Results for Pacific Islands

The Pacific is on the global frontlines of the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases and the time has come for action with deadlines to reverse the crisis without delay, regional leaders heard at the opening of the Pacific Non-Communicable Diseases Summit in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, this morning.

Pacific Island countries can’t manage their current level of debts, the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) reveals in a new report. In a low key statement, PASAI said yesterday that debt in Pacific Island countries is currently “at unsustainable levels” and that they need to improve their debt management strategies.

Leading spokespersons for the Forum Island Countries on PACER Plus have come out slamming a PANG assessment they say is a "lopsided and inaccurate view" on PACER Plus, that was commissioned by the Pacific Network on Globalisation.

The new Pacific Ecosystem Based Adaptation to Climate Change project (PEBACC) has set up an office in Suva, Fiji.

In 2015 there were 151 Tongan nationals studying in the People’s Republic of China according to the country’s Department of North American & Oceanian Affairs. Of the 151 students in China, 99 were scholarship students.

Up to 250 Tongans who applied to the New Zealand government’s Pacific Access Category Quota for a chance to obtain residence visas, had applications drawn out on Friday.

Pacific people are urged to be part of the Wave for Change social media campaign and commit to activities to protect the ocean from threats such as climate change, ocean acidification, marine pollution and overfishing as part of World Oceans Day today, 8 June. SPREP says the ocean needs to be protected from threats such as climate change, ocean acidification, marine pollution and overfishing as it plays a vital role covering 98% of the Pacific region that consists of only 2% of land area.

Nauru has abolished its death penalty and decriminalised homosexuality after recently amending its criminal code. Tonga and Papua New Guinea remain the only two countries in the Pacific to retain the death penalty for crimes such as murder, while six Pacific countries still criminalize homosexuality, including Tonga.

Statisticians from governments and development partners throughout the Pacific will meet in Lautoka, Fiji, next week to discuss major statistical projects that will inform government policy and decision making, supporting sustainable development in the region.