HONIARA, 17 OCTOBER 2019 (SOLOMON STAR) — Solomon Islands Government’s decision to switch diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China was on the right side of history, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says. He was speaking to reporters on his arrival Tuesday from the week-long trip to China. “The decision to switch was collectively made by the […]
Category: Pacific News
Posted inPacific News
Obesity rates soar due to dramatic global diet shift, says UN food agency
ROME/NEW YORK, 17 OCTOBER 2019 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—Eating food high in starch, sugar, fats and salt; combined with a sedentary lifestyle, is a recipe for soaring global obesity rates, even in countries where many still suffer from hunger. On World Food Day, which falls on Wednesday, the UN’s food agency, FAO, is calling for action […]
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No charges laid against Fiji PM on assault allegation: DPP
SUVA, 17 OCTOBER 2019 (DPP) — Fiji’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde, has decided that no charges will be laid against Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in relation to allegations that he assaulted Opposition Member of Parliament, Pio Tikoduadua in the parliamentary precincts on 09 August. Pryde said, “Under section 73 of the Constitution, Parliament […]
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Cook Islands MPA leader fired after supporting seabed mining freeze
RAROTONGA, 17 OCTOBER 2019 (MONGABAY) — For somebody who’d just been fired from a prestigious government post, Jacqueline Evans sounded remarkably upbeat. “I knew it was going to come,” she laughed during a phone interview with Mongabay. “I was surprised about what I was being sacked over, though: it was essentially just giving my opinion.” […]
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Chinese gifts for Pacific ‘friends’
Chinese gifts for Pacific ‘friends’ BEIJING, 17 OCTOBWER 2019 (THE AUSTRALIAN) — China will roll out fresh offers of cash and red-carpet trips when Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua meets Pacific leaders in Samoa next week to spruik Xi Jinping’s signature Belt and Road Initiative. Mr Hu, a senior Chinese Communist Party Politburo member, will […]
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PFF welcomes PNG, Kiribati leaders reaching out to media
Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS–Regional article 19 media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF, has lauded recent efforts by Pacific leaders to engage more fully with journalists. This month in Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister James Marape engaged in frank sharing, dialogue and information exchange with newsroom journalists and practitioners. At the recently ended UN Climate Summit in New York City, […]