In this bulletin:
1. COMMONWEALTH — Commonwealth leaders commit finance, trade and Pacific resilience
2. VAN — Vanuatu no confidence in motion
3. PACIFIC — U.S Midterm results put Pacific military and seabed plans under fresh scrutiny – experts
4. FIJI — ‘Are people dying? No. We can manage’: Fiji PM Rabuka on El Niño
5. NZ — New Zealand’s viral haka MP eyes Maori cultural gains
6. FIJI — 12-mile limit for maritime security, Outdated laws leave sea security vulnerable: Fiji Defence Minister
7. UN — UN peacekeeping chief warns of ‘security vacuum’ as Blue Helmets leave Lebanon
8. FIJI — Fiji, UK discuss new opportunities for military veterans
9. VAN — Patrol vessel named after first Ni-Vanuatu Police commissioner
10. PACNEWS BIZ — NZ Employment Court decision closes loophole exploited by migrant worker recruiters
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Melanesian Corridor project to support five Communities in Vanuatu Torba province
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Fuel price shock: Why developing economies are paying the most at the pump
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — 15 years of ‘almost no progress’ in getting young people moving: WHO
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — CHOGM side event spotlights blue finance and ocean innovation
COMMONWEALTH- CHOGM: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 05 Nov 2026
Commonwealth leaders commit to climate finance, trade and Pacific resilience
By Pita Ligaiula
ST JOHN’S, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Commonwealth leaders have committed to strengthening climate finance, protecting Pacific maritime boundaries and expanding trade and investment, as they called for urgent action to address climate change and growing economic pressures on vulnerable countries.
The commitments are outlined in the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Communiqué, adopted at the conclusion of the four-day summit in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, on 4 November.
The communiqué, agreed by leaders of the 56-member Commonwealth, recognises the growing challenges facing small island developing states (SIDS), including climate change, limited access to finance, economic uncertainty and vulnerability to external shocks.
Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement and the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, warning that current emissions trajectories remain significantly off track.
They urged Commonwealth members to submit ambitious, economy-wide national climate plans aligned with the 1.5-degree target and called for a balance between adaptation and mitigation in climate finance.
The leaders also welcomed the International Court of Justice’s July 2025 advisory opinion on states’ obligations in respect of climate change, describing it as an authoritative contribution to clarifying existing international law.
With Australia and Pacific countries preparing for COP31, the communiqué called for stronger Commonwealth coordination on climate negotiations, improved access to climate finance and equitable approaches to loss and damage.
The leaders specifically welcomed the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS and the Bridgetown Initiative as important platforms for improving development and climate financing.
They also called for reforms to debt sustainability frameworks to account for climate vulnerability, including the use of climate-linked debt instruments and debt-pause clauses to protect government finances during disasters.
On ocean governance, Commonwealth leaders welcomed the Pacific Islands Forum’s Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration, recognising its contribution to a peaceful and cooperative regional order.
They reaffirmed their commitment to working with Pacific countries to protect maritime zones, address climate-related sea-level rise and advance sustainable ocean-based development.
Importantly, the communiqué reaffirmed that maritime zones established and notified under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) should continue to apply without reduction, notwithstanding physical changes caused by climate-related sea-level rise.
Leaders also welcomed the entry into force of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and called for its effective implementation, including marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments and the fair sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources.
On economic cooperation, the Commonwealth leaders committed to removing trade barriers, strengthening supply chains and increasing investment across member countries.
They called for practical measures to increase intra-Commonwealth trade, improve market access and support small businesses, particularly women-owned and youth-led enterprises.
The communiqué also welcomed the launch of the Commonwealth Trade Portal to improve access to information on products, services and business opportunities.
Leaders recognised that small island developing states, least developed countries and landlocked developing countries remain disproportionately affected by global economic uncertainty, limited capacity and disruptions to trade and investment.
They called for greater investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, sustainable tourism, the blue economy, water and food security and digital transformation.
The communiqué also addressed the growing digital divide, calling for affordable digital infrastructure, improved access to technology and stronger safeguards around artificial intelligence.
Leaders urged members to develop ethical, inclusive and safe AI governance frameworks that protect human rights and personal data while ensuring developing countries, particularly small island states, can participate in the global AI economy.
On democracy and governance, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Commonwealth Charter, the rule of law, human rights, freedom of expression and accountable institutions.
They expressed concern over shrinking civic and political space, restrictions on independent civil society organisations and human rights defenders, and threats against journalists.
The communiqué recalled the 2024 Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media in Good Governance and pledged continued implementation.
It also recognised the Nadi Declaration on Democratic Resilience and Participation as a framework for strengthening democratic institutions.
On reparatory justice, leaders welcomed the United Kingdom Government’s agreement to engage in structured, time-bound and inclusive dialogue with affected parties on the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and its historical harms.
The summit, chaired by Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, was held under the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth”.
More than 3,000 delegates attended the meeting, with new commitments of US$500 million raised for initiatives covering renewable energy, youth skills development, trade and economic growth.
In concluding the communiqué, leaders said the Commonwealth must use its collective economic and human resources to promote inclusive and sustainable development.
They pledged to strengthen the organisation’s global voice while ensuring no member country is left behind in the pursuit of prosperity, resilience and sustainable growth……PACNEWS
VAN – POLITICS: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 3: Thu 05 Nov 2026
Vanuatu no confidence in motion
PORT VILA, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST)—The Vanuatu government led by Prime Minister (PM) Jotham Napat maintains that it continues to command majority support in Parliament despite a motion of no-confidence lodged by the Opposition Bloc.
The motion, which is expected to mature for debate next Monday, has been initiated by Malekula MP Gracia Shadrack, with Port Vila MP and Leader of the Opposition Ishmael Kalsakau as seconder.
Nine Opposition MPs have signed the motion, meeting the constitutional threshold required to bring a motion of no-confidence during an Ordinary Session of Parliament.
The MPs named as signatories Kalsakau, Shadrack, Marc Meulsul, Blaise Sumtoh, Anatol Hymak, Andrew Wilbur Napuat, Anthony Harry and Alan Liki. The ninth signatory’s name is yet to be confirmed.
Despite the motion, political sources close to the government have indicated that there has been no indication of a breakdown in support within the governing coalition.
The sources said no ministers had resigned and that the presidents of the political parties forming the coalition government had continued to show support for Napat’s leadership.
A source acknowledged that political discussions could be taking place behind the scenes but maintained that there was currently no official indication that the government had lost its majority in Parliament.
“Yes, there may be discussions behind the scenes, but at the present moment, there is no official sign or indication that the Government has minority numbers,” the source said. The source also pointed to Articles 17A and 17B of the Constitution, which provide for political party affiliation and restrictions governing MPs’ departure from their political parties.
These constitutional provisions are relevant to the current political situation, as any changes in parliamentary party affiliation must comply with the constitutional requirements.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) to the Prime Minister’s Office, Kiery Manassah, assured that the government remains confident in its numbers.
He said now is not the time to return to political instability.
Manassah believes that the government has achieved a lot since taking office, with achievements evident to the public.
He stressed that Vanuatu’s development has suffered during periods of political instability.
Manassah said some of the grounds raised in the Opposition’s motion as “quite laughable” and could lead to legal consequences….PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PMN PACNEWS 3: Thu 05 Nov 2026
U.S Midterm results put Pacific military and seabed plans under fresh scrutiny – experts
WASHINGTON, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (PMN)—The midterm elections in the United States could bring closer scrutiny of Washington’s growing military footprint and push to secure seabed minerals across the Pacific.
This comes as island leaders warn that national security cannot come at the expense of local communities.
As of Thursday, Democrats had control of the U.S Senate with 237 seats to Republicans’ 147, according to media reports. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate are contested to determine the 120th United States Congress.
The landslide ‘blue wave’ victory gives the Democrats a clear majority in the upper chamber. The final balance of power in the House of Representatives is also key to determining how much of President Donald Trump’s agenda can move through Congress.
The results have also produced a mixed picture across the U.S Pacific. In Guam, Republican Vicente Ada won the governorship with 51 percent of the vote to Democrat Therese Terlaje’s 48 percent while Democrats took eight of the 15 seats in the local legislature and Alicia Limtiaco defeated Republican congressional delegate James Moylan.
In the Northern Mariana Islands, Republican Ralph Torres won back the governor’s office with 49 percent of the vote to independent Blas Attao’s 38 percent while Republicans also regained control of the local Senate.
The new U.S Congress will have powers over federal spending and oversight as plans move ahead around the Mariana Trench, American Sāmoa and other parts of the Western Pacific.
One of the biggest questions for Pacific communities is who gets to decide what happens to their land and waters as the U.S steps up its response to China.
At a regional security forum hosted by the Pacific Centre for Island Security (PCIS), Joe Enlet former Federated States of Micronesia Consul General and marine affairs researcher warned that U.S security plans must not override the rights of traditional landowners.
“Strategic denial does not replace the free, prior and informed consent of traditional clan landholders.”
Enlet was speaking about planned defence expansion in Yap where he said security needs to be viewed more broadly than military hardware and spending.
He pointed to the Chuukese concept of tumwun, which takes a wider view of protecting people, land and sea.
Enlet says that means US investment should also support areas such as independent courts, control over digital data and cleaning up environmental damage.
The debate is also reaching into plans for new energy systems at U.S military bases.
American defence planners are looking at Small Modular Reactors and microreactors as a way of providing power to bases without relying on civilian electricity networks.
Pacific climate leaders point to the vulnerable Runit Dome in the Marshall Islands as a stark reminder of Cold War environmental costs as new defence and nuclear initiatives face scrutiny following the US midterm elections. Photo/Global School of Sustainability
But the idea is facing strong opposition from Pacific climate leaders.
Dr Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, Climate Change Envoy for the Marshall Islands, warned that nuclear technology was not the answer for small island communities.
“SMRs are too expensive, slow to build, and hazardous for small island grids compared to proven solar and wind renewables.”
Her concerns are also shaped by the Marshalls’ history of U.S nuclear testing and the continuing problems around the Runit Dome where nuclear waste from the testing era remains stored.
Meanwhile, investigative journalist Rob Perez has highlighted the long-term impact of U.S military activity on Guam.
Perez’s findings point to contamination from historic military sites including toxic waste and persistent chemicals that have affected local drinking water and communities over decades.
The concerns come as Washington looks to strengthen its military position across the Pacific through new infrastructure, weapons systems and energy projects.
The U.S also wants greater access to critical minerals including resources beneath Pacific waters.
For island communities, the issue is not simply whether those resources have strategic value. It is whether decisions about them are being made with the people who live on and around those waters.
The new U.S Congress will now have an opportunity to use its spending and oversight powers to examine how those projects are being planned, funded and carried out.
Pacific leaders and advocates are calling for that scrutiny to include environmental protection, local consent and indigenous rights alongside US security interests…..PACNEWS
FIJI – WEATHER WATCH: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Thu 05 Nov 2026
‘Are people dying? No. We can manage’: Fiji PM Rabuka on El Niño
SUVA, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Fiji’s past resilience will help the country overcome the effects of El Niño as people in the Western and Northern divisions grapple with prolonged dry spells.
Asked outside Parliament whether he was concerned the El Niño drought could cause food shortages and increase prices, Rabuka said: “Are people dying? No. We can manage.”
He said the Government expected El Niño to end by next month or February at the latest.
“But it comes around in seven years, so we have learned,” he said.
“We learned before, and then we de-learned. Now we’re learning again.”
Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services Ro Filipe Tuisawau said the Government was working towards declaring a national emergency.
“That’s currently in process with the National Disaster Management Office via the Ministry of Rural Development,” he told this masthead Wednesday.
Ro Filipe said he had been told an announcement would be made by the end of this week.
“It will be good that that is declared so that the whole of Government machinery comes into motion,” he said.
This would include the disciplined forces, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the Fiji Police Force.
However, Rabuka said Ro Filipe would have to take the proposed declaration to Cabinet.
Rabuka said the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development was already carrying out support work as if an emergency had been declared.
In Parliament on Tuesday, Ro Filipe said 19 of the Water Authority of Fiji’s 44 water sources were at critical levels as of 01 November.
About 24,600 people were receiving intermittent water supply or relying on water carting.
The Northern and Western divisions had reached the “Crisis Response” stage.
The Vaturu Dam, which supplies Nadi and about 70 percent of Lautoka, could fall below its critical level around 08 – 09 November.
If dry weather continued, 75 percent of water sources could be at critical levels by the end of this month.
Ro Filipe urged Fijians to avoid washing cars and watering gardens, and to fix leaking taps…..PACNEWS
NZ – ELECTION/POLITICS: AAP PACNEWS 3: Thu 05 Nov 2026
New Zealand’s viral haka MP eyes Maori cultural gains
WELLINGTON, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (AAP)—With an estimated one billion online views and counting, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke’s parliamentary haka was undoubtedly the moment of the New Zealand’s last term.
Ms Maipi-Clarke, who became youngest MP to ever take their seat in New Zealand when she was elected in 2023 at 21 years old, became the face of resistance to Chris Luxon’s coalition government.
The Maori Party MP ripped up a copy of controversial law which would redefine the legal status of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s foundational document.
She then began a haka, the traditional Maori war dance synonymous with the All Blacks, which drew the participation of other MPs.
Celebrated online, the act of rebellion drew harsh punishment in the legislature, including the longest suspensions in the parliament’s history for its co-leaders.
If her Maori Party is elected as part of a left-wing government at the 07 November election, she wants future acts of that kind to be embraced, rather than sanctioned.
“We’ll take it to the standing orders committee where you can alter the rule books,” she told AAP.
Officially, a three-week ban was served up for an “intimidatory act” during a vote, but Maipi-Clarke believes the tough treatment was dished out because of the haka’s vitality.
“We have regularly done different haka and waiata (song),” she said, referring to less-noticed Maori celebrations at meaningful votes or speeches.
“But because of the attraction it got, it became a huge political football … it was like ‘if you do this type of rhetoric and you get this level of engagement’, we’re going to give you some of the harshest punishment.”
On the campaign trail in Te Rapa, north of Hamilton, this week, Maipi-Clarke told AAP she was unprepared for the level of interest her protest evoked.
In the following months, she was named by the BBC and Time as a future leader to watch, building on an earlier prize as the global young politician of the year.
Her pushback was one part of a broader movement which included a 50,000-strong march to parliament: one of New Zealand’s biggest mass movements.
She said she was following her gut and her family lineage, which includes a long line of activists and politicians.
“As the youngest MP in the country, all of that combined together, me just being in there causes a lot of ruckus,” she said.
“The system was really not designed for people like me, and it’s about advocating for that in different ways.”
To the right, Maipi-Clarke is seen as an inveterate trouble-maker, with a rap sheet that also includes skipping parliament and the occasional mistruth.
Undeterred, Maipi-Clarke is eyeing not only cultural change in parliament, but greater policy shifts.
She names a “fairer” tax system and a healthier Waikato River as policy goals, but in interview kept coming back to one key purpose.
“I actually came in here because I wanted to implement Maori environmental education systems into our school,” she said.
“I’d love to be an associate education minister.”
Whether she gets the chance will depend on the overall shakedown of the election, the closest in a generation.
Little separates the two major parties, National and Labour, and their two likely coalition partners: ACT and NZ First on the right, and the Greens and the Maori Party on the left.
Maipi-Clarke is seen as a certainty to hold on in her seat, the Maori electorate of Hauraki-Waikato centred around Hamilton.
The Maori-only electorates are a peculiarity of New Zealand’s system dating back to the 1860s, and come with a chequered past.
“Their creation is quite contested, in terms of whether they were tokenism … and rewarded loyalists,” Victoria University of Wellington associate professor Lara Greaves told AAP.
“But they were also a quite liberal invention for a time before women got the vote and other indigenous people around the world didn’t have a level of representation.”
Colonial governments first gave the vote to Maori who fought by their side in the New Zealand wars, but hobbled their impact by granting just a few.
Today, Maori are allowed to choose whether they sit on the general roll, which elects 64 MPs, or the Maori roll, which elects seven, in roughly proportional manner.
This century, the seats are dominated by the left – won by only Labour, the Maori Party or splinter parties – with right-leaning parties typically not standing candidates, or even calling for their abolition as an anachronism.
“People both Maori and non-Maori have become more supportive of the electorates over time … they mean a lot to Maori,” Dr Greaves said.
The seven seats include fascinating races in 2026, particularly given Maori Party infighting has led to two of their MPs walking away.
Labour, which held six seats to 2023, when the Maori Party won six itself, believes it will win at least two, while the Maori Party is seen as likely to hold four.
That includes Maipi-Clarke who caused a mighty boilover in 2023 by turfing long-serving Labour veteran Nanaia Mahuta.
Dr Greaves said Maipi-Clarke was an critical figure for an under-represented group in parliament: young indigenous women.
“A lot of younger people now see themselves in politics when they hadn’t previously,” she said.
“She talks like what we would call a ‘kohanga kid’, or like someone who’s been through the te reo Maori (language) schooling system.
“A million people take selfies of her because they know her from the haka video that went viral,” she said…PACNEWS
FIJI – MARITIME SECURITY STRATEGY: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 3: Thu 05 Nov 2026
12-mile limit for maritime security, Outdated laws leave sea security vulnerable: Fiji Defence Minister
SUVA, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (FBC NEWS)—Fiji’s limited maritime surveillance and operational capacity is forcing the Government to prioritise security operations within 12 nautical miles of its coastline.
The move leaves the country facing the challenge of monitoring its vast maritime territory with limited resources.
Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua told Parliament that Fiji must make strategic choices about where its available resources can have the greatest impact, with internal waters, archipelagic waters and territorial seas identified as the immediate priorities.
He said these areas contain the country’s most concentrated security interests, critical infrastructure, communities and economic activities.
“As our national capabilities develop, we will progressively strengthen our ability to monitor and operate within the contiguous zone, extending to 24 nautical miles.”
Tikoduadua clarified that the prioritisation does not diminish Fiji’s sovereign rights and responsibilities across its wider maritime domain.
Instead, the government intends to progressively strengthen its ability to monitor and operate within the contiguous zone, which extends up to 24 nautical miles, as national capabilities improve.
He identified illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, drug trafficking, transnational crime, maritime pollution, threats to critical infrastructure and climate change as some of the growing challenges facing the country.
Fiji’s first integrated Maritime Security Strategy was officially launched on 21 October, following nine months of consultations involving government ministries, security agencies and maritime stakeholders.
A time-bound implementation plan will guide the next phase, with a proposed Maritime Officials Committee bringing together senior government representatives to oversee progress and improve coordination.
Tikoduadua said regional and international cooperation would also remain essential in strengthening Fiji’s maritime capabilities and responding to threats that extend beyond national borders.
He made the remarks in response to a question raised by Government MP Ratu Josaia Niudamu regarding Fiji’s maritime security strategy.
Meanwhile, Maritime security agencies are operating with overlapping responsibilities, outdated legislation and inconsistent intelligence sharing.
This, according to the Defence Ministry has exposed serious gaps in the country’s ability to detect and respond to threats at sea.
Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua told Parliament that these weaknesses have affected the country’s maritime security arrangements, with different government agencies often required to respond to the same incident without clearly defined responsibilities or effective coordination.
He said an incident at sea could require the involvement of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Police, Customs, Fisheries and Immigration.
However, unclear responsibilities and poor information sharing can seriously undermine the national response.
Tikoduadua said the challenge was not simply maintaining a presence at sea, but ensuring that the country’s available resources, agencies and capabilities worked together.
The findings are outlined in Fiji’s first integrated Maritime Security Strategy, which identifies seven areas requiring government attention.
These include strengthening maritime governance and legal authority, improving intelligence sharing, coordinating enforcement operations, protecting maritime infrastructure and strengthening cybersecurity.
The strategy also identifies environmental security, climate resilience, ocean protection, sovereignty safeguards and regional cooperation as priorities.
One major focus is improving how maritime information is collected, shared and acted upon. The strategy seeks to establish integrated maritime domain awareness, allowing relevant agencies to work with better information when identifying threats and coordinating responses.
The government also plans to establish a Maritime Officials Committee comprising senior representatives from relevant ministries and agencies.
The committee will oversee implementation, monitor progress, address emerging security issues and hold agencies accountable for their responsibilities.
Tikoduadua said the strategy was intended to end the practice of agencies working in isolation and bring their respective responsibilities under one coordinated national framework.
The strategy was developed through nine months of consultations with support from the United Nations Development Program and the United Kingdom Government…PACNEWS
UN – PEACKEEPING: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Thu 05 Nov 2026
UN peacekeeping chief warns of ‘security vacuum’ as Blue Helmets leave Lebanon
NEW YORK, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—The UN’s peacekeeping chief warned on Wednesday that the withdrawal of “Blue Helmets” from Lebanon risks leaving a dangerous security vacuum, while the Security Council remains divided over what, if anything, should replace them.
In Lebanon, the peacekeeping force that has patrolled the border with Israel since 1978 is due to cease operations at the end of the year.
“What happens when there is no longer a third-party presence between the Lebanese army and the Israel Defence Forces?” asked Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations.
Briefing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York, Lacroix said the organisation was losing some of its longest-standing military deployments, with no guarantee that the countries concerned could maintain stability on their own.
Around 7,500 peacekeepers are still serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The force acts as a go-between for the Lebanese and Israeli armies, monitors violations and helps humanitarian aid get through.
Lacroix has just returned from Lebanon. He said President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam had told him they feared a “security vacuum” once the peacekeepers leave, with no one left to stop border incidents from turning into clashes.
He also raised questions over the future of the Blue Line, which the UN drew to mark Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.
There is a humanitarian cost too.
Lacroix offered a cautious estimate that about 10,000 people are still living between the Blue Line and the forward defence line Israel has set up inside Lebanese territory. Their access to aid depends heavily on UNIFIL.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres put forward options in June, but the Security Council has yet to agree on any follow-on arrangement. Lacroix urged council members to decide what form a future international presence could take.
Lacroix also recently visited Syria and peacekeepers serving in the Golan.
He said UN observers there were receiving complaints from civilians about detentions, movement restrictions and property seizures linked to the Israeli military presence.
He said their mediation had led to several people being released and some property being returned…..PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY/DEFENCE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Thu 05 Nov 2026
Fiji, UK discuss new opportunities for military veterans
SUVA, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fijian veterans who have served in the British Army could benefit from greater rehabilitation, reintegration and opportunities to use their specialist skills in Fiji under areas of cooperation discussed by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the United Kingdom.
The welfare of returning British Army veterans was a key focus of talks at RFMF Headquarters on Tuesday, 03 November.
RFMF Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai met newly appointed UK Acting High Commissioner to Fiji Stephen Lysaght and incoming UK Defence Adviser Commander Richard Bell to discuss existing and future defence cooperation.
The discussions explored ways to improve support for military veterans, particularly through rehabilitation, reintegration and opportunities to apply their training and experience within Fiji’s military and civilian sectors.
The meeting also focused on strengthening military capabilities, expanding training opportunities and developing closer cooperation in maritime security.
Other priorities included leadership development, capacity building and continued UK support for Fiji’s international peacekeeping commitments.
Both sides also explored opportunities for youth programmes, military chaplaincy engagement and professional exchanges between the two forces.
Another key topic was the forthcoming commemoration of 65 years of Fijian service in the British Army.
The milestone will recognise the contributions and sacrifices of generations of Fijian servicemen and women who have served in the British Army.
Both sides expressed interest in preserving and sharing their stories through historical documentation, public engagement and other commemorative initiatives.
Major General Kalouniwai welcomed the UK’s continued engagement in the Indo-Pacific and acknowledged its longstanding support for strengthening Fiji’s defence capabilities.
The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding defence relationship between Fiji and the UK, built on shared military history, people-to-people connections and a commitment to international peace and security….PACNEWS
VAN – PATROL BOAT: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 3: Thu 05 Nov 2026
Patrol vessel named after first Ni-Vanuatu Police commissioner
PORT VILA, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST)—Australia has handed over a new 11-metre Naiad patrol and rescue vessel, named RV Saul, in honour of Willy David, the first Ni-Vanuatu to serve as Police Commissioner in 1986.
The vessel was provided through the Vanuatu–Australia Partnership, alongside the 13 banana boats donated by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Current Police Commissioner Kalshem Bongran said naming the new vessel after Mr Saul was a lasting tribute to his contribution and legacy.
He acknowledged his leadership and contribution to the development of the national police institution.
Commissioner Bongran said that although operational challenges may change over time, the fundamental responsibility of the Police Force remains the protection of people, maintaining peace and security, and serving communities with integrity and professionalism.
The former police boss Saul, who is from Paama Island, thanked the Australian Government for its continued support for the maritime section of the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF).
He recalled having the opportunity to receive an earlier patrol boat, RVS Tukoro, when he was invited to Perth, Australia, and said he was pleased to see the continued support through the provision of the new rescue vessel.
Saul described Australia as an important partner to Pacific island countries, saying its support reflected the close relationship between Australia and the region.
He said Australia and small island nations needed each other, particularly when it came to maintaining security across the Pacific.
Saul said maritime security had regularly been raised at commissioners’ conferences, but small island countries continued to face difficulties patrolling their waters because of limited vessels and resources.
He said that although Pacific island nations were committed to protecting their maritime boundaries, limited facilities made the task challenging.
Saul said the donation of the new vessel and additional boats would help address some of these challenges, and he thanked Australia for recognising the maritime security needs of small island nations.
He also conveyed his appreciation to the Vanuatu Government for the honour of having the new vessel named after him.
The new vessel and 13 banana boats are expected to strengthen the Police Force’s operational capacity and support safer communities across Vanuatu….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
NZ – COURTS: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 05 Nov 2026
NZ Employment Court decision closes loophole exploited by migrant worker recruiters
WELLINGTON, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) —A recent New Zealand Employment Court ruling is being hailed as a milestone in legal protections for migrant workers.
Labour Inspectorate v Top Produce Ltd and and Bhatia v Khanna, the judgement for which came out on 8 October, decided that migrant workers could challenge fees paid overseas to secure jobs in New Zealand.
The case followed a now-defunct kiwifruit-growing firm in the Bay of Plenty that was accused by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) of soliciting payments from incoming migrant workers in exchange for a position.
“The issue, as counsel for the Labour Inspector observed, is one of significant importance, impacting a particularly vulnerable sector of the workforce,” the judgement read.
It found that to make such payments was and would be in breach of Section 12A of the Wages Protection Act 1983 – overturning a previous ruling from 2003.
Lisa Meto Fox, an employment lawyer based in South Auckland, said she felt deeply encouraged by the decision.
“These bad-faith actors were making a lot of money. We’re talking up to $60,000(US$33,000) per worker per job in New Zealand,” she said.
“This decision … is really important because what it does is it closes a loophole that these bad-faith actors were exploiting.”
She said that the decision had prompted discussions in the legal community about how the judgement may be carried forward.
In that sense, she said workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme, who are often saddled with costs of their own, could be a future focus.
“The law in this area needs to be expanded further to make it unlawful to be required to pay for recruitment expenses such as flights, visas, vaccines, insurance – that would be consistent with international human rights law.
“The employer should be paying for recruitment fees and related costs, but at the moment, RSE workers do pay for all of those things, and it is a significant portion of their income earned in New Zealand.”
The court heard that the employer’s solicitations – which may be typical of numerous employers in New Zealand – were informal, conducted over the phone or via text, with little to no protection for the worker.
“The geographical location of a premium payment is not an accident; it is a calculated feature of the exploitation model, designed to evade domestic regulation and to trap vulnerable workers in debt bondage before their employment even begins.
“Payments are commonly made by bank deposit to the employer’s offshore accounts, or to accounts held by the employer’s relatives, in order to avoid tracing.
“The types of transactions at issue generally include little or no documentation, and receipts are frequently not provided.”
It noted that the issue was a grey area at that point, given premiums for employment were explicitly illegal if the transaction was in-country – Fox called it a “loophole”.
PMN reported data released under the Official Information Act showed a stark increase in complaints to the Labour Inspectorate about premiums. It reported 198 complaints in 2025/26, following 270 in 2024/25 and 391 in 2023/24.
It also noted that MBIE had not recorded complaints from RSE workers about premiums specifically, but Fox said it was rare for migrant workers – wary of being deported – to complain themselves.
“I am on the record talking about [the RSE Scheme] being akin to modern slavery,” she said.
Top Produce in particular went into liquidation in March, carrying a $1.5 million (US$840,000) tax debt…. PACNEWS
VAN – MARINE CONSERVATION: VBTC PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 05 Nov 2026
Melanesian Corridor project to support five Communities in Vanuatu Torba province
PORT VILA, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (VBTC)—Five communities on Motalava in Torba Province in Vanuatu are set to benefit from a three-year Melanesian Corridor (MELCOR) project aimed at developing sustainable livelihoods, supporting economic activities and protecting marine resources.
The project will work with local organisations to strengthen communities and improve environmental management, while supporting cooperation between Torba Province and Temotu Province in Solomon Islands.
Mia Raimond, an adviser with the Department of Ocean and Maritime Affairs (DOMA), said Torba was selected because of its commitment to marine conservation.
She said protecting and conserving marine areas could help fish populations recover and ensure marine resources remain available for future generations.
Raimond explained that Torba, together with the national government, had put forward its support for the establishment of a large national marine protected area covering 71,000 square kilometres.
“And the reason why Torba is chosen is because Torba, together with the national government, put their hand up to host the first big national marine protected area of 71,000 square kilometres, which the Prime Minister, after getting the approval from COM, announced at the Melanesian Ocean Summit in May of this year in PNG.”
Acting Director of DOMA, Toney Tevi, said the ocean was an important part of the Government’s priorities and that current efforts should benefit future generations.
“We’re doing this for our people in the coastal areas and not doing this for ourselves here in Vila, but the population out there needs us. So whatever we do here, we need to leave a legacy.”
The project is expected to support sustainable economic activities while helping communities strengthen their ability to prepare for and respond to disasters.
Thomas Putunleta, a councillor with the Torres Area Council, said the province would continue working with partners and stakeholders to ensure the project achieved its objectives.
He stressed that communities needed to take ownership of the activities introduced through the project so they could continue after the project ended.
“At the provincial level, especially in Torba, one of the most important things we want to see is ownership. When we implement this programme, I want the community to own it so that when the project finishes, we can ensure the activities we introduce continue.”
The MELCOR project brings together government departments, local communities, non-government organisations and development partners to support sustainable livelihoods, strengthen community resilience and protect marine resources.
UN – FUEL PRICE: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 05 Nov 2026
Fuel price shock: Why developing economies are paying the most at the pump
GENEVA, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—When war shut the Strait of Hormuz in February, oil prices soared everywhere. But the pain at the pump has been far from equal, and the world’s developing economies are paying the heaviest price, according to a new report from UNCTAD, the UN trade and development agency.
Diesel prices in Nigeria jumped by about 83 percent between late February and the end of August, compared with nine percent in Ireland. Gasoline rose by about 51 percent in Myanmar, but just three percent in Sweden.
The reason lies partly in local conditions: taxes, subsidies, domestic pricing rules and exchange rates all shape what people end up paying.
The price of Brent crude, the most widely used global benchmark, rose from around US$70 a barrel in January to over US$120 in March, as the closure of a route that normally carries a fifth of the world’s oil sent markets into a spin.
Prices eased between April and June as diplomatic talks progressed, then climbed again when negotiations collapsed and fighting resumed.
Futures markets suggest oil will stay expensive until the end of the year, keeping fuel and transport bills high for businesses and households.
Higher fuel prices trickle down to higher costs of living overall – even for those who never buy fuel directly. For instance, higher diesel prices mean it becomes more costly to transport goods, which brings up their price.
Earlier research on developing economies found that a 25 cent rise in fuel prices per litre could reduce household purchasing power by more than five percent on average.
Economies that depend heavily on imported fuel are particularly affected by oil price increases, UNCTAD noted, as they must spend more to meet their energy needs.
For some countries, fuel imports already represent a significant economic burden. In 2023, net fuel imports – spending on fuel imports minus earnings from fuel exports – amounted to a quarter of Cabo Verde’s GDP and nearly a fifth of Lebanon’s.
A higher fuel bill leaves less money for other imports like food, medicines and equipment, so governments already facing budget pressures have particularly less room to protect households from rising costs, UNCTAD stressed.
The UNCTAD report called for more varied energy supplies and investment in affordable renewables to reduce exposure to future shocks.
Renewable energy sources like wind and solar rays are not vulnerable to geopolitical shocks and cannot be depleted.
UNCTAD also noted that in over 90 percent of cases, renewables are less expensive than the cheapest new fossil fuel alternatives……PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
15 years of ‘almost no progress’ in getting young people moving: WHO
GENEVA, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —One in four adolescents worldwide reported not getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity on any day in the previous week, according to new global estimates released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday.
That amounts to some 240 million young people aged 11 to 17 who reported not completing at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on a single day.
On average, adolescents reported being active on just 2.7 days a week and only 14 percent reported being active on all seven.
Infrastructure, not lectures
The findings point to a lack of global progress over the past 15 years, with levels of physical activity among adolescents virtually unchanged since 2010.
“For 15 years, the world has made almost no progress in getting young people moving, and girls are being left furthest behind,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“The answer is not to tell adolescents to try harder. It is to build schools, streets and communities where moving, playing and being active is safe, easy and normal.”
No country on track
According to the WHO report, A generation missing out: Global trends in adolescent physical activity, 2010-2025, 86 percent of adolescents reported fewer than seven active days in 2025 – a figure that has not changed since 2010.
No country is on track to meet the global target of a 15 percent relative reduction in physical inactivity by 2030, and without accelerated action, adolescent inactivity is projected to remain largely unchanged for the rest of the decade, the report warns.
Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, making it critical to help young people develop active habits early in life.
The new study draws on 389 population-based surveys from 140 countries and territories, involving more than 3.2 million adolescents.
Girls left behind
The gender gap remains strikingly persistent. Some 28 percent of girls reported no active days, compared with 22 percent of boys while only 11 percent of girls reported being active every day, compared with 17 percent of boys.
Girls were less active than boys in almost every country and every WHO region.
There were also stark differences between countries. In some, just 4 percent of adolescents reported no active days; in others, the figure exceeded 40 percent.
There is no single explanation for the lack of progress, WHO said. Transport patters, access to safe public spaces, opportunities for safe walking and cycling, school environments, affordability, social norms and increasingly screen-based lifestyles can all shape adolescents’ opportunities to be active.
WHO called for stronger action across the education, transport, urban planning, sport and health sectors, alongside efforts to tackle the barriers faced by girls – including promoting physical activity in schools and investing in safe walking and cycling routes…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
CHOGM side event spotlights blue finance and ocean innovation
ST. JOHN’S, 05 NOVEMBER 2026 (COMSEC)—A ‘Blue Finance and Innovation’ side event took place on 3 November 2026 at the John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Centre during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.
The side event focused on accelerating investment and innovation for ocean restoration, conservation and sustainable use.
As one of only four official CHOGM side events, it drew Heads of Government, ministers, investors, innovators and senior ocean leaders from across the 56-member Commonwealth. The event responds to the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, adopted in Samoa at CHOGM 2024, which warns of the global emergency facing the ocean and calls for stronger action to restore, protect and use it sustainably.
The Commonwealth has a significant stake in ocean health. Member countries are responsible for a third of the world’s ocean under national jurisdiction, include 45 percent of global coral reefs, and encompass 25 Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Against this backdrop, the event raised awareness of blue finance, demonstrating emerging technologies and connecting governments, investors and innovators to unlock greater ocean investment.
Showcasing ocean innovation and Blue Finance in action
The programme was organised around three strands. The Ocean Innovation Showcase featured approximately 20 companies and organisations working on practical solutions, alongside images from the Waves of Change Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition. Exhibits included coral restoration, mangrove and biodiversity initiatives, seabed and blue-carbon mapping, maritime domain awareness, drone-based remote mapping, and technologies that convert sargassum into biofuel or biogas.
The second session, Blue Finance in Action, opened with a panel on scaling finance to protect oceans. Speakers included leaders from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, Ocean Risk and Resilience Ocean Action Alliance, the Stimson Centre and CAF–Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. The session also saw the launch of three publications: Sea-Level Rise, The Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration: Interim High-level Progress Report, and the Commonwealth: Impacts, Risks and Responses and an Association of Commonwealth Universities policy brief on blue finance.
The final segment, Championing Ocean Action, brought together senior political and industry figures to discuss green shipping and boosting blue finance to conserve the ocean.
Contributions from leaders including Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Programmes, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary, Principal Minister for Seychelles, Canada’s Ocean Envoy and the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Rt Hon Gaston Browne, reinforcing Antigua and Barbuda’s role in convening international action on a more resilient and sustainable ocean economy. …PACNEWS
