Tuvalu

'We should have done more for our people' - Forum climate fight leaves bitter taste

A meeting of the Pacific region's 18 presidents, prime ministers and premiers stretched late into the night on Thursday, with Australia and other countries distancing themselves from strong language that called for urgent action to tackle climate change.

After a marathon twelve hour meeting, the leaders retreat ended in confusion, with hurried news conferences held before the final statements were released.

Nauru, Tuvalu firm on support for Taiwan

The renewed competition between China and Taiwan is expected to be a focus at this year's Pacific Islands Forum summit in Tuvalu, especially as Taipei's diplomatic allies dwindle.

Baron Waqa and Enele Sopoaga told a news conference that their support for Taipei remains unshakeable.

Mr Waqa said Taiwan has been treated unfairly by the international community, including the United Nations.

Tuvalu bans single use plastic from August 1

It's hoped the new measures will ease pressure on an overflowing rubbish dump on Fogafale where most of the population lives.

Single use plastic bottles under 1.5 litres, plastic plates, cutlery and food wrap are among the items which will not be allowed in to the country from 1 August, according to the Director of the Department of Environment Soseala Tinilau.

Tuvalu on high alert for dengue

An outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease was declared on 27 March and, with 600 extra people in the capital Funafuti next month for the Pacific Islands Forum, efforts are underway to stamp out the insects and their larvae.

Teams were spraying schools and other hotspots and water tanks were being treated for larvae, according to Clare Whelan, Health Planning and Management Advisor with Tuvalu's Ministry of Health.

Tuvalu overcome 3-day voyage to spring beach volleyball surprise

In Tuesday’s pool matches at Apia Waterfront, Tuvalu’s Saaga Malosa and Amalamo Talake defeated PNG’s Richard Batari and Loi Walo in straight sets, although the PNG pair are not the same players that won gold at the Port Moresby XV 2015 Pacific Games.

Along with the rest of Team Tuvalu, Malosa and Talake endured a three-day voyage to reach Samoa. They only arrived on Saturday before attending Sunday night’s opening ceremony and going straight into action on Monday.

Dengue claims two lives in Tuvalu

The WHO Pacific reports that there have been 476 dengue like-illness cases; of which 211 were laboratory confirmed.

The majority of the cases (45%) are in children.

In March, Tuvalu's Ministry of Health reported a surge in cases of dengue-like illness.

Tuvalu is to host the Pacific Islands Forum in August.

     

New system to warn of freak waves and storm surges in Tuvalu

It was developed after Cyclone Pam in 2015, which sent waves rolling across the country's atolls, forcing the evacuation of some 300 people.

The Pacific Community's Mia Ramon said the system is vital for survival on low-lying atolls, with such events forecast to increase with climate change.

"Tuvalu people want to stay home," she said. "And the Tuvaluan Prime Minister is very famous for saying 'If you save Tuvalu, you can save the world'."

Fishermen adrift at sea rescued south of Tuvalu

The Nadi Rescue Coordination Centre said the men set off a distress signal around 4pm on Saturday about 144 kilometres south of Funafuti.

A New Zealand PC3 Orion located the men and their six metre skiff a few kilometres from where they set off their personal locator beacon.

They were then picked up by a merchant vessel the MV Talomoana around 4 on Sunday afternoon.

It is understood the vessel was now returning the men to Tuvalu.

The rescue coordination centre is awaiting a final report on the incident from the Tuvalu government.

     

Search underway after distress signal near Tuvalu

The distress signal was made close to Niulakita Island, the southernmost island of Tuvalu, 3700 kilometres north of New Zealand.

Air Commodore Andrew Clark said an Orion aircraft took off this afternoon at the request of the Fiji's Rescue Coordination Centre.

"The coordinates from the distress call were used to define the search area and will hopefully help us pinpoint the beacon's location," Mr Clark said in a statement.

"At present, all we know is that a beacon has been activated in the vicinity of Tuvalu and we are helping Fijian authorities locate it."

Nauru exports rocks to Tuvalu

The park is being developed as part of Tuvalu’s initiative for its preparation in hosting the 2019 Forum Leaders meeting.

The purchase follows the agreement signed on the margins of the 48th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Samoa in September.

President Baron Waqa and Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga signed the agreement on 07 September for the sale of Nauru rock boulders.

Waqa is pleased with the arrangement with Tuvalu and hopes it will be a long term relationship that is mutually beneficially to both countries.