Latest news with #Tuvalu
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
The .TV Domain Is In Danger: How Climate Change Affects Digital Brands
Daniel Strauss , CEO, InterNexum and nicmanager. getty The potential dissolution of Tuvalu presents companies with new challenges in domain management. As a domain strategist with 25 years of experience, I see every day that domains determine visibility, security and scaling. That's why I am committed to responsible digital brand management—and why this development is one I believe is essential to stay up to date on as you continue to develop your brand online. Tuvalu is an island nation in the Pacific with a population of less than 10,000. It's a prime example of the threats posed by climate change. Due to rising sea levels, the country is increasingly at risk of becoming uninhabitable. In addition to the humanitarian and ecological aspects, this also has digital implications: The country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) .tv, which is assigned to Tuvalu, is used by media companies and content creators worldwide. The potential dissolution of Tuvalu therefore raises specific questions about the future of this domain—with direct consequences for companies that use it. Climate-Related Risks For Digital Infrastructure Tuvalu consists of nine low atolls, many of which are less than one meter above sea level. According to forecasts, large parts of the country could be regularly flooded by 2050. In response, the Tuvalu government has announced its intention to preserve the country as a so-called 'digital nation,' with a virtual administration, digital land laws and long-term data archiving. This is intended to preserve identity, state structures and sovereignty beyond its physical demise. However, this approach cannot be implemented without legal and organizational hurdles for the technical infrastructure of the internet, especially in regard to .tv. ICANN Policies And Business Risks For ccTLDs The internet administration of ccTLDs is carried out by ICANN on the basis of the ISO-3166-1 country codes. If a country disappears from this reference, its domain extension can be officially withdrawn. In the past, domains such as .yu (Yugoslavia) have already been deactivated. Such changes are rare, but they follow clearly defined processes. Companies that rely heavily on ccTLDs such as .tv could effectively lose their digital address—without warning. What's more, other popular ccTLDs such as .io, .ly or .ai also originate from politically unstable or historically controversial regions. Dependence on such domains is an underestimated risk, especially if they fulfill essential functions in the business model (e.g., video portals, streaming services, short links or AI platforms). Five Ways To Take Action Companies that rely on country-specific top-level domains—especially on economically attractive but politically fragile ccTLDs such as .tv, .io or .ly—should critically scrutinize and safeguard their domain strategy. The following measures are what I consider elementary components of forward-looking domain governance: 1. Dependency Analysis And Risk Assessment: Carry out a systematic evaluation of your domain strategy. How strongly is your brand or infrastructure tied to a single ccTLD? Which domains are operationally critical and which are purely communicative? Particular attention should be paid to domains with geopolitical exposure. 2. Registration Of Alternative Domains: Secure backup domains under stable generic TLDs such as .com, .net or .org—as well as under suitable, modern TLDs such as .tech, .dev or .cloud, if this fits your business model. In this way, digital identities can be converted quickly if necessary, without any loss of visibility or reputation. 3. Preparation Of Technical Migrations: Develop a migration plan in the event that your main domain is no longer usable. This includes technical redirect concepts, adjustments to the SEO architecture and updating certificates, APIs, internal links and external resources. My experience taught me that a prepared migration reduces interruptions and secures digital business operations. 4. Contractual And Operational Protection: Check your contracts with domain registrars, especially for exotic ccTLDs. Pay attention to terms, renewal options, recovery periods and responsibilities in the event of a crisis. Document responsibilities internally and introduce processes for regular review. 5. Involvement Of Experts: The technical and regulatory complexity in the domain area requires specialized know-how. External consultants or dedicated domain managers can help analyze individual risk potentials, professionally support migrations and ensure that all measures are carried out in accordance with global ICANN guidelines. Conclusion: Digital Identity Needs Geopolitical Resilience The threat of Tuvalu becoming uninhabitable is a concrete example of how the physical and digital worlds are increasingly intertwined. At first glance, this appears to be a purely infrastructural or humanitarian problem. But on closer inspection, it reveals far-reaching relevance for the stability and continuity of digital brand management. The allocation of ccTLDs is not a purely technical issue—it is the result of international legal norms, geopolitical stability and more. If these framework conditions break down, the integrity of digital identities is directly at risk. Companies that build their brand on a single geopolitically sensitive domain extension risk serious reputational and operational losses in an emergency. Investing in strategic domain governance, migration capability and resilience is, therefore, not an option, but an element of responsible corporate governance in the digital space. The lesson from Tuvalu is as follows: Digital brands are only as robust as the foundations on which they stand. Those who recognize and address risks early on not only protect their domain, but also their digital future. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
A climate crisis, a ballot, and a chance at a new life in Australia
On the sandy shores of Vaiaku, as coconut trees sway gently in the breeze, Tekafa Piliota sits in his small classroom and dreams of becoming a doctor. The 13-year-old, who lives in Tuvalu's capital Funafuti, knows that would mean leaving his homeland. There aren't any universities in the small Pacific island nation, which lies between Australia and Hawaii. The country has another problem: it is predicted to be one the first countries to become uninhabitable due to rising seas. 'I would like to go to Australia to study. There is higher ground in Australia, and it might be safer during natural disasters,' Piliota says. In the years to come, he could see that dream become a reality. This week the first ballot opened that allows Tuvalu citizens to apply to move to Australia. It is part of a world-first agreement the two countries signed in 2023 that creates a visa in the context of the climate crisis. The agreement, known as the Falepili Union treaty, will allow up to 280 Tuvaluans each year to migrate to Australia and obtain permanent residency, and move freely between the countries. The treaty also contains other provisions to deepen ties, including security guarantees and disaster assistance. Tuvalu's prime minister, Feleti Teo, described the agreement as 'groundbreaking, unprecedented and landmark'. 'There's a lot of excitement around the migration pathway, both in Tuvalu and among our diaspora,' Teo tells the Guardian. 'It doesn't mean you have to live the rest of your life in Australia. You can go in and come out as you wish.' Yet as the historic treaty stirs hope among some Tuvaluans, it has also raised fears that the flow of people out of the country of around 11,000 people will create labour gaps and lead to a loss of cultural knowledge. Others have criticised the treaty's sovereignty implications and questioned how it was negotiated. 'It was done in a secretive manner, kept away from the people, kept away from parliamentary process,' says Enele Sopoaga, a former prime minister of Tuvalu and renowned climate diplomat. 'You cannot take people away and pretend nothing is happening on the ground. That's a daft way of thinking. [It's] modern-day colonialism at its worst,' Sopoaga said. Tuvalu is one if the smallest countries in the world, with a total land mass of about 26 sq km. Funafuti is the capital of Tuvalu and a low-lying atoll of more than 30 islets, home to about 60% of the country's population. Encircling the vast 275 sq km Te Namo lagoon, much of Funafuti's land is less than one metre above spring high tide levels. This makes the atoll acutely vulnerable to climate threats such as sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and coastal erosion, which already affect freshwater supplies and increase flooding during high tides. Scientific projections suggest that by 2050, half of Funafuti could be submerged during high tides, with up to 95% of the land regularly flooded by the end of the century. To confront these escalating risks, Tuvalu's government is working with international agencies on a series of adaptation projects. The Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project has built 7.8 hectares of raised, flood-resilient land and reinforced 2.78km of shoreline using seawalls, groynes and natural buffers. Work is expected to be completed later this year. Another project aims to reclaim 3.6 sq km of elevated, climate-resilient land for the relocation of residents and key infrastructure beyond 2100. Yet in this environment, many living in Funafuti think about their options for the future – and whether to stay or go. Among them are Piliota and his classmate Hope Aoga Kofe, who attend Natui primary school in the village of Vaiaku in Funafuti. Hope Kofe also has dreams of one day studying in Australia. 'I want to become a flight attendant because I love travelling and I enjoy helping and serving people,' she says. 'I think the idea of moving to Australia is good, especially for getting a better education. It would be easier to find jobs there. Life here in Tuvalu is harder, but if I got a good job in Australia, I could always come back and visit.' About 800 children study at Natui primary school. Principal Kainaki Taula works hard to make sure her students are ready for the future, but acknowledges there aren't enough job opportunities. 'We try our best to equip them with the knowledge and skills to survive and thrive wherever they go,' Taula says. Letiu Afelee, a father of five young boys, sees the Falepili pathway as a necessary option for families like his, seeking opportunity beyond Tuvalu. His eldest son is a student at a nearby high school, who hopes to work in land planning and dreams of playing Australian rules football. 'If the predictions are true, and in 50 years Tuvalu is underwater, then we need to have a way out,' Afelee says. 'If we are granted permanent residence, they can go to Australia, live there, and still come back to Tuvalu when they want.' Adriana Pedro Tausau, who is in her final year of high school in Funafuti, is excited about what a move to Australia could bring now – and years down the track. 'This is a great opportunity. The Falepili pathway would help my family access health, education, and jobs, not just for me but for my future children too,' she said. The inaugural ballot for the Falepili pathway opened on 16 June 2025 and is due to close next month. Successful applicants will be chosen at random. Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, said it would enable 'mobility with dignity, by providing Tuvaluans the opportunity to live, study and work in Australia as climate impacts worsen'. The scheme differs from other migration programs in the Pacific. Unlike temporary labour pathways, successful applicants will be granted permanent residency before departure, meaning they gain access to health, education and other services as soon as they arrive in Australia. They will also be free to travel to and from Australia, to maintain connections with Tuvalu. It is wider than other migration programs, with no restrictions on age or disability. Still, some in Tuvalu have concerns about the way the treaty was formed, and Sopoaga criticised its implementation. 'It was done almost under the influence of one partner over the recipient,' the former prime minister said. 'If you look at the treaty text, there's nothing in there to protect Tuvalu. Nothing to deal with the impacts of climate change. Nothing,' Sopoaga says. Anna Powles, associate professor in security studies at Massey University, also notes the treaty was negotiated quickly and 'in secrecy'. She says that provisions in Article 4 'effectively give Australia veto power over Tuvalu's national security decision-making'. 'Bundling climate assistance with military or defence-related commitments poses significant security risks for Pacific nations, as illustrated by the Falepili treaty between Australia and Tuvalu. Such agreements risk eroding sovereignty,' she says. Others are worried about the drain of people and resources out of Tuvalu. Pacific labour migration researcher FotuoSamoa Tiatia says the treaty could lead to a substantial flow over time. 'These individuals often hold important roles in their churches, villages and families. Their absence creates gaps not just in labour, but in the transmission of cultural knowledge,' Tiatia says. Prime minister Teo challenges these concerns, arguing the pathway is intentionally two-way and 'doesn't mean you have to live the rest of your life' in Australia. He describes the treaty as a 'serious elevation in terms of our relationship with Australia'. 'Australia is now the first country to legally recognise the continuity of our statehood despite climate change and sea level rise,' Teo says, while stressing it 'does not go as far as sovereignty within Australia in the event of full land loss'. 'It simply recognises future statehood in relation to where we are right now. With this elevated relationship and the opportunities that the treaty provides, I hope the people of Tuvalu can take full advantage, especially of the migration pathway.' Students like Tekafa welcome the chance to consider a different future. 'I love the freedom here. I can go anywhere I want without fear,' he says. 'But I also think about the opportunities elsewhere. It might be hard to leave, but it could also be a good decision.'
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
US travel ban: Countries have the right to decide who can cross their borders, Peters says
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Winston Peters says countries have the right to choose who enters their borders in response to reports that the Trump administration is planning to impose travel restrictions on three dozen nations, including three in the Pacific. But Labour's deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni says the New Zealand foreign minister should push back on the United States' proposal. Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have reportedly been included in an expanded proposal of 36 additional countries for which the Trump administration is considering travel restrictions. The cable was first reported by The Washington Post. A State Department spokesperson told the outlet that the agency would not comment on internal deliberations or White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Peters said countries have the right to decide who can cross their borders. "Before we all get offended, we've got the right to decide in New Zealand who comes to our country. So has Australia, so so has the United States," Peters said. He said New Zealand will do its best to address the US security concerns. "We need to do our best to ensure there are no misunderstandings." Peters said US concerns could be over selling citizenship or citizenship-by-investment schemes. Vanuatu runs a "golden passport" scheme where applicants can be granted Vanuatu citizenship for a minimum investment of US$130,000. Peters says citizenship programmes, such as the citizenship-by-investment schemes which allow people to purchase passports, could have concerned the Trump administration. Photo: 123RF Peters said programmes like that could have concerned the Trump administration. "There are certain decisions that have been made, which look innocent, but when they come to an international capacity do not have that effect. "Tuvalu has been selling passports. You see where an made in Tuvalu can lead to the concerns in the United States when it comes to security." However, Sepuloni wants Peters to push back on the US considering travel restrictions for Pacific nations. Labour Party Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Sepuloni said she wants the foreign minister to get a full explanation on the proposed restrictions. "From there, I would expect him to be pushing back on the US and supporting our Pacific nations to be taken off that list," she said. "Their response is 'why us? We're so tiny - what risk do we pose?'" Massey University associate professor in defence and security studies Anna Powles said Vanuatu has appeared on the US' bad side in the past. "Back in March Vanuatu was one of over 40 countries that was reported to be on the immigration watchlist and that related to Vanuatu's golden passport scheme," she said. However, a US spokesperson denied the existence of such a list. "What people are looking not a list that exists here that is being acted on," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, according to a transcript of her press briefing provided to BenarNews . "There is a review, as we know, through the president's executive order, for us to look at the nature of what's going to help keep America safer in dealing with the issue of visas and who's allowed into the country." Powles said it is the first time Tonga has been included. "That certainly has raised some concern amongst Tongans because there's a large Tongan diaspora in the United States." She said students studying in the US could be affected; but while there's a degree of bemusement and concern over the issue, there's also a degree of waiting to see how this unfolds. Trump signed a proclamation on 4 June banning the nationals of 12 countries from entering the United States , saying the move was needed to protect against "foreign terrorists" and other security threats.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Trump considers banning Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Pacific world 12:45 pm today President Donald Trump is considering adding 36 additional countries to the United States' travel ban list - including Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies associate professor Anna Powles spoke to Charlotte Cook.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Three Pacific nations in Trump's expanded travel ban list
Earlier this month, President Trump signed a proclamation that banned the entry of citizens from 12 countries, citing threats from "foreign terrorists" and other national security concerns. Photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP Three Pacific Island nations are caught in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump's crackdown on foreign nationals from countries that fail to meet "established benchmarks and requirements" for remaining in the United States. Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have reportedly been included in an expanded list of 36 additional countries that the Trump administration is considering for travel restrictions on entering the US, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters. Earlier this month, President Trump signed a proclamation that banned the entry of citizens from 12 countries , citing threats from "foreign terrorists" and other national security concerns. Reuters reports that the directive is part of an immigration crackdown Trump launched this year at the start of his second term. The news agency said that, in an internal diplomatic cable signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department outlined a dozen concerns about the countries in question and called for corrective action. "The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days," the cable sent out over the weekend said. The cable was first reported by the Washington Post . The governments of Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have yet to respond to the issue. Kaniva Tonga reported that travelling to America had been a major concern for Tongans due to the high cost of obtaining a visa, which required having to travel to the US Embassy in Fiji. "It was one of the key issues Tonga used to negotiate the establishment of a US Embassy in Nukuʻalofa last year," the news outlet reported. "In 2020, the US Census reported that 78,871 people in the US have Tongan ancestry." In February, Tongan Prime Minister Dr 'Aisake Eke had expressed concerns about Trump's immigration policies, saying that deported migrants would worsen existing challenges in the kingdom.
