In this bulletin:
1. COMMONWEALTH — Commonwealth SG urges global financial reforms to ease small states’ debt burden
2. SOL — Solomon Islands pushes constitutional reforms to curb political instability
3. NEW|CALE — Pacific groups condemn EU-Kanaky nickel deal over lack of Kanak consent
4. SOL — Solomon Islands PM Wale recovering, expected home this week
5. FIJI — New Fiji A-G urges leaders to focus on people, not politics
6. CNMI — CNMI voters to chart commonwealth’s future in closely watched election
7. NZ — ‘We are going to win’: Winston Peters rules out being in opposition days before election
8. FIJI — ‘Protecting Journalists remains a media industry priority
9. PACNEWS BIZ — El Nino ‘weakening’ Kina’s purchasing power
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji welcomes Quad support for port modernisation
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji inflation rate rises to 2.9 percent in October
12. PACNEWS BIZ — CNMI governor, lawmakers clash over 60-hour workweeks
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Six in seven journalist murders go unpunished, UNESCO reports
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Regional action needed to strengthen Pacific information resilience
ATG – COMMONWEALTH MEET: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 03 Nov 2026
Commonwealth SG urges global financial reforms to ease small states’ debt burden
By Pita Ligaiula
ST JOHN’S, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey has called for urgent reform of the international financial system, saying small states must have better access to affordable financing and debt relief to strengthen their resilience and support sustainable development.
Botchwey said small states continued to face unfair financial pressures despite their vulnerability to climate change, economic shocks and geopolitical tensions.
Addressing the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States in Antigua and Barbuda, she said vulnerability must be recognised alongside national income when determining access to concessional financing and assessing debt sustainability.
“The recognition of vulnerability alongside income in determining sustainable debt and concessional funding should be non-negotiable,” Botchwey said.
She said the Commonwealth was determined to move calls for a more equitable international financial system from advocacy to action, using the Bridgetown Initiative and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS 4) as common platforms for engagement with major international financial institutions.
She urged Commonwealth leaders to use their membership of groups such as the G7, G20 and Paris Club, as well as their engagement with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, to push for changes that better reflect the needs of small states.
Botchwey said the Commonwealth Secretariat would work with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and international non-government organisations to advance the reform agenda.
She said the challenges facing small states included climate crises, economic fragmentation, geopolitical tensions and financial vulnerabilities, but stressed that their size should not limit their ability to contribute to global solutions.
“Size need not be a limitation. It can be a source of agility,” she said.
Botchwey said resilience must extend beyond rebuilding after disasters to include economic diversification, job creation, skills development and investment in infrastructure, renewable energy, digital connectivity and transport networks.
She said partnerships with governments, international institutions and the private sector were essential to mobilising the investment needed to achieve these priorities.
Commonwealth member countries had submitted bankable investment projects worth more than US$34 billion, which Botchwey said demonstrated the potential for greater investment across the organisation.
She also proposed a Commonwealth Investment Week next year, alongside the next Commonwealth Ministers of Trade Meeting, to build on investment opportunities discussed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Secretary-General said the Commonwealth was strengthening programmes to help small states access finance and attract investment, including the Climate Finance Access Hub, Blue Charter Project Incubator and the COP29 Presidency-Commonwealth Fund for Small Island Developing States.
She also highlighted the Commonwealth Bankable Investment Projects Initiative and Commonwealth Investment Network as mechanisms to connect member countries with potential investors.
Botchwey said small states should not be defined solely by their vulnerabilities but recognised for their contributions to global trade, environmental protection, maritime governance and sustainable development.
“Strategic relevance means small states shaping the decisions that affect them and turning assets and ideas into opportunity for their people,” she said.
She made the remarks while launching the 23rd volume of the Commonwealth Small States Economic Review and Basic Statistics, titled Beyond Resilience to Strategic Relevance: The Future of Small States.
The publication includes a special report on enhancing investment through public-private partnerships in Commonwealth small states, examining ways to strengthen investment pipelines, improve institutional capacity and attract private capital.
Botchwey said many small states were custodians of large ocean spaces, rich biodiversity and important natural resources, giving them an important role in shaping regional and international policy.
She said the success of small states was central to the wider Commonwealth agenda of resilience and shared prosperity.
“We cannot achieve our wider Commonwealth goal of resilience and shared prosperity without the contribution of small states,” she said.
The ministerial meeting was held ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)…..PACNEWS
SOL – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 03 Nov 2026
Solomon Islands pushes constitutional reforms to curb political instability
HONIARA, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— The Solomon Islands Government is advancing a package of constitutional reforms aimed at curbing political instability, strengthening parliamentary governance and protecting the independence of key institutions.
The GREAT Coalition Government says the proposed amendments are designed to address longstanding weaknesses in the political system, including unstable coalitions, party defections, repeated motions of no confidence and short parliamentary terms that disrupt policy continuity and national development.
In a statement, the Government said the reforms translate commitments outlined in the GREAT Coalition Statement of Policies released in July 2026 and its Policy Translation and Implementation Framework into proposed constitutional changes.
The reform package is built around six key areas: responsible use of motions of no confidence, stronger political party integrity and anti-defection measures, transparent government formation, a stable parliamentary term, stronger institutional independence and recognition of Solomon Islands’ Christian identity.
The proposals also include safeguards for Parliament and the Judiciary and support for the Opposition front bench.
The Government said the reforms are intended to provide greater continuity in government policies and development programmes while strengthening accountability among elected representatives.
“A more predictable political environment could allow governments to focus more consistently on delivering public services and improving the lives of citizens,” the statement said.
However, the Government stressed that political stability must not come at the expense of democratic accountability and parliamentary oversight.
“Political stability must go hand in hand with effective parliamentary scrutiny, institutional independence and the public’s ability to hold elected leaders accountable for their decisions and performance,” it said.
The proposed constitutional amendments will require legislative preparation and sufficient support in Parliament before they can proceed.
Under Section 61 of the Constitution, four of the proposed amendments require a three-quarters majority, or 38 of the 50 Members of Parliament, while the remaining amendments require a two-thirds majority of 34 Members.
The Government said the reform agenda reflects its commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and establishing a political system that balances stability with accountability.
It said the ultimate objective is to reduce recurring political disruptions and allow greater government focus on national priorities and sustainable development.
The proposed changes will require broad parliamentary support to become law….PACNEWS
NEW|CALE – NICKEL DEAL: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 03 Nov 2026
Pacific groups condemn EU-Kanaky nickel deal over lack of Kanak consent
SUVA/NOUMEA, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Pacific civil society organisations have condemned the European Union’s nickel agreement with the Government of Kanaky New Caledonia, warning that the deal risks deepening colonial exploitation by excluding Kanak people from decisions over their ancestral lands and resources.
The groups say the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on critical raw minerals, recently signed between the EU and the New Caledonian Government, raises serious questions about Indigenous self-determination, resource sovereignty and who benefits from the territory’s nickel industry.
They argue that while the EU is seeking to secure critical minerals for its industries, the Kanak people continue to face an unfinished decolonisation process under French rule.
In a joint statement, the organisations said any agreement involving Kanaky’s strategic resources must recognise the Kanak people’s right to determine their political and economic future.
They warned that without transparency, meaningful Indigenous participation and guarantees of equitable benefits, the agreement could reinforce existing inequalities and patterns of colonial extraction.
The groups cited findings from the Pacific People’s Mission to Kanaky New Caledonia in April 2025, which documented persistent social and economic inequalities affecting Kanak communities and customary landowners.
The mission highlighted concerns over the unequal distribution of nickel revenues and the marginalisation of communities seeking a fair share of the wealth generated by mining.
Thio, one of the territory’s historic nickel-mining communities, was cited as an example of the disparity between resource extraction and local development.
Despite more than a century of nickel mining, the groups said roads remain in poor condition, while customary landowners receive little of the wealth generated from resources extracted from their ancestral lands.
They said communities continue to face unemployment, poverty, inadequate infrastructure and unequal access to economic opportunities.
“These experiences raise serious concerns about a new agreement that seeks to expand access to Kanaky New Caledonia’s mineral resources without clear guarantees of local consent and control,” the statement said.
The organisations questioned whether the agreement would benefit Kanak communities or primarily serve external economic interests.
“Whose interests will Kanaky’s nickel serve?” they asked.
The groups are calling on the French Government, the EU and the Government of Kanaky New Caledonia to publish the full agreement, including its annexes and associated commitments, and commission an independent assessment of its economic, social, environmental and political implications.
They also want clear and verifiable commitments on investment, local processing, job protection, youth training, industry governance and the fair distribution of economic benefits.
The statement further calls for safeguards to ensure nickel resources support local industrial development and livelihoods rather than primarily meeting external demand.
It says Kanak political representatives and customary authorities must have a meaningful role in decisions concerning the implementation of the agreement and the future of their lands and resources.
“Kanaky New Caledonia’s nickel must not continue to serve as an instrument of colonial extraction and exploitation,” the organisations said.
They also called on Pacific leaders and regional institutions to ensure that regional commitments to decolonisation and self-determination translate into concrete action.
The statement was endorsed by 26 Pacific and international civil society organisations, including the Pacific Network on Globalisation, femLINK Pacific, the Melanesian Indigenous Land Defence Alliance, the Vanuatu Human Rights Coalition and the Belau Association of NGOs.
The organisations said the Kanak people must have the right to decide how their ancestral lands and resources are governed, developed and used, including determining their own economic future….PACNEWS
SOL – PM HEALTH: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 03 Nov 2026
Solomon Islands PM Wale recovering, expected home this week
HONIARA, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale is recovering well following medical treatment in Australia and expects to return home this week to resume his official duties.
Wale thanked the people of Solomon Islands for their prayers, support and well wishes during his medical treatment.
“Your prayers have carried me,” Wale said, expressing gratitude for the support he received from across the country.
“I am pleased to inform my good people of Solomon Islands that I am recovering well and feeling much better following my medical treatment here in Australia,” he said in a statement,
He said he looked forward to returning home and continuing his work as Prime Minister.
“I expect to return home this week to continue serving our wonderful people,” he said.
Wale also acknowledged the role of faith in his recovery, saying he was grateful for what he described as God’s healing grace.
“Our faithful Yahweh has heard and answered your prayers. I am deeply grateful for His healing grace and for the love, encouragement and kindness shown to me by our people,” he said.
He said the prayers and encouragement had strengthened him throughout his treatment.
“Your prayers have strengthened me throughout this period, and I look forward to returning home and resuming my duties,” Wale said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – AG/POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Tue 03 Nov 2026
New Fiji A-G urges leaders to focus on people, not politics
SUVA, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Fiji’s newly-appointed Attorney-General Sevuloni Valenitabua challenged Parliament Monday to measure its legacy not by political positions or titles, but by the difference its members make in the lives of ordinary Fijians.
In his maiden speech,Valenitabua said leaders must reflect on how they would be remembered when their time in public office ended, stressing that their decisions and conduct would define their legacy.
“What will the people we serve remember us by when they look back at our time in Parliament?” he asked.
He said leadership was not about political affiliations, manifestos or speeches, but about service, accountability and the lives touched by decisions made in office.
Valenitabua thanked Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka for appointing him Attorney-General, saying he accepted the responsibility with humility and recognised that public trust had to be earned.
“Trust is something that must be earned through one’s conduct, one’s decisions, and one’s commitment to the work and service needed to be done for the people we serve in accordance with our oath,” he said.
The former teacher said he was committed to listening, learning and carrying out his responsibilities with integrity, fairness and respect.
He also urged MPs to lead by example, saying children and citizens observed how leaders behaved, particularly when faced with challenges and disagreements.
“Our footprints, so to speak, will remain,” he said.
Valenitabua said unity and goodness must begin in Parliament, homes and communities, with leaders choosing to treat one another with respect even when they disagreed.
Valenitabua declined to comment on the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill, saying the chairman of the relevant parliamentary committee would address the matter at a forthcoming session.
He also acknowledged the legislative workload ahead, saying he had received lists of Bills awaiting consideration, with some ministers seeking to progress their proposed legislation.
“There are certain ministers who have been writing up, trying to push their Bills through,” he said.
He said the Bills would need to be dealt with but did not commit to a timeframe.
Meanwhile, Valenitabua says he is in good health and ready to take on the responsibilities of the office.
He said he would not have accepted the position if he was not fit to carry out its responsibilities.
Valenitabua addressed questions about his health this morning following media reports that he had previously declined the position of Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner because of health concerns.
“My health is okay. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken this,” Valenitabua said.
He pointed to his work as chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission, which involved travelling around the country by boat and vehicle.
Valenitabua said he had also made his health concerns clear to the interviewing panel for the FICAC Commissioner position, telling them he was not fit to take up the role at the time.
Now admitted to Parliament as Attorney-General, he said his immediate priority was to familiarise himself with parliamentary processes and understand the responsibilities of his office.
Valenitabua said he was excited to formally take his place in the House.
“This is my second week. It’s my first day in Parliament,” he said.
He said adapting to parliamentary procedures would be his first challenge, followed by understanding his functions and responsibilities as Attorney-General.
“I still have a lot of learning and listening to do,” he said.
Valenitabua said he would work with the Secretary-General and staff of the Attorney-General’s Office as he settled into the role…..PACNEWS
CNMI – ELECTION/POLITICS: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 1: Tue 03 Nov 2026
CNMI voters to chart commonwealth’s future in closely watched election
SAIPAN, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) —Northern Mariana Islands voters are headed to the polls on Tuesday to decide the commonwealth’s political direction for the next four years as three gubernatorial tickets and three attorney general candidates compete in races predicted to go to a runoff.
The Republican ticket of former Governor Ralph Torres and Benjamin Jones Jr is campaigning to restore economic stability, strengthen tourism and federal partnerships, and support educators.
Independent candidates rep. Jonathan “BJ” Attao and House Speaker Edmund Villagomez are running on a platform of transparency, accountability and ethical leadership under the slogan “A Voice for All.” Their campaign has received endorsements from Governor David Apatang and former CNMI delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan.
The independent ticket of former Education Commissioner Lawrence Camacho and former Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero is promoting what it calls “a journey for real change,” centred on a 90-day plan to stabilise government operations, activate the economy and build long-term resilience.
Voters also will choose the Commonwealth’s next attorney general, with attorneys Joaquin “Jack” Torres, Jonathan “Robbie” Glass and Michael Evangelista vying to become only the second elected attorney general in CNMI history.
As campaigning winds down, more than 5,400 voters across Saipan, Tinian and Rota have already cast ballots through early voting.
The Commonwealth Election Commission reported 5,417 early voters as of Sunday, representing about 29.2 percent of the CNMI’s 18,521 registered voters across 13 election districts. The voter rolls include 1,420 registered absentee voters.
Despite the substantial turnout, CEC Executive Director Kayla Igitol Magofna said early voting fell short of expectations.
“I was expecting more,” Magofna said, noting previous elections attracted between 900 and 1,000 voters on the first day of early voting alone.
Polls will be open from 7am to 7 pm. Tuesday, and voters must present a valid photo ID before receiving a ballot.
On Saipan, voters will cast ballots at schools, community centres and government facilities assigned to their precincts, including Hopwood Junior High School, Dandan Middle School, Saipan Southern High School, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Oleai and Garapan elementary schools, Tanapag Youth Centre, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, the Jesus P. Mafnas Legislative Building and Chacha Oceanview Middle School.
Precinct 6 voters on Tinian will vote at the Tinian Youth Centre, while Precinct 7 voters on Rota will cast ballots at Northern Marianas College. Northern Islands voters will vote on Alamagan, Pagan and Agrigan.
Magofna said the commission has not received any complaints alleging election irregularities during the early voting period, aside from minor concerns involving poll watchers remaining too long at polling sites after observing daily ballot counts.
Absentee ballots received through the mail will remain at the U.S Post Office until Election Day, when election officials will retrieve them during scheduled pickups.
The commission is also preparing for the possibility of runoff elections.
Under CNMI law, a runoff is required if no gubernatorial ticket or attorney general candidate receives more than half of all votes cast and counted. Any runoff election would be held 14 days after the Commonwealth Election Commission certifies the election results.
“Make your voice be heard,” Magofna said, encouraging eligible voters who have not yet cast ballots to participate…. PACNEWS
NZ – ELECTION/POLITICS: PMN PACNEWS 1: Tue 03 Nov 2026
‘We are going to win’: Winston Peters rules out being in opposition days before election
WELLINGTON/AUCKLAND, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (PMN)—New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has ruled out sitting in opposition after Saturday’s general election.
He told Pacific Mornings: “We are going to win.”
With just days until voters head to the polls, Peters says he has no contingency plan if New Zealand First fails to return to government.
Asked whether he would stay on if the party missed out, Peters answered with a verse from the Bible.
“He who, having set his hand to the plough, looks backwards, is not fit for the kingdom of heaven,” Peters said.
“If we set our hands to the plough this campaign, and we ain’t looking backwards, we are going to win. Stand back and watch.”
Asked if he had a backup plan, Peters was blunt: “No. No. We never came across the Pacific all this way without having an endpoint destiny in our mind, and we kept going until we got there. Politics is like that.”
He also dismissed the idea that this could be his final Pacific Mornings interview as leader of NZ First: “Most definitely not.”
Peters says he believes his party will perform better than recent polls suggest.
He argued that some voters may not be telling pollsters how they really intend to vote.
“I’ve got a serious suspicion, born of experience, that a lot of people are not telling the polls what they think,” he says.
He described the campaign as the most underwhelming he has seen, criticising what he sees as a focus on photo opportunities rather than public meetings.
For Pacific voters, Peters is putting a strong focus on immigration, visas and what he describes as a need for a more practical relationship with Pacific families.
He says NZ First would offer Pacific overstayers a two-year clemency period, although he stopped short of calling it a coalition bottom line.
“It doesn’t have to be a bottom line. But you’d better organise yourself and here comes the mantra, cousins don’t rip off cousins.”
Peters says Pacific voters are also looking for politicians who share their faith.
“Pacific voters happen to believe in God. They believe in their church. And they are sick and tired of politicians who don’t,” he says.
He also says Aotearoa’s visa system is not working for Pacific families especially whey they need to travel quickly because of a death.
“The visa programme is so out of date,” he said.
Peters says he wants to reduce the cost of visas but accepts visa-free travel would take more work.
“I can’t organise you visa-free, because there’s a whole lot of other work required,” he says. “But what I can do is massively change the cost structure, so it’s fair.”
He says he was shocked to learn how little visa processing was being done in Sāmoa.
“I said, this is a catastrophe. We’re going to fix that the first chance we get.”
Peters also pointed to his experience in coalition negotiations, saying: “Who’s been the most successful negotiator when it comes to coalition talks? Winston Raymond Peters.”
Asked whether he wants to return to the foreign affairs portfolio, Peters would not be drawn, saying his team had been told to “keep our eye on the prize”.
His final pitch to Pacific voters was direct. “When it comes to helping the Pacific, no other politician has any chance of matching what I’ve tried to do.”
Labour has challenged the clemency proposal with deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni telling PMN News in September: “It worries me that they’re saying they’ll give this two years clemency. By and large, our Pacific people follow the rules.”
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has promised visa-free entry for citizens of Pacific Islands Forum countries for stays of up to three months.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has not made the same commitment, instead pointing to changes his Government has already made.
“We’ve sped up the processing by about three times and lowered the cost by around 25percent,” Luxon said in Apia in March.
With advance voting already underway, New Zealanders go to the polls on Saturday 7 November, with voting closing at 7pm….PACNEWS
FIJI – MEDIA: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 03 Nov 2026
Protecting journalists remains a media industry priority
SUVA, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (FBC NEWS) —Journalist safety must remain a priority as media organisations across the Pacific navigate growing threats, including intimidation and online harassment.
Fiji Times Editor-in-Chief Fed Wesley says media resilience is not just about adapting to new technology and maintaining financial sustainability, but also ensuring journalists can carry out their work without fear.
Speaking at the International Day to end impunity for crimes against Journalists, Wesley shared experiences of journalists facing arrests and intimidation when reporting on issues of high public interest.
“Journalist safety is not an abstract discussion. It is about people, their families, their livelihoods, and sometimes their lives.”
Wesley says threats against journalists have also evolved with online harassment and cyberattacks creating new challenges for the industry.
“Press freedom is not only threatened through arrests, detention, or physical violence. It can also be undermined through humiliation, intimidation, and constant attempts to make journalists feel unwelcome when carrying out legitimate work,” he said.
Fiji Sun Investigative journalist Iva Nataro says editors should allow time to talk about their experiences.
“Allow us time to talk about what we experience out in the field. It could be in the court, or taking the witness stand or covering a cyclone or even murders and body finds, eventually overtime it takes a toll on our life, not only mentally but physically as well.”
Wesley added that news organisations must strengthen digital security, establish proper safety protocols and ensure journalists have access to trauma support….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PNG – ELNINO/PUCHASING POWER: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 03 Nov 2026
El Nino ‘weakening’ Kina’s purchasing power
PORT MORESBY, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—EL Niño can increase the cost of doing business, reduce revenue and weaken the purchasing power of customers, according to the PNG Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ian Tarutia.
Tarutia added that companies were now considering protecting the continuity of essential business operations, particularly water, electricity, transport and communications.
“Its effects extend beyond drought and food shortages to affect business productivity, operating costs, supply chains, consumer spending, staff health and economic growth,” he said.
Tarutia said businesses were managing the risks of supply shortages, high input costs and food price inflation.
He added: “Protecting cash flow, liquidity and working capital, safeguarding employees, particularly those affected by water shortages, food insecurity and transport disruptions.
“Some businesses have introduced shifts to manage their workforce in the office due to water shortages.
“Work with Government and industry bodies to coordinate mitigation measures and protect the wider economy.”
Tarutia said the chamber acknowledged that the Government had initiated preparedness and response measures, including provincial and district funding arrangements, disaster coordination, and agricultural drought planning.
“However, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on timely implementation, adequate resources, reliable information and coordination across government agencies and the private sector,” he said….PACNEWS
FIJI – PORT UPGRADE: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 03 Nov 2026
Fiji welcomes Quad support for port modernisation
SUVA, 3 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Fiji has welcomed continued support from Australia, India, Japan and the United States to modernise its port infrastructure, strengthen maritime connectivity and improve access to regional and international markets.
The support comes under the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, reaffirmed in a joint statement following the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
The partnership aims to support port infrastructure development and improve maritime connectivity, positioning Fiji to strengthen its trade competitiveness and attract further investment.
The Fijian Government said the initiative would create opportunities to improve port facilities, support business growth and reinforce the country’s role as a regional maritime trade hub.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Sakiasi Ditoka thanked the four Quad partners for their continued support for high-quality infrastructure development aligned with Fiji’s national priorities and the wider Pacific region.
“Through continued cooperation, we can advance infrastructure development, support sustainable economic growth, strengthen regional integration and contribute to a more connected, resilient and prosperous Pacific,” Ditoka said.
The Government said the partnership reflects Fiji’s commitment to international cooperation and investment in modern and resilient infrastructure to support long-term economic growth.
Improved port infrastructure is expected to strengthen trade links, facilitate access to international markets and create opportunities for businesses and investors.
The initiative also supports Fiji’s broader efforts to enhance regional connectivity and strengthen its position in Pacific maritime trade….PACNEWS
FIJI – INFLATION: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 03 Nov 2026
Fiji inflation rate rises to 2.9 percent in October
SUVA, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji’s average inflation rate increased to 2.9 percent in October 2026, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics today.
The figure represents the average change in consumer prices over the 12 months from November 2025 to October 2026, compared with the preceding 12-month period.
The Bureau also reported that consumer prices were 9 percent higher in October compared with the same month last year.
On a monthly basis, the All Items Consumer Price Index increased by 1.9 percent, rising from 117.6 in September to 119.8 in October.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded a 3.2 percent increase during the month, driven by higher prices for bread, cereals, fish, seafood, dairy products, cooking oils, fruits and vegetables.
Transport costs rose by 4.4 percent, with increases recorded in fuel, motor vehicles, airfares and sea transport.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels recorded a 1.1 percent increase, while communication costs rose by 0.4 percent.
However, health costs declined by 1.5 percent, reflecting lower prices for pharmaceutical products and dental services.
Clothing and footwear, recreation and culture, and miscellaneous goods and services also recorded marginal price reductions.
The Bureau cautioned that the CPI figures should be interpreted carefully because of a non-additivity issue affecting the relationship between individual category indexes and the overall index.
The issue is being investigated with assistance from external consultants, and the figures may be revised.
The next CPI report is scheduled for release on 30 November 2026…..PACNEWS
CNMI – WORKWEEKS: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 03 Nov 2026
CNMI governor, lawmakers clash over 60-hour workweeks
SAIPAN, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — The Northern Mariana Islands’ executive branch employees will remain on a 53-hour biweekly work schedule despite lawmakers’ efforts to restore 60-hour pay periods, Governor David Apatang said, warning that the government lacks sufficient funding to support the increase.
He said the government cannot afford 60 hours.
“We’re going to arrive at 53 hours; otherwise, we’ll have no payroll for two weeks,” Apatang said during a press conference Friday. “Otherwise, we’ll probably have to shut down.”
The governor issued the statement after the House and Senate overrode all 17 of the governor’s line-item vetoes to the fiscal year 2027 budget, Public Law 24-40, including a provision requiring government employees to be compensated at a rate equivalent to at least 60 hours per pay period during the first quarter of the fiscal year.
Despite the override, Apatang said the administration will continue implementing austerity measures because the appropriated funds do not support the restored payroll requirement.
In a memorandum on 30 October, the governor extended the 53-hour biweekly work schedule for executive branch employees. The memorandum states that the budget’s funding allocations are insufficient to support the 60-hour mandate and characterizes the provision as an unfunded requirement.
Asked whether the administration intends to implement the legislature’s restored budget provisions, Apatang said officials are still working through the issue.
The governor also disclosed that the administration is working with the Office of the Attorney General to recover payroll overpayments issued to some government employees during typhoon disaster response operations.
According to Apatang, a review found that some employees received excess compensation because certain work hours were inadvertently duplicated, resulting in some workers being paid twice.
“We’re working with the attorney general on that,” he said.
Apatang said the government cannot simply collect the money directly and must instead work through the attorney general’s office. The Department of Finance will issue notices explaining repayment requirements and options to affected employees, he said.
The governor said employees who received the overpayments knew they had received money they were not entitled to and should not have spent the funds. He added that some employees preserved the money and have already repaid it.
More than 100 Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel and other emergency responders have reportedly received overpayment notices.
According to notices issued by the Department of Finance, payroll reviews determined that certain work hours were inadvertently duplicated during administrative leave periods or after employees resumed their regular work schedules.
Employees were given repayment options, including lump-sum payments, payroll withholding, deductions from accrued annual leave, or a combination of these methods.
At the same time, the governor signed House Bill 24-107, now Public Law 24-42, authorising the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to obtain up to US$40 million in emergency financing for utility restoration, stabilisation and fuel procurement following Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi.
CUC officials said they have already prepared a request for proposals and are ready to seek financing from public and private lenders.
Officials emphasised that the law authorizes borrowing of up to US$40 million but does not require the utility to take out a loan for the full amount. CUC plans to use borrowed funds to pay typhoon-related expenses already incurred, seek reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and then reuse recovered funds for additional recovery work.
Apatang described the financing authority as an important step toward restoring and stabilising utility services following the storms, while stressing that emergency borrowing is not a substitute for sound financial planning and management……PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Six in seven journalist murders go unpunished, UNESCO reports
PARIS, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Global impunity for journalist killings has risen for the first time in more than a decade, while the growing use of drones is an emerging threat for reporters in conflict zones, according to the latest report from UN cultural organisation UNESCO.
“Journalists are increasingly paying with their lives for reporting from the frontlines of war and far too often those responsible for their killings are not held accountable,” said Director-General Khaled El-Enany.
UNESCO first began measuring the proportion of journalist killings that go unpunished in 2012. The rate reached 86percent in 2024-2025, up one percent from the previous two-year period.
A confirmed total of 189 journalists and other media workers lost their lives in 2024-2025, or 20percent more than during the previous biennium and the highest number since 2014-2015.
More than two thirds, 127, were killed in conflict zones, accounting for 67percent of the death toll.
Paying the ultimate price
The findings come in the Director-General’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity, which is published every two years to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, observed on 2 November.
“Over the past year, at least 34 journalists paid the ultimate price. Six of every seven such killings go unpunished. In conflict settings, the rate of impunity is close to 100percent,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for the Day.
“This is a heinous affront to the victims and their loved ones, as well as all of us who depend on journalists to remain informed and engaged.”
‘A global scourge’
Killings were recorded across all regions of the world during the 2024-2025 biennium, representing “a global scourge”, the report said.
The highest number of verified cases were in the Arab States (97) followed by Latin American and the Caribbean (37), Asia-Pacific (34), Central and Eastern Europe (14), Africa (6) and Western Europe and North America (1).
The State of Palestine had the highest number of killings in both years, at 30 and 32, respectively.
New technologies, growing risks
The report also identified what UNESCO called “a disturbing new threat” – the growing use of drones to kill journalists. During 2024-2025, drone strikes killed 50 journalists, or 40percent of all those killed in conflict zones.
It documented seven incidents in which several journalists were targeted and killed in a single attack, including strikes on media workplaces and temporary reporting centres. Fifteen journalists were reportedly killed while wearing press vests or in vehicles clearly marked ‘Press’.
“I reiterate my call for the respect of UN Security Council Resolution 2222 unanimously adopted in 2015 on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians in situations of conflict, a status reaffirmed in the Pact for the Future,” said El-Enany.
Progress is possible
The report also highlighted progress, as impunity in non-conflict countries has continued to decline. The rate has fallen from 94percent in 2012 to 77percent in 2026, or one percentage point per year.
The number of journalist killings in non-conflict zones, 85, is also the lowest in 18 years.
“This demonstrates that when governments invest in investigations, prosecutions and protections for journalists, progress is possible,” UNESCO said.
Women journalists under fire
The agency noted, however, that women journalists continue to face particular risks, both in war zones and online. Thirteen out of the 14 women killed in 2024-2035 were in countries experiencing armed conflict.
Furthermore, a 2025 study by UN Women and the International Centre for Journalists found that 75percent of women journalists had experienced online or offline abuse and harassment. More than 40percent reported offline violence linked to online attacks, up from 20percent in a 2020 UNESCO survey.
“Across the world, journalists continue to pay an outrageous price for telling the truth,” the UN Secretary-General said.
“On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we demand justice. When journalists are targeted and their reporting is extinguished, it makes victims of us all,” he said …. PACNEWS
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Regional action needed to strengthen Pacific information resilience
CANBERRA, 03 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACIFIC SECURITY COLLEGE) —Information resilience should be treated as a regional priority as the Pacific confronts rising misinformation, AI-generated content and online scams, according to a new paper from the Pacific Security College.
Information resilience: the new frontier for Pacific cooperation, authored by Blake Johnson, proposes a Pacific Information Resilience Statement to strengthen the region’s information environment as it navigates intensified geopolitical attention and digital disruption.
Johnson, a security and development expert who researches misinformation and disinformation in the Pacific, said the region was in a new information era, which brought opportunities but also created new vulnerabilities.
“We’re seeing a rise in false information, AI-generated impersonations of politicians and other public figures, and increasingly sophisticated cyber scams. These often have immediate real-world consequences, but they also slowly erode trust. People don’t know what to believe,” he said.
Johnson said the Pacific should approach information resilience in the same way it approaches climate and digital resilience: as a shared regional challenge that cuts across development, security and sovereignty.
“At its core, this proposal is about protecting trust,” he said.
“Trust allows governments to communicate effectively during crises. It enables communities to identify credible information and respond calmly during periods of disruption. It strengthens democratic confidence and social cohesion.
“Where cybersecurity protects systems, information resilience protects people, trust and decision-making.”
Johnson said a unified statement would enable the Pacific to harness one of its greatest strengths: regional cooperation.
“A regional statement would provide a practical framework for cooperation, guide future regional initiatives and help align external support with Pacific priorities,” he said.
Pacific Security College Director Professor Dave Peebles said the way in which information was created, shared and consumed across the region was changing.
“Given the borderless nature of digital technologies and information flows, no country can address these challenges alone,” he said.
“Regional cooperation will be essential if the Pacific is to strengthen its collective capacity to navigate an increasingly complex information environment.”
Information resilience: the new frontier for Pacific cooperation includes insights from four regional experts with backgrounds across journalism and media, misinformation and disinformation, and peace and security: Associate Professor Shailendra Singh, Ofani Eremae, Fane Fakafanua and Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls.
Associate Professor Singh, Head of Journalism at the University of the South Pacific, said using the climate change analogy to emphasise the seriousness of the situation and its urgency was appropriate.
“With inaction or insufficient action, not only is climate change gaining momentum, but its impacts are also worsening, with some scientists concerned about reaching a tipping point,” he said.
“This situation is applicable to the information space as well in that the risks of false information, scams and AI-generated content are not only widespread, but more difficult to address and eradicate if they take hold.
“Given the enormity of the information integrity challenge, the Pacific needs to be proactive rather than reactive.”
In-depth Solomons Editor Ofani Eremae said conversations surrounding regional security and resilience have long been focused on physical infrastructure and climate adaptation.
“While those threats exist, the invisible erosion of our information ecosystem poses an equally severe risk to our democratic institutions, social cohesion and regional stability,” he said.
“There is no use building state-of-the-art, climate-resilient undersea cables if the content running through them is contaminated.”
Fane Fakafanua, Chief Operating Officer of the Royal Oceania Institute, said information resilience needed increased attention and urgency.
“Whilst each country and government is working to combat this issue according to their individual budget, access and priorities, I believe a regional effort through a regional statement will greatly assist in guiding a mutual goal for the islands — one that will help governments work together to find a solution, provide training and support the exchange of ideas,” she said.
Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls, Network Coordinator of the Pacific Women Mediators Network, emphasised that new technologies can support education, elevate diverse voices and empower women, but can still perpetuate exclusion and online harassment, and threaten peace and security.
“Digital resilience will require a clear strategy for governments and civil society to ensure communication rights give women the agency to advocate for their needs and shape national and regional peacebuilding strategies,” she said…PACNEWS
