WASHINGTON, 28 MAY 2026 (MONGABAY) — The U.S agency responsible for overseeing deep-sea mining in federal waters is preparing to auction off seabed blocks within months — a step that could kick-start commercial-scale deep-sea mining and make the U.S one of the first countries to allow it. Deep-sea mining has not yet begun anywhere in […]
Category: In Focus
Posted inIn Focus
UN votes to support action on climate change despite U.S opposition
NEW YORK, 21 MAY 2026 (AP) — The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to support strong action to prevent climate change despite recent diplomatic efforts by the United States to have the measure withdrawn. The 193-member world body approved a nonbinding resolution endorsing the landmark advisory opinion by the UN’s top court last July […]
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Media freedom and the Pacific Islands
By Kalafi Moala NUKU’ALOFA, 11 MAY 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG)—The importance of media freedom is recognised each year globally on 03 May. This year the Pacific Island country of Tonga commemorated Press Freedom Day just a week after one of the most frightening threats to that freedom which took place at a major media outlet. A hooded […]
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Shaping a Peaceful Pacific: PFF Marks World Press Freedom Day and Announces New Chair
PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM World Press Freedom Day 2026 Statement May 4, 2026- On World Press Freedom Day 2026, the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) joins journalists, editors and media advocates across the world in observing UNESCO’s theme, “Shaping a Future of Peace.” UNESCO has framed this year’s observance as a critical moment to reaffirm freedom of […]
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AI in advertising risks fueling misinformation crisis, UN warns
NEW YORK, 30 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —With spending on advertising topping $1 trillion a year worldwide, the United Nations on Wednesday highlighted the untapped power of major brands to shape the future of Artificial Intelligence, warning that a failure to act could deepen a global information integrity crisis. In a new brief titled […]
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Why lower fertility does not have to mean economic decline
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 20 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Globally, most people say they want two or more children, but many are having only one, or none at all. According to a senior UN economist, fears of a demographic timebomb are unwarranted. There’s no getting away from the fact that in many countries around the world, […]