Regional

4th October

New Zealand starts new tourism campaign as post-COVID visits lag

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand is launching a new tourism campaign with Kiwi director and actor Taika Waititi to attract visitors after the sector was hammered by COVID-19 and border closures. Tourism New Zealand on...

South Pacific a region in recovery; challenges not ‘insurmountable’

The South Pacific region is one in recovery in the wake of a global pandemic. It continues to grapple with the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war – a conflict with no visible end in sight – and with repercussions across the world, including through higher food and energy prices. At present, the region continues to...

3rd October

Support for Australia Indigenous referendum gaining slightly, poll shows

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Support for an Australian constitutional referendum on Indigenous rights and recognition has edged higher, according to a poll published on Tuesday, although a majority of voters still intend to vote no when polls close in less than two weeks. The latest Guardian Essential poll shows the yes vote rose two points to...

Bushfires in parts of southeast Australia amid spring heatwave

SYDNEY (Reuters) – A bushfire in Australia’s Victoria state more than trebled overnight and authorities urged residents in a remote part of Tasmania state to evacuate as a spring heatwave fanned fires across the country’s southeast. Around 17,000 hectares (66 square miles) were ablaze on Tuesday in the eastern part of Victoria state’s Gippsland region...

New Zealanders start voting in Oct. 14 general election

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealanders on Monday started voting for a new government as advance in-person balloting opened ahead of the Oct. 14 general election. Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne said in a statement that 400 polling places were open on Monday. “That number will increase as we head towards election day,” he said....

Australia PM rallies support for Indigenous referendum as early voting starts

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday he would focus on having one-on-one conversations with Australians to rally support for the Indigenous referendum, as early voting began in some parts of the country. In a landmark referendum, Australians will decide on Oct. 14 whether to approve altering the constitution to enshrine...

2nd October

Australia swelters through ‘scorching’ heat lifting bushfire risk

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s southeast on Sunday sweltered in a heat wave that raised the risk of bushfires and prompted authorities to issue fire bans for large swaths of New South Wales state. The nation’s weather forecaster said temperatures would be up to 12 degrees Celsius (53.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above average in some areas, with...

30th September

Challenges faced by disabled people

A total of 15 per cent of the Pacific population lives with some form of disability, but overall government spending on disability in the Pacific is alarmingly low – less than 0.15 per cent of the GDP, says United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO) peace and development officer Akuila Sovanivalu. He highlighted this at a...

Australia says exports of hay to China will resume

CANBERRA (Reuters) – The Australian government said on Thursday that China was removing barriers to imports of hay from Australia, the latest step towards normalising trade relations between the two countries. China restricted imports of a range of commodities from Australia in 2020 after Australia called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 but...

28th September

Pacific climate warrior | Calls fuel industry out

Pacific youth climate champion Suluafi Brianna Fruean has likened her first time in the United Nations building to primary school. “It was my first time being in the (UN) General Assembly space,” Suluafi said. “I sat there and I was watching everyone and it kind of reminded me of a mock UN we did when...