Regional Archive September 2008

Women in the Pacific region campaigning for political office will now be assisted with the publication of a "Guide to Campaigning for Pacific Women" which was officially launched in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea last week.

China's contaminated milk problem that has already claimed the lives of four babies in China is also affecting the region with countries here issuing warnings against certain products that contain the chemical melamine.

SUB-REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON SPECIAL MEASURES FOR WOMEN 25-26 SEPTEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Reggae singer and rapper, Sean Kingston, and New Zealand reggae band, KatchaFire, will be part of the free concert to be held in Suva, Fiji, marking the official launch of Digicel in the country.

A survey by Transparency International ranking Papua New Guinea as one of the 30 most corrupt countries in the world and most corrupt in the region reflects a situation affecting the entire region.

Three years on, Pacific Island Countries continue to report progress on strengthened regional cooperation and integration as guided by the Pacific Plan.

A Samoan family who had taken a New Zealand electricity company to court for the death of their mother 17 months ago was found in favour by the Auckland Coroner's Court.

A secret ballot vote appointed Edward Natapei as Vanuatu's new Prime Minister this week.

A Greenpeace team has been documenting the conditions in three Papua New Guinea (PNG) logging concessions revealing the negative effects logging is having on life in the area.

Twenty four non government organizations (NGOs), from 12 Pacific Island Countries, working in the areas of gender, HIV, and disability will participate in a four day training in Nadi from Monday September 22.

A new species of iguana has been found on the island of Ovalau in Fiji, bringing the number of iguana species in Fiji to three, instead of two as was previously thought.

To consider ways to help increase and sustain the number of women in Pacific Parliaments through the use of special measures, officials and key representatives from four Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) will attend a sub-regional workshop in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 25 - 26 September.

Popular Vanuatu artist, Vanessa Quai, will be touring Tahiti, breaking new ground for Melanesian artists in the French Polynesian music market.

Senior education officials from the Pacific region are to discuss findings of the review of the Forum Basic Education Action Plan (FBEAP) and regional education processes and mechanisms in a workshop to be held in Nadi, Fiji, 17 - 19 September.

Seven regional organisations have received USD$665,700 for 16 projects as part of Taiwan/Republic of China's annual contributions to the region.

Nominations are being sought for the 2008 RRRT/SPC Pacific Human Rights Award, which for the first time in a decade honours individual accomplishment.

Staff of the University of the South Pacific who are members of the USP Staff Union have gone on strike with numbers increasing by the hour.

The Pacific Water Association (PWA) will be holding their inaugural Pacific Water Conference (PWC) next week in Samoa at Hotel Kitano for 3 days from Tuesday 9th - Thursday 11th September, 2008.

The region's police are worried about the increasing number of cruise ships entering region which is leading to the increase in crime.

The first ministerial meeting to enhance the political dialogue between the Pacific Islands Forum and the European Union will be held in Brussels on the 16 of September.

Delegates from across the Pacific Region gathered last week to deliberate on key economic regulation, fiscal reform and financial sector issues in the Pacific.

Three weeks of rain has led to extensive flooding in Papua New Guinea's Morobe province with a bridge connecting the province and the highlands on the verge of collapsing.

A Chinese national, suspected to be a triad leader who had injured another Chinese while demanding protection money, escaped during a police raid in Papua New Guinea and 20 other Chinese nationals were arrested.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is strengthening its aid coordination and effectiveness in the Pacific islands through closer interaction with member governments and development partners.