Two days after rebel forces in Myanmar’s Chin state overran the junta’s two military bases close to the border with India, they have taken control of a border crossing point between the two countries across the tiny hilly Indian state of Mizoram....
Federated States of Micronesia President Wesley Simina has declared a national emergency due to severe drought, and sent it to his country's Congress for review. The president's signed declaration said the nation has been experiencing "extremely and unusually low levels" of rainfall, and it is anticipated that this condition...
The #stigma associated with HIV/ #AIDS remains a significant #barrier to testing, treatment & support, preventing many individuals from seeking timely #medical assistance.
Niue has nearly exhausted its climate mitigation options and its focus now is on adaptation, the island's Premier Dalton Tagelagi says. Tagelagi told RNZ Pacific that Niue's contribution to global warming is one-thousandth of a percentage point (0.0001%) and they are already halfway to achieving their renewable energy target of...
The northern municipality of Sara has declared a state of calamity due to severe impacts from the El Niño phenomenon on its agriculture. Vice Mayor Ryan Zerrudo announced the decision on Friday morning, April 12, after a special session of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB)....
At least 800 people in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province have been evacuated after multiple eruptions of the area's Ruang volcano, which for days has spewed lava and ash clouds into the sky, the country's volcanology agency said on Wednesday....
The Prime Minister has been heavily criticised after documents from his government criticising Australia and New Zealand against China were leaked to media. The leaked document from Tonga’s Foreign Affairs Ministry shows that kingdom’s officials sharply criticised Australia and New Zealand’s response to the security pact...
Lawmakers in Thailand’s lower house of Parliament have overwhelmingly approved a marriage equality bill hat would make the country the first in Southeast Asia to legalize equal rights for marriage partners of any gender. The bill passed its final reading with the approval of 400 of the 415 members of the House of...
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville spent a month with revolutionary forces at jungle bases and on front lines in Myanmar....Two loudspeakers, as big as the men carrying them, are brought to the rocky hilltop. Some 800m below, in the town of Hpasang, lies a sprawling Myanmar army base....
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced $6 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflict in Gaza and Sudan during his ongoing visit to Egypt. “There are huge and urgent humanitarian needs in both Gaza and Sudan, and it is important that New Zealand continues to make its contribution to international...
Climate Change threatens to worsen poverty, hunger in Asia-Pacific, and stall progress on SDGs warns new report
5–6 minutes
Bangkok — Global collective climate action is not progressing fast enough to reduce carbon emissions or build the capacity of communities to adapt to impacts of changing weather patterns, says a new report released today
New Zealand’s international spy agency has been rebuked for hosting a foreign agency’s spy operation for several years without telling its minister, and without knowing whether doing so was contributing to military strikes overseas....
Taiwan president to visit sole remaining African ally, Eswatini (www.modernghana.com)
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will visit Eswatini, the island's only diplomatic ally in Africa, next month to firm up ties, her office said Friday....
After battle with junta, Myanmar rebels take control of border point with India (www.reuters.com)
Two days after rebel forces in Myanmar’s Chin state overran the junta’s two military bases close to the border with India, they have taken control of a border crossing point between the two countries across the tiny hilly Indian state of Mizoram....
'Realities of climate change': Federated States of Micronesia declares state of emergency amid severe drought (www.rnz.co.nz)
Federated States of Micronesia President Wesley Simina has declared a national emergency due to severe drought, and sent it to his country's Congress for review. The president's signed declaration said the nation has been experiencing "extremely and unusually low levels" of rainfall, and it is anticipated that this condition...
‘What is your backup?’: Niue's premier says complete phase out of fossil fuels 'very hard' (www.rnz.co.nz)
Niue has nearly exhausted its climate mitigation options and its focus now is on adaptation, the island's Premier Dalton Tagelagi says. Tagelagi told RNZ Pacific that Niue's contribution to global warming is one-thousandth of a percentage point (0.0001%) and they are already halfway to achieving their renewable energy target of...
Philippines: Sara first Iloilo town to declare El Niño calamity (www.panaynews.net)
The northern municipality of Sara has declared a state of calamity due to severe impacts from the El Niño phenomenon on its agriculture. Vice Mayor Ryan Zerrudo announced the decision on Friday morning, April 12, after a special session of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB)....
Hundreds evacuated after Indonesia's Ruang volcano erupts (www.reuters.com)
At least 800 people in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province have been evacuated after multiple eruptions of the area's Ruang volcano, which for days has spewed lava and ash clouds into the sky, the country's volcanology agency said on Wednesday....
Australian hospital staff plead with bite victims to stop bringing snakes to emergency departments (www.rnz.co.nz)
Snake bite victims are endangering medical staff by bringing the reptiles with them to hospital, doctors say....
Tongan diaspora blasts PM Hu‘akavameiliku over leaked document supporting China against Australia, NZ over involvement in Solomon Islands (www.kanivatonga.co.nz)
The Prime Minister has been heavily criticised after documents from his government criticising Australia and New Zealand against China were leaked to media. The leaked document from Tonga’s Foreign Affairs Ministry shows that kingdom’s officials sharply criticised Australia and New Zealand’s response to the security pact...
Lawmakers in Thailand overwhelmingly approve a bill to legalize same-sex marriage (apnews.com)
Lawmakers in Thailand’s lower house of Parliament have overwhelmingly approved a marriage equality bill hat would make the country the first in Southeast Asia to legalize equal rights for marriage partners of any gender. The bill passed its final reading with the approval of 400 of the 415 members of the House of...
Feature: Myanmar: Young insurgents changing the course of a forgotten war (www.bbc.com)
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville spent a month with revolutionary forces at jungle bases and on front lines in Myanmar....Two loudspeakers, as big as the men carrying them, are brought to the rocky hilltop. Some 800m below, in the town of Hpasang, lies a sprawling Myanmar army base....
Maori king declares whales are people in push for legal rights (www.thetimes.co.uk)
Whales will be recognised as legal persons under a declaration signed by New Zealand’s Maori king and native leaders across the Pacific....
New Zealand announces humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Sudan (www.voxy.co.nz)
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced $6 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflict in Gaza and Sudan during his ongoing visit to Egypt. “There are huge and urgent humanitarian needs in both Gaza and Sudan, and it is important that New Zealand continues to make its contribution to international...
Vanuatu Faces Visa Requirement Permanently as EU Targets Citizenship By Investment (CBI) Schemes (www.stvincenttimes.com)
The EU Commission is proposing today to permanently re-introduce the visa requirement for citizens of Vanuatu....
'Improper': NZ spy agency slammed for secretly hosting foreign spying (www.newstalkzb.co.nz)
New Zealand’s international spy agency has been rebuked for hosting a foreign agency’s spy operation for several years without telling its minister, and without knowing whether doing so was contributing to military strikes overseas....