In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — China’s Pacific Island ties not part of ‘geopolitical rivalry’, Wang Yi says
2. PACIFIC — Pacific meteorological directors coordinate regional cyclone outlook ahead of PICOF-19
3. TONGA — Drought declared in parts of Tonga as El Niño intensifies
4. FIJI — ‘3 years, no convictions’ – U.S report keeps Fiji on Tier 2 watch list
5. FIJI — Fiji Military Commander: Power belongs to the people
6. PACIFIC — WHO warns of outbreaks in Western Pacific due to gaps in vaccine programmes
7. FIJI — Constitutional discussions must strengthen democracy, not divide the nation: PM
8. SOL — Investigation questions Solomons MPs’ taxpayer-funded health care overseas
9. TONGA — Tonga community partnership wins global environmental award
10. USA — ‘Serious blow’: Guterres condemns new US sanctions on International Criminal Court
11. FIJI — Fijian ICC Deputy Prosecutor condemns US sanctions
12. TONGA — Reserve Bank reports $26m profit as inflation remains major challenge
13. PACNEWS BIZ — New Zealand Can’t Keep Exporting Taxpayers’ Money: ACT
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Papua LNG tier-one agreement welcomed
15. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — OPINION: Minamata tragedy: Lessons for Pacific media
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — How Pacific Island nations are leading the way on climate action
17. PACNEWS DIGEST — Peace Corps achieves historic milestone of 250,000 volunteers since 1961
PAC – DIPLOMACY: SCMP PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
China’s Pacific Island ties not part of ‘geopolitical rivalry’, Wang Yi says
BEIJING, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (SCMP)—China’s cooperation with the Pacific islands is not part of a geopolitical competition, top diplomat Wang Yi told a delegation of politicians from the region last Friday.
The comments come as Beijing and Washington vie for influence in the South Pacific.
“China’s engagement with Pacific Island countries is a form of South-South cooperation based on mutual assistance and support,” Wang said, according to a statement from the Communist Party’s International Department.
“This cooperation does not interfere in the islands’ internal affairs, impose political conditions, engage in geopolitical rivalry or target third parties, nor is it subject to interference by third parties.”
Wang made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with a joint delegation of Pacific Island politicians led by Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliami Latu.
Wang said China’s diplomacy consistently stood with developing and smaller countries, describing Beijing as a reliable partner to Pacific Island nations.
“China supported the islands in pursuing development paths suited to their national circumstances and chosen by their own people, as well as in safeguarding their sovereignty, security and development interests,” he said.
He urged the islands to continue upholding the one-China principle, saying Taiwan’s return to China after World War II formed an important part of the post-war international order.
The delegation members described China as “a good friend and partner”, thanking Beijing for its long-standing help with their economic and social development, according to the department’s statement.
They said the Pacific islands would continue to uphold the one-China policy and deepen cooperation with Beijing in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, disaster prevention and relief, and capacity building.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise the self-ruled island as an independent state. However, Washington is opposed to any attempt to take Taiwan by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
Beijing has sought to persuade Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies in the region to switch formal recognition from Taipei to mainland China. Nauru, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands have all severed formal ties with Taipei and established diplomatic relations with Beijing.
However, the Solomon Islands has since sought to rebuild ties with Washington, signing an agreement allowing U.S Coast Guard vessels to patrol its waters alongside local police officers.
The diplomatic contest is unfolding alongside growing competition in the South Pacific, with Beijing seeking to deepen its diplomatic and economic ties while Washington and its allies offer new funding.
At this year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting in Palau, Washington and Canberra unveiled a joint US$580 million aid package for the region.
In a parallel move, the U.S and New Zealand also pledged US$50 million and NZ$17.5 million (US$9.8 million), respectively, to upgrade a former World War II port in the Cook Islands.
China’s expanding role has also drawn scrutiny from Australia and New Zealand. In July, the two countries criticised Beijing after it launched a ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into international waters in the South Pacific, citing short notice and a lack of transparency.
Despite the intensifying competition among outside powers, Pacific Island leaders have stressed that regional security and development priorities should be determined by the island nations themselves…. PACNEWS
PAC – MET SERVICE: PACNEWS/SPREP PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
Pacific meteorological directors coordinate regional cyclone outlook ahead of PICOF-19
APIA, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS/SPREP) —Pacific meteorological directors have agreed on coordination and communication arrangements for the 2026/27 regional tropical cyclone outlook ahead of its public release on 14 October.
The directors of Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) met virtually for a briefing convened by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), in collaboration with the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre Nadi, the Fiji Meteorological Service and Earth Sciences New Zealand.
The meeting provided an early briefing on the regional outlook and an opportunity to coordinate the timing of its release, notification procedures and media engagement.
Directors also discussed the longer-term governance, mandates and responsibilities of regional and national agencies in providing tropical cyclone outlooks.
SPREP Director of Climate Science and Information Salesa Nihmei said coordinated communication was essential to ensuring communities received consistent and reliable information ahead of the cyclone season.
“A tropical cyclone outlook is only as useful as the way it reaches people,” Nihmei said.
“Bringing Directors together before the public release means every national service can speak to its own communities with confidence, backed by the same regional science.”
The South-west Pacific tropical cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April. Seasonal outlooks provide governments, disaster management agencies and climate-sensitive sectors with advance information to support preparedness planning.
SPREP said consistency between regional and national outlooks was important to ensure communities received clear information through their respective national meteorological services, which remain the official sources of tropical cyclone information and warnings.
The briefing also prepares Pacific climate officers for the 19th Pacific Islands Climate and Ocean Forum (PICOF-19), scheduled for Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on 20 and 21 October.
The forum will bring together climate officers from national meteorological services, regional climate centre partners and users of climate information to assess recent climate and ocean conditions and consider the outlook for the coming months.
Participants will examine the implications of the 2026/27 cyclone season for key sectors, including fisheries, agriculture, water, health, tourism and disaster preparedness.
Climate officers will also use information from the Tropical Cyclone Portal, including analogue years, alongside their respective national methodologies to develop and refine national tropical cyclone and climate outlooks.
The discussions at PICOF-19 will focus on translating regional scientific information into practical guidance for national governments, sector agencies and communities.
While the regional outlook provides a broader assessment of the season ahead, individual national meteorological services will issue their own outlooks and remain responsible for official warnings in their respective countries.
The 2026/27 Regional Tropical Cyclone Outlook will be released publicly on 14 October.
Communities are encouraged to follow their national meteorological services for updates and official warnings throughout the cyclone season…. -PACNEWS
TONGA – WEATHER WATCH/ELNINO: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
Drought declared in parts of Tonga as El Niño intensifies
NUKU’ALOFA, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) —The Tonga Meteorological Service has declared drought across all major islands that make up the kingdom, including Tongatapu, Niuatoputapu, Ha’apai and ‘Eua.
Niuafo’ou, a remote northern island, is still on a drought warning, while Vava’u, in the central division, is on a drought alert.
Tonga Metservice chief climate officer Seluvaia Ilolahia told RNZ Pacific the kingdom is experiencing serious drought conditions.
She said the government is working with stakeholders to ensure communities receive vital information and access the support they need.
“The National Disaster Office, we work very close, and they are also very close to other organisations, for example the work Red Cross and other NGOs especially when it comes to responding to the needs of the community. And the also reach out to the islands when they are distributing water.”
She said there has been some rain in Vava’u but in other areas it’s been below average.
The metservice is also reminding people that the impacts of El Niño may continue even after the event has ended.
Ilolahia said warnings will be in place for the next three months.
“El Niño is still very strong and, like the forecast, it’s probably going to peak around November to December.
“But what we want to stress to the community and people to understand are that the impacts might come later, even after the event, we will still feel it.”
Seluvaia Ilolahia said the public is responding very seriously to the warnings being given out.
WMO
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific are forecast to increase to record levels during October-November-December 2026, reflecting the strengthening of the El Niño event which will drive weather patterns and impact economies, ecosystems and communities across the globe.
El Niño is already causing disruption and devastation from droughts and floods in various parts of the world.
The monthly Global Seasonal Climate Update from the WMO said that El Niño will continue to intensify ahead of its forecast peak in December.
It is likely to bring above-average temperatures to much of the globe and shift rainfall patterns, increasing the risk of drought and floods in different regions…. PACNEWS
FIJI – HUMAN TRAFFIICKING: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
‘3 years, no convictions’ – U.S report keeps Fiji on Tier 2 watch list
SUVA, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES) —Fiji has failed to secure a single human trafficking conviction for the third consecutive year, despite identifying 50 victims and launching new investigations, according to the United States Department of State.
The findings are contained in the 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, which has retained Fiji on the Tier 2 watch list for the third consecutive year.
The report states that Fiji has not demonstrated an overall increase in efforts to combat human trafficking compared with the previous reporting period.
“The Government of Fiji does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking,” the report states.
It acknowledges that authorities initiated six trafficking investigations and two prosecutions, the first since 2023.
However, the absence of convictions remains a major concern.
“The government did not convict any traffickers for the third consecutive year.”
The report also raises serious concerns about alleged corruption and official involvement in trafficking activities.
“Official complicity and corruption undermined anti-trafficking efforts and allowed traffickers to operate with impunity.”
It further criticises the Government’s response to longstanding allegations involving a religious organisation and its business operations.
“The government did not take sufficient law enforcement or victim protection actions regarding a religious organisation facing many years of significant trafficking allegations against its businesses across key sectors.”
Despite these concerns, Fiji avoided being downgraded to Tier 3.
The report states that Fiji received a waiver under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act because sufficient resources had been committed to a written plan that could improve compliance if implemented.
Positive developments included funding for anti-trafficking activities and the introduction of an online reporting tool for law enforcement agencies, developed with international assistance.
However, the report found that victim identification procedures developed during the previous reporting period had not been formally approved or fully implemented.
It also noted that the Government’s interagency working group had failed to meet independently to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts.
The Tier 2 Watch List applies to countries making significant efforts to meet minimum anti-trafficking standards but facing concerns over the scale of trafficking or insufficient progress in addressing it.
The findings place renewed attention on Fiji’s ability to translate investigations and policy commitments into successful prosecutions, victim protection and accountability for those involved in trafficking……PACNEWS
FIJI – MILITARY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
Fiji Military Commander: Power belongs to the people
SUVA, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) must never override the will of the people at the ballot box, Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai has warned as Fiji prepares for its next general election.
Addressing soldiers during the Fiji Day rehearsal in Suva, Ro Jone stressed that neither Parliament nor the military owned the power it exercised.
That power, he said, belonged to the people, and those entrusted with it had a responsibility to serve them.
His message comes as Fiji reviews its Constitution and prepares to choose its leaders at the next election.
Ro Jone said Parliament and the military must remember that their authority was a responsibility, not something they owned.
“The House holds the voice of the people and this force holds the strength of the people. Both Ro Jone said.
He called on Parliament to debate honestly and courageously, while urging those in public service to act with discipline, humility and respect for the law.
Ro Jone also described the Constitution as the document that binds the nation together.
The Commander stressed the importance of protecting the public’s right to choose its leaders and ensuring election results were respected.
“Let every refugee claim their place at the ballot box knowing their choice will be protected and their verdict respected,” he said.
Ro Jone said Fiji’s history had demonstrated the consequences of military force overriding the people’s choice.
“Our history has taught us, sometimes painfully, a refugee with a gun overrules the ballot is no independence at all,” he said.
He said the spirit of Fiji’s independence in 1970 lived on wherever the people’s voice remained supreme and the strength of the nation was used to serve its citizens.
“We choose service over power and unity over division,” he said.
His remarks also come amid public concerns about rising living costs, drugs reaching Fiji and its children, and trust in public institutions.
Ro Jone’s message placed responsibility on both Parliament and the RFMF to uphold the law, respect democratic choices and serve the people….PACNEWS
PAC – HEALTH: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
WHO warns of outbreaks in Western Pacific due to gaps in vaccine programmes
MANILA, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) —Nearly 1.7 million babies or about one in every 11born in the Western Pacific missed the first routine vaccine dose in 2025, the World Health Organisation said, warning of the risks of otherwise eliminated diseases resurging in the region.
WHO noted that coverage with three doses of vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis declined from 94 percent in 2019 to 89 percent in 2025.
“Behind every outbreak is a gap: a missed child, delayed action, weakened trust, or communities not reached through regular vaccination programmnes,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific.
Health leaders noted that measles is one of the most contagious diseases that expose weaknesses in immunisation systems.
“In an interconnected region, an immunity gap in one place can become a risk elsewhere,” WHO said.
WHO reported last year that the measles cases in the Western Pacific rose by 743 percent from 2022 to 2024. Imported measles cases linked to international travel in the region have been reported by Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore.
WHO said nine countries in the region are working toward measles elimination by 2030.
“But elimination cannot be sustained through catch-up campaigns alone,” the organisation said. “It depends on health workers reaching communities, reliable vaccine supplies, strong surveillance and laboratories, good data and community trust.”
For the Western Pacific, WHO said the next chapter of immunization is about protecting what countries have already achieved, reaching those still being missed, and ensuring the benefits of vaccination reach every generation.
Health representatives from the Western Pacific will meet in Manila for the 77th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific from 19 – 22 October to discuss accelerating advancement of immunisation in the region.
The summit will tackle a proposed regional plan through 2030, focusing on three connected priorities: reducing zero-dose and under-immunised populations; achieving and sustaining measles elimination; and advancing immunisation across the life course.
The plan also emphasises sustainable national financing and ownership, investment in the systems needed to deliver vaccines reliably and greater cooperation between countries……PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTION/POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
Constitutional discussions must strengthen democracy, not divide the nation: PM
SUVA, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has called on Fijians to engage in respectful and peaceful discussions on proposed constitutional changes ahead of a possible national referendum later this year.
In his Fiji Day address, Rabuka said Fiji was engaged in important conversations about its future, including discussions surrounding the Constitution and the country’s democratic institutions.
‘We are considering questions about our constitution, our democratic institutions, and the kind of nation we want to leave to those who will follow us,” he said.
Rabuka stressed that differing views should not be seen as a threat to national unity.
“We do not strengthen Fiji by demanding that everyone thinks alike,” he said.
“We strengthen Fiji when we can disagree respectfully, listen to one another, seek understanding, and allow our democratic processes to take their course peacefully.”
The Prime Minister said Fijians would continue discussing the constitutional proposals in the coming weeks and, if approved by Parliament, eligible voters would have the opportunity to participate in a national referendum in December.
He urged citizens to approach the process with respect for democratic institutions and consideration for future generations.
“Whatever our individual views may be, let us approach that responsibility with respect for one another, respect for our institutions, and a shared commitment to Fiji,” Rabuka said.
“Our Constitution belongs to the people, and ultimately, the future of Fiji belongs to the generations who will inherit what we build today,” he said.
Rabuka said the debate should be viewed as part of a broader effort to build a stronger Fiji, with better economic opportunities, improved services and accountable institutions.
“That is why our responsibility extends far beyond constitutional reform,” he added.
He urged Fijians to choose dialogue over hostility and unity over division as the nation charts its future…. PACNEWS
SOL – MPS TAX: ABC PACIFIC PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
Investigation questions Solomons MPs’ taxpayer-funded health care overseas
HONIARA, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (ABC PACIFIC) —Last year single mother Anna Bugotu noticed something wasn’t right.
“If I wanted to exercise, I would notice that I get really exhausted quickly,” she said.
When her symptoms worsened, a doctor diagnosed her with rheumatic heart disease, a condition requiring her to get life-saving surgery.
But the procedure wasn’t available in Solomon Islands so, like many, she was forced to fundraise to pay for surgery overseas.
She needs nearly $35,000 but has so far only managed to raise $5,000(US$619).
Had she been a member of parliament, it might be a lot easier.
MPs and their immediate families have their own separate fund under parliamentary entitlements to travel overseas for medical care that cannot be provided locally.
Anna meanwhile, who works as a legal intern, is on a waiting list for the limited pool of public funding for overseas referrals.
However, an ABC investigation has raised questions about whether some MPs and government officials have received publicly funded care overseas worth thousands of Australian dollars when cheaper in-country treatment has been available.
Meanwhile, the amount spent on overseas health care for parliamentarians through an alternative fund in the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in 2025 exceeded the amount set aside for ordinary Solomon Islanders.
Because health care in Solomon Islands can be limited, overseas travel is the only option for many suffering from serious conditions.
While public funding is available to send ordinary citizens abroad for treatment, Anna, 30, has not yet qualified.
She said she was told her age and the severity of her condition meant she would not be prioritised.
MPs, along with their immediate families, are also eligible for funding for overseas treatment under changes to the parliamentary entitlements regulations made in 2020.
Under the regulations, funding through the parliament is granted so long as treatment is “essential”, ‘treatable” and “not available in Solomon Islands”.
They must also be referred by a committee of specialist doctors employed by the country’s Ministry of Health.
But sources and documents suggest in the five years prior to 2026, some MPs have received publicly funded overseas care despite doctors initially recommending in-country treatment.
One source told the ABC that ministry doctors advised an MP to focus on reducing “risk factors in-country”, but the MP wanted “a second opinion and treatment abroad”.
The referral was ultimately approved.
Meanwhile, multiple whistleblowers say in the past some doctors have felt pressured by politicians receiving overseas medical services to approve referrals or sign off after the treatment has already happened.
The ABC also saw evidence for three cases in which MPs sought overseas treatment first and approval from the committee afterwards.
One lists nearly $27,000(US$3,324) in bills, marked ‘Solomon Islands government to pay”.
The committee’s doctors are employed by the government, which sources say leaves them vulnerable to political pressure.
Titus Nasi is the supervising medical superintendent at the National Referral Hospital and has chaired the Overseas Referral Committee since last year, since the cases examined by the ABC were approved.
“Sometimes [it] will be challenging to stand up to somebody higher who probably influences what you are doing in the system,” Dr Nasi said.
He said while he had not witnessed inappropriate claims by MPs in his time as chair, it might have happened in the past.
“They meet challenges with funding and then they come back to the committee to seek funding support, which is not as according to the policy,’ he said.
“It’s not probably the best way to do it, in terms of being accountable for what we are doing.”
There is also evidence that some elite or well-connected patients have accessed a separate pool of public money intended to help ordinary Solomon Islanders, like Anna, who need overseas medical treatment.
While all Solomon Islanders requiring emergency medical care are eligible for this funding, doctors in these cases have recorded experiencing pressure from high-profile families to prioritise their loved ones ahead of others.
Documents suggest two of these families received more than $180,000(US$22,285) between them.
One document said treatment began “following continuous pressure from the family”, while another described a separate family as having an “expectation” of funding.
While Dr Nasi said he had felt no pressure from either MPs or senior officials since taking over as chair, according to parliament officials, no MP referrals have been lodged with the Overseas Referral Committee since 2024.
Instead, they have come through a different scheme, approved and paid directly through the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
“We were not really involved, in terms of referral [under the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet scheme], so I can’t really comment on how it’s been done,” Dr Nasi said.
In 2025, the Prime Minister’s Office spent about $1.5 million (US$185,713) on overseas health care for MPs.
That’s compared with just $1.2 million (US$148, 570) set aside for overseas treatment for ordinary Solomon Islanders.
Evidence suggests this channel had been in use prior to 2024.
Solomon Islands Attorney-General Gabriel Suri said it was a legal alternative to funding through the parliamentary entitlements regulations.
“We have two systems for MPs to use,’ he said.
‘Maybe they find the system in the Prime Minister’s Office much more efficient to them, than the one available under the control of the parliament.”
After being questioned by the ABC, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale acknowledged there were risks in the system.
“I’m not saying it was in the past, but it could be politicised,” he said.
He said that from next year, all funding would be channelled through the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission, which operates under stricter legal requirements.
Ruth Liloqula, the head of advocacy group Transparency Solomon Islands, said funding outside the parliamentary entitlements regulations raised serious questions.
“They can just use it for anything that they want to use [it for],” she said.
“I think it’s very dangerous and very unacceptable.”
Speaking generally, she said she worried public servants were vulnerable to pressure and reluctant to speak out for fear of losing their jobs.
She said if guardrails could be amended and enforced, more money could be spent on improving the health system so more Solomon Islanders had access to overseas care.
“We are not saying that [MPs] should not have services, but … they should make sure whatever services they want are as good as those provided to the people of Solomon Islands,’ she said.
Dr Nasi agreed, saying public healthcare funding was insufficient to meet the needs of Solomon Islands’ population.
‘It’s what we all want, being fair with everyone,” he said.
As for Anna, all she wants is to be treated fairly.
“[My condition] is already severe,” she said.
“I miss … just walk[ing] freely without having to rest every single step.
“The ordinary citizens should also be given the opportunity to have access to those medical services,” she said…PACNEWS
TONGA – ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD: PMN PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
Tonga community partnership wins global environmental award
WASHINGTON/NUKU’ALOFA, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (PMN)—A funding group helping Tongan communities respond to climate threats and basic needs has won global recognition after supporting projects ranging from emergency food relief to safer classrooms and better access to water.
Friends of Tonga, a United States-based nonprofit, won the Environmental Stewardship Award at the 2026 .ORG Impact Awards in Washington, D.C. It was selected from more than 4200 applicants across 145 countries.
The group, founded by former U.S Peace Corps volunteers, works with Tongan organisations to fund projects chosen by local communities, rather than deciding from overseas what support is needed.
Drew Havea, chairman of the Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT), says that trust helped communities act quickly after the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami, when seawater threatened crops and food supplies.
“Farmers were coming and saying, ‘within a month, all our food will not be consumable because the seawater has started to inundate the soil’,” he told PMN News.
“So we made contact with Friends of Tonga, we hired the young people of the same village to go and harvest the food. We bought the food from the farmers in those communities and distributed it to other families who needed food.
“To try and get the proposal somewhere, it would take three months, six months, but with the Friends of Tonga’s ability to trust us, we moved so quickly within two weeks.”
Havea says the same approach has helped communities improve water access, with residents identifying households most in need of rainwater tanks, including older people and people with disabilities.
“One family, they have to take a taxi to one of their relatives’ water tank and fetch water,” he said. “There’s elderly people who have to walk two blocks to get their water.”
Friends of Tonga has supported 77 rainwater cisterns, providing about 770,000 litres of storage. Its water, sanitation and hygiene projects have reached more than 37,000 people.
Residents helped decide who would receive the tanks and took part in preparing foundations and installing guttering.
The partnership has also supported two kindergartens designed to withstand cyclones and earthquakes, including a new facility in Tu’anuku, Vava’u, which opened earlier this year.
Havea says 18 preschool children at one school had previously shared a classroom with older students. They now have their own fully equipped building.
“The kids were so excited about getting their own desk and chair,” he said.
Michael Hassett, Friends of Tonga co-founder and co-president, says the projects demonstrate the value of letting communities lead their own development.
“We believe that the people closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions,” he tells PMN News.
Hassett served as an American Peace Corps volunteer in Fāhefa from 2012 to 2014 where he met his now-wife.
Following Cyclone Gita in 2018, he joined former volunteers to establish Friends of Tonga and connect communities with funding.
The network has since grown to include international supporters and the Tongan diaspora, providing more than US$750,000 for projects.
“We are able to use the spotlight really to shine the light on our communities and on our partners in Tonga. We view ourselves as a bridge.”
The award includes US$10,000), which Hassett hopes could help fund more water infrastructure or another climate-resilient kindergarten. The final decision rests with the organisation’s board.
Havea says the partnership also points to a need for international donors to change how they work with Pacific communities.
“We need to not only shift our resources, but shift our respect that when we do a project with communities, we base it on their dignity.”
From emergency food relief to safer classrooms and reliable water supplies, the partnership shows what can happen when Pacific communities lead the decisions and have the funding and trust to turn their priorities into action….PACNEWS
UN – DIPLOMACY: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
‘Serious blow’: Guterres condemns new US sanctions on International Criminal Court
NEW YORK, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —The United States has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowing on Friday to “dismantle the ICC, brick by brick” unless it ends what Washington regards as a “threat” to its citizens.
The court hit back forcefully, calling the step unprecedented, following sanction measures by the US already in place against 13 judges and prosecutors.
The ICC described the measure as “an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order”.
The designation, the court said, is aimed at disrupting its operations and “intimidating those who work for or cooperate with the court”. But, it will not be deterred.
“The court will continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes,” said ICC President Tomoko Akane.
Yet, the court acknowledged that it cannot stand alone.
“Its fate now rests also in the hands of the States that created it,” the statement said, adding that the Rome Statute’s promise “is only as strong as the resolve of those who made it”.
“No one should be punished for serving the cause of justice. History will judge this moment,” it concluded.
Rubio: ‘We will end the ICC’
Announcing the sanctions, Rubio said the U.S would “ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate”.
“America never joined the court. We don’t need it. And we don’t want it,” he added.
Rubio said the door to diplomacy remained open, but he issued a stark warning. “Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC,” he said, adding that Washington expected allies to “rein in the court”.
Guterres condemns move
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly criticised the U.S decision, according to his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.
The UN chief condemned the new sanctions against the court “as an institution”.
Guterres was “deeply alarmed” by the expected impact on the court’s “continued ability to perform its important mandates” and called the sanctions “a serious blow to our collective pursuit of international criminal justice, of which the ICC is a key pillar”.
He reiterated his “unwavering support for the independence of the court and its officials” and called on all States to uphold their commitments under international law.
The UN remains committed to cooperating with the ICC under the relationship agreement approved by the General Assembly on 13 September 2004, the statement added.
Independent UN human rights experts warned separately that the U.S sanctions were a “brash attempt” to dismantle a collective international legal system to hold perpetrators of the gravest crimes to account.
They called on States committed to the rule of law to stand together in defence of the court and its independence.
“Sanctioning the institution entrusted with delivering justice for the gravest international crimes is an assault on the foundations of international accountability and rule of law,” the experts said.
“No State should place itself beyond the reach of the law by intimidating the court established to enforce it and attempting to dismantle it.”
The UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts – who are not employed by the UN and receive no salary for their work – added that the attack “directly injures the victims of atrocities and their advocates, who rely on the ICC for justice, accountability and reparation”……PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Mon 12 Oct 2026
Fijian ICC Deputy Prosecutor condemns US sanctions
SUVA/ THE HAGUE, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (THE HAGUE) —Fijian Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has strongly condemned fresh United States sanctions against the tribunal, warning that the measures are intended to undermine the international rule of law.
Speaking to Reuters, Khan said the sanctions would not deter the court from carrying out its mandate.
“The sanctions are intended to undermine the rule of law internationally and the work that an independent judicial institution is doing,” Khan said.
“Our work will continue across all our situations, our investigations and our prosecutions.”
The comments follow the announcement of sanctions by U.S President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday, placing Washington on a diplomatic collision course with its European allies.
The sanctions were announced just hours after a former ICC judge was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
The ICC has also denounced the sanctions, describing them as an “assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order.”
The court has called on its 125 member states to take action to defend its independence and operations.
“The Court cannot stand alone. Its fate now rests also in the hands of the states that created it,” the ICC said in a statement.
“This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law. History will judge this moment.”
Despite the latest U.S measures, Khan has maintained that the court will continue its investigations and prosecutions. …. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
TONGA – BANK: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 12 Oct 2026
Reserve Bank reports $26m profit as inflation remains major challenge
NUKU’ALOFA, 12 0CTOBER 2026 (TALANOAOTONGA)—The National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) reported a $26.6 million (US$11.08 million) net profit for 2026 while warning that rising prices remain its biggest challenge.
The figures were presented at the Reserve Bank’s annual general meeting in Nuku’alofa on 01 October, attended by Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua and Finance Minister Hon. Vika Sivoki Lavemaau.
The bank’s audited financial statements for the year were given a clean, unqualified audit opinion by KPMG Fiji.
NRBT said its $26.6 million (US$11.08 million) profit was above its five-year average and reflected continued sound financial management and a resilient balance sheet.
The Reserve Bank also reported foreign reserves remained adequate at more than 11 months of imports, while the nominal effective exchange rate remained broadly stable over the past five years.
Inflation remains the concern
Despite the bank’s strong financial position, Governor Tatafu Moeaki identified price stability as the Reserve Bank’s most significant challenge.
Inflation reached 7.1 percent at the end of June 2026, above the NRBT’s 5 percent reference rate. The bank attributed the increase largely to higher imported petroleum prices and other external cost pressures.
Inflation subsequently rose further to 9.3 percent in July, according to the NRBT’s August monetary policy update, putting additional pressure on household and business budgets.
For households, sustained inflation means higher costs for goods and services, particularly where imported fuel, food and other products are affected.
The annual meeting also highlighted reforms intended to strengthen the Reserve Bank’s ability to respond to a more challenging external environment.
These include modernising the monetary policy framework, progressing national payment-system reforms, strengthening prudential supervision and banking standards, and improving anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing supervision and enforcement.
The annual report and audited financial statements are now expected to proceed to Cabinet and Parliament, according to the Reserve Bank.
The meeting also included the presentation of the Reserve Bank’s FY2026 profit distribution to the Government.
The latest results show a central bank in strong financial health, but with inflation continuing to pose a more immediate challenge for households and businesses….PACNEWS
PNG – LNG: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 12 Oct 2026
Papua LNG tier-one agreement welcomed
PORT MORESBY, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —Papua New Guinea Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina has welcomed the signing of the Papua LNG development forum tier one Agreement – a milestone toward establishing a fair, transparent and sustainable benefit-sharing framework for the Papua LNG Project.
Maladina said that the tier-one agreement reflects the shared commitment of the Government, provincial governments, landowners and Papua LNG Project partners to ensure that the development of Papua LNG delivered lasting benefits to the people of Papua New Guinea.
“Today’s (Thursday’s) signing is an important achievement, but it is not the end of the development forum process,” he said.
“It establishes the foundation for the remaining negotiations and, ultimately, for the effective implementation of the benefits agreed for our people.”
Maladina said benefits associated with Papua LNG such as royalties, development levies, equity participation, infrastructure development, business development, employment, training and local content opportunities must translate into tangible and sustainable improvements in the lives of people.
“Our people will judge the success of Papua LNG not simply by the amount of gas exported or revenue generated, but by the improvements they see in their communities-better infrastructure and services, employment and training opportunities, stronger local businesses and meaningful participation in the project,” he said.
Maladina also called for greater participation by Papua New Guinean workers and businesses, supported by training, skills development, procurement opportunities and partnerships that transfer knowledge and capability to local companies.
He confirmed that following the tier one signing, negotiations for tier two, tier three, tier four and tier five, guided by the tier one sharing arrangements, would continue throughout this month, with the objective of concluding the remaining negotiations early next month.
“I encourage all parties to continue these negotiations in good faith, fairness and transparency
“Differences must be addressed through dialogue, verified information and respect for the agreed process.,” he said. …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
OPINION: Minamata tragedy: Lessons for Pacific media
By PACNEWS Editor Makereta Komai in Minamata, Japan
MINAMATA, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— A local Japanese newspaper is looking back at 70 years of the Minamata mercury poisoning tragedy to remind people of the importance of speaking up and reporting the truth.
The Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun newspaper is revisiting its archives and publishing stories from the past to remember one of Japan’s worst industrial pollution disasters.
The newspaper says the tragedy is also a reminder of what can happen when the concerns of local communities are not heard early enough.
The Minamata disease was caused by methylmercury released into the sea by the Chiso Corporation factory. The pollution affected fishing families living around Minamata Bay, on the southern island of Kyushu, many of whom suffered serious health problems after eating contaminated seafood.
During a dialogue with five visiting journalists from the Pacific and Caribbean, local journalists reflected on what the media could have done differently.
They agreed that the media has a responsibility to listen to communities, investigate their concerns and ask questions of companies and authorities.
The visiting journalists also met with someone who witnessed the Minamata disease outbreak firsthand. Rimiko Yoshinaga, who was just a small child at the time, said that one of the biggest lessons from Minamata was the need to listen to people and recognise the warning signs early.
“If you see early signs, report it. If you observe something is not right and people are getting sick, investigate and report, said Yoshinaga.
Early reporting on the disease was limited, and some media coverage repeated theories that shifted blame away from the factory. Over time, journalists began reporting more openly on the suffering of affected families and the responsibility of the company.
Research by academic Naoki Kobayashi examined the media’s complex role in the tragedy, including how early reporting sometimes favoured corporate interests before later coverage exposed the human cost of the pollution.
The story eventually reached an international audience through American photojournalist Eugene Smith and his partner, Aileen Mioko Smith. Their photographs, published in Life magazine in 1972, included the famous image Tomoko and Mother in the Bath, showing the devastating effects of Minamata disease on the girl and her family.
Their work helped bring international attention to the suffering of the victims.
For the Pacific and Caribbean journalists, visiting Minamata raised an important question: What can their regions’ media learn from the disaster?
The lesson is clear: journalists must listen to the people, follow the evidence and investigate warning signs before a problem becomes a disaster.
For Pacific Island countries, this is particularly important when communities raise concerns about pollution, mining, fishing, logging, climate change or other activities that may affect their health, land and livelihoods.
Journalists must not wait until people are seriously affected before asking questions.
They also need to question powerful companies and authorities, check claims carefully and give affected communities a voice.
Minamata shows that when reporting comes too late, the human cost can be devastating. But it also shows how strong journalism can help expose wrongdoing, bring suffering to public attention and push for accountability.
Seventy years on, the message for Pacific media remains relevant: listen to the people, investigate early and speak up for communities whose voices might otherwise go unheard…PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
How Pacific Island nations are leading the way on climate action
SUVA, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (UNDP)—In September 2015, ahead of the global climate negotiations in Paris, leaders from across the Pacific met in Suva, Fiji. Together they issued a bold declaration, calling for global warming to be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Small island developing states around the world had been advocating to enshrine this average temperature rise limit in official decisions since around 2009. By the end of 2015, the 1.5°C limit was formally incorporated into the landmark Paris Agreement.
Just over a decade later, the global climate community is returning to Suva for the Pre-COP31, setting the stage for COP31 in Türkiye. Much has happened during that time, with most countries currently working on implementing their third-generation national climate plans under the Paris Agreement and the impacts of climate change becoming ever more visible in all corners of the world.
Small island nations in the Pacific face some of the most severe impacts, including threats to their very existence. Their delegations are coming to Suva to push for a renewed sense of urgency on climate action. They also bring hard-won, practical experience, ready to show the world how the region is driving solutions, with proven models of climate action shaped by local priorities, embedded in national systems and designed to last.
Climate finance
Much of the international dialogue surrounding climate finance remains focused on pledges, with billion-dollar figures announced at global summits but no clear timetables for delivery. For Pacific countries, the challenge is not just how much finance is available, but whether that finance is accessible, predictable and suited to their needs.
A recent UNDP analysis found that climate finance reaching the region remains fragmented, short-term and poorly aligned with the scale of the challenge. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated that Pacific Island countries will require annual spending averaging 9 percent of GDP to build coastal protection infrastructure that helps them protect their economies. For countries already facing tight fiscal constraints, taking on more debt is not a sustainable solution.
To address these financing challenges, Pacific governments, through the Pacific Islands Forum, have created the Pacific Resilience Facility. Designed and governed by the Pacific, it is structured to pool capital and provide grant-based funding for community-level climate and disaster resilience on terms that reflect the region’s priorities and fiscal realities. Now rolling out pilot community grants while raising capital for its long-term fund, the facility is designed to finance community resilience without adding to national debt burdens.
Ocean stewardship
Across the Pacific, the ocean sustains livelihoods, cultures, food security and national identity. Healthy reefs, mangroves and coastlines support fisheries and tourism, protect communities from waves, storm surges and coastal erosion, and sustain livelihoods across the region.
Pacific Island countries have long led efforts to protect and manage these ecosystems. In 2010, Pacific leaders endorsed the Framework for a Pacific Oceanscape, guiding ocean management across approximately 40 million square kilometres. In 2017, the Cook Islands established Marae Moana, bringing its entire 1.9-million-square-kilometre exclusive economic zone under an integrated management framework. In 2020, Niue established the 127,000-square-kilometre Moana Mahu Marine Protected Area, legally protecting 40 percent of its exclusive economic zone as a strict no-take zone. Two years later, it placed its entire exclusive economic zone under a multiple-use marine park.
Pacific countries recognise that ocean health underpins their economies and development, and they are building the systems needed to sustain it. In Tonga, the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)—a global initiative spanning over 133 countries, including 13 Pacific Island countries—is helping the government identify and mobilise finance for biodiversity. Ridge-to-Reef programming, which connects the management of land, water, forests and coastal ecosystems, is helping embed the value of coastal and marine ecosystems into public finance, development planning and long-term economic decision-making. Similarly, through BIOFIN, Papua New Guinea is developing a national Biodiversity Finance Plan to mobilise resources for conservation. The Investing in Coral Reefs and Blue Economy programme—supported by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs and the Joint SDG Fund—is also channelling investment into businesses that protect coral reefs and coastal ecosystems while supporting local livelihoods.
By strengthening the national systems used to govern and finance these assets, Pacific countries are moving beyond short-term conservation projects and laying the foundations for long-term stewardship, guided by national priorities and community knowledge.
Adaptation for development
Across the Pacific, governments are increasingly treating climate risk as a permanent feature of development, not an exceptional challenge. Adaptation and resilience are being built into how energy, infrastructure and public services are being designed and financed.
On Vio Island in Fiji, two programmes that might once have operated separately are being delivered as one integrated initiative. Through the Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Gov4Res) project, an existing community hall was upgraded to Category 5 cyclone standards so it can serve as an evacuation centre. In parallel, the Fiji Rural Electrification Fund is expanding the island’s existing solar mini-grid, using panels mounted on the centre’s roof. Together, these initiatives have connected clean energy with disaster preparedness: the centre remains useful throughout the year while providing a safe, reliably powered space during cyclones. The model is already being replicated across some of Fiji’s most remote island communities.
Vanuatu is applying the same principle to its energy transition. With support from Japan, three pico-hydro stations on Pentecost Island now provide reliable renewable electricity through 706 connections serving households, schools, health facilities, community halls and small businesses. Another initiative, funded by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure’s multi-donor Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund is developing climate-resilient design standards and piloting nature-based measures – including protecting water catchments and planting windbreaks and vegetation to control erosion – to safeguard selected pico-hydro and solar systems. A further project under preparation with support from the Special Climate Change Fund managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) would take this further by climate-proofing electricity infrastructure, improving battery storage and grid management, and embedding climate risk in provincial energy plans.
These examples show that in the Pacific, adaptation, mitigation and development are not separate lines of action. Resilience increasingly sits at the centre of both climate action and development planning.
Youth leadership
Pacific climate leadership is being shaped by those who will live with the impacts of decisions made today for most of their lives. Throughout 2026, a series of youth dialogues, or talanoa, have brought young Pacific Islanders together to develop a shared vision for a just and climate-resilient future. Their priorities will inform a youth communiqué, that will travel from the Pre-COP in Fiji to the COP31 negotiating rooms in Türkiye.
The process reflects a principle evident across the region’s climate action: people should have a meaningful role in decisions that affect them. For young people, that means moving beyond symbolic representation to sustained influence over the policies that will define their futures.
Pacific youth have already shown how far their ideas can travel. In 2019, 27 law students at the University of the South Pacific in Vanuatu set out to take the climate crisis to the world’s highest court. Their campaign grew into a global movement, was championed by the Government of Vanuatu and ultimately secured the support of the UN General Assembly. In July 2025, the International Court of Justice delivered a landmark advisory opinion clarifying countries’ legal obligations to tackle climate change.
What began in a Pacific classroom changed the global legal conversation. It showed that young people are already influencing the laws, policies and negotiations that will shape their futures.
The world must match Pacific leadership
For years, the story told about Pacific small island developing states and climate change has followed a familiar line: countries on the frontline, among the most exposed and least responsible, calling on the world to act before it is too late. That story remains true, but incomplete.
More than a decade after Pacific leaders gathered in Suva to champion the 1.5°C limit, the region is not waiting for the world to act on its behalf. Across the region, governments and communities are developing Pacific-led financing mechanisms, protecting the ocean as a foundation for development, embedding resilience in public investment and strengthening youth leadership. Together, they are building the systems and leadership needed to sustain climate action beyond any single project or summit.
At COP31, the question is whether the world will match Pacific leadership with the finance, ambition and solidarity needed to take these approaches to scale. …PACNEWS
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Peace Corps achieves historic milestone of 250,000 volunteers since 1961
WASHINGTON, 12 OCTOBER 2026 (PEACECORPS)— In the 250th year of the United States, the Peace Corps achieved the historic milestone of placing its 250,000th Peace Corps volunteer into service with the latest Cambodia cohort, sworn in Thursday last week.
Chargé d’Affaires of U.S Embassy Phnom Penh Aleks Zittle presided over the swearing-in ceremony of the 27 new Peace Corps volunteers.
The education volunteers will teach in primary and secondary schools and teacher training centres throughout Cambodia for the next two years. The new Cambodia volunteers join more than 3,400 Peace Corps volunteers currently serving in 60 countries worldwide.
Acting Peace Corps Director Christopher Landau congratulated the historic cohort of Volunteers, saying, “It’s fitting that the Peace Corps reached this milestone during America’s 250th anniversary year. From the agency’s earliest days 65 years ago, Peace Corps volunteers have embodied American values, leadership and goodwill in communities around the world. Wherever their service brings them, volunteers gain valuable skills while also delivering meaningful results for their host country partners. I want to thank and celebrate this historic cohort of volunteers for putting their personal passion, purpose, and skills to work for America and the world.”
In support of crossing the quarter-million volunteer threshold, the Peace Corps’ notable 2026 initiatives have increased service opportunities for all Americans.
*In partnership with America250, the agency is promoting volunteerism and national service as part of the America Gives initiative, the largest coordinated volunteering effort in U.S history.
*In February, the agency announced Tech Prosperity Corps, a new initiative to recruit, train and deploy skilled Americans to support the adoption of artificial intelligence in Peace Corps host countries participating in the American AI Exports Programme.
*In March, the agency launched the nostalgia-themed “Still the Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love” campaign that invites qualified Americans from every state, background and skillset to answer the call to serve.
*In May, the agency broadened the educational and work experience pathways that qualify individuals for Peace Corps service, ensuring the volunteer corps better reflects the wide range of skills and preparation Americans bring to public service.
*In July, the agency marked its official return to Palau with the first volunteers since 2018.
*In September, Acting Director Landau signed a letter of intent with the governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau demonstrating the three nations’ mutual interest in establishing a unified North Pacific Peace Corps programme.
*Also in September, Acting Director Landau signed a bilateral country agreement with the Solomon Islands government to reestablish a Peace Corps program in the Pacific Island nation after a 26-year absence.
Peace Corps volunteers collaborate with host country partners on locally prioritised projects, gaining skills and experience, while fostering mutual understanding and promoting American values. ……PACNEWS
