Results for Pacific Islands

Tonga's economy and those of its neighbouring Pacific countries grew by less than 2% in 2008, compared to a 5.1 % growth rate of the region combined.

Prince Tungi headed a seven-member Tongan delegation in a brief visit to Samoa and American Samoa yesterday, Wednesday October 7 to convey the condolences of Tonga's king and people to the leaders and the people of Samoa and American Samoa for the loss of many lives following last week's tsunami.

Fiji's suspension from the Commonwealth on September 1 was a dead certainty. Its earlier suspension from the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum didn't deter it and it would have been naïve to think that the threat of this week's - it's third from the Commonwealth since independence - would make the Fijian administration change its mind. By Dev Nadkarni

Last week's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders' summit, held in the northern Australian city of Cairns, saw the Labor government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd move to extend its control over the regional body. Despite earlier statements from a number of Pacific governments expressing disquiet over Canberra's stance on issues including Fiji, climate change, and regional trade, every PIF member state toed the line and signed the final summit communiqué drafted by the Australian government. -By Frank Gaglioti

Civil society leaders from around the South Pacific region met in Nuku'alofa on August 12-13 to try an ensure that the views of the Pacific's Civil Societies are heard in the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.

The possible launch of trade negotiations by Prime Minister John Key and the other Pacific leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum, beginning today in Cairns, must not plunge Pacific people already hit by the economic crisis, food crisis and climate change further into poverty, says international aid agency Oxfam.

The PINA Pacific Media Pacific Summit 2009 got off to a shaky start at Port Vila Vanuatu this week. On the opening day of the Pacific Islands News Association's meeting on July 27, Port Vila was shaken by a 6.2 earthquake. Then after lunch, the Fiji issue where government censors are placed in news rooms caused an uproar.

A 27-year-old Tongan national Mr Siale Bain-Vete, has been chosen as the Pacific's first Fulbright scholar in more than a decade by the American Embassy, Suva, Fiji, on Wednesday, June 23.