SOLOMON Islands is the only Pacific country represented on the United Nations Women Executive Board. Its representative is Helen Beck, the Counsellor at the Solomon Islands Mission in New York. Sharing her experiences with civil society organisations including women and youth groups from around the region at a meeting in Nadi last week, Mrs Beck…
LEADING experts from around the South Pacific will come together at the Australian National University (ANU) from today to discuss major issues affecting the region over the coming year. The two-day State of the Pacific Conference will discuss Australia’s changing role in the Pacific, as well as China’s rising influence and development assistance, and the…
Solomon Islands is ready to participate at the upcoming 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture in Papua New Guinea. The festival opening ceremony will begin on June 28th in Port Moresby and will run for two weeks ending on July 11. The Government is sending a contingent of 168 participants who will take part…
The New Zealand Government is contributing $3.8 million to the Fred Hollows Foundation to build a new eye clinic in the Solomon Islands. The state-of-the-art centre will double the number of patients that doctors can treat there. Luke Teaman was blind for 20 years because of cataracts. After a 20 minute surgery, his sight was…
PACIFIC island nations announced plans Thursday to dramatically increase the fees they charge tuna fishing boats for the right to enter their waters, saying it will boost revenue and help conservation efforts. Around half the world’s skipjack tuna, the most commonly canned variety, is caught in waters belonging to an eight-nation group known as the…
Air New Zealand has revamped its fare options for domestic flights, with last-minute business customers most likely to benefit from the changes. Before the new fare structure, those who booked flights late often had to buy services and add-ons they did not need. From June 24, travellers will always be able to opt for a…
The private sector in the Asia-Pacific region holds $33 trillion which could help finance sustainable development, the United Nations economic and social office in the region said, calling for greater partnerships in the social and environmental sectors, and for a reworking of the region’s financial regulations. “Investments in sustainable development could cost as much as…
The European Union warned Tuesday the Philippines, one of the world’s largest fishing nations, and Papua New Guinea that they faced an import ban if they do not curb illegal fishing. The European Commission said it had failed to make progress in talks with both countries and decided to issue a formal warning — a…
RAPID migration to cities and towns, driven by scarce public services and jobs in rural areas, is producing a profound social shift in Pacific Island countries, where agrarian life has dominated for generations. But the urban dream remains elusive as a severe lack of housing forces many into sprawling, poorly-serviced informal settlements. In the southwest…
THE number of developing countries with policies in place to support renewable energy has increased six-fold in just eight years, resulting in one-fifth of the world’s power production now coming from renewable sources, according to a United Nations-backed report produced ahead of the UN Sustainable Energy for All Forum. In the beginning of this year,…