Photo: Tuvalu Government Media Facebook
Tuvalu
Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, visited Taiwan last week.
Islands Business reported Lin Chia-lung saying he would be briefed on the results of Taiwan-Tuvalu cooperation in smart healthcare and smart agriculture.
He was also to discuss collaboration in digital development, healthcare, and climate change with Tuvaluan officials.
Tuvalu is one of three Pacific nations which maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Lin said when Tuvalu prime minister Feleti Teo visited Taiwan in November, he signed three agreements, including the Kaitasi Treaty, which aims to deepen bilateral cooperation.
Prime Minister Teo announced that the Government will soon table a motion in Parliament to seek the official support of MPs for the ratification of the treaty.
Pacific
New research suggests global sea levels are much higher than previously understood.
Research published in the scientific journal Nature said rising seas may threaten tens of millions more people than scientists and government planners thought.
This is reportedly due to mistaken research assumptions on how high coastal waters already are.
Researchers studied hundreds of scientific studies and hazard assessments, calculating that about 90 of them underestimated baseline coastal water heights by an average of 1 foot.
Study co-author Philip Minderhoud said the cause is a mismatch between the way sea and land altitudes are measured due to a "methodological blind spot".
Fiji
Ten Opposition MPs in Fiji have contributed nearly US$35,000 to People First, a new political party linked to FijiFirst.
The Fiji Sun reported that the figure was released by the Fiji Elections Office on Thursday under the Political Parties Act.
Financial records reveal that three former FijiFirst MP's - Opposition leader Inia Seruiratu, Vijay Nath and Virendra Lal - contributed the most.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu's prime minister has welcomed news that Tuvalu will host world leaders as part of pre-COP31 climate meetings this year.
Feleti Teo described it as a significant moment for Tuvalu and the Pacific region.
He said its an opportunity for world leaders to come and witness firsthand the vulnerability of Tuvalu to sea level rise and the impacts of climate change.
Pre-COP meetings serve as an important preparatory platform ahead of the annual United Nations Climate Conference.
This year it will be hosted by Türkiye, much to the disappointment of Pacific island countries, who had backed a joint Australia/Pacific bid.
Fiji
Fiji is consuming so much kava locally that it cannot meet growing demand from overseas markets.
The Fiji Sun reported Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel saying Tonga and Vanuatu had already overtaken Fiji in kava exports, largely because Fiji drinks most of what it grows.
But while Tonga and Vanuatu have moved to commercialise their kava farming, Fiji is still largely relying on traditional methods that limit how much can be produced and exported.
Immanuel said the upcoming budget would include increased funding and support for kava agriculture.
He said consultation on a new kava bill, to set quality standards and regulate exports, is underway nationwide.
The Sun reported negotiations with the US, Australia and the EU to relax restrictions on kava imports are also continuing.
