Japan’s Ties to Pacific Island Nations Have New Significance 80 Years after World War II, as  U.S.-China Rivalry in Region Grows

The Yomiuri Shimbun Then Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, front center, welcomes Pacific leaders in Tokyo at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) in 2024. By Yuko Mukai 8:00 JST, August 23, 2025 Eighty years ago, Japan lost its...

Donald Trump 'considering adding another 36 countries' to travel ban list

Donald Trump is doubling down on his anti-immigration stance in the US and is now reportedly considering adding another 36 places to his list of countries banned from visiting the US. The 79-year-old has faced huge backlash for his actions since...

Once Again, Oil States Thwart Agreement on Plastics

Diplomats from around the world concluded nine days of talks in Geneva — plus a marathon overnight session that lasted into the early hours of Friday — with no agreement on a global plastics treaty. During a closing plenary that started on Friday...

‘Consensus kills ambition’: UN plastics treaty talks end without an agreement

Diplomats from around the world concluded nine days of talks in Geneva — plus a marathon overnight session that lasted into the early hours of Friday — with no agreement on a global plastics treaty. During a closing plenary that started on Friday...

Global plastic treaty negotiations end in failure with no solution in sight

Efforts to hammer out a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution have once again hit a wall. After years of work and six formal negotiation rounds, talks wrapped up in Geneva without an agreement. Delegates from 185 countries worked past the...

Researchers and scholars at the top of their fields elected as Fellows

Nineteen new Ngā Ahurei a Te Apārangi Fellows and Ngā Ahurei Honore a Te Apārangi Honorary Fellows have been elected to the Academy of the Royal Society Te Apārangi for their distinction in research and advancement of science, technology or the...

A Turning Point for Agrifood Investment in Asia and the Pacific

KPL From the mountains of Bhutan to the shores of Tuvalu, countries across Asia and the Pacific are confronting a common challenge: transforming their agrifood systems to meet growing demands while safeguarding natural resources for future...

Global coral collapse a neglected crisis

Before the crack of dawn on Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand, Somsak Chaisri paddles his wooden boat over waters that used to shimmer with life. A once-vibrant coral garden below the water surface now consists of dead skeleton-like structures....

‘There’s no such thing as someone else’s children’ – Omar El Akkad bears witness to the destruction of Gaza and the west’s quiet assent

Omar El Akkad does not want you to look away. An award-winning journalist and novelist, El Akkad was born in Egypt, lived as a teenager in Qatar and Canada, and migrated as an adult to the US, where he now lives with his family in the Pacific...

Vegetarian food is not available in this country, local people aren't allowed to keep cars, not Vatican City, Monaco, its name is...

Fishing is a big part of daily life. However, the country faces serious challenges due to climate change. There are more than 193 countries in the world, each with its own culture, traditions, and way of life. What seems normal in one country...

Trump Administration Considers Expanding Travel Ban to 36 More Countries, Including African and Caribbean Nations: Report

The Trump administration is reportedly weighing new travel restrictions on 36 additional countries, expanding its immigration crackdown to include several African, Caribbean, and Asian nations, according to an internal memo obtained by The...

No Vegetarian Food is found in this Country - Citizens Aren't Allowed To Keep Cars

The world is made up of more than 193 nations. Every nation has distinct customs, cuisines, and civilizations. Due to cultural and lifestyle differences, what is considered typical for one country's citizens may be strange to those in another....

Will Australia's shift on Palestinian state impact our alliances in the region?

Australia's move to recognise a Palestinian state marks a historic shift in its policy and brings it in line with many of its South-East Asian neighbours. However, Australia's decision goes against many of its Pacific neighbours to the east, who...

Plastic pollution treaty fails as countries remain divided

Photo by Tom Fisk via Pexels International efforts to limit plastic pollution failed last week after 11 days of tense talks. The UN had convened delegates from more than 180 countries to its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in a bid to...

Liberia Risks U.S. Travel Ban

Liberia is among 36 countries that could soon face sweeping travel restrictions to the United States, as the Trump administration moves to enforce tougher immigration and vetting policies. An internal memo from the U.S. State Department — signed...

Ghanaian destinies hang in the balance as US considers travel clampdown

A cloud of uncertainty looms over Ghana as the United States considers expanding its travel ban to include more countries. This possible move—intended primarily to bolster American national security and address perceived deficiencies in...

Israel Vows to Strike ‘Everywhere’ Against Iranian Regime

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at deadly strikes between Israel and Iran, day one of meetings at the G-7 summit, and a U.S. immigration crackdown. Attacks on Tehran Airstrikes lit up the Israeli and Iranian skies on Monday,...

Plastic pollution treaty talks end without an agreement

Geneva, Aug. 16: Talks on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution in Geneva ended without an agreement Friday as the session was adjourned with plans to resume at a later date. Nations were meeting for an 11th day at the United...

Failed plastics negotiations leave few options to confront pollution crisis

Negotiations to reach a major treaty to end growing plastic pollution around the world fell apart on Friday, with delegates in Switzerland adjourning with no immediate plans to resume. The consequence of the failed talks is devastating, as it...

Tonga ends dengue outbreak as Sāmoa faces surge in cases

Tonga’s Ministry of Health has declared the end of the dengue fever outbreak, which started six months ago. Since the outbreak, a total of 907 cases were recorded, along with three dengue-related deaths. Thankfully, no new cases have been reported...