Regional

Island nations blame rich countries for climate inaction at UN assembly

By Daphne Psaledakis UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Island nations bearing the brunt of climate change this week confronted rich countries at the United Nations General Assembly, saying the failure by developed countries to act with...

22nd September

Australian lawmakers call for release of Julian Assange during talks in Washington

WASHINGTON/SYDNEY (Reuters) – A cross-party delegation of Australian lawmakers that traveled to the United States seeking the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said they had a productive discussion in Washington with the U.S. Justice Department. The group of Australian lawmakers urged U.S. officials to drop their attempts to extradite Assange from a British prison...

21st September

Lloyd’s and the UN team up to get insurance to climate vulnerable countries

LONDON (Reuters) – Lloyd’s of London is teaming up with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) to try and improve access to insurance for climate vulnerable countries, with an initial focus on Fiji and Pacific island countries. Climate change is happening faster and causing more damage than scientists had predicted, accelerating the need for...

78th UNGA | Fiji places trust in multilateralism; peace and security remains top priority – PM Rabuka

Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the island nation places her trust in multilateralism because “we believe in the values of peace, justice, respect, human rights, tolerance, and solidarity”. Mr Rabuka made the comment during his meeting yesterday with United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres on the margins of the 78th UN General Assembly. At the...

20th September

Strong winds fan bushfires as Australia battles spring heatwave

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Strong winds and a rare, intense heatwave in early spring fanned dozens of bushfires across Australia’s southeast, prompting extreme fire danger warnings on Wednesday for the greater Sydney region, home to more than 5 million people. More than 600 firefighters and emergency personnel were battling to control 68 fires burning across New...

19th September

Pacific island countries to hold second summit next week with Biden

By David Brunnstrom and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Pacific island countries will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden next week for a second summit with the United States, Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Henry Puna and a senior State Department official said on Monday. Puna made the announcement at an event in New York...

PIF Foreign Ministers re-emphasise collective decision on Fukushima

PACIFIC Islands Forum Foreign Ministers “highlighted the priorities of ensuring international consultation, international law, and independent and verifiable scientific assessments” in relation to Japan’s release of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. In a collective statement at the end of their meeting in Suva last week, they also re-emphasised their “collective Forum position and...

18th September

Australia swelters in spring heat wave, temperatures set to break records

SYDNEY (Reuters) – A spring heat wave across large parts of Australia’s southeast, including Sydney, will intensify on Monday, the weather bureau said, with temperatures expected to peak up to 16 degrees Celsius (60 Fahrenheit) above the September average. Australia is baking through a rising heat wave which has been building in the country’s outback...

Forum Ministers endorse redesigned resilience facility to address climate measures

The Forum Foreign Ministers have endorsed the implementation of the redesigned Pacific Resilience Facility which would help address the needs of Pacific countries, specifically in terms of building climate resilience and climate adaptation measures. Forum chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister told the media on Friday that “there were nine initiatives altogether that were discussed”...

Fiji PM meets Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs

Fiji and Australia’s unwavering commitment to elevate and expand the Vuvale Partnership between the two countries was conveyed during a meeting held between the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka and Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss Fiji and Australia’s bilateral and regional...

Thousands in Australia rally for struggling Indigenous referendum

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Thousands rallied in Australia on Sunday to support recognising the country’s Indigenous people in the constitution, a proposal that is struggling ahead of a referendum next month. If approved on Oct. 14, the measure would enshrine Indigenous people in the constitution and set up an advisory body to give Aboriginal and Torres...