Latest news with #SolomonIslands
NHK
3 days ago
- Business
- NHK
China pledges support for Pacific island nations to address climate change
China has pledged to continue its support for Pacific island nations to address climate change. Beijing apparently intends to strengthen its influence in the Pacific region by stressing that it takes a different position from the US on global warming. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterparts from 11 island nations, including Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, and Nauru, gathered in the city of Xiamen in China's Fujian Province. The countries wrapped up the meetings and issued a joint statement on Thursday. The statement refers to strengthening trade relations, and continued Chinese support for Pacific nations to deal with the challenges posed by climate change. China's support contrasts with the reluctant stance of US President Donald Trump's administration on the issue. The Trump administration has withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change. It has also frozen some US aid programs in the Pacific region. The move has triggered widespread concerns.
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Another Fa'arodo is shining in Solomons' soccer
We often hear about the father and son bond built through sports, but the father and daughter bond is not nearly as common in the Pacific. But Solomon Islands football legend Henry Fa'arodo Junior is trying to change that by helping eldest daughter Bella-May, who had an impressive turnout at last year's OFC Women's U16 Championship in Fiji. Despite Bella-May's footballing genes, getting out on the pitch wasn't always on the cards for her. 'I wasn't really interested in football at a young age. I was mostly more athletic and running,' she said. Her dad describes Bella-May as a late bloomer, saying she picked football and never looked back. In 2005, Fa'arodo became the first ever Pacific Islander to play professional football in the Australian A-League. The Fa'arodos moved to New Zealand almost 5 years ago, where Bella-May and her younger sister Kiah-Marie frequently found themselves at the football pitch. But now that they've returned to Solomon Islands, Bella-May is playing local club games 'In New Zealand it's more organised and here back home it's just different in terms of playing,' she said. For Bella, having her dad on the sidelines comes with consequences. 'He's always pushing me and telling me to try my best, even if it's hard, I really appreciate it because it works,' she said. As for Mr Fa'arodo he believes football is part of their story 'Football is in the family. It's here to stay,' he said. Now Bella's goal is to break new barriers for sport in the Pacific by one-day representing Solomon Islands at international level. 'My dream is to play in the Women's World Cup… now I'm training up to that now, she said.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Palau advocated for Taiwan participation at Pac Islands Forum
Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. says if Taiwan is booted out of this year's Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Solomon Islands, the conference must be relocated.
ABC News
5 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Samoa heads to snap election, after national budget fails to pass
The people of Samoa are heading for an early election, after Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa called for the dissolution of parliament. For many observers, the failure of the budget to pass in parliament is no surprise. Technology facilitated violence or cyber crime is one of the new threats facing girls and women across the Pacific region. A government minister in Kiribati is worried the amount of kava being imported and consumed is threatening the country's development and peoples' way of life. A youth association in Solomon Islands Malaita province have recently celebrated their sweat and tears after they earned a total of SBD $76,000 from the sale of their cocoa in the Provincial Capital Auki, last week.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Solomon Islands joins WHO Executive Board
Dr Paul Bosawai, the Solomon Islands' designated official to the executive board of the World Health Assembly, standing with Regional Director of the Western Pacific Regional Office Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Permanent Secretary of Health, Pauline McNeil. Photo: Ministry of Health & Medical Services Solomon Islands - Facebook Solomon Islands has become an official member of the executive board of the World Health Organisation (WHO). At the WHO's general committee meeting last week, the list of the 12 new member countries was drawn up and transmitted to the Health Assembly for its official adoption and approval. Solomon Islands was nominated as a board member representing the Western Pacific Regional Office at a meeting last year. Health Minister Dr Paul Bosawai and his Permanent Secretary Pauline McNeil will attend their first executive board meeting this week, following the closure of the 78th World Health Assembly meeting on 27 May in Geneva, Switzerland. In Geneva, Dr Bosawai spoke at a side event called "Tuberculosis in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings: A Call to Action." He highlighted the challenges faced by Solomon Islands, including climate vulnerability, socio-economic fragility, and the rising threat of TB-HIV co-infection. "We just cannot afford another public health emergency like TB," he said. "Our children and our beautiful island nations must not be left behind in global conversations. We owe it to them to act now." Another side event for the Solomon Islands delegation was the GAVI (The Vaccine Alliance) South East Asia Regional Office and Western Pacific Regional Office Constituency meeting. Permanent Secretary McNeil acknowledged the event chair, Indonesia health minister Budi Gunadi, for representing the region's priorities and for the role he played in advocating for Solomon Islands to be granted a four-year extension of GAVI support, which was approved in December 2024. The World Health Assembly executive board comprises 34 members technically qualified in the field of health. The board plays a central role in shaping global health governance and also reviews the work of the WHO, oversees the implementation of health strategies, and manages the organisation's budget. The main meetings are held in January of each year, at which the agenda for the forthcoming Health Assembly is agreed upon and resolutions for forwarding to the Health Assembly are adopted. There is a second shorter meeting in May, immediately after the annual World Health Assembly, for more administrative matters. Eleven other new members have also been added - Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Haiti, Japan, Nepal, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Spain.
