Results for Pacific Islands

With the exception of launching a nuclear war, it is hard to think of anything a US president could do that is liable to harm more people than last month’s order canceling rules issued under former President Barack Obama to freeze the construction of new coal-fired power plants and shut down many old ones. President Donald Trump’s order followed his pledge to rescind stricter fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks, and his announcement that he wants to slash spending on climate science. By Peter Singer.

The depletion of water sources in places around the world by 2040, will affect up to 600 million children worldwide, warns a UNICEF report released on March 22 to mark World Water Day. The report focuses on how the wellbeing of children is threatened by lack of access to safe water and how a changing climate will worsen the situation in the future. Pacific Island countries face particular challenges.

Tongans who want immigration advice to work, study or live in New Zealand are being encouraged to use a licensed or exempt immigration adviser by the New Zealand authorities. Ms Catherine Albiston, Registrar of the New Zealand Immigration Advisers Authority will visit Tonga, Fiji and Samoa next week as part of a campaign to help communities understand the risks associated with using unlicensed immigration advisers.

Biodiversity conservation in Tonga and Fiji is vital for the development of its tourism sectors and must be managed properly to sustain the natural habitat, while providing a livelihood to communities. The importance of preserving biodiversity was made clear at this month’s High Level Roundtable discussions of the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP13) in Cancun, Mexico.

Miss Fiji, Anne Christine Dunn, was crowned Miss Pacific Islands at the 2016 pageant on Friday night in Apia, Samoa. Miss American Samoa, Antonina Lilomaiava, was the 1st runner up to the crown. Miss Tonga, Laura Lauti, won the prize for Miss Photogenic.

An 18 month long project to support the development of the vanilla industry in Vava'u this year has also helped Tonga's MAFF and Australian development partners to better understand the challenges and opportunities faced by vanilla growers and the vanilla industry. Over 100 vanilla growers were directly assisted and 328 plantations monitored under the project, which has identified a need for new plantings, particularly on small family plantations.

Bank of South Pacific Tonga Ltd. last week opened new sub branches at Ha'apai and ‘Eua with fully Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) installed. BSP Country Head, Daniel Henson said renovations at the Vava'u branch were also opened by the Governor of Vava'u, Lord Fulivai, attended by the Chairman of Bank South Pacific, Sir Kostas Constantinou OBE.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to spend up to $2.5 billion in loans and grants to strengthen economic development in 14 Pacific Island countries after it unveiled a new five-year strategy on 1 September.

Tonga’s Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva will meet New Zealand's Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key on Thursday 28 July, during his first bilateral visit to New Zealand from July 27-30.