In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Australia’s ruling on coal ‘a clear signal’ to the world, Pacific minister says
2. PACIFIC — Southwest Pacific faces increased tropical cyclone risk
3. PACIFIC — Tuvalu urges Pacific law officers to address climate change threats to statehood
4. PALAU — Palau says flood of drugs brought by Chinese risks destabilisation
5. FIJI — Public had time to submit Constitution views: Fiji PM
6. FIJI — Fiji Government investigates reported cyberattack on Suva-based regional organisation
7. UN — ‘Need for UN has never been greater,’ UN chief says, proposing slimmer $3.3 billion budget for 2027
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Disasters cost $228 billion in housing losses every year
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Kava businesses in Fiji seek affordable registration, separate fines
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fisherman urges Fiji Fisheries Ministry to review licensing process
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Solomon Islands Minister Ramofafia takes Country’s Development agenda to World Bank Meetings
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — A Deeper Dive into The Geopolitics of IUU Fishing
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — WIN DRR Awards spotlight women leaders turning global commitments into inclusive, locally-led disaster resilience in Samoa and the Philippines
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: SBS PACNEWS 2: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Australia’s ruling on coal ‘a clear signal’ to the world, Pacific minister says
CANBERRA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (SBS)—Tuvalu’s Climate Minister has hit back at claims that last week’s Pre-COP event hosted by his country was a flop, while saying a phase-out of fossil fuels must be part of the discussion around COP31 in Türkiye.
Dr Maina Vakafua Talia also told SBS News his nation welcomed a landmark Australian High Court decision on coal and gas emissions, which provoked outcry from the mining sector, as a “clear signal” of moral responsibility.
Tuvalu, whose population numbers around 10,000, hosted a leader’s gathering at last week’s Pre-COP event shared with Fiji, part of a compromise struck by Australia to divide hosting rights with Türkiye.
The event came under heavy Australian media scrutiny, with shadow energy minister Dan Tehan labelling the event an “embarrassment” and a “flop” over the low number of leaders attending beyond a group from the Pacific.
While Talia acknowledged the Tuvalu meeting was only able to attract two global leaders from outside the Pacific (Timor-Leste and Mauritius), down from five initially expected, he described the turnout as “a big achievement for Tuvalu and for the Pacific.”
“We need to be very ambitious,” he told SBS News in Canberra, talking up the event’s shift from “a boring dialogue” to “a more moving, emotional engagement” focused on the challenges facing low-lying communities like his.
“The leaders were able to see for themselves, engage with the young ones, engage with our elders. One of the high representatives that came to Tuvalu told me, ‘My heart bleeds when I saw the kids, when I saw our elders. Now I understand’.”
The Taku Pakasoa Declaration agreed to at Pre-COP urged nations to act to keep the 1.5-degree climate target in reach, as well as increasing access to Climate Finance.
But there appears to be a diminishing appetite among nations for November’s Antalya agreement to contain language focused on the phase-out of fossil fuels like Coal and Gas.
Türkiye’s climate minister Murat Kurum, who will oversee the COP31 presidency, told the Guardian last week the world is “already in a transition” away from fossil fuels, reportedly suggesting the issue could be addressed indirectly through other means.
“If we are to discuss the 1.5 degrees, we are literally discussing the phasing out of fossil fuels,” Talia said.
“We are talking about the backbone of some economies, but this is the reality that we have to face, and we really need to change the whole narrative, to change our priorities … to ensure that the survival of other peoples is always there.”
Talia, who is set to share a related panel with energy minister Chris Bowen in Canberra, said he had faith Australia “can do more with the power that they have” to make the case for strong action, standing up to nations like India, Russia and China who are likely to argue for a moderate approach.
While leaders were gathering for Pre-COP, Australia’s High Court delivered a landmark climate decision, finding in the case of Mount Pleasant Coal Mine in New South Wales, planning authorities must consider the entire carbon footprint of the project, including the emissions produced by the burning of fossil fuels overseas.
The decision referenced the 2025 International Court of Justice ruling brought on by Vanuatu, which found nations have international law obligations to protect the climate.
Talia said the Australian High Court ruling showed the impact of that ICJ precedent, and was one long-awaited by the Pacific nation.
“”This is a good signal, a very clear signal, not just for the Pacific countries. It’s really a moral responsibility for countries,” he said.
The Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union signed in 2024 was the first bilateral agreement to contain a significant pathway around climate mobility, with more than half the nation’s population applying in the initial ballot.
“There is no treaty in this world we can allude to say that this is 100percent,” Talia said, conceding “there are challenges, but they are manageable at the moment.”
He said the risk of a brain drain was one his government would have to manage but rejected the claim the treaty was “creating an avenue for people to escape”….PACNEWS
PAC – WEATHER WATCH: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Southwest Pacific faces increased tropical cyclone risk
WELLINGTON, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— The Southwest Pacific could experience seven to 11 named tropical cyclones during the 2026/27 season, with at least four expected to reach Category 3 or higher as activity increases across parts of the region.
The outlook, coordinated by Earth Sciences New Zealand, warns that cyclone impacts could be more likely near and east of the International Date Line, where activity is usually lower.
The tropical cyclone season typically runs from November to April, but forecasts indicate it could start earlier this year.
Dr Andrew Lorrey, Principal Scientist for Climate and Environmental Applications at Earth Sciences New Zealand, said the developing strong El Niño could contribute to increased cyclone activity.
“During past strong El Niño events like the one that’s currently unfolding, we’ve typically seen elevated numbers of cyclones across the region, along with more activity to the east of the International Date Line. This is an area that’s usually fairly quiet,” Lorrey said.
He said that although cyclone numbers across the Southwest Pacific had gradually declined over the long term, significant year-to-year variations remained.
“Extended weather forecasts indicate we may also have an early start to the tropical cyclone season in the region this year,” he said.
The 2026/27 outlook identifies elevated cyclone activity in the north, northeast and central parts of the Southwest Pacific, while the southeast is expected to experience normal to elevated activity.
Activity is forecast to be near normal north of the Coral Sea, in the west-central Southwest Pacific and around northern New Zealand. Normal or reduced activity is expected east of the Coral Sea.
New Zealand faces a normal risk of tropical cyclone impacts, with the greatest likelihood during late summer and autumn.
Lorrey said February and March were usually the most active months for ex-tropical cyclones affecting New Zealand, although storms could arrive earlier or occur after the end of April.
This season, northern and western parts of New Zealand facing the Tasman Sea could have a greater chance of experiencing a decaying storm than eastern areas.
Lorrey urged Pacific communities to monitor forecasts and follow official advice when tropical cyclone warnings were issued.
“Communities across the Pacific should pay attention to forecasts and heed official advice if a weather warning related to a tropical cyclone is issued,” he said.
The Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook is coordinated by Earth Sciences New Zealand, with contributions from MetService, the University of Newcastle and meteorological services across Pacific island countries….PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE/PILON: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Tuvalu urges Pacific law officers to address climate change threats to statehood
FUNAFUTI, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) –Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo has called on Pacific law officers to strengthen regional legal frameworks to protect countries’ statehood, sovereignty and maritime boundaries from the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels.
Opening the 45th Pacific Islands Law Officers’ Network (PILON) Annual Meeting in Funafuti on Tuesday, Teo urged members to expand their work to address the growing legal challenges facing Pacific island countries.
“Our legal community must examine and strengthen the legal instruments needed to protect permanent maritime boundaries, safeguard statehood under international law, and support legal frameworks for climate resilience,” Teo said.
He said the region’s legal institutions had an important role in developing measures to safeguard Pacific countries against the long-term consequences of climate change.
Incoming PILON Chair and Tuvalu Attorney General Laigane Italeli Talia said regional unity and cooperation were essential to strengthening justice systems and responding to shared legal challenges.
“Climate change is our single greatest existential threat, and there is no doubt that sea-level rise will continue to threaten the very core of our existence, our statehood, our sovereignty, our people, our identity and our livelihood,” Talia said.
Her remarks highlighted the importance of addressing the legal implications of rising seas as Pacific countries work to protect their national identity, sovereignty and rights under international law.
Outgoing PILON Chair and Papua New Guinea Department of Justice and Attorney General Secretary Dr Eric Kwa stressed that trust and sustained cooperation were critical to advancing legal reforms across the region.
“Reform, at its heart, depends on trust between governments, institutions, leaders and the people they serve,” Kwa said.
The meeting, which runs until 15 October, brings together senior law officers and legal representatives from across the Pacific to discuss shared priorities and strengthen regional legal cooperation.
Key areas of discussion include combating corruption, addressing cybercrime and strengthening legal responses to sexual and gender-based violence.
Co-hosted by the Government of Tuvalu and the Australian Attorney-General’s Department, the annual meeting provides a forum for Pacific legal leaders to strengthen partnerships and develop practical responses to emerging regional challenges….PACNEWS
PALAU – DRUGS FIGHT/DIPLOMACY: NIKKEI ASIA PACNEWS 2: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Palau says flood of drugs brought by Chinese risks destabilisation
KOROR, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (NIKKEI ASIA)— Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr claims the Pacific island nation of just 18,000 people is under assault from an influx of illegal drugs that threaten governmental and social stability.
The culprits, he says, are Chinese nationals.
“Drugs have been on the rise, especially crystal meth, and we now have 13 Chinese imprisoned in Palau,” Whipps told reporters during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) his country hosted from late August to early September, expressing exasperation at a situation that has compounded prison overcrowding.
The archipelago’s only jail, with a capacity of 65 prisoners, held 113 as of the end of September, the 13 Chinese accounting for 11.5 percent of those incarcerated. Six Chinese nationals were sentenced between July and October last year for trafficking, possessing or attempting to import illicit drugs, according to announcements posted on Palau’s Ministry of Justice’s Facebook page.
On Tuesday, the overall number of prisoners stood at 107, with the number of Chinese at 12, or 11 percent of the total, according to the ministry. Chinese made up the largest foreign nationality, it said.
Palau is one of few countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than China and Whipps has been critical of Beijing. In 2024, he accused it of being behind a cyberattack on his country. China’s foreign ministry countered that the country “firmly opposes and cracks down on all forms of cyberattacks.”
And while Whipps did not claim any direct Chinese government involvement in the drug issue, he told Nikkei Asia that what the Chinese nationals bring in is “directed at the Palau market” so they “can make money here and they can weaken our government and our social structures.”
In May 2025, a court in the Northern Mariana Islands sentenced a Chinese national to 25 years in prison in a methamphetamine case that stretched from Saipan and Guam to Palau, where he had fled and was convicted of manslaughter in the killing of another Chinese national before being extradited.
Whipps cited the case as an example of the problem’s cross-border nature and called for greater cooperation and improvement in sharing information in the Pacific region to prevent such “bad actors” from entering the region “because they are destroying our youth, destabilising our countries.”
Nikkei Asia has reached out to China’s foreign and justice ministries for comment.
Palau, located east of the Philippines and north of Indonesia, is not the only Pacific country facing drug challenges, the causes of which vary.
The leaders recognise the problem and agreed in their PIFLM communique last month to “strengthen cooperation against transnational organised crime and illicit drug trafficking through enhanced intelligence sharing, coordination and maritime security cooperation.”
David Manning, Papua New Guinea’s police commissioner, told Nikkei Asia that while meth and its precursors brought there arrive “mostly out of Asia,” the “large majority” of illegal drugs coming through is cocaine from Central and South America.
That route, commonly known as the Pacific Drug Highway, brings narcotics via yachts and semi-submersibles destined for the lucrative Australian and New Zealand markets. Between January and May, 17 metric tons of illicit drugs, mostly cocaine, were seized in the Pacific, compared to 4.6 tons in all of 2025, Australian Federal Police said in May.
Caught in the middle of the route are small countries like Fiji, traditionally a transit point, but which is now seeing drugs on its streets. The Fiji Police Force recorded 2,446 cases of illicit drug activity in the year to May 2025, with 50 cases involving juveniles.
Driven by a sharp rise in intravenous meth use and unsanitary needle sharing. Fiji has seen an estimated increase of more than 3,000 percent in new HIV infections since 2010, according to UNAIDS modelling. It faces the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the world, with health authorities in September declaring a national emergency for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. One in every 60 adults now has HIV, says the Ministry of Health.
Jennifer Olegeriil, Palau’s justice minister, sees Fiji as a cautionary tale, saying it could be her country in five to 10 years.
“We can reach that point if we do not do the proper intervention at this point, and we need to do it big.”
Virginia Comolli, head of the Pacific Programme at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime, said Chinese criminal groups are exploiting opportunities in Palau, as it “presents a combination of characteristics that can make it attractive to transnational criminal networks.” Those include its proximity to Asia and “limited law-enforcement, border-control and regulatory capacity.”
In 2020, 57 Chinese nationals were convicted in Palau and later expelled after law enforcement conducted an online gambling raid at a hotel they were operating in without a license and without paying taxes, according to the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Other similar incidents have followed, including a police raid in January 2025 that uncovered an online gambling and scamming operation involving 9 Chinese nationals working in a hotel who were later deported, according to a 2025 National Security Coordination Office (NSCO) report.
While Chinese or Chinese-speaking criminal networks have also conducted similar activities across Southeast Asia, “what makes Palau particularly significant is the scale of this activity relative to the country’s very small population and institutional capacity,” Comolli told Nikkei Asia.
John Hennessey-Niland, a former U.S Ambassador to Palau, said Chinese criminal organisations have long been active in the country and “really are a menace to the people here, and to good governance and stability,” specifically through cybercrime.
“They realise that because Palau doesn’t have official relations with Beijing, this may be a more benign place to operate,” he told Nikkei Asia.
“The long reach of Chinese police and authorities may be a little bit harder to get to here because Palau recognises Taiwan, so they may have felt this is a perfect spot.”
Olegeriil said she knows where the drugs come from, but did not identify the location.
“I enforce the law, so I deal with numbers and I follow the leads, I follow where the drugs come from, I follow where the money’s coming in from, and it’s leading me to one specific country and origin,” she said. “I haven’t seen any other leads taking me somewhere else.”
She added that smugglers bring drugs in suitcases, on their persons, through parcels delivered to the post office, drop offs on outer islands and containers on commercial cargo vehicles.
Graeme Smith, senior fellow at the Australian National University’s Department of Pacific Affairs, cited Palau’s ease of entry as an issue. “That is part of the problem of a lot of tourism-dependent Pacific countries, in that you rely on Chinese tourists, but you also rely on them being truthful when they enter the country. That’s a big vulnerability.”
China is currently Palau’s largest single source of tourists, with 20,792 Chinese visitors recorded in the first 8 months of 2026, making up over one-third of total international visitors, according to Bureau of Immigration data.
There has been some cooperation with authorities in China. Intelligence sharing by Palau with Macao uncovered a cross-border drug trafficking syndicate operating in the region and several arrests were made in the Chinese special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, preventing 3.4 kilograms of meth from entering the Pacific country, according to the 2025 NSCO report.
But Comolli said that while “evidence points to an increasingly important Chinese dimension to methamphetamine trafficking in Palau, particularly since 2024,” other drug sources, including from the Philippines, the U.S and Guam, still play a role.
Olegeriil said illicit drugs are now gradually permeating Palauan society, with the customer base broadening. Sellers are “breaking it into components, which are more accessible and more affordable to different groups of the population.”
Nancy Wong, a member of Mechesil Belau, a prominent Palau women’s group, told Nikkei Asia addiction has been “getting worse,” contributing to a loss of productivity, an increase in thefts and robberies and families being torn apart.
In January, Whipps declared 2026 as the year to Just Say No to Illegal Drugs and launched a national working group in February to coordinate a unified response.
He signed a bill in May that expands drug testing and increases penalties for serious drug-related offenses.
Palau is also beefing up border security, from investing in airport X-ray machines to stationing narcotics officers in post offices. In June, Japan delivered new drug detection devices, expanding Palau’s customs screening capabilities at different points of entry. The U.S. has also provided drug-sniffing dogs.
“We’re sending a message out there that Palau is a nation of laws, and we are going to not just sit idly by while foreign influences come and bring the drugs to try and destroy our communities,” Olegeriil said.
“This is my message: we’re coming after you.”
But detection and interdiction are not enough to solve the problem, which requires an “all-inclusive approach” by government and society, she said. That means reinforcing education in schools about drug harms and implementing addiction treatment and counselling programmes in hospitals. Partners have been helpful, with Taiwan funding grants for 31 community organisations supporting antidrug initiatives earlier this year.
Mechesil Belau’s Wong noted the challenge but expressed confidence.
“We’re a small country. It can be contained or eradicated, but it takes everybody,” said Wong……PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Public had time to submit Constitution views: Fiji PM
SUVA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the public had sufficient time to submit their views to the Constitution Review Commission (CRC).
And the Special Committee will now consult the public on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026.
Rabuka, who chairs the committee, said the Bill had already passed its second reading and vote in Parliament.
“They have had all the time to have submitted their views to the CRC,” he said.
“Now it is the special committee that will have to carry on the consultation on the basis of the views of the people in relation to the bill.”
Public consultations begin tomorrow, Thursday, at the following venues:
*Thursday: Suva Civic Centre, 9am to noon; Vunimono High School Hall, Nausori, 5pm to 8pm.
* Friday: Namosi Provincial Council Hall, Navua, 10am to noon; Lawai Village Hall, Nadroga, 4.30pm to 6pm.
*Saturday: Nadi Civic Centre Hall, 10am to 1pm; Fiji Girmit Centre, Lautoka, 3pm to 5pm.
Members of the public can also send written submissions by email to the committee chairperson. Submissions must reach Parliament by 4pm on Friday, October 23.
The committee must table its report in Parliament during the November sitting.
Parliament said the committee held deliberations Tuesdat. One member joined the meeting virtually from Dubai while travelling back to Fiji via Auckland after attending the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania.
Parliament encouraged members of the public to participate in the consultations and “make their voices heard”….PACNEWS
FIJI – CYBER SECURITY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Fiji Government investigates reported cyberattack on Suva-based regional organisation
SUVA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji’s Ministry of Policing and Communications has launched an investigation into a suspected cyberattack targeting a regional organisation based in Suva, following concerns raised by the United States Embassy.
Minister for Policing and Communications Ioane Naivalurua confirmed that the Ministry was investigating and monitoring developments surrounding the reported cybersecurity incident.
Naivalurua in a statement said the Ministry had taken note of the public statement issued by the U.S Embassy regarding the suspected breach.
“The Ministry is investigating and monitoring developments relating to the reported cyberattack and encourages government, NGOs and the private sector to take preventative action and harden the security of their respective digital systems.”
The statement follows allegations by the US Embassy that hackers linked to China had targeted a Suva-based regional organisation.
The Chinese Embassy has rejected the allegations, criticising what it described as politically motivated accusations.
Naivalurua urged organisations across Fiji to strengthen their cybersecurity measures and remain vigilant against potential threats to their digital infrastructure.
“Organisations are to maintain appropriate cybersecurity safeguards and continuous monitoring of their networks.”
He also reminded organisations that cybersecurity incidents should be reported to Fiji’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT).
“Any cybersecurity incident in Fiji should be reported to Fiji CERT through the email address: fiji-cert@digitalfiji.gov.fj.”
The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to protecting Fiji’s digital infrastructure and strengthening the country’s ability to respond to emerging cyber threats.
“The Fiji Government remains committed to strengthening cybersecurity resilience and promoting a safe and secure digital environment in Fiji and the wider Pacific region.”
The Ministry has not disclosed the identity of the regional organisation reportedly targeted or confirmed whether its systems were compromised.
Investigations into the reported incident are continuing….PACNEWS
UN – BUDGET: UN PACNEWS 2: Wed 14 Oct 2026
‘Need for UN has never been greater,’ UN chief says, proposing slimmer $3.3 billion budget for 2027
NEW YORK, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—Amid climate disruption, an AI revolution, war and growing hunger, “the need for the United Nations has never been greater,” Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, presenting a US$3.3 billion programme budget proposal for next year – a cut of US$40.8 million.
“The challenges before us are profound,” Guterres told the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee, comprising all 193 UN Member States that handle administrative and budgetary matters at UN Headquarters in New York.
“Geopolitical divisions continue to deepen, conflicts persist across regions and humanitarian needs are soaring, international law is trampled, climate disruption is hitting every continent and artificial intelligence is reshaping economies and societies,” said the Secretary-General.
Moreover, the planet’s collective Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aimed at leaving no one behind, “are slipping further from reach”, Guterres said.
“And yet, in this era of uncertainty and fragmentation, the need for the United Nations has never been greater,” he declared.
Reminding the committee that more than a year has passed since the UN80 Initiative was launched, the UN chief said “with your support, we set in motion far-reaching changes guided by a clear objective: to make the Secretariat more efficient, more effective, and better equipped to serve in a rapidly changing world.”
Taking stock of UN80 achievements, he said the Secretariat had already “moved from proposals to implementation”:
*The number of underrepresented Member States fell from 28 to 26 between August 2024 and August 2026
*Payroll operations have been consolidated
*Phase one of common administrative platforms had launched in New York and Bangkok
*Some functions have moved to lower-cost duty stations
*The UN Secretariat has absorbed a reduction of 3,116 regular budget posts
Through a voluntary early separation programme and reassignments, he said the impact on staff was “much smaller than what could be imagined” because planning began a year and a half in advance in the anticipated shortfalls.
For 2027, the Secretary-General proposed additional post relocations across 12 entities, with the largest going to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
He also proposed abolishing some high-level posts, downgrading 14 senior positions and extending administrative platforms to Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and Addis Ababa.
At the same time, he pointed out that the proposed budget incorporates standard-cost adjustments from the outset for the first time, so there will be no separate recosting later in the year.
However, the Secretary-General stressed that “efficiency alone cannot compensate for an unstable financial foundation”.
“Member States must fulfil their financial obligations in full and on time, as required by the UN Charter,” he said.
The Secretary-General also stressed that the world body needs predictable financing and timely payments of national dues to implement the mandates the Member States themselves have approved.
“Taken together, these measures will help address the liquidity challenges of the Organisation and support the effective implementation of mandates,” he said……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
UN- HOUSING /DISASTER: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Disasters cost $228 billion in housing losses every year
GENEVA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — Highlighting the need for greater investment in stronger homes and better preparedness, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that millions of homes are damaged or destroyed annually “displacing families and deepening poverty”.
Marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN chief stressed that “as climate and disaster risks multiply, building safer dwellings is the shared responsibility of governments, developers, engineers and communities”.
Echoing that message, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – UNDRR – noted that damage to housing alone accounts for 43percent of the direct cost of cyclones, floods, tsunamis and earthquakes.
Spokesperson Jeanette Elsworth stressed that reducing the impacts of disaster depended on building resilient homes and households that had prepared for the worst.
“Among those people who had received an advance warning during a disaster, only 27 percent of those who had neither a household disaster plan nor confidence in their ability to protect themselves…were able to act on that warning,” she said, citing data from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll 2026.
“By contrast, 83 percent of those who had both a plan and confidence in their ability to respond were able to take action.”
Elsworth noted that progress in reducing disaster deaths over the last 11 years has not been matched by reductions in their economic impact.
All households should have access to risk information, early warning alerts and the resources they need to protect themselves, she maintained, in a call to put housing resilience at the centre of disaster risk reduction efforts.
Governments, the private sector and community authorities could do this by “building in safer locations, enforcing resilient building standards, retrofitting existing homes and empowering households with the knowledge and tools they need to prepare for disasters”, she continued.
The UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) helped 1.4 million people in 2025 across 39 countries with disaster risk reduction programmes, supporting nearly 1,200 communities.
Maria Moita, Director, Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery at IOM, said that for many people, the end of a disaster is “only the beginning of a much longer struggle to return home, restore livelihoods and rebuild their lives”.
The agency also helped extend early warning coverage to more than 1.2 million people.
Recent emergencies in Nepal, Venezuela and Colombia have demonstrated how planning for disaster and data gathering can have a significant bearing on recovery.
In Nepal, where devastating flooding caused by a glacier collapsing in August affected more than 84,000 people and damaged approximately 7,500 homes, IOM assessments across 48 displacement sites identified 3,650 displaced people and 28 sites still operational.
In Venezuela, following the June earthquakes, the agency assisted 50,600 people, providing temporary accommodation, essential supplies, health care and protection.
Surveys indicated that more than half of affected households identified housing repairs as a priority. “The lesson was clear: recovery planning had to begin early, before temporary displacement became prolonged,” Moita stressed.
In Colombia, an earthquake in August reportedly affected nearly 500,000 people and damaged more than 200,000 homes, leaving an estimated 20,000 families displaced in Cali.
“Rebuilding homes alone is not enough, communities also need functioning services and opportunities to rebuild their lives,” the IOM official noted.
“We need sustained investment in early warnings, local preparedness, safer housing, and recovery efforts that begin from the outset and build resilience. Disasters may strike suddenly. Displacement can last much longer,” Moita said…..PACNEWS
FIJI – KAVA INDUSTRY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Kava businesses in Fiji seek affordable registration, separate fines
LABASA, 14 OCTOBER 2206 (FIJI SUN) —Registering kava businesses will help protect farmers and communities while supporting quality and safety, says Fiji Parliament Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights chairperson Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure.
Speaking during a consultation on the Yaqona (Kava) Bill 2026 at the Civic Centre in Labasa, Vakalalabure said the recent death of a person in Fiji after consuming kava was an eye-opener.
“There are many people who buy kava from overseas, such as Vanuatu, mix it here and sell it overseas using the Fiji kava brand name,” Vakalalabure said.
“This shouldn’t be happening because we don’t know what kind of plant is used to make kava in overseas.”
He said a registered kava industry would help the Ministry of Agriculture track production volumes, ensure market and export access, enable Government oversight and improve traceability.
Furthermore, he added consultations had revealed that some people had concerns about the regulation and taxation of the kava industry and the application of other laws.
“The Standing Committee members will take into account what was gathered during the consultations, and we have also seen that some things in the Bill need to be changed,” he said.
“The Bill applies to everybody, and we want it to be practical for everyone, including those living in villages and towns.”
Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights member Sachida Nand encouraged attendees to make submissions, saying there were no right or wrong suggestions.
“No one will be penalised for asking questions or giving suggestions,” Nand said.
“If people don’t speak now, and the Bill becomes an Act, then it will become law.”
One of the attendees, Josua Vosawale said the registration process must be made clear.
“We are not against the bill but this will bring a lot of changes which will affect everyone,” Vosawale said.
“I hope the registration fees would be affordable.”
Meanwhile, a kava grower has called for separate fines for individual and commercial farmers under the Yaqona (Kava) Bill No. 28 of 2026.
Pita Tudonu, 63, of Dogotuki, Macuata, told the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights during a consultation on the Bill at the Civic Centre in Labasa yesterday that the proposed fine was too high for an ordinary farmer from a rural area or an island who only needed money to survive or provide for the family.
“The proposed Bill states that an individual who sells kava could face up to two years in jail or a $10,000 fine if they operate without registering their business,” Mr Tudonu said.
“We must understand that the people involved in the value chain have different roles and operate at different types of business such as small and medium.”
He said the Bill defined a yaqona operator as any person engaged in cultivating, manufacturing, processing, packaging, offering for sale, importing or exporting yaqona or yaqona products.
However, he said there needed to be a distinction between the different types of operators, with penalties reflecting their activities.
In response, Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights chairperson Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure said a body corporate operating without registration or a licence could face a fine of up to $100,000(US$50,000).
“The offence does not apply to the possession or consumption of yaqona for personal use, not exceeding the quantity prescribed by regulation; or the reasonable traditional or cultural use of yaqona within Fiji,” Vakalalabure said.
He said the Bill proposed the establishment of a Fiji Yaqona Council, which would appoint enforcement officers to enter and inspect premises, check records and take samples.
Obstructing enforcement officers or providing false information would also be an offence, he said.
Another attendee, Shalendra Singh, proposed requiring all yaqona operators to have a land lease as a condition of operating their businesses.
“This way, the officers can check their farms to establish whether they are actually planting or selling yaqona before issuing a licence,” Singh said.
He said the requirement would also help improve monitoring of the yaqona industry in Fiji.
Vakalalabure said the suggestion was welcomed and had been noted…..PACNEWS
FIJI – FISHERIES: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Fisherman urges Fiji Fisheries Ministry to review licensing process
LABASA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—A licensed fisherman has called on the Ministry of Fisheries to strengthen the process of obtaining fishing licences from qoliqoli owners.
Qoliqoli refers to a traditional Fijian customary fishing ground or inshore marine tenure area.
During the ministry’s stakeholder consultations on the Inshore Fisheries Management Bill (IFMB) and Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM) in Labasa on Monday, Ashok Kumar, 63, said fishing licences were valid for one year.
“By the beginning of December, we reach out to the qoliqoli owners to ask about the cost so that we can pay them and renew our licences before the beginning of the next year,” Kumar said.
“However, this has not been happening in the past years.”
He said he had waited three weeks to receive his 2026 fishing licence, which was issued towards the end of January.
Kumar has been in the fishing business for 20 years.
He also raised concerns about boat captains leaving their jobs after collecting income for several months.
“When the boat captain gets the licence to operate, he is choosy, and I have experienced it many times where some run away after a few months of collecting income,” Mr Kumar said.
“We need to strengthen this area so that we don’t struggle to find boat captains and perhaps the licence can be given to the boat owner.”
The nationwide consultation initiative covers the Western, Northern, Eastern and Central divisions. It aims to gather community feedback on the IFMB and CBFM frameworks.
Inshore fisheries support the traditional livelihoods, food security and economies of coastal communities.
The consultations aim to empower communities, strengthen resource monitoring, improve sustainable fishing practices and ensure local concerns inform policymaking….PACNEWS
SOL – BANK MEET: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Solomon Islands Minister Ramofafia takes Country’s Development agenda to World Bank Meetings
HONIARA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS)—Minister of Finance and Treasury Rexson Ramofafia says Solomon Islands’ participation in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group (WBG) provides an opportunity to advance discussions on the country’s development priorities.
These include building a resilient economy, improving essential infrastructure and public services, strengthening climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing public financial management and accountability.
Minister Ramofafia is leading the Solomon Islands delegation to the annual meetings, which run from 12 to 18 October in Bangkok, Thailand.
“The meetings will also provide an opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can drive economic growth, improve productivity, create jobs and expand inclusive and sustainable development,” he said.
Ramofafia said the delegation would engage development partners on approaches tailored to Solomon Islands’ circumstances, including its geographical dispersion, exposure to external shocks and vulnerability to natural disasters.
He said the delegation’s participation reflected the GREAT Coalition Government’s commitment to working with development partners to advance national priorities and the country’s development agenda.
Ramofafia’s delegation includes senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Central Bank of Solomon Islands and other banking institutions.
The annual meetings bring together finance ministers, central bank governors, development partners, multilateral development banks and non-governmental organisations to discuss global economic stability, sustainable development and financial resilience.
The meetings also provide member countries with opportunities to raise development concerns, discuss policy priorities and strengthen partnerships through bilateral talks and side events.
An estimated 1,500 participants are expected to attend this year’s gathering….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
A Deeper Dive into The Geopolitics of IUU Fishing
By Elizabeth Feldmann-DeMello
NEW YORK, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (NEWSECURITY BEAT) —A vote on the permanent location and operationalization of the permanent Secretariat of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement will be taken in January 2027. This rapidly-approaching moment marks a new chapter for ocean governance in the international community, bringing the world one step closer to an answer to the age-old question: Who actually controls the world’s vast marine resources?
I found myself pondering this question during my first fisheries patrol. I still can remember jumping from our Over the Horizon small boat in the Pacific Ocean to conduct my first boarding of a commercial longliner. I was nervous and excited, and not sure what to expect.
That longliner looked like a run of the mill fishing vessel from a distance. Once on board, its paperwork appeared to be in order, and its catch was nothing out of the ordinary. But as I waited for the boarding officer to finish, it dawned on me how these boardings are much more than just safety and compliance checks. They are part of an evolving contest over who controls the world’s fisheries.
When people hear the phrase “illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing,” they see an environmental problem and/or a law enforcement problem that can be fixed with more patrol boats and harsher penalties. Yet what they often do not often realise is that IUU fishing is also a governance, food security, and national security issue. It is a task that requires a combination of economic, diplomatic, law enforcement, and fisheries governance reforms aimed at challenging the current political and economic structures that make distant water fishing (DWF) profitable.
Navigating An Unexpected Gap
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea gives coastal states sovereign rights over the marine resources within Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) which extend 200 nautical miles from their coastlines. Theoretically, these coastal states should have full ownership and control of their EEZs, with the power to regulate access by foreign fishing fleets and ensure that economic benefits from the nation’s marine resources remain within their own communities.
Realistically, however, many coastal states lack the capability and resources to accomplish this aim. The result is that a persistent gap emerges between the legal authorities that support a nation’s fisheries management and the on-the-water operational realities that define the contemporary commercial fishing industry. This gap unexpectedly leaves resource-rich coastal states particularly vulnerable, with IUU fishing activity disproportionally affecting nations that have abundant fish stocks but possess inadequate resources to manage them.
And as industrial DWF fleets have become more prevalent, the governance challenges for coastal states have become even more pronounced. While DWF fleets often operate legally and play an integral role in global seafood production, weak oversight and harmful economic incentives can encourage them to engage in—or facilitate IUU fishing. So, the issue is not the existence of DWF fleets, but rather the political and economic incentives that motivate them to become parties to illegal actions.
Hidden Drivers of IUU
Government subsidies are among the biggest drivers of DWF profitability. Fuel subsidies, construction grants, tax exemptions, and other factors encourage trawlers, longliners, and purse seiners to travel longer distances to fishing grounds with weaker enforcement.
This rush to waters with more lax regulation plays a key role in the prevalence of IUU fishing. Consequently, IUU fishing accounts for an estimated annual economic impact of US$24 billion to US$50 billion, reducing revenue and weakening food security and livelihoods of coastal communities.
Take the case of West Africa. The Financial Transparency Coalition reports that approximately 50 percent of the world’s industrial fishing vessels suspected of engaging in IUU fishing operate in West Africa’s waters. Many of these vessels can be linked to Chinese and European owners. Six West African countries also account for about 20 percent of the world’s illegally caught fish.
Another common tactic used by vessels that engage in IUU fishing is “going dark”: intentionally turning off or “spoofing” their Automatic Identification System transponders. Hiding themselves from being tracked allows these vessels to cross maritime boundaries, enter restricted or prohibited fishing areas, and engage in transshipment with a much lower risk of detection. This tactic further inhibits enforcement measures.
During my own participation in patrols, the difficulty of executing successful maritime enforcement actions was not lost on me. Capable equipment and well-trained boarding teams were not enough. Holding violators accountable depended upon the coastal state’s capacity to prosecute and enforce its own fisheries laws.
A Regional Approach
The challenge of effective enforcement grows exponentially for countries that have far fewer capabilities. So, how can smaller coastal states overcome these hurdles? The Pacific Islands demonstrate that this imbalance does not inevitably lead to failure.
For many years, Pacific Island countries chose to negotiate separately with foreign fishing fleets, which drastically reduced their shared bargaining power. Eight nations eventually stopped competing against one another for access fees and formed the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA).
The beneficial effects of doing so quickly became apparent These nations together gained collective control over waters that produce roughly 50% of the world’s skipjack tuna. The coalition also introduced the Vessel Day Scheme to sell fishing days across their combined EEZs. Fishing fleets interested in targeting tuna in PNA waters were required to negotiate with the entire region rather than bilaterally with individual countries.
Through this new management practice, revenue for the PNA members increased from approximately US$60 million in 2010 to almost US$500 million in 2017, which profoundly altered the power dynamic between Pacific Islands and foreign fishing nations. Shared ventures such as Operation Tui Moana also allowed these countries to coordinate satellite surveillance, share intelligence, and conduct joint operations and training missions to address IUU fishing head on.
Today, the Western and Central Pacific skipjack tuna fishery is widely regarded as one of the world’s best managed fisheries, proving effective governance can deliver both ecological sustainability and economic prosperity. The lesson is that institutions, governance, and diplomacy do matter. When smaller coastal states manage shared stocks together instead of alone, they can fundamentally rebalance power.
Looking Beyond Maritime Law Enforcement
My own operational experience and research have taught me that we cannot rely on at-sea boardings to solve IUU fishing. While stronger maritime enforcement is essential, it does not address the fundamental economic incentives that encourage illegal fishing activities. A coordinated global approach is necessary.
The elements of such an approach are readily identified: accept the World Trade Organisation’s Protocol of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, fully implement the Port State Measures Agreement to stop illegally harvested catch from entering the global market, increase transparency in fishing access agreements and vessel ownership, and strengthen regional partnerships that empower coastal states.
Ultimately, addressing IUU fishing will require an international community that is willing to reform the economic and governance systems that make illegal fishing profitable in the first place…..PACNEWS
Elizabeth Feldmann-DeMello is an active-duty officer in the U.S Coast Guard and a recent graduate of Johns Hopkins University. Her firsthand experience conducting fisheries patrols in West Africa and the Pacific Ocean shapes her research on maritime security, ocean governance, and international environmental policy.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
WIN DRR Awards spotlight women leaders turning global commitments into inclusive, locally-led disaster resilience in Samoa and the Philippines
APIA/MANILA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (UNDRR)—-The Women’s International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Leadership Awards 2026 have been granted to Mata’afa Fa’atino Utumapu of Samoa, General Manager of Nuanua O Le Alo (NOLA) and Female Co-Chair of the Pacific Disability Forum, and Aileen Kesa Marie Hualde of the Philippines, Executive Director of the Women Organisation of Rajah Mamalu Descendants (WORMD), in recognition of their contributions to strengthening inclusive disaster resilience and advancing women’s leadership in communities facing multiple and intersecting risks.
Announced during an online ceremony, the awards spotlight women leaders who are driving inclusive and locally led approaches to disaster risk reduction across Asia and the Pacific. They recognise leadership that brings diverse expertise and lived experience needed to enhance disaster risk decision-making, helping communities better understand risk, shape solutions and build resilience.
For the first time, the WIN DRR Leadership Awards are being explicitly linked to implementation of the Sendai Framework’s Gender Action Plan, connecting recognition of women’s leadership with practical action to advance inclusive disaster risk reduction. The 2026 awardees demonstrate what this means in practice, from strengthening disability inclusion and Indigenous leadership to advancing locally-led preparedness, response and recovery in communities facing intersecting risks of conflict, displacement and disasters.
Excellence Award winner Mata’afa Fa’atino Utumapu has spent more than a decade advancing the leadership and participation of persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction, climate resilience and humanitarian action across Samoa and the Pacific region. Through her work at NOLA, Samoa’s national organisation of persons with disabilities, and the Pacific Disability Forum, she has helped integrate gender equality and disability inclusion into disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
She has also championed disability-disaggregated data to inform policy and planning, contributing to Samoa’s efforts to systematically collect disability data through national surveys and its census. At NOLA, she established a Disability-Inclusive Disaster Response Team and led the development of a disability-inclusive disaster preparedness and emergency management framework, helping strengthen the role of organisations of persons with disabilities in disaster planning and response.
“Disaster risk reduction is not inclusive if women and people with disabilities are only seen as those to protect rather than leaders shaping solutions”, Utumapu says. “Through NOLA’s work, we turn lived experiences into leadership, ensuing their voices influence decisions.”
Rising Star Award winner Aileen Kesa Marie Hualde is an Indigenous women’s rights, peacebuilding and humanitarian practitioner working at the intersection of conflict, displacement and disaster response in Mindanao, southern Philippines. As Executive Director of the Indigenous women-led organisation WORMD and an Indigenous leader herself, she champions Indigenous women’s leadership in communities facing overlapping crises.
Hualde helped establish and build the capacity of Community Quick Response Teams across 11 barangays, bringing together volunteers, youth and Indigenous leaders to strengthen community preparedness and crisis response. Her work connects community-led action with broader efforts to advance women’s rights, prevent gender-based violence and promote peacebuilding. By helping Indigenous women participate in local decision-making and respond to crises in their communities, she is advancing locally led approaches that recognise the interconnected nature of disaster risk, conflict and displacement.
“I am inspired by the strength of Indigenous women and communities, their courage motivates me to continue serving, empowering women, and building resilient communities”, Hualde says.
The WIN DRR Leadership Awards recognise women’s achievements in disaster risk reduction across the Asia-Pacific region. They form part of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s flagship women’s leadership initiative, the Women’s International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR), supported by the Government of Australia.
Now in their sixth year, the awards recognise women in two categories: the Excellence Award, sponsored by SM Prime Holdings and worth US$10,000, and the Rising Star Award, worth US$7,500. Together, they celebrate women whose leadership and expertise are helping make disaster risk reduction more inclusive and effective across the region…..PACNEWS
