Author: TMC Palau
An environmental organisation in Germany says there is a great deal of work to be done before COP31.The mid-year UN climate negotiations – in Bonn, Germany – wrapped up last week, the first major climate negotiating session since COP30 in Belém, Brazil.Negotiators failed to find agreement in numerous areas, such as scaling up global emissions cuts and funding for climate adaptation.Germanwatch’s head of international climate policy Laura Schäfer said the central lines of conflict at Bonn will shape COP31 in November.She said the talks clearly showed international climate policy continues to fall short of the challenges of the climate crisis.”Particularly…
[Photo: FILE] The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection is calling for increased funding in the upcoming national budget to expand services for the most vulnerable groups. Minister Shashi Kiran states that the additional funding is needed to strengthen support for children, older persons, persons with disabilities and women. She also explained that a major priority is expanding drug rehabilitation services for children, as demand continues to rise. Kiran said work was also underway to improve care facilities for older persons. She confirms that residents of the Golden Age Home in Lautoka have been moved from a termite-damaged building…
Pharrell Williams. [Photo Credit: Reuters] Pop singer-songwriter and Louis Vuitton designer Pharrell Williams made a giant artificial waterfall the backdrop of his 2027 spring-summer collection on Tuesday, kicking off Paris fashion week just as a record-breaking heatwave paralysed large parts of France. Models wore an eclectic mix of denim, hoodies and flashy jackets as they walked over sand. Some carried surfboards while others sported tiny monogram bags. The show leaned heavily into American surf and skate culture. Many looks featured low-cut sneakers whose silhouette, white rubber soles and laces resembled those of Californian lifestyle brand Vans. Watchers and staff were…
World Rugby funding for the Fijian Drua rugby franchise will stop on 30 June, the club’s chief executive officer has confirmed.While acknowledging that the franchise will lose a major funding source, Jeff Miller said they have been working on long-term sustainability plans that would see the Fiji-based Super Rugby Pacific franchise continue competing in the competition.Fellow Pasifika franchise Moana Pasifika wrapped up last month because of financial challenges, with their owners Pasifika Medical Association putting the franchise into liquidation. It was confirmed by NZR on Wednesday that the franchise will play no part in the 2027 season.However, Miller said the…
[Photo: File] Fiji’s energy system continues to record high conversion losses. More than 40 per cent of generated power was lost before reaching consumers in 2025. This, according to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics. The latest environmental account shows total energy generated by Energy Fiji Limited and households reached 7.76 petajoules last year.Article continues after advertisement This is an increase of 0.08 petajoules from 2024. However, losses during transformation remain high at 3.20 petajoules, or 41.24 per cent of total generation. This shows a large share of energy is lost before reaching the distribution stage. The report states that total…
[Source: File] A positive methamphetamine test has raised serious concern for Fiji Football following drug testing conducted during the opening round of the BiC Fiji FACT in Labasa last weekend. Fiji Football Association Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Yusuf confirmed to FBC that one player tested positive for meth, describing the case as extremely serious. The incident has prompted Fiji Football to reinforce its zero-tolerance stance on banned substances. A total of 72 players were tested, with four returning positive results for prohibited drugs, three for marijuana and one for methamphetamine.Article continues after advertisement Yusuf revealed that three of the drug…
Decades of underinvestment in Port Moresby’s water supply system has left it in a “fragile state” with multiple leaks, documents seen by the ABC say.It means the water infrastructure network supplying a major city with almost 1 million residents is facing the possibility of “imminent failure”, documents warn.The PNG government is working with the United Nations and international partners to address the issues.A decades-old pipeline supplying water to nearly one million people in Papua New Guinea’s capital is at risk of collapsing without urgent repairs, threatening to cut off more than half of the city’s water supply.Residents are being urged…
[Source: Reuters] Croatia netted a second-half goal from substitute Ante Budimir to beat Panama 1-0 for their first points of the World Cup in a high-stakes Group L clash on Tuesday that eliminated the Central American side. On a night when Croatia captain Luka Modric became the second European to earn a 200th cap, the Balkans side broke the deadlock when Budimir, alone at the back post, converted a deep cross in the 54th minute. Croatia, who struggled to assert their dominance in the first half, nearly doubled their lead moments later when Marco Pašalić broke through alone, but he…
A car crosses flood waters near Belli Creek, on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Wednesday, February 23, 2022. [Photo Credit: AAP Image/Jono Searle] Sick of floods, storms and other climate extremes eating into council budgets, local governments are seeking fossil fuel-funded compensation. More than 500 councils are set to vote on a City of Sydney-led motion to set up a fund earmarked for climate change-fuelled damage supported by levies or taxes on oil, coal and gas companies, which are key contributors of greenhouse gas emissions. Councils face mounting costs to repair and maintain roads, drainage, parks and coastal defences under global…
Minister for Sugar Tomasi Tunabuna says some cane fields are already showing signs of flowering. The delayed start to the 2026 crushing season is now raising fresh concerns, with warning that flowering cane and the approaching wet season could affect the quality and sugar content of this year’s crop. Minister for Sugar Tomasi Tunabuna says some cane fields are already showing signs of flowering, a natural process that signals a gradual decline in sugar content if harvesting is further delayed. Tunabuna says time is becoming a critical factor for the industry as prolonged delays could impact both the quality and…