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    Showing 9 of 2131 news items
    'This Was Something New': What People in Greenland Said About Learning to Live with Wildfires
    Climate ActionJuly 9, 2026

    'This Was Something New': What People in Greenland Said About Learning to Live with Wildfires

    After several quieter years, wildfires have returned to western Greenland. Two recent fires have brought renewed attention to a landscape more typically associated with glaciers and melting ice sheets than flames. But when we visited the region in 2023 to investigate a series of unusual large wildfires that burned a few years earlier, local residents told us they would not be surprised if the fires came back. They remembered how dry the landscape had become before the fires, which made wildfire easier to start and harder to control. For people living around Sisimiut on Greenland's west coast, these latest events are therefore not entirely unexpected. Our research suggests wildfires may be part of a new Arctic reality. During our 2023 fieldwork we spoke to firefighters, local business owners and land-users, tourism managers and international visitors, all of whom had direct experience of the earlier fires. A common thread was that these fires were unlike anything they remembered. Older generations were particularly shocked. As one resident put it, "it was something new, even for us." Their recollections match our own analysis using satellite data and newspaper reports that found no landscape fires in western Greenland from 1995 to 2007, but more than 20 since.

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    This Japanese Island is Closer To Taipei Than Tokyo. A New Ferry Makes it Easier to Visit
    Tourism & Remote WorkJuly 2, 2026

    This Japanese Island is Closer To Taipei Than Tokyo. A New Ferry Makes it Easier to Visit

    You can now fall asleep on a ferry in Taiwan and wake up in Japan. On the surface, the Yaima Maru offers a perfect slow-travel escape — a passenger ferry equipped with saunas, karaoke rooms and a top-deck cafe. Launched in Taiwan last month to the sound of drums and a traditional lion dance, the 21,000-ton civilian vessel connects the northern Taiwan port of Keelung with the island of Ishigaki, in southwestern Japan's idyllic Okinawa prefecture. But as Beijing ramps up military pressure around Taiwan and Japan shores up its own southwestern defenses, the route has drawn scrutiny — not least because the vessel has been officially earmarked by Tokyo to assist in emergency evacuations if regional tensions erupt into open conflict. For tourists, however, the ferry offers a chance to explore a unique destination far from the Japan most are familiar with. That's because Ishigaki sits about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) away from Tokyo, but only 270 kilometers (168 miles) from Taiwan. "Many people think Japan is quite far away," says Tiger Hong, general manager of the Wagon Group, which operates the ferry. "So the moment when they realize how close it actually is, they are really shocked." Currently, only one airline in Taiwan operates a direct flight to Ishigaki — which takes just an hour — while others require transferring at Okinawa's main air hub of Naha.

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    Reusable-Cup Subscription Service to Launch on Cayman
    Circular EconomyJuly 2, 2026

    Reusable-Cup Subscription Service to Launch on Cayman

    A new, deliberately not overly pretty, reusable cup is being launched in Cayman by a company that says it's combining a revenue-maker with an approach that may reduce the number of disposable containers ending up in the landfill. The ONECUP will be the first reusable cup subscription service for bars, restaurants, events and hotels in Cayman, says James Dartnall, founder of Island Cup Co, which produces the cups. A long-time volunteer in beach clean-ups and with the Department of Environment, Dartnall said he hopes the ONECUP will help cut down on the use of throwaway plastic cups. The kernel of the idea of developing the cups began during a one-and-a-half-year trip, from London, England, to Cape Town, South Africa, with his wife, where they decided to try to see if they could live without plastic during their journey. Later, at a concert in Washington, DC, he came across reusable cups. "I started researching the company [that made those cups] and other companies," he said, noting that they are becoming more commonly used at large events, like music festivals and concerts. He started to envision Cayman, with its daily influx of tourists and lively social scene, "as if every day is almost like a … very big event, and all of our hospitality vendors are operating within a small ecosystem, which they are. And then, is there a way of having a single drink cup that they all share, and they're all responsible for?" He says the ONECUP can replace not just single-use plastic glasses, but also reusable acrylic cups "because acrylic, they're end-of-chain. When acrylics get cracked or milky, they get thrown away, they can't be recycled." The plan for ONECUPs that come to the end of their use is to recycle them into plastic furniture. Once they get damaged or cracked and deemed unusable anymore, they would be shredded, melted and remolded into furniture, like benches, which, Dartnall hopes, the government will purchase and install as public fixtures.

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    Guernsey Launches Island-wide AI Programme to Upskill Local Community
    Connectivity & DigitizationJuly 2, 2026

    Guernsey Launches Island-wide AI Programme to Upskill Local Community

    Guernsey's G8 industry bodies have launched All-In, a coordinated island-wide artificial intelligence programme aimed at helping businesses, employees and community organisations build practical AI skills. Running from 1st October to 12th November, the programme will feature workshops, hackathons, panel discussions, live demonstrations, networking events and weekly challenges, before culminating in a showcase event celebrating outcomes from across the island. Designed to be accessible to all levels of experience, All-In will involve individuals and organisations from sectors including finance, hospitality, retail, construction, charities and the digital economy, with opportunities to take part, share expertise and support the programme. The initiative follows recommendations set out in the Oliver Wyman report, Driving Growth for Guernsey, alongside findings from the PwC Channel Islands CEO Survey, both of which highlighted opportunities for Guernsey to strengthen AI adoption and skills development. The G8 said the programme aims to upskill 1,000 islanders, engage more than 50 organisations, demonstrate practical AI tools and use cases, and help establish a longer-term AI community in Guernsey. PwC is supporting the initiative as a collaborator with the G8, with Roland Mills, Lead Office Partner – Guernsey, PwC Channel Islands, saying: "We're delighted to support the G8 AI Sprint in Guernsey, an initiative exemplifying a bold and forward-thinking response to technological change. At PwC, our commitment to innovation is built on a foundation of boldness, collaboration, and optimism. By harnessing our expertise and embracing cutting-edge technology, we empower clients and communities to move forward confidently. This event showcases the potential of uniting industry, government, and the community to turn ambitious visions into reality and we believe there is a clear and exciting path for Guernsey to align with its global peers and position itself as a leader in innovation and sustainable economic growth." Alice Gill, Executive Director of Guernsey Chamber of Commerce, speaking on behalf of the G8, said: "Guernsey has always punched above its weight when we work together – and that's exactly what All-In is about. Eight industry bodies, one shared ambition: to make sure no business, no employee and no community organisation in this island gets left behind by AI. "The tools are here and the opportunity is very real. And frankly, we can't afford to hesitate. All-In exists because the G8 believes Guernsey's greatest competitive advantage is its people and this autumn we're giving every one of them the chance to get hands-on with AI, for free, in their own community."

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    This Island in the Great Lakes Wants to Tap Waves for Energy
    Energy & TransportJuly 2, 2026

    This Island in the Great Lakes Wants to Tap Waves for Energy

    Hydrokinetic energy from the waves surrounding Beaver Island could improve electricity reliability and push an emerging technology forward. Beaver Island sits in the middle of the northernmost end of Lake Michigan, about 70 miles from the maritime border with Canada. The forested island, just a little bigger than San Francisco in size, is a popular summer destination for tourists and home to about 600 permanent residents. Getting there requires a boat or plane ride. Getting electricity to the island isn't as easy. Power comes from mainland Michigan through cables that cross roughly 30 miles of lake bed. Outages are common during extreme weather, or when there are problems with the sensitive wires. The devastating ice storm that walloped the state last year knocked out power to the island for weeks. That's got some residents hoping to see a more reliable source of power that's generated where they live. Turns out, there's an abundant source nearby: the waves that surround the island. Earlier this month, researchers from the University of Michigan gathered on the shoreline to deploy two devices that convert the kinetic energy of waves into electricity. The gadgets — prototypes that look like small boats framed with PVC pipes and are about the size of a yoga ball — demonstrated their potential by powering a light bulb and charging a cell phone. The project is one of many efforts across the country to use alternative sources of energy to improve reliability in remote places. In this case, the researchers spent two years gathering input from residents, who said providing a dependable source power to the airport was a priority. "We need to work with the community together to identify the need and design together with them," said Lei Zuo, an engineering professor at the University of Michigan and the lead researcher on the project. Several residents already power their homes and businesses with solar panels or geothermal energy, and the island has previously received federal funds to improve access to renewables. Similar programs and grid modernization plans face an uncertain future as the Trump administration cancels grants and programs, raising questions about how such projects will be funded in the years ahead.

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    WHO Certifies the Bahamas for Eliminating Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV
    Culture & CommunityJuly 2, 2026

    WHO Certifies the Bahamas for Eliminating Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

    In a landmark achievement for Caribbean public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates The Bahamas for becoming the latest Caribbean nation to be certified as having eliminated the mother-to-child transmission of HIV. "I congratulate The Bahamas on this outstanding achievement, which solidifies years of political commitment, and the dedication of health workers," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "By ensuring that children are born free of HIV, we are securing a healthier, brighter future for the next generation." "This achievement reflects sustained political commitment and strong national leadership, alongside the dedication and compassion of the health workforce," said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas. "As we look ahead, this milestone is not only a moment of national pride but also an opportunity to build on this success, advancing efforts to end HIV and other communicable diseases as public health threats across the Caribbean and the Americas." Foundations of success The Bahamas achieved this milestone by pioneering a comprehensive and inclusive health-care model. Key to this success has been the provision of universal antenatal care to all pregnant women, regardless of nationality or legal status, across both public and private facilities. This approach is supported by a strong, integrated laboratory network and a rigorous testing protocol that screens women at their first antenatal appointment and again in the third trimester. Elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) interventions in The Bahamas are fully integrated into antenatal care standards and norms and implemented under the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programme. MCH coordinates with the National Infectious Disease Programme, which oversees the prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). This includes the introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, also offered to pregnant women. To ensure continuity of care, the health system maintains adequate monitoring for HIV-positive mothers and exposed infants, provides multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral medicines, and offers STI treatment and family planning services free of charge. "For years, The Bahamas have been working very hard to address the situation of HIV/AIDS," said Dr Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness of The Bahamas. "A lot of people have been involved in us achieving this great milestone – our nurses in our public health system, our nurses and doctors in our tertiary health-care system and, by extension, all of the clinics spread throughout our archipelago." From Cuba, the first country in the world to be certified, and Brazil – certified last year, The Bahamas now joins a prestigious group of 12 countries and territories in the Region of the Americas at the forefront of the EMTCT movement. The Bahamas will continue efforts to sustain these standards through integrated primary care and continuous surveillance.

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    Micronesia: Can Fintech Connect the Multi-Island Pacific Nation?
    Connectivity & DigitizationJuly 2, 2026

    Micronesia: Can Fintech Connect the Multi-Island Pacific Nation?

    What are the fintech and wider digital and economic developments for the Pacific nation of Micronesia in 2026? The Federated States of Micronesia is one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world. Although its population is only around 115,000 people, the nation is spread across more than 600 islands scattered across a section of the Pacific Ocean larger than many continents. The four states of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae are separated by vast distances, creating unique challenges for transport, communications, public services and economic development. For decades, geography has shaped nearly every aspect of life in Micronesia. It influences how goods are traded, how businesses operate, how governments deliver services and how citizens access financial institutions. In many communities, the challenge is not simply affordability or availability. It is connectivity. This is one reason why digital finance is attracting growing attention. Unlike larger fintech markets where innovation is often driven by competition between banks, startups and technology firms, the fintech opportunity in Micronesia is fundamentally about overcoming distance. It is about finding ways to deliver financial services to citizens and businesses without requiring physical branches on every island. In this sense, fintech in Micronesia is best understood as infrastructure rather than disruption. The country's economy reflects its unique geography. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is approximately $4,000, while the economy relies heavily on public administration, fisheries, tourism, subsistence agriculture, development assistance and services. Palikir, located on Pohnpei, serves as the capital, although economic activity is distributed across the federation's four states. The country's relationship with the United States also plays an important role. Through the Compact of Free Association, the Federated States of Micronesia receives economic assistance and maintains close links with the United States. These arrangements have helped support development, infrastructure and public services across the country. Yet economic development remains challenging. Small populations, geographic fragmentation and limited economies of scale can make traditional financial services expensive to provide. Operating a bank branch on a remote island may not always be commercially viable, while travel between islands can be costly and time-consuming. As a result, access to financial services often depends on digital solutions. The banking sector itself is relatively small. Institutions such as the Bank of Guam and the Bank of the Federated States of Micronesia play important roles in providing financial services across the country. However, the realities of island geography mean that digital channels increasingly matter as much as physical infrastructure.

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    From Diplomacy to Maritime Strategy: Seychelles Anchors India's Indian Ocean Vision
    Policy & GovernanceJuly 2, 2026

    From Diplomacy to Maritime Strategy: Seychelles Anchors India's Indian Ocean Vision

    When I handled India's relations with Seychelles in 1979, the country had been independent for barely three years. India did not yet have a resident High Commission in Victoria. I had been posted to Nairobi to learn Kiswahili and was also tasked with looking after our relations with Seychelles, then concurrently accredited from Kenya. It proved to be one of my most endearing assignments. I paid many visits to Seychelles, an Indian Ocean archipelago whose warmth, informality and Creole culture made an immediate impression. I was advised on first arrival that ties were not worn in Seychelles. Ministers and senior officials were remarkably accessible and hospitable. Conversations were informal and frank, unconstrained by protocol. It was diplomacy conducted with a degree of trust that larger capitals rarely permit. Spread across the western Indian Ocean, the islands occupied a far larger maritime space than their land or population size would suggest. It was already evident that the security of these waters would matter greatly to India. Exchanges with the Seychellois leadership over security and maritime cooperation reinforced the case for opening our High Commission in Victoria. The mission had to be built from scratch. When I called on the President's Secretary to say the mission was functional, he took me straight to the President, who was delighted by the news. On learning I had spent twenty-one days in Victoria, he joked that no Indian official had ever stayed in Seychelles so long. Neither of us could have imagined then how central Seychelles would become to India's Indian Ocean strategy. Nearly five decades later that judgement stands amply vindicated. Much commentary today on our Indian Ocean policy focuses on major powers, naval deployments and geopolitical competition. Yet a more important transformations occurred away from those headlines. Small island countries, once regarded mainly as development partners, are also now indispensable strategic partners. For India, Seychelles illustrates that evolution better than almost any country. The relationship has developed in the familiar mould of post-colonial cooperation. India extended Lines of Credit, trained officials, supported infrastructure projects and responded to urgent needs, whether in healthcare, food security or capacity-building. Over the decades, thousands of Seychellois received professional training in India, while Indian support covered transport, digital infrastructure, renewable energy and community development. Besides growing development linkages, maritime security has gradually moved from the margins to the centre of our partnership. India's support expanded from training programmes and equipment to maritime surveillance, hydrography, coastal radar networks, patrol vessels and aircraft. Joint exercises became more sophisticated. Intelligence sharing deepened. Indian and Seychellois institutions now work together in ways difficult to imagine when our relationship began. The evolution has been from donor-recipient to operational partners. That transformation reflects changes in the Indian Ocean itself. Piracy, narcotics trafficking, illegal fishing, maritime terrorism and climate-related disasters do not respect national boundaries. No country can address such challenges alone. Security increasingly depends on networks of trusted partners rather than individual national capabilities. Seychelles has also helped reshape thinking about the oceans. Alongside the label of Small Island Developing State, it championed the idea of Large Ocean States. The term captures an important reality: a country with little land may nevertheless exercise responsibility over an enormous maritime domain rich in biodiversity, fisheries and strategic sea lanes. Its influence derives not from land alone but from stewardship of the oceans. India's own maritime outlook has similarly evolved. The Indian Ocean is no longer simply one theatre among many. It is the region where India's contribution to stability, maritime security and the blue economy will increasingly focus. Partnerships with Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius, Comoros and other island states are not peripheral to our foreign policy; they are central to it.

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    Dismantling Barriers to Climate Finance Access for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries
    Green Finance & EconomyJuly 2, 2026

    Dismantling Barriers to Climate Finance Access for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries

    Climate finance access is a critical issue for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), but a common conception of the problem is lacking. Without a clear shared understanding, efforts to reform access risk addressing symptoms rather than root causes. This briefing makes the case that access challenges stem from intersecting structural, supply, and demand problems, and that 2026 presents a critical opening to tackle intersectional barriers to access. SIDS and LDCs confront clear obstacles in accessing finance to build resilience against climate change. High perceived risk, small economic scale, currency volatility, and limited institutional capacity block their access to capital markets. Their acute need for investment in projects that build local resilience but lack of revenue streams severely limits opportunities for obtaining private capital. The resulting dependence on international public finance intensifies fiscal stress during climate shocks and perpetuates a reinforcing cycle: barriers to access heighten vulnerability, and greater vulnerability increases the hurdles to securing finance, as shown below. Intersecting barriers: Structural, supply and demand The contributing barriers to this feedback loop are structural, supply-side, and demand-oriented. Structural barriers are built into the economic realities of SIDS and LDCs: their economies are small and unstable, with financial systems still emerging and institutions and fiduciary standards continuing to develop. Supply-side constraints arise from fragmented climate funds, with overlapping mandates and rigid, inconsistent access procedures. Allocation is often shaped by income classifications and donor priorities, rather than by vulnerability, and eligibility rules often overlook climate risk. Demand limitations develop from limited institutional bandwidth, fiscal room, and administrative capacity, reducing what countries can credibly propose and absorb. These barriers intersect at two key central issues: inclusion and justice in a system where marginalised groups are routinely excluded from decisions about and benefits from finance due to system design, and the vulnerability trap. Opportunities to build on progress Some progress has been made. Major funds have issued a joint action plan to streamline procedures, and the World Bank launched a crisis-preparedness toolkit. Climate finance rose to $23.7 billion for LDCs and $3.8 billion for SIDS in 2024. Furthermore, there are clear opportunities on the horizon. As COP31 President of Negotiations, Australia – working with the Pacific – can mobilise progress on access for SIDS and LDCs and help launch implementation of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). There are opportunities for intervention and they should not be overlooked; this briefing outlines pathways for progress to dismantle structural, supply, demand, and intersectional barriers in 2026.

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