Regional Archive April 2009

Swine flu is increasingly becoming a concern for the region with confirmed cases in neighboring New Zealand and now suspected cases in Australia.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will assist the Pacific region to improve economic management and in doing so will help the region weather the impacts of the global economic crisis.

The flu epidemic that is severely affecting Mexico and spreading to other parts of the world is highly likely to also reach the region, the World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned.

In the ongoing issue regarding a news story of a drugs and guns culture in Samoa by Television New Zealand (TVNZ), the government of Samoa has announced that it will sue TVNZ.

Press Statement - The question of energy, like no other, gives full exposure to the vulnerability of Pacific Island Countries.

Solomon Islands Ambassador to the European Union, His Excellency Mr. Joseph Maáhanua, successfully co-chaired with his Czech Republic counterpart, the 59th Session of ACP-EU Committee of Ambassadors in Brussels, Belgium, on Friday.

Press Release - Oil, chemicals and unexploded ordinance from an estimated 800 World War II Wrecks throughout the exclusive economic zones of Pacific Island countries and territories pose imminent danger to people, environment and fisheries of the region.

TVNZ reporter, Barbara Dreaver, whose report on Samoa's alleged drugs and guns culture has caused controversy in and out of the island nation, has denied allegations that her story was staged and that the individuals in the report were actors and misled about the story.

20 April 2009 - An Amnesty International expert who has just completed a fact-finding mission to Fiji warns that the human rights situation in the country is getting worse by the day and the civilian population is living in fear as a result of draconian measures implemented by the military regime.

NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda and Mr. Sun Vithespongse, Executive Director of the World Bank for Tonga, today officially opened a World Bank-ADB joint field presence in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.

Press Release - After several years of planning and preparation, a US $13.125 million climate change adaptation project is now underway in the Pacific region.

BEIJING, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) have concluded a week-long workshop in Beijing to raise awareness through the media about the impacts of climate change on the region.

The military in Fiji has tightened its grip on the country's media which started with newsrooms around the country being monitored and articles deemed critical of the president and military being pulled and this has escalated to the deportation of foreign journalists in the country.

A report by Television New Zealand of allegations of a criminal culture in Samoa has generated shocked responses from within and outside of Samoa. However, TVNZ is standing by its report.

The Pacific islands News Association, PINA has called on the newly established interim government of Fiji to leave the media alone to continue to perform its role of information dissemination to the people of Fiji and the region.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) welcomes the opening of the new Companies Registry Office.

Fiji's president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, has reappointed coup leader and military commander, Voreqe Bainimarama, as the country's Prime Minister after abrogating the country's constitution and imposing emergency rule last week.

Fiji's President and self-appointed Head of State has put in place the Public Emergency Regulations 2009, effectively putting the country under emergency rule.

Fiji's President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, has abrogated the country's constitution and made himself Head of State following the ruling by the country's Court of Appeal that the current interim government is illegal.

Fiji is now without a government and awaiting the President's next course of action following yesterday's ruling by the Fiji Court of Appeal that the dismissal of Fiji's deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, was unlawful.

Two new transport laws in the Solomon Islands, that are designed to improve services and safety, have been welcomed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Claims of a growing drugs and gun culture in Samoa, along with claims that the country is a dumping ground for criminals has led the police in the country to start an urgent investigation.

The launch of a new book on human rights law is expected to help the region in addressing issues regarding various human rights cases in the region.

Seven countries around the region have joined together to form the Pacific Cruise group.

Press Release - Pacific guidelines for whale and dolphin watching have been launched on the eve of the first International Conference for Marine Mammal Protected Areas in Maui, Hawaii.

The steaming crater lake that resulted from the massive eruption of an underwater volcano in Tonga's Hunga Ha'apai has attracted its first visitors when a group of four landed on the newly-formed peninsula of the island.

Press Statement - Delegates from across the region gathered this week to review the findings of a draft feasibility study on regional approaches to targeted customs services in Forum Island Countries.

Bonn, Germany - Including forest protection measures in carbon markets would crash the price of carbon by 75% and derail global efforts to tackle global warming, according to a new report commissioned by Greenpeace.