Author: TMC Palau
Overview: Climate change remains at the center of Pacific priorities as leaders prepare for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, but the regional conversation is shifting. After decades of urging the world to recognize the severity of the crisis, Pacific leaders are now calling for accountability, accessible climate financing and action on existing international commitments. With rising seas, stronger storms, ocean warming and threats to food, water and livelihoods affecting communities across the region, leaders are expected to push for stronger implementation of climate agreements and greater support for vulnerable island nations. By Ngeldei Tulop KOROR, Palau — As…
[Source: Scottish Rugby/ Facebook] Fiji’s final Nations Championship pool match against Scotland this weekend arrives at a fascinating moment for both teams. On paper, Scotland enter as favourites. In reality, there are enough storylines and recent trends to suggest this could be much tighter than many expect. Fiji have endured a brutal start to the competition. They opened with a 39-24 defeat to Wales before suffering a crushing 73-8 loss to England. Those two results leave them winless and with significant questions around their defensive structure and discipline. Scotland’s campaign has been more encouraging. Gregor Townsend’s men produced an impressive…
Protesters scuffle with police during a demonstration against U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies and the visit of U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta, in Venice, Italy. [Photo Credit: Reuters] A few hundred people in Venice protested on Friday against U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta as he arrived in the lagoon city aboard his superyacht, drawing criticism of President Donald Trump’s policies. Activists also objected to the heightened security measures put in place by local authorities as Venice prepares for one of its most important festivals. Fertitta, a billionaire businessman appointed by Trump, is touring the Italian peninsula aboard his…
[Source: Fijian Drua/ Facebook] The McDonald’s Fijian Drua Women has created history as they’ll host the Super Rugby W final for the first time next week in either Lautoka or Ba. This is after their 31-5 semifinal win over the Queensland Reds in Lautoka today. The Reds beat the Drua in the semifinals last year. The Drua Women will feature in its fourth final in five years since joining the competition in 2022. They won the Super W titles in 2022,2023, runners up in 2024 and semifinalist last year.Article continues after advertisement Despite a shaky start today, the home side…
Overview: Pacific leaders are emphasizing regional unity and Pacific-led decision-making as geopolitical competition intensifies across Oceania. With growing engagement from major powers, including China, the United States, Australia, Japan and New Zealand, Pacific nations are reaffirming the importance of sovereignty, cooperation and the principles outlined in the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. As leaders prepare for upcoming Forum discussions, maintaining a united regional voice remains central to addressing climate change, maritime security, economic development and emerging challenges. By Ngeldei Tulop KOROR, Palau — The Pacific has increasingly become a region of strategic interest for major…
[Source: File] Dayal’s Sawmillers Ba FC will have an opportunity to avenge its BiC Fiji FACT final defeat when it hosts Prithvi Navua FC in Round 14 of the Extra Premier League at the 4R Stadium at Govind Park on Sunday. The Men in Black head into the clash on the back of a 2-1 win over Suva and remain firmly in the hunt for the league title as they continue to chase leaders Labasa. Navua, meanwhile, arrives with momentum of its own after edging Lautoka 2-1 in the previous round and will be eager to continue its strong run…
[Photo Credit: Reuters] The United States struck bridges in Iran, and Tehran responded by hitting a power and desalination plant in Kuwait on Friday, as the two sides risked further escalation by expanding their targets to include infrastructure. At sea, where the renewed conflict has again cut off energy supplies from the Gulf, U.S. Marines boarded a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. Armed men seized another vessel off Yemen, raising concern over security in the Middle East’s other big choke point for oil shipments at the mouth of the Red Sea. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported late on…
[Photo Credit: Reuters] Wildfire smoke blanketed the eastern U.S. from the Great Lakes to Washington, D.C. on Friday, floodwaters tore through Texas’s Hill Country for a third day, and new fires erupted in the Pacific Northwest overnight, with 68 large blazes now burning in 15 states. Millions of Americans faced hazardous conditions and orders to stay indoors, as the country’s summer weather extremes converged on three fronts at once: a smoke-choked East, rising water in the South, and fast-spreading flames in the West. Firefighters are now battling 68 large fires nationwide. That’s up by nearly two dozen from a day…
A month long expedition underway in the Cook Islands is looking to further understand how climate change affects the ocean.The voyage, which is a joint initiative between Climate Change Cook Islands and Earth Science New Zealand, aims to establish the first comprehensive baseline of conditions across the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).Researchers aboard New Zealand’s state-of-the-art ocean research vessel Kaharoa II are collecting water samples, measuring ocean temperatures and currents, mapping the seafloor and testing for microplastics.Voyage lead and oceanographer Denise Fernandez from Earth Science New Zealand said the expedition is the first step in building a long-term picture…
Australia and Pacific nations have ramped up efforts to clamp down on illegal fishing in the region.b [Photo Credit: AAP News] The interception of a Chinese vessel accused of illegal fishing highlights the technical lengths many use to remain undetected across millions of square kilometres of open ocean. Tuvalu Police operating on a Sea Shepard patrol boat boarded and arrested a Chinese longliner, the Lu Rong Yuan Yu 138, on July 9 for allegedly illegally operating within the small South Pacific nation’s waters. The vessel was allegedly running with its navigation light turned off and transmitting false data showing it…