Pacific leaders push for more funds to combat extreme weather

RADIO AUSTRALIA: Pacific leaders have launched a global campaign to improve weather forecasting and climate services for small island nations. Traditional Pacific weather forecasting techniques are no match for extreme weather events, a new advocacy campaign warns. The ‘Small Islands, Weather Together’ initiative forms part of a campaign by Pacific leaders to attract greater assistance…

PNG rejects Fiji Forum claims

RNZI: Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister has denied a claim that his government reneged on a commitment to support Fiji’s candidate for the role of Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General. The claim by the Fiji Sun newspaper followed the selection of PNG’s nominee Meg Taylor to the role at last week’s Forum Leaders summit in Palau.…

ADB opens office in Palau

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President Bruce Davis together with Palau’s Finance minister and ADB Governor Elbuchel Sadang last week opened a new ADB Development Coordination Office for Palau. “The new office will boost ADB’s responsiveness to the development needs of Palau,” said Davis. “We look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with the government,…

Vanuatu airport project cancelled

Vanuatu’s government has abandoned a project with a Singapore company to develop an international airport. The plan was introduced by the recently removed Prime Minister, Moana Carcasses, and met with strong opposition from MPs over the unclear terms of the US$350 million  contract and the airport’s location.  An ad-hoc parliament committee decided the plan’s risks…

Energy champion

Tokelau’s Minister of Energy Foua Toloa once travelled on a canoe from Tonga to Fiji in 1983 just to prove that it could be done in the modern era. Toloa, who is a hulking specimen of a person, said it was during this voyage, which lasted eight days and covered over 8000 kilometres, that he…

Little done with Singaporean connection

SINGAPORE is a country Papua New Guinea could tap into for trade and investment opportunities, an official says. Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Richard Maru, during his recent visit to Singapore,   urged the National Government to invest in its growing relationship with Singapore. Despite having a diplomatic office in Singapore, he became aware that no…