Regional Archive May 2008

Greenpeace Educates Tuna Industry on how to make More Money

Bangkok, 30 May 2008: Greenpeace today challenged the world's tuna industry to prevent its own self-destruction, to ensure not only healthy fish stocks but to increase the long-term profitability of the industry.

ADB Provides $11.3M Grant to Help Tonga Improve Urban Infrastructure

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an $11.3 million grant to improve urban infrastructure in Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga, as urbanization and population growth fuel demand for better infrastructure.

Fiji Names New Election Supervisor

Fiji has selected its new Elections Supervisor after the previous selected candidate withdrew.

Forum-Fiji JWG 29th Meeting Outcomes

Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji Joint Working Group on the Situation in Fiji

Japan to Open Embassy in Tonga

Japan is preparing to open up its new embassy in the region, which will be in Tonga.

Forum to study idea of a Pacific Single Market and Economy

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat has been mandated to carry out a study on the idea of a Pacific Single Market and Economy (PSME).

ICT Centre for USP

The University of the South Pacific (USP) will commence construction on an Information and Communications centre following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Fiji and Japan.

Guam, Forum Secretariat and SPC sign Letter of Understanding

Workers in the South Pacific could benefit from the 20,000 job opportunities which are expected to be generated as a result of the relocation of the United States military base from Okinawa in Japan to Guam.

USP Appoints New Vice Chancellor

The University of the South Pacific (USP) has appointed Professor Rajesh Chandra as its new Vice Chancellor.

Australia to Scrap Pacific Solution in Asylum Cases

Australia is planning to scrap the Pacific Solution for the asylum seekers who are still living in detention centers.

Forum Chair Concerned about Death Threats on Australian Diplomat

Forum Chair Expresses Serious Concern over Death Threats Received by Australian High Commissioner to Fiji.

Threats Made to Fiji's Australian High Commission

The Australian High Commission in Fiji is on full alert and requesting the Fiji Government to allow Australian Federal Police officers in to be part of the security at the High Commission following the second death threat made to High Commissioner, James Batley.

Providing Basic Social Protection Not a Question of Wealth

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Even poor countries can afford basic social protection like financing health care, cash transfers to the poor, and elderly and child protection.

Six Pacific Island Countries to Claim Ocean Space

Six countries in the region are working on their submissions to the United Nations (UN) to claim extra ocean space.

Pacific Nations Must Seize Opportunity to Prepare for Higher Food Prices

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - High oil prices are already a concern in the Pacific region, but the recent surge in world food prices has yet to be fully felt in the Pacific, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) study, "Living with High Prices".

Reggae Star Shaggy Helps Digicel Launch in Tonga

Popular reggae star, Shaggy, arrived in Tonga on Wednesday for his concert to mark Digicel's launch in the island kingdom.

Forum-Fiji JWG Outcomes of 28th Meeting

The Working Group held is twenty-eighth meeting at the Forum Secretariat Headquarters in Suva on 8 May 2008, attended by senior officials from Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tuvalu.

Fiji's Media Threatened

A meeting between Fiji's interim Prime Minister and media executives revealed that the country's media could be in danger of being shut down if relations between the interim regime and the media are not mended.

Forum Chair Announces Resignation of SG

The Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele has announced the intention of the Forum Secretariat's Secretary General, Greg Urwin to resign from the position on medical grounds.

Forum encourages press freedom

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat released the following press statement on the eve of World Press Freedom Day.

Fiji and Tonga sign Air Services MOU

Airline seat capacity between the two island nations is expected to increase following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) yesterday.

ADB Announces Massive Financial Support for Food Crisis

MADRID, SPAIN - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda announced $500 million in immediate budgetary support to tackle rising food costs in Asia-Pacific region and pledged to double lending to $2 billion for agriculture in 2009.

A New ADB in a Rapidly Changing Asia-Pacific

MADRID, SPAIN - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set for a change in the way it serves its developing member countries in a rapidly evolving and dynamic Asia-Pacific region, ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda said at the official opening of the organization's 41st Annual Meeting in Madrid today.

ADB to Launch New Climate Change Fund

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is establishing a new fund to slow the onset of climate change and to help the Asia-Pacific region adapt to the expected devastating impact of global warming.

Democrat Obama Wins in Guam

The Democratic candidate in the running for the American presidential elections, Barack Obama, won Guam's nomination in the weekend.

New ADB Magazine to Increase Awareness of Asia's Development Challenges

MADRID, SPAIN - A new magazine launched by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help raise awareness and understanding of development issues and challenges concerning the Asia and Pacific region.

ADB Ready to Provide Fiscal Support to Help Governments Feed Poor

MADRID, SPAIN - The Asian Development Bank will provide immediate budgetary support to the hardest hit countries in Asia and the Pacific to alleviate their fiscal burdens and cushion the impact of rising food prices on the poor and vulnerable, says ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda.

ADB Secures Over $11 Billion to Help Asia's Poorest

MADRID, SPAIN - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has secured US$11.3 billion for the next four-year phase of its concessional development fund to fight poverty in the Asia and Pacific region - a significant jump of over 60% from the previous period.

Deported Publisher Flown to Korea

The publisher of Fiji Times who was deported by Fiji's interim government was flown to Korea yesterday morning.

Fiji High Court Issues Stop Order for Deportation

Fiji's High Court has issued an order stopping the deportation of Fiji Times Publisher.

Fiji Deports another Media Head

In another controversial move, Fiji has deported another newspaper publisher in a similar manner in which Fiji Sun publisher, Russell Hunter, was removed in February.