PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from February 2004

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from February 2004

Polynesian Airlines reviews Niue service.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 ALOFI (Pacnews) - Samoa's flag carrier, Polynesian Airlines, are meeting with Niue Government officials to discuss a possible reduction of flights to Niue in the coming months. Detailed assessment last month found that the...

Amnesty Bill packs Congress chamber.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 POHNPEI (Pacnews) - An Amnesty Bill introduced by the Federated State of Micronesia Congress has roused special public interest. Reports from Pohnpei say the Bill, which was introduced on January proposes amnesty for...

Parliament may sit later to discuss Australian police issue.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - There are expectations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) that a special session of Parliament will be called this month that might end a delay in deploying Australian police. The Australian team, which is...

Chilli export on the rise.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji chillies are becoming a favourite among Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and Nauruan citizens. Local Agriculture officers say more people are eating chillies because of an increasing local and...

New Zealand firm to manage Marshall Islands projects.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- New Zealand-based engineering company BECA International has been hired by the Marshall Islands Government to supervise US funded construction work, Radio Australia reports. US government funding...

Overseas expert to tackle Titikaveka health problems.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Cook Islands' health officials are expecting overseas experts in the next few days to help them solve ongoing health problems in the South of Rarotonga. Cook Islands News reports that environment...

Bordallo, Camacho to address Legislature.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 HAGATNA (Pacnews) - Guam's Governor Felix Camacho and Guam Delegate, Madeleine Bordallo will give their annual addresses at the Legislature this week. "Governor Camacho will summarise the efforts and the progress made...

Fiji PM calls for strong opposition to polluters and exploiters of Pacific EEZs.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- There were strong words from Fiji's Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase as he opened the Pacific region's first Ocean Forum in the Fijian capital, Suva today, calling on all Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to...

No honey or bee products here please!
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 BANKSTOWN (Pacnews) --- Pitcairn's police and customs officer has asked visitors to and friends of Pitcairn Island not to send or take honey, other bee products, or used hive equipment or clothing to Pitcairn. A report on...

Government could review multi-ethnic scholarship recipients' list.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBURARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Senior officials at Fiji's Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs will review the list of this year's scholarship awards if they find evidences of false information on application forms. The Department finds...

Small Islands Developing States approve key policies.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 BAHAMAS (Pacnews) --- Ministers and representatives of more than 40 Small Island Developing States (SIDS), approved both a declaration and a strategy paper presenting their key expectations and priorities in preparation for the...

Water authority faces a challenge.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The management of Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA) is facing its first real challenge since its inception in 1994, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reports. SIWA general manager, John...

Marist Sevens rugby prepare for 2004 tournament.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- One of Samoa's top international rugby tournaments, the Marist St. Joseph Annual Rugby Sevens Tournament, is looking forward to another exciting contest this year. The Marist St Joseph Sports Club is...

Fiji told to improve maritime legislation or face IOM blacklist.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji has been given an ultimatum to improve security arrangements within its maritime regulations or be placed in the in the International Maritime Organisation (IOM) black-list of uncooperative countries. ...

Australia establishes police arm for regional deployments.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) --- Australia is creating a new section within the Federal Police force to deal with trouble spots in the Pacific region, Radio Australia reports. It will be made up of 500 officers, who could be...

EU commissioner to visit Solomons.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson is visiting the Solomon Islands at the invitation of the Solomon Islands Government. A statement from Honiara's European...

Guam's youth have easy access to cigarettes.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 HAGATNA (Pacnews) --- Despite the existence of law that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to minors, a recent survey indicates that the youth of Guam have easy access to cigarettes. According to the 2003 Youth Risk...

Bus operators in Kiribati to pull out services on Wednesday.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) ---- Public transportation on Kiribati will come to a standstill on Wednesday (04 Feb) after bus operators decided to stop all their services. Radio Kiribati reports that bus operators have been locked in a...

China kicks in 100 per cent finance for nickel project.
February 2, 2004... 02 FEBRUARY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea has secured 100 per cent financing from a mainland Chinese company for the US$650 million Ramu Nickel project. Mining Minister Sam Akoitai confirmed this yesterday (01 Feb) after...

Sailing on the whisper of large wings.
February 2, 2004... PACNEWS DIGEST The views expressed in PACNEWS DIGEST are those of agencies contributing articles and not necessarily those of PIBA and/or PACNEWS PORT VILA, VANUATU --- Of all birds, the albatross is perhaps the most enigmatic - mystical...

Pacific Island countries urged to have input into capacity building.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Tuvalu's High Commissioner to the United Nations in New York, Enele Sapoanga says Pacific Island Countries (PICs) should be prepared to have an input in capacity building instead of just relying on donors....

Government allocates $600,000 for women conferences.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The Fiji Government has set aside $600,000 (US$353, 107) to host two international women/gender affair meetings this year. The Seventh Commonwealth/Gender Affairs Ministers meeting known as 7 WAMM and...

PNG gang burns down newspaper office.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- The Port Moresby offices of Papua New Guinea's only pidgin-language newspaper, the Wantok, have been burnt down by a criminal gang which had earlier removed computer files. Taking advantage of an...

Pacific NGO calls on Australia to speak out over state of emergency in West Papua.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The Fiji-based Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC) is calling on Australia and other Pacific Islands Forum member governments to conduct urgent discussions with the Indonesian Government over its...

Rotumans report low violence.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Rotumans recorded the lowest percentage in domestic violence during the festive season in Fiji. The Fiji Times quotes Fiji Women's Crisis Centre co-ordinator, Shamima Ali, as saying although there was an...

NZ funds boost Timor-Leste reconciliation process.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- A New Zealand grant of NZD$200,000 (US$134,682) will allow Timor-Leste's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation to hear up to 100 more human rights violation cases this year, New Zealand...

Homes of Hope: Helping Fiji's destitute women and children.
February 3, 2004... PACNEWS DIGEST The views expressed in PACNEWS DIGEST are those of agencies contributing articles and not necessarily those of PIBA and/or PACNEWS What happens to a young pregnant woman in Fiji with three children, no job or education, who...

Tonga receives first ever visit from UNESCO director general.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) --- Tonga has had its first ever visit of a UNESCO director general since becoming a member state in 1980. Koichiro Matsuura visited the island kingdom last week (31 Jan) where he met with the Minister...

Fiji Government seeks solutions to union strike threat.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, Kenneth Zinck has moved quickly to try and avert a damaging strike by three of the country's largest trade unions. Mr Zinck has now referred the issue...

PNG set for single-digit inflation rate.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Interest rates in Papua New Guinea (PNG) look set to continue their downward trend, according to the latest monetary policy outlook from PNG's central bank. Radio Australia reports that the Bank...

Delays and confusion mar Samoan slavery trial.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 HONULULU (Pacnews) --- The biggest human trafficking case in US history involving the owner of an American Samoa factory engaged in modern-day slavery - which has been dragging on for three years now - is set to drag on even...

Governor planning "white collar crime" legislation.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 PAGO PAGP (Pacnews) --- Governor Togiola Tulafono plans to submit legislation for Fono (parliament) consideration that would assist in speeding up investigation of white collar crime in government and companies that do business...

Parliament encourages money-generating projects.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Member of Parliament for East Are'are, Edward Huniehu, is calling for the investment of donor funding to important economic sectors whose activities have effects on revenue generation, employment creation...

Sandline arms to be sold.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Weapons brought into Papua New Guinea (PNG) by the Sandline International mercenaries in 1997 will be sold because they are useless. The National newspaper quoted PNG's acting Defence Force...

Pacific Islanders stand to benefit from understanding oceans.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Pacific Islanders are being encouraged to improve their knowledge of the ocean to enable them to improve their ability to predict and forecast trends in fisheries, climate and extreme events. Dr Elrich...

Committee formed to review police operations.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's Internal Security Minister, Bire Kimisopa, has announced the formation of a five-member committee to review the administration and operations of the Royal Papua New Guinea (PNG)...

Remote islands to receive generators.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- Northern Marianas' Second Senatorial District has reportedly agreed to turn over at least two of its idle generators to the Northern Islands as part of efforts to help its residents resettle into the remote...

Air ambulance wreckage found on Hamakua Coast.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 HONOLULU (Pacnews) --- The wreckage of a Hawai'i Air Ambulance Cessna aircraft missing since early Saturday (31 Jan) was found today (02 Feb local time) about four miles southwest of the rural town of O'okala on the Big Island...

Pivac named as Fiji rugby coach.
February 3, 2004... 03 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji rugby's worst-kept secret was finally made official on Monday as the Fiji Rugby Union named former Auckland NPC coach Wayne Pivac as the coach of the national team. Mr Pivac is already in Fiji and will...

Increase in reported child rape as Marshall Islanders break down barriers.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 MAJURO (Pacnews) --- A traditional blanket of silence over sex crimes in the Marshall Islands is beginning to lift, officials have said recently, as they reported that five child rape cases went to court last year. AFP...

Northern Marianas bars entry from 30 nations.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- The Northern Marianas' Attorney-General, Pamela Brown, has ordered senior officials at the country's Immigration Division to stop issuing entry permits to citizens of 30 overseas places, citing security and...

Australia boosts regional law enforcement capacity.
February 4, 2004... 04 JANUARY 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) --- Australia's ability to fight terrorism, transnational organised crime and contribute to regional peacekeeping missions will be significantly strengthened with the formation of an Australian Federal Police...

Flosse calls for Tahiti and France to keep direct links with China.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- French Polynesia's President Gaston Flosse has called for Tahiti and France to maintain direct links with China. President Flosse made his remarks in a speech during Chinese New Year celebrations held...

Pacific media under the spotlight.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) --- Australia is to fund a major study into the relationship between the media and governments in all 14 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum. Radio Australia reports that 15-month exercise will...

Bill seeks formation of agricultural marketing authority.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- A Bill enacted by the Fiji Parliament is to see the formation of an Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) to facilitate the purchase, sale and exportation of agro-produce and related matters. Attorney...

Cabinet minister sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Cabinet minister and MP for North Malaita Daniel Fa'afunua was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Central Magistrates Court yesterday (03 Feb) for demanding money with menace. The incident...

Old documents produced to stop British role in Pitcairn sex trial.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 ADAMSTOWN (Pacnews) --- Lawyers for a group of Pitcairn Island men accused of involvement in decades of sex abuse produced documents dating back to 1838 in court on Monday (02 Feb) to argue that Britain has no jurisdiction over...

Air Vanuatu CEO admits collapse of remerge deal.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- A possible remerging of Air Vanuatu and VanAir is now highly unlikely with Air Vanuatu chief executive officer, Jean Paul Virelala announcing "as of today we do not want to have any thing to do with...

Injunction filed to halt Titikaveka soil removal.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- An application for an interim injunction to halt work to remove contaminated soil from Titikaveka College has been filed at the High Court. The case could stop the transfer of soil away from the...

TV crew ready for Fiji shooting.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Pre-production crewmembers of an international television company are on one of Fiji's island resorts to set up for a new 13-part TV series shoot. Touchdown Television will begin shooting the television...

PACNEWS DIGEST - The views expressed in PACNEWS DIGEST are those of agencies contributing articles and not necessarily those of PIBA and/or PACNEWS.
February 4, 2004... The Queen: still respected but no longer representative of the Australian nation 04 FEBRUARY 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) --- Yesterday (03 Feb) marked the 50th anniversary of the Queen's first visit to Australia. On 03 February, 1954,...

Crime has dropped, but worrying trends emerge in New Caledonia.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- Statistics released this week New Caledonia show a significant 6.5 per cent drop in criminal offences during 2003, compared to the previous year. The figures, which were jointly released by French High...

Close engagement keeps Australia/Pacific ties intact.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) --- Australia's close links with the Pacific Islands and Asia has enabled the country's national university take it as a "special national responsibility" to conduct research into and help educate students...

EU development commissioner to visit Fiji.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, will arrive in Fiji on Friday (06 Feb) for a historic two-day visit. Commissioner Nielson's visit to the Pacific, which...

Taiwan to fund construction for Kiribati's new sports complex.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Taiwan is believed to be interested in funding Kiribati's first multi-million dollar sporting complex. PACNEWS has been reliably told that senior officials from Taiwan's investment and development...

Pacific Island radio station helps raise thousands for Cyclone Heta relief.
February 4, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) --- Auckland's Radio NiuFM has so far raised over NZ$31, 000 (US$21,000) for the Cyclone Heta appeal fund, with plans to improve on that figure with a "Rock On" concert to be held later this month. "The...

PACNEWS DIGEST - The views expressed in PACNEWS DIGEST are those of agencies contributing articles and not necessarily those of PIBA and/or PACNEWS.
February 4, 2004... Ministers adopt Declaration on small island developing States NASSAU, BAHAMAS -- Ministers and senior government officials meeting in the Bahamas last week adopted a Ministerial Declaration reaffirming the validity of the Barbados Programme...

Tuna populations under serious threat from industrial fishing: Greenpeace.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Greenpeace yesterday (04 Feb) reinforced warnings that Bigeye and Yellowfin tuna populations in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) are likely to begin crashing within five years if industrial...

Australia unveils defence plans.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) --- The Australian Government has announced it will spend up to AUS$1 billion (US$761,769 million) on a squadron of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. The government has released details of an AUS$50...

French autonomy statute challenged in French constitutional council.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- An appeal has been lodged with the French constitutional council in Paris over the autonomy statute for French Polynesia which was adopted by the legislature last week. This was announced by...

Bougainville to get newspaper.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 ARAWA (Pacnews) --- Plans are underway in Bougainville to set up a fortnightly newspaper at the end of this month. A board of directors will spearhead the project with the aim of having the whole community involved in the...

Government announces plans for anti-doping controls for major sports events.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- The French Polynesia Government has announced plans to implement anti-doping controls for athletes participating in major sporting events. Government Sports Minister Reynald Temarii announced the plans...

Malaita premier appeals for EU help.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Malaita Premier Reuben Moli has appealed to the European Union (EU) for help in improving education in the province, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reports. Speaking yesterday morning (04...

Media law shuts down all other newspapers.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) --- Tongans have been experiencing a newspaper black-out over the last three weeks, Matangi Tonga reports. They can't even read the Tongan Government's own newspaper, Kalonikali Tonga, after unlicensed...

Fiji government bows to army pressure - transfers Home Affairs CEO.
February 5, 2004... 04 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The Fiji Government has bowed to pressure from its military commander and removed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Colonel Jeremaia Waqanisau. Sources close to the Home...

Pacific information network nominated for international award.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- An environmental information system that is being established across the Pacific region has received international recognition for its innovative use of communication technology. The Stockholm...

Birdlife team out to protect sea-birds.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- A team of bird lovers, from the staff of the Fiji-based Pacific office of Birdlife International, is working to determine whether two uninhabited islands in east Fiji could be used as a bird conservation...

Fiji-bred sheep to export to Samoa.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The first shipment of locally-bred sheep from Fiji to Samoa will take place once the Agriculture Ministry's new chief executive officer (CEO) takes up his appointment. The Fiji Sun newspaper reported...

Bainimarama receives formal contract.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's army commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has received his formal letter of appointment minus the much-anticipated work condition details. Army insiders told PACNEWS the commander was handed his...

Tonga's peace-keeping force returns from Solomons.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) --- The First Tongan Contingent to the Regional Peacekeeping Force in the Solomon Islands returned to Tonga last night (04 Feb) on an Australian special airforce plane. Reports from the Tonga Defence...

Pacific Islander urged to maintain health of the ocean.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- A regional forum in Suva, Fiji on oceans policy has heard that damage to coastal areas in Pacific Island countries - caused by human activity such as forest clearing, poor farming practices and over-fishing -...

Dalo beetle found on Fiji's second biggest island.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's second biggest island, Vanua Levu has been hit by the dalo beetle. Fiji's agriculture ministry is calling on farmers on Vanua Levu to refrain from transporting dalo or dalo planting materials from...

NZ Minister visits schools in Solomon Islands Central province.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) ---New Zealand's Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Marian Hobbs is currently visiting schools in Solomon Islands' Central province, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reports. After signing a...

New air freight security measures at Tahiti's airport.
February 5, 2004... 05 FEBRUARY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- Private security agents working under Customs control have begun applying new security measures for all exported freight at the Tahiti-Faa'a International Airport. Tahiti Presse reports that all...

Medical school head suggests higher graduate retention.
February 6, 2004... 06 FEBRUARY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Dean of the Fiji School of Medicine (FSM), Dr Wame Baravilala, says there ought to be innovative solutions to an on-going Fiji problem of a lack of doctors in public hospitals. And one of those...

Researchers look to PNG's plant life for disease-treating drugs.
February 6, 2004... 06 FEBRUARY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Two American university researchers will lead an international effort to search the diverse plant life of Papua New Guinea (PNG) for drugs to treat tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS and other diseases....

Goff urges practical cooperation against terrorism.
February 6, 2004... 06 FEBRUARY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- New Zealand's Foreign Minister Phil Goff underlined the importance of Asia-Pacific countries establishing clear channels of cooperation in the fight against terrorism, following a counter-terrorism...

Pacific Island countries eligible For US development aid.
February 6, 2004... 06 FEBRUARY 2004 WASHINGTON (Pacnews) --- Vanuatu, Kiribati, East Timor and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are among 63 countries named by the U.S that are eligible to share billions of dollars in US aid under a new programme aimed at rewarding...

French ambassador to New Zealand visits Tahiti for the first time.
February 6, 2004... 06 FEBRUARY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- Jean-Michel Marlaud, France's ambassador to New Zealand, is visiting Tahiti for the first time to meet with French Polynesia Government President Gaston Flosse to discuss tourism matters. Mr Marlaud,...

ADB to fund Pacific tuna study.
February 6, 2004... 06 FEBRUARY 2004 MANILA (Pacnews) --- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is funding a study into how Pacific Island countries might earn more from their tuna resources. It follows the adoption of a convention aimed at conserving and managing...

Airfares to Fiji keep tumbling.
February 6, 2004... 06 FEBRUARY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- The Fijian airfare price war has resumed in earnest with the New Zealand based Flight Centre slashing fares on its new charter service. The New Zealand Herald reports the country's biggest chain of...

Australia underscores respect for Tongan for Tongan sovereignty.
February 6, 2004... 06 FEBRUARY 2004 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) --- Australia has no intention of dictating its will on the smaller island states of the Pacific, the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, Colin Hill, said at a recent Australia Day celebration in...

Greenpeace calls on Australia to halt imports of illegal timber from PNG.
February 6, 2004... 06 FEBRUARY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- The environmental group Greenpeace has called on the Australian government to halt imports of illegally logged timber from Papua New Guinea (PNG), a former colony and Australia's biggest aid recipient....

EU funds four Pacific projects.
February 6, 2004... 06 FEBRUARY 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Pacific Island countries will benefit from four projects funded by the European Union, when the visiting EU Commissioner Mr Poul Nielsen signs the financing agreements this weekend at the Pacific Islands...