RNZI: Tongan authorities say fresh volcanic activity at the Home Reef volcano, near the northern islands of Vava’u, is creating a steam cloud two kilometres high. Government geologist Rennie Vaiomounga says a local pilot first reported the activity on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Vaiomounga says that report has since been confirmed by a boat in the…
PORT VILA, (FAO) — Adapting to climate change is key to achieving food security for the future, particularly in areas susceptible to the impacts of climate change. A project called Community resilience and coping with climate change and natural disasters in Vanuatu was launched in 2011 with the aim to assist farmers to use alternative…
The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Pacific Technical and Further Education (Pacific TAFE) will run preparatory courses for students who will be sitting for the Cambridge Advanced Examination (CAE). This following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by USP’s Vice-President Administration Dr.Dilawar Grewal on 11 December 2014 as Acting VC, which was…
Majuro: The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) are gearing for their annual meeting in early March, with an ambitious agenda in motion for 2015. With PNA’s Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) controlling the purse seine fishery and generating the largest-ever share of fisheries revenue to the eight member nations, PNA is focusing efforts in 2015…
Noumea – In the ongoing battle against obesity, heart disease and diabetes in the Pacific region, a new study reveals that allocating sufficient tuna for local consumption and keeping it affordable could significantly improve health outcomes. Pacific Island communities have the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the world, primarily because traditional foods such…
RNZI: The Tongan Ministry of Health has declared a dengue fever outbreak, with 33 confirmed cases across Tonga. Matangi Tonga reports The Head of the NCD/Health Promotion Unit at the Ministry of Health, Dr ‘Ofa Tukia, has called on Tongans to be vigilant, as the viral disease is spread by mosquitoes. She says of the…
Fiji Times – A MEETING between a special delegation from the Asian Development Bank and the Minister for Public Enterprise, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and his permanent secretary Shaheen Ali gave indication of renewed engagement between Fiji and the ADB. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the meeting was to discuss technical assistance ADB could provide with respect to the…
The National – PAPUA New Guinea is one of the least insured countries in the world, Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) Deputy Governor Benny Popoitai says. He said only about 5 per cent of the country’s population was insured. “PNG is one of the least insured in the world. About two-to-five per cent of…
RNZI: A category 1 tropical cyclone has developed about 370 kilometres northwest of New Caledonia but is not expected to reach land. Cyclone Ola was located near 17.5 degrees south, 161.6 degrees east, at 310000 UTC or 1pm New Zealand time. The New Zealand Metservice says the cyclone is in open waters, and is not…
RNZI: A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion today patrolled Fiji’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for the first time since defence ties were suspended in 2006. New Zealand cut ties with Fiji after a coup led by then-Commodore Frank Bainimarama in 2006. Sanctions were lifted after Fiji’s election in September last year. Defence Minister Gerry…