News Break

The Batlow bushfire and Pacific seasonal workers

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In January at the height of the Australian bushfires, I received a message from James Walau, a ni-Vanuatu Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) team leader, informing me that he and his team of 47 had left Batlow due to the impending fire. Since September 2019, Australian firefighters have been battling bushfires…

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Pacific predictions: 2020

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As we enter not only a new year but a new decade, there is much to anticipate in the Pacific islands region. Elections and domestic politics A number of countries in the region will have elections during 2020: Kiribati, Niue, Palau and Vanuatu. The lingering discontent in Kiribati surrounding last…

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Last modified on Wednesday, 15 January 2020 12:34

Tropical depression moves toward Fiji

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Rotuma can expect damaging winds and heavy rain from tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon as a Tropical Depression moves slowly east towards Fiji. Located about 1000 km west of Rotuma at 6am today, TDF04 has winds of between 40-60km per hour and is expected to gradually intensify. A high system to the…

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Last modified on Wednesday, 22 January 2020 08:02

Vanuatu on watch for floods

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Vanuatu’s northern and central regions have been warned to expect heavy rain and flash flooding as a severe weather system closes in from the north-west. Isolated heavy rainfall with thunder and winds of up to 46 kilometres per hour can be expected over northern and central Vanuatu. “People in these…

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Last modified on Tuesday, 14 January 2020 16:14

All eyes on weather system

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A significant weather system has developed north-west of Vanuatu and is moving south-east towards New Caledonia and Fiji. The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, placed the system near 12.05 South 164.0 East or 716 kilometres north-west of Port Vila, Vanuatu, early today. Current models show the system…

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Last modified on Tuesday, 14 January 2020 11:00