The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ: A Holistic Approach to Eye Care

Pacific Island nations make up six of the top ten countries with the highest rate of diabetes globally, and diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, is quickly becoming the most common cause of vision

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Movers and Shakers

Miriam Kataunati of the Kiribati Meteorological Service (KMS) is the country’s first female Oceanographer. A graduate of the University of Fiji in Environmental Science, she started work at KMS as an Acting Assistant

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Project Cerulean: A vast ocean of possibility to explore

In 2018, Swire Shipping and the University of the South Pacific launched a new project to research and design a low-carbon wind powered, commercially-operated freighter to stimulate outer-island Pacific trade. Route

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Vanuatu ransomware attack a lesson for others

On 06 November 2022, a new government started its first official day in office on the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu – just as a debilitating ransomware attack shut it out of all state-run computer systems. Unable

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Briefs

American SamoaAmerican Samoa has issued a public health emergency after an outbreak of measles has spread across the U.S. territory.  Dr Scott Anesi, the department’s lead epidemiologist, said 31 suspected cases

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U.S. President Joe Biden to visit PNG on his way to Australia

Planning is underway for United States President Joe Biden to make a historic visit to Papua New Guinea on his way to Australia next month as the U.S. continues to ramp up its diplomatic push in the Pacific. PNG and

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New data reveal links between Korean vessels and illegal fishing in Pacific

A fish carrier sailing under the flag of South Korea was recently denied permission to unload a tuna catch of over 4,000 kgs, estimated to be worth 250 million baht (US$7.2 million), in Bangkok.  However,

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10 nations to train at Samoa’s weightlifting facility

Weightlifters from five different Pacific nations are in Samoa and there could be five more by the end of the year.  They are not here to compete but to make use of the training facilities and train with Samoan

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EU highlights commitment to improving regional trade at Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry

Nadi, Fiji The EU SAFE Pacific (Safe Agricultural Trade and Facilitation through Economic Integration) project played an integral role in the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF) held from 6 – 10 March in

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USP graduation exemplifies excellence

Regional students share their experiences Over 1,786 tertiary students received their accreditation at the University of the South Pacific’s (USP) first graduation ceremony for 2023, with 61% of those graduating being

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Banking: A regional overview

At the end of 2022, the Papua New Guinea government signalled its intent to set up a state-owned commercial bank, and take a government seat on the board of Bank South Pacific. The plan has been criticised given the

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Measuring vulnerability for development

Once again, people in Vanuatu are rebuilding their homes after two cyclones hit the nation in the first week of March. It’s a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of small island developing states and the way that

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