Results for Pacific Islands

The Tonga Government said today it is supporting Tongan nationals who remained stranded in Fiji, after Tonga closed its borders to repatriation flights from Fiji. It was responding to complaints from the group. They are among 2,608 Tongan nationals and residents who are stranded overseas by the suspension of repatriation flights to Tonga from COVID-19 affected countries.

Eight Pacific Islands Nations, members of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) met virtually last week to address the regions’ most urgent climate change policy priorities. They are at the frontline of climate change impacts, with sea level rise, droughts, flooding, salt water intrusion, cyclones and ocean acidification causing significant difficulties to the livelihoods of their people.

Fiji has recorded 505 new cases of COVID-19 over a 24-hour period ending at 8:00am on August 31. There have also been seven new deaths from the virus, which has now claimed 496 lives in Fiji. However, new cases are falling from Fiji's highest daily average peak reported on July 22.

A proposal to decarbonise the shipping sector by 2050, was submitted by the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, and the Solomon Islands to the UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the body responsible for regulating international shipping. Tonga’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom supported the proposal.

The University of the South Pacific is planning to hold their annual open week virtually this year due to COVID-19, from 30 August to 3 September.

The Pacific faces huge challenges should the world warm by 1.5 degrees Celsius by the early 2030s, warns an Australian climate change expert after a UN scientific report was released yesterday.

US border agencies will detain tuna and other seafood harvested by the Hangton 112, a Fijian flagged and owned fishing vessel, under a Withhold Release Order issued by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which claims the use of forced labour on the vessel. Flag states need to uphold international standards and perform proper oversight and safety of their ships, says the chair of a migrant workers union.

Ms Rachael Moore has been announced as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Tonga.

The Government of Japan and the UNICEF today, 26 July announced a US$20.8m partnership to boost ongoing COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts in the Pacific region.