCATION: SIBC NEWS PACNEWS 2: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Solomon Islands PM: We will roll out free education despite the challenges
HONIARA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SIBC NEWS) — Prime Minister Matthew Wale has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to rolling out free education from Early Childhood Education (ECE) through to the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and TAFE/TVET institutions.
Speaking in Parliament Monday, Prime Minister Wale acknowledged that the rollout would come with challenges but said the Government is determined to implement the policy in a realistic and sustainable manner.
“We must roll it out. We will roll out with some difficulty and challenges,” the Prime Minister said.
He said skills development must be an integral part of the policy, with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strengthened within TAFE, TVET institutions and SINU to ensure the country has a steady supply of skilled workers.
The Prime Minister said developing a skilled workforce will be critical to the Government’s ambition of doubling the country’s GDP over the next four to five years.
“We can do it. So let us together put our minds and aim to do that,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale said the Government is also considering the broader foundations required to achieve its economic ambitions, including a healthy and secure population.
On the costing of the free education policy, the Prime Minister revealed that the Ministry has estimated an additional $1.1 billion (US$138.03 million) would be required for the rollout from ECE through to SINU and TAFE.
However, he said the Government has raised concerns over some of the assumptions underpinning the costing and has returned it to the Ministry and education sector for further review.
“We have serious questions on some of the premises, the foundations of the costing,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale said the Government wants to ensure the final costing is realistic, reasonable and supported by the necessary administrative systems and instruments to implement the policy effectively.
He said once the work is completed, the Government intends to hold bipartisan discussions to agree on what will be included in the definition and scope of free education.
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed the Government’s intention to return to Parliament before Christmas to pass the 2027 Budget, while allowing some flexibility should the process take slightly longer.
He said the outstanding work on defining what is included and excluded under free education must be completed before the Government can provide a final response…. PACNEWS
FIJI – EL NINO: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 2: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Fiji urged to prepare for El Niño
SUVA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FBC NEWS) — The Government is urging early preparations as Fiji faces the possibility of El Niño conditions in the coming months.
Minister for Public Works Filipe Tuisawau says authorities are already working with the National Disaster Management Office to prepare for changing weather conditions.
He says early preparation will allow Government agencies to respond quickly if conditions become more challenging.
Tuisawau says Fiji must strengthen its ability to deal with climate-related threats, particularly those affecting essential services.
“Climate change remains the greatest threat as we move forward. We all know about sea-level rise, coastal erosion and intense weather events. We have been warned about El Niño and possible dry weather moving forward. But I’m not sure. Outside, it’s raining. But we have to prepare for any eventuality as we move forward.”
Tuisawau says the Government is taking a proactive approach rather than waiting for the effects of El Niño to become severe.
He says close coordination between agencies will be critical in managing any impacts…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
SAMOA – ECONOMY: ANZ PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 08 Sep 2026
ANZ MoneyMinded extends impact in Samoa
APIA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (ANZ) — Over the past 12 months, more than 580 people across Samoa have strengthened their financial skills through ANZ’s MoneyMinded programme, gaining practical skills in budgeting, saving, goal setting and planning for the future to help them build positive money habits and make informed financial decisions for themselves and their families.
MoneyMinded is ANZ’s flagship financial education programme, helping individuals, families and communities build the confidence and skills to manage their money and improve their financial wellbeing. Through practical, real-life learning, participants develop everyday habits that can help them achieve their goals and prepare for life’s unexpected expenses.
The programme is designed to make financial education relevant and accessible, encouraging participants to better understand their spending, distinguish between needs and wants, build savings and take greater control of their financial future.
Sucharu Tandon, ANZ Samoa Country Head said MoneyMinded was delivering practical benefits for people from all walks of life.
“Financial wellbeing starts with knowledge and confidence. MoneyMinded gives people practical tools they can use every day to make informed decisions, plan for the future and achieve their goals,” Tandon said.
“Whether it’s creating a household budget, setting aside money for education, preparing for unexpected costs or making the most of income earned overseas, small actions can make a meaningful difference over time.
“Ultimately, MoneyMinded is about helping people feel more confident in managing their finances and creating better outcomes for themselves and their families.”
Over the past year, ANZ delivered MoneyMinded in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, the Samoa International Cricket Association’s Healthy Nanas programme and some churches across Samoa.
Tandon said working alongside trusted community organisations helped ensure the programme reached people where they live, work and learn.
“By bringing MoneyMinded into existing community programmes, we’re making financial education more accessible and relevant to people’s everyday lives. We are proud to work with organisations that share our commitment to helping individuals, families and communities build stronger financial futures.”
ANZ Talent and Culture Business Partner Makerita Tugia Enesa, who leads the delivery of MoneyMinded in Samoa, said participants consistently valued the programme’s practical and relatable approach.
“MoneyMinded focuses on real-life situations and the financial decisions people face every day. Participants leave with practical ideas they can put into action immediately,” Enesa said.
“Seeing people grow in confidence and take positive steps towards their goals is one of the most rewarding aspects of the programme.”
ANZ will continue working with government and community organisations to expand the reach of MoneyMinded and help more people across Samoa build their financial capability and confidence.
Organisations or community groups interested in participating in MoneyMinded can contact ANZ through its Apia or Savaii branches or call 69999…. PACNEWS
PNG – BUSINESS: REUTERS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 08 Sep 2026
TotalEnergies to lower stake in Papua LNG, hand operatorship to Exxon
PORT MORESBY, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (REUTERS) — TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), opens new tab is cutting its stake in Papua LNG and handing operatorship to ExxonMobil (XOM.N), opens new tab, the companies said on Monday, as pressure mounts to secure a final investment decision by the end of the year on the long-delayed project.
The French energy major, which co-owns the project with Exxon, Santos (STO.AX), opens new tab, Kumul Petroleum/MRDC and ENEOS Xplora, said it would sell a 9.1 percent stake to its partners in proportion to their existing holdings, while retaining a 20 percent stake. It did not disclose the sale price.
Australia’s Santos said it had acquired an additional 3.3 percent stake in the project for $189 million (US$136.41 million), lifting its interest to 21 percent and boosting its equity liquefied natural gas production by about 19 percent to around 1.2 million metric tons per year (Mtpa).
The deal is subject to Papua LNG reaching a final investment decision (FID), expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, Santos said. TotalEnergies said contractual and commercial hurdles had now been cleared for that decision.
“This is all part of lining up FID by year end, which will help extend the life of PNG LNG that would otherwise begin to decline from around 2028,” said MST Marquee analyst Saul Kavonic, referring to the neighbouring LNG project already operated by ExxonMobil.
“Bringing Papua LNG and PNG LNG under ExxonMobil operatorship is expected to strengthen alignment across the projects, improve execution efficiency, and support the development of Papua New Guinea’s world-class LNG resources,” an ExxonMobil spokesperson said.
TotalEnergies said it had completed the tendering process for engineering, procurement and construction work for the project, with contracts now pending its partners’ approval.
The company added that nearly $4 billion (US$2.88 billion) in cost savings had been achieved since 2024 through rebidding contracts and optimising the project design, cutting estimated capital expenditure to about $14 billion (US$10.10 billion).
The partners have also finalised an amended gas agreement with Papua New Guinea’s government and established an LNG marketing joint venture with Kumul Petroleum to sell 2.4 Mtpa of the project’s 5.6 Mtpa output.
Papua LNG is part of TotalEnergies’ strategy to expand lower-cost LNG supply. The project, which is expected to produce 5.6 Mtpa from the Elk and Antelope fields in Papua New Guinea’s Gulf Province, mainly for Asian buyers, has been in the works for more than a decade but has faced repeated delays from fiscal disputes, the pandemic and negotiations among partners.
TotalEnergies’ offtake share remains unchanged, giving it access to 1.5 Mtpa for its LNG portfolio. However, the stake sale will free up capital for other projects.
TotalEnergies has one of the industry’s largest LNG investment commitments among projects under construction, said Marc Howson, head of Asia Pacific at Welligence Energy Analytics, including stakes in developments in the Middle East, the U.S Gulf Coast, and West and East Africa…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES TREATY: FAO PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 08 Sep 2026
FAO Members celebrate 10th anniversary of landmark fisheries treaty
ROME, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FAO) — The 37th Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI37), the largest global gathering of policy makers, experts and partners in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, began today at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome.
Prior to the meeting’s opening, FAO hosted a celebration marking the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), the first binding international agreement to specifically target illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The treaty, brokered into being by FAO, has 86 parties, representing 110 FAO Members, and is designed to prevent vessels engaged in IUU activity from using ports and landing their catch.
Almost three quarters of coastal states are now bound by the PSMA. Moldova was welcomed on Monday as the latest countries to submit their instruments of accession.
Recent membership growth “reflects the growing recognition that effective action against IUU fishing requires cooperation across borders and regions,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. He called for full implementation of the “Bali strategy,” a 2023 roadmap aimed at convincing more countries to join the PSMA and to accelerate information exchange to swap inspection data globally.
Parties pledge to verify the compliance of foreign vessels before granting entry, making the PSMA a potent and cost-effective mechanism to prevent products derived from IUU fishing practices from entering international markets.
More than 22,000 PSMA inspections are conducted annually in almost 700 designated ports of Parties. FAO has offered technical and capacity building assistance to more than 80 FAO Members.
The celebration featured a panel discussion with ministers and high-level dignitaries from six Parties including China, France, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, and the United States of America.
The week-long COFI37 meeting (7-11 September) will look at the current state of world fisheries and aquaculture amid a backdrop of evolving pressures on aquatic ecosystems and growing demand for aquatic foods. The agenda spans current priorities and emerging global challenges such as IUU fishing, climate change adaptation, supporting small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, and developments in international oceans governance. They will also consider the role of FAO and Regional Fishery Bodies in supporting implementation of International Agreements relevant to fisheries and aquaculture, including CITES decisions on endangered aquatic species.
Director-General Qu emphasised the importance of COFI guidance for a sector that has grown fivefold in the past six decades. He hailed the rapid growth of aquaculture production, highlighted its potential outside of Asia, and called for COFI to provide recommendations that future aquaculture growth is environmentally sustainable, socially responsible, and economically viable.
Side and special events will focus on using a value-chain approach to transform aquatic food systems, innovations in aquaculture production, the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the BBNJ Agreement on conserving and sustaining marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, and emerging technologies in the areas of data, traceability and control. Special events will focus on youth engagement and on women’s leadership for a sustainable Blue Economy.
Globally, fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 235 million tonnes in 2024, generated $184 billion in trade, and supported more than 600 million livelihoods worldwide, according to The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) that FAO issued in June.
At a special ceremony on COFI37’s opening day, the Director-General awarded the Margarita Lizárraga Medal to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries agency, which serves 17 members from its headquarter in the Solomon Islands…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
APIA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP) — Embracing Kanak knowledge and cultural values in the Coral Sea Nature Park Management practices has been the goal of the work for the Kanak Vision of the Ocean (KVO).
Established in 2014, spanning 1.3 million square kilometers, the Coral Sea Nature Park protects a third of the world’s near-prisine coral reefs providing a safe home for humpback whales, sharks and sea turtles. It encompasses deep-sea basins, trenches and 149 seamounts.
The KVO, on showcase during the 11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in Noumea, New Caledonia this week, was initiated in 2022 by the Customary Senate and the eight customary areas with the support Conservation International and the Blue Nature Alliance.
“Our Kanak people have a special interconnected link with our ocean spaces. We have our customary ways of caring for our ocean, it makes up our identity and is rooted in 3,000 years of ocean connection and care,” said Josine Wataï Tiavouane, customary relations officer with Conservation International and the Kanak Vision of the Ocean.
“We work to strengthen this link we all have with our ocean and nature and ensure it is ingrained in the management of the Coral Sea Nature Park giving fuller recognition to the Kanak cultural vision or our ocean in the rules and decisions around park management and conservation.”
Since 2022 the Kanak Vision of the Ocean has made strong impact in its work in building awareness of the Kanak people as the protection of the Coral Sea Nature Park is maintained. Active involvement of the KVO customary resource members in the governance arrangements of the park saw their contributions reflected in key management outcomes and plans of the park.
One of which was the adoption of a 50-year moratorium on exploration and exploitation of the deep seabed on 29 April 2025. The cultural value of the park is significant in Kanaky culture and traditions with approximately 30 islets and a long string of seamounts and vast abyssal plains where as-yet most unexplored ecosystems prosper.
“Within the Park is a sacred traditional place for us, it is linked to our genealogy and our cultural beliefs with the seamounts as a spiritual pathway in our ancestory. We come through the ocean as our origin of life and we return to the seabed, this is where the spirit of our ancestors’ rest,” said Tiavouane.
“Through the 50-year moratorium, this has been recognised by the government, its very important for us and we are very happy by this major step.”
The four fundamental principles of the KVO includes the sacred ocean as the place of origin and a space inhabited by the ancestors, the ocean as a larder a source of subsistence and knowledge transmission, the ocean as our connection between clans, islands, peoples and generations as well as an ocean to be protected as a living heritage for future generations.
Across 2024 to 2025 KVO has held a number of workshops that saw the sharing of knowledge, cultural values and relationships between the Kanak communities and the ocean. These were blended into a summary in 2024 titled La vision kanak de l’océan – La vision Kanak de l’océan — Yamaiwaa wêêmwâ mâ kaa tö – Protéger son pays comme son tertre to share this knowledge widely. This booklet now acts as a tool for sharing and adding value to the Kanak Vision of the Ocean.
If at the 11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas you can learn more about the KVO by visiting their exhibition stand at Tjiabou Culturel Centre, or you can also visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/vision.kanak.ocean/
“Everything is interconnected, us, our land and our sea. Our nature and our culture are inseparable, this is also when it comes to ocean management. We are sharing our knowledge now for our future generation to keep our ocean safe and well. We must live respectfully with our ocean for many years to come…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Crafted by Culture, Inspired by Nature
NOUMEA, 058 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP) — The 11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas (PCNC11) is more than a gathering of conservation practitioners, policymakers and community leaders. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate how biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage and sustainable livelihoods are deeply interconnected.
Throughout the conference, organisers made a conscious effort to ensure that the event reflected the very values being discussed in plenary sessions, technical workshops and field visits. By engaging local New Caledonian artisans and community groups to create conference materials and gifts, PCNC11 showcased how traditional knowledge, sustainable resource use and cultural practices contribute to conservation outcomes across the Pacific.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Deputy Director General, Easter Chu Shing commented that, “from the outset, we wanted PCNC11 to reflect the very principles being discussed throughout the conference.”
“By partnering with local artisans, community groups and cultural practitioners, we were able to meaningfully engage with delegates of the conference on how biodiversity, traditional knowledge and sustainable livelihoods are interconnected.”
“Every handcrafted item, from the carved gifts and woven hats to the lanyards and naturally dyed textiles, tells a story about New Caledonia’s people, culture and environment and these creations remind us that conservation is not only about protecting ecosystems but also about supporting the communities and traditional knowledge.”
Among the conference keepsakes were handcrafted wooden gifts produced specifically for PCNC11 participants. Created by members of the Tribal Association of Nouméa, including Jaïrus Neporoze of the Tribu de Waraï, Victor Mindia of the Tribu de Neouiyo and Alban Nerho of the Tribu de Néawa, the pieces drew upon generations of Kanak carving knowledge and artistic tradition.
Using locally sourced natural materials, the artisans transformed wood into works of cultural significance that symbolise the enduring connection between Indigenous communities and their environment. In Kanak culture, carving is more than an artistic practice. It is a means of preserving ancestral knowledge, expressing identity and passing cultural values from one generation to the next.
Another visible expression of the conference’s sustainability values was the use of locally produced conference lanyards. Developed by two women’s artisan groups in New Caledonia, the lanyards demonstrated how practical conference materials can also support community livelihoods, celebrate biodiversity and promote environmentally responsible alternatives.
Véronique Delessert collaborated with the Art COO women’s group in Thio to create handcrafted lanyards woven from pandanus and other natural fibres. Drawing upon traditional weaving techniques passed down through elders and community knowledge holders, the artisans transformed locally available plant materials into durable and functional products.
200 hats were also woven for the PCNC11 instead of purchasing caps for distribution during the field trips. Woven by the Poxanu Ayu Kaamo Association which saw 20 different women unite to weave the hats with coconut leaves also financially supporting women’s groups in New Caledonia.
“Our association values the work of our mothers and Women, thank you for organising this which recognises our value,” said Boanemoa Charlotte, the Treasurer of Poxanu Ayu Kaamo.
Among the local artisans supporting PCNC11 was Warna, a Nouméa-based textile studio whose work beautifully demonstrated the connection between biodiversity, traditional knowledge and sustainable craftsmanship.
Conference promotional items, including handcrafted lavalavas (sarong), were produced using natural pigments extracted from locally sourced plants such as gaïac, pomegranate leaves and endemic tree species. Through a careful process of plant-based dye extraction and hand-colouring, Warna transforms native botanical resources into unique textile creations inspired by New Caledonia’s natural environment.
By showcasing the work of New Caledonian artisans, PCNC11 celebrated the people who continue to maintain these connections. Their creations served as timely reminders that biodiversity conservation and cultural preservation are mutually reinforcing goals and that a sustainable future for the Pacific depends on supporting both nature and the communities…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Global Climate and Health Alliance Receives Award for Mobilising Health Community on Climate Change
CAPE TOWN, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (GLOBAL CLIMATE AND HEALTH ALLIANCE) — The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) today presented the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) with an award for “helping shape a healthier, more equitable and resilient world”, during the 18th World Congress on Public Health (WCPH) in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Global Climate and Health Alliance is one of seven organisations and public health leaders receiving awards from WFPHA; GCHA “receives the Climate and Health Action Award for its leadership in mobilising the global health community around climate change as an urgent public health challenge”, says WFPHA.
According to the WFPHA, “since 2011, GCHA has developed a global network of more than 200 health and development organisations, representing millions of health professionals and workers. Its work has helped place health at the center of international climate policy by connecting scientific evidence, professional advocacy, and global policy engagement.”
“Among [GCHA’s] contributions are efforts supporting the 2024 World Health Assembly Resolution on climate change and health and the subsequent WHO Global Action Plan. As co-chair of the WHO–Civil Society Working Group on Climate and Health, GCHA continues to advocate for health-centered climate policies and climate-resilient health systems.”
GCHA’s work highlights a growing reality for public health: climate action is health action, and climate justice is inseparable from health equity”, concludes WFPHA.
“The Global Climate and Health Alliance is delighted to receive this honour from the World Federation of Public Health Associations and offers our congratulations to the other awardees”, said Dr Jeni Miller, Executive Director of the Global Climate and Health Alliance. “In truth, there is no single individual or organisation working alone; in our case, the Global Climate and Health Alliance brings together more than 250 health professional and health civil society organisations and networks to take action to protect human health from climate change and the impacts of the extraction and burning of fossil fuels. We are proud to strive alongside many committed individuals and organisations, working to make the earth a safe and healthier place for everyone.”
“Any impact that that the Global and Climate and Health Alliance has had is because of the many health organisations and professionals around the world who have recognised the threat climate change poses to health and who have come with us on this journey and have come together tohave a joint voice to make an impact on the policies that matter”, said Miller, when accepting the award.
“I want to express how meaningful it is to accept this award from the World Federation of Public Health Associations. I joined the American Public Health Association when I started my career. I found a home there because in public health, people understand the social determinants of health, environmental determinants of health, and so understanding that climate change is a health crisis and is a health issue comes very naturally to the public health field”, said Miller…. PACNEWS
