More funding needed for climate adaptation: UNEP
Countries must urgently ramp up action to adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change, as efforts now are too little and too slow, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in its latest report, published
PNG to receive ‘biggest slice’ of Australian finance
Papua New Guinea has been allocated the biggest slice — around 70 percent — of the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), according to the Australian government. Australia’s minister
Small island, big ocean: Niue makes its entire EEZ a marine park
When Niueans are babies, their parents traditionally take them down to the seashore and throw them in the water so they learn to swim, Mona Ainu’u told Mongabay. That’s more important in Niue than most places. The
‘Til death do us part: Village holds out against the waves
As the sun sets over Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island, a gong sounds, calling the people to evening prayers. Waves crash on the shoreline, inching ever closer to the village and threatening their very
A Holy Vow: Churches attempt a lost cause
On the black sand a child ran, face turned upwards as he chased a butterfly. Oblivious to the encroachment of rising sea levels and the gradual erosion of his village, he ran back and forth - lost in this moment. Fifty
A cog in Fiji’s history: Site links ancient kingdoms
One account of the origins of Vunisavisavi begins with a young chief setting out from the pre-European kingdom of Verata which was, at the time, a dominant political force. With his retainers, the chief left his home on
Whispers
PNG’s big bills Papua New Guinea government offices have been able to move back into their premises after temporarily being locked out over non-payment of rent, but the matter had to go to court for that to happen.
America’s Catch-Up Summit
Spooked by China’s influence in the Pacific Islands, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted an unprecedented summit at the White House for leaders from the Pacific Islands Forum on 28-29 September. It was the culmination of
Blandness Debilitates Regionalism
It has been a bugbear for me for some time. However, over the years, I have learned that I was not the only one being stressed by this. Others, many in fact, have been equally perturbed by this tendency for the Pacific
Avoiding a WASHout
There has been a significant decline in donor funding for water, sanitation and hygiene projects in the Pacific, as the region continues to lag behind the Sustainable Development Goals on access to water. A recent study
WOTA: A Japanese Solution to Water Shortages?
A Tokyo-based start-up working on small-scale water recycling systems hopes they may help solve water shortages in small island communities. WOTA’s technology is a response to what it describes as a ‘looming
EV Chargers may spawn e-revolution on Fiji roads
The company behind Fiji's first electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is optimistic that its transformative clean energy project will also spill over to Fiji's maritime transportation, with plans to produce
Saved from the Unknown
One in four women with cervical cancer live in what the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines as the ‘Western Pacific Region’, a collection of Asia and Pacific Island states and territories. An estimated 145,700
Aumua’s Challenge: Fund agriculture for nutrition, inclusion, survival
The international community has been urged to invest in agricultural innovation in a way that includes traditional practitioners and acknowledges the interconnectedness of agriculture with nutrition, culture, climate
Qaqi Mai: Bike Share
When I was younger, my friends and I used to say ‘Qaqi Mai’ when we were ‘choking’ each other for bus fare, a teasing way to say, ‘walk home’! But aspiring businessman Eliki Dakuitoga is giving the
Briefs
American SamoaA U.S. Supreme Court on October 17 declined to consider whether American Samoans have full U.S citizenship at birth. American Samoans challenging the current law, in which they are considered U.S.
Deeper Sounds, Deeper Connections
Deeper Sounds, Deeper Connections is a Pacific-Australian project which shares the unique music of the Pacific with the world. Working with groups of musicians across the region, it captures traditional instruments,
Opinion: Bribe or gift … which one is it?
Much has been written and even more has been talked about on the “coconut wireless” in recent years about attempted bribes and other forms of corruption throughout these islands. Money and all-expenses-paid trips to
Movers and Shakers
Nauru has sworn in its new President, Russ Joseph Kun, for the next three years, replacing former president and new Deputy Speaker of parliament, Lionel Aingimea. Other new cabinet ministers are: Martin Hunt as Minister
Fiji drugs stopped at Sydney border
A Bangladeshi national has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of liquid methamphetamine from Fiji into Australia. Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Border Force arrested the man at Sydney
New Australia-Palau Connector flight to start December
A new flight connecting Australia to Palau will start this December 13, 2022, announced the Australian government. The flight dubbed “Australia-Palau Connector” is a flight route between Brisbane, Port Moresby,
Vanuatu deputy PM confident of forming new Govt
The camp led by Vanuatu’s caretaker deputy prime minister Ishmael Kalsakau has reiterated that it remains a solid grouping of 30 MPs and that it will name its prime minister and cabinet line-up on Friday. A second
Rugby Sevens returns to Hong Kong as 2023 Series kicks off
The 16 captains gathered on Wednesday ahead of the highly anticipated Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on 4-6 November, which sees the famous tournament return to Hong Kong Stadium for the first time since 2019.