PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from February 2007

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from February 2007

Australian and New Zealand PM banned.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) - Australian Prime Minister John Howard and his counterpart New Zealand Prime minister Helen Clark are both banned from entering Fiji. Fiji TV reports their names have been included on a watch-list...

Aid to rebuild ravaged Tonga.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 WELLINGTON (Pacnews - A revised aid package for the ravaged Tongan capital Nukualofa will be announced today after New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark meets Tongan Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele in Auckland. It would...

French Pacific to have their own Euro-MPs by 2009.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 PARIS (Pacnews) - The French Pacific countries and territories of New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna are poised to have their own representatives within the European Parliament by the next election, scheduled...

Federal government freezes funds for American Samoas Homeland Security office.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 PAGOPAGO (Pacnews) - Funds for American Samoas Office of Homeland Security have been frozen until further notice. Governor Togiola Tulafono said the agency was under the threat of being classified a high risk operation. ...

Two Canadian tourists perish in crash.
February 2, 2007... 01 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) - Two Canadian tourists and their Fiji pilot have been killed when their Cessna 172 crashed into jungles off Lautoka in Western Viti levu, Fiji Live reports. Fiji police and soldiers had left Lautoka early...

Niue hoping to re-issue licences to stranded trawlers.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 ALOFI (Pacnews) - The Niue Government hopes two French Polynesian trawlers that have been lying idle in the islands harbour for nearly three months will soon be fishing again, Radio New Zealand International reports. There...

Solomon Islands envoy warns Moti inquiry team.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The PNG Defence Force inquiry team has been warned of arrest if they travel to the Solomon Islands to continue the inquiry into the Moti saga, reports The National. Solomon Islands High...

Opposition supporters stage protest march in French Polynesia capital.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 PAPEETE( Pacnews) - An estimated 500 people have marched through the capital of French Polynesia, calling for the resignation of President Gaston Tong Sang and fresh general elections. The march through Papeete was...

Record Cook Islands tourism figures.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Cook Islands had a record year for tourism in 2006 with 92,082 visitor arrivals, reports the Cook Islands Herald. The provisional Cook Islands Tourism Corporation figures said this up four percent on...

France bids for New Caledonia's lagoons on UNESCO world heritage list.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 PARIS (Pacnews) - The French government has filed a bid with the United Nations Education Science and Culture organisation (UNESCO) to have New Caledonia enlisted for its unique lagoons and reefs. New Caledonia's lagoons...

No training for PNG police in Australia.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Police officers in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on deployment to the Regional Assistance Mission in Solomon Islands (RAMSI) will for the first time avoid pre-deployment training in Australia. The...

The Growing fear of Pacific gang life.
February 2, 2007... Reports from STUFF NZ. 02 FEBRUARY 2007 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) -: American gang culture is flourished in trouble Pacific Island nations. Al-Qaeda and fellow international terrorists are said to threaten failing Pacific states but the real...

Australian conman Foster jailed for six weeks.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 PORT VILLA (Pacnews) - Australian conman Peter Foster was today sentenced to six weeks' jail and fined for illegally entering Vanuatu after fleeing there from Fiji, Herald Sun reports. Vanuatu police spokesman...

Fiji coup costly, but failure may be worse for economy.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - The latest coup in Fiji will be costly, particularly to the country's poor, but may be worse for the economy if it fails, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research says, Stuff NZ reports. The...

American Samoa delegate, Hawaii senator back CNMI wage proposal.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - American delegate to Congress and Hawaiis senior U.S. senator back the creation of a special industry committee in the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas (CNMI) as it transitions to the federal minimum wage...

Motis bills hit $50,000.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Controversial suspended Solomon Island Attorney General Julian Moti is on suspension without pay, but his hotel bills are hitting SBD $50,000 (US$7,000) in just two months. Solomon Star reports the...

New Zealand takes first step towards helping Tonga rebuild after riots.
February 2, 2007... 02 FEBRUARY 2007 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) - The New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark says the first steps have been taken towards helping Tonga to rebuild its capital Nukualofa following last years riots, Radio New Zealand International reports... .

Visit to Fiji not priority for Peters, ban or not.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - New Zealand s Foreign Minister Winston Peters is not certain if he is on the list of people banned from entering Fij, reports NZ Herald. Mr Peters said yesterday he had seen media reports but nothing...

Former Police minister charged with sedition, refused bail.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) - Police in Tonga have charged Tongas former police minister and Tongatapu number three peoples representative to the Legislative Assembly, Clive Edwards with two counts of sedition. Mr Edwards was also...

Peter Foster 'staying at luxury hotel'.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 PORTVILA (Pacnews) - Australian conman Peter Foster, who was sentenced to two months' jail in Vanuatu after a saga in which he tried to escape by leaping from a window, has been allowed to check into a luxury hotel after being...

French Polynesia's Air Tahiti, Cook Islands' Air Rarotonga open regional route.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia's Air Tahiti and Cook Islands' Air Rarotonga have jointly announced the launch of a new regional route between the two countries. Oceania Flash reports the introduction of the new...

RAMSI threatens to shoot security guard.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A Honiara man has alleged that two Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)military officers have threatened to shoot him at the Guadalcanal Beach Resort (GBR) boom-gate where he works as a...

Action on global warming good, but late, warns Kiribati President.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 TOKYO (Pacnews) - World efforts to stem global warming are welcome but may be too late for nations such as tiny Kiribati, whose people could be forced from their homes by rising seas within decades, Kiribati President Anote...

Watch poll spending, Central Bank warned.
February 5, 2007... 05 PORT MORESBY 2007 (Pacnews) - The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Central Bank fears heavy spending by the government leading up to the elections could push up the exchange rate and inflation, Post Courier reports. In its monetary policy...

Marshalls businessmen upset by new labour law.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 MAJURO (Pacnews) - Marshall Islands businesses are said to be upset by a new alien labour law that they say is unfriendly to the private sector, reports Radio New Zealand International. The new law came into force in...

Police Chief pick now less political.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Cook Islands Prime Minister Jim Marurai has reduced political influence on the appointment of the Police Commissioner in the Pacific island nation. Cook Island Times reports this came as Mr Marurai...

Senate considers wage increase for Governor and his deputy.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 PAGOPAGO (Pacnews) - A call by American Samoa Senator Alo Dr Paul Stevenson to raise the salaries of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor is being supported by other senators, Radio New Zealand International reports. ...

Four government MPs switch to Opposition.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Four members of parliament in the Solomon Islands have crossed the floor to join the opposition in a new political twist, Solomon Star reported. Opposition Leader Fred Fono confirmed that the MPs have...

Pacific workers brought to Otago for fruit picking season goes well.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 OTAGO (Pacnews) - The Central Otago wine industry in New Zealand hopes a new World Bank-sponsored scheme will help solve a drastic worker shortage in the area. Radio New Zealand International reports Forty-five workers from...

Shanghai group to open tuna processing plant in Majuro.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 MAJURO (Pacnews) - The Shanghai Deep Sea Fisheries Company last week launched the first phase of an US$8.5 million investment in a new tuna processing plant in the Marshall Islands, Marianas Variety reports. The existing...

Kawi urges respect, cooperation from Solomon Island.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Lawyer assisting the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Defence Force Board of Inquiry has called on the government of Solomon Islands to respect the independent State of Papua New Guinea by cooperating with the...

Army disbands elite police unit.
February 5, 2007... 05 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) - The only armed and elite unit of the Fiji Police Force is no longer operational. The Fiji Sun reports the Police Tactical Response Unit (PTR) set up by Former Police Commissioner Australian Andrew Hughes....

AFP police arrested Foster in Australia.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 BRISBANE (Pacnews) - Australian international conman Peter Foster was arrested by Australian Federal Police (AFP) on his arrival home from Vanuatu last night. Radio Australia reports Peter Foster was a voluntary passenger...

Roadmap to democratic rule will be developed: Interim PM.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA Fijis interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama has assured a roadmap to democratic rule will be developed shortly. Although no time frame was given, Commodore Bainimarama said Fiji electoral system needs...

Solomons PM defends plan to re-arm cops.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A plan by the Solomon Islands Government to re-arm the nation's police is being misrepresented by opponents to create fear among the population, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says, SMH reports. Many...

French move on nuclear fallout discussion welcomed.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - Reports from French Polynesia say nuclear test veterans have welcomed a French move to acknowledge a link between the weapons tests and peoples health. This came after Frances ruling UMP Party joined...

RAMSI refutes claims.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) - An investigation is being conducted into claims by a Solomon Islands security guard that he was threatened at gun point by a member of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) personnel. ...

Human Rights Watch writes to Fijian interim PM and President.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 NEW YORK (Pacnews) -- New York based Human Rights Watch has written to Fijis interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama and the president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo asking for a swift return to an elected government. In...

Taiwan to import workers from Nauru.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 TAIPEI (Pacnews) --- Taiwan is planning to bring in workers from Nauru. President Chen Shui-bian said Monday that Taiwan will sign an agreement that will allow Nauruan workers to work in Taiwan. Nauruan President...

SPC celebrates its 60th birthday today.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) --- 60 years on, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) after a name change in 1997, remains committed to its original objective to make Pacific Island peoples and their communities make informed...

Telehealth boosts Cooks hospitals.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Another outer Cook Islands hospital has been connected to a growing Telehealth network using satellite and Internet technology, the Cook Islands Herald reports. Mauke in the Southern Group this week...

Taiwan commits US$40 million to Marshall Islands.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 MAJURO (Pacnews) - Taiwan has committed itself to contribute US$40 million over the next 16 years to the trust fund for the Marshall Islands. The pledge came as the fund reached the US$75 million mark at the end of last...

Village in Samoa bans family for letting New Zealander charged with sex offences to stay.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 APIA (Pacnews) - The village of Gagaifolevao, Lefaga in Samoa has banished a family with whom a New Zealander now charged with sex offences had been staying. The CEO of the Ministry of Justice, Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe,...

New HIV developments, Pacific possibilities - Reports from Scoop NZ.
February 6, 2007... 06 FEBRUARY 2007 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - HIV and AIDS prevention has come along way from terrifying posters aimed to scare people away from AIDS. Now we know the benefits of using condoms, encouraging HIV testing, spreading HIV awareness and...

Commonwealth calls on Fiji's military to restore democracy.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 LONDON (Pacnews)- The head of the Commonwealth Secretariat says his organisation is committed to ensuring Fiji returns to democratic rule. Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth after its government was overthrown by the...

Solomons minister plays down stoushes.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 HONIARA (Pacnews)- A string of disputes between Australia and the Solomon Islands is a sign of healthy, diplomatic debate, not an indication of a deteriorating relationship, the island nation's finance minister says, The Age...

Nauru to open embassy in Taiwan in March.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 TAIPEI (Pacnews)- Nauru one of the world's smallest nations will open an embassy in Taipei in March, completing its normalisation of diplomatic ties with Taiwan in exchange for financial aid. Nauru will open its embassy in...

Samoa police to arrest NZ man on bail.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 APIA (Pacnews)- The police in Samoa say they will issue a warrant to arrest a New Zealand tourist who was last week granted bail to leave the country. Radio New Zealand International reports Kevin Peter Beatson is denying...

HIV Aids in PNG high in Oceania.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 PORT MORESBY(Pacnews)- Papua New Guinea (PNG) Governor General Sir Paulias Matane says the number of new HIV-AIDS infection reported each year in Papua New Guinea is frightening, NBC reports. Sir Paulias said especially...

Solomon Islands describes New Zealand relationship as strongly interwoven.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands foreign affairs minister Patteson Oti praised New Zealand as it marked Waitangi Day yesterday describing the countrys relationship with Solomon Islands as strongly interwoven. Our...

French parliament asked to reveal details of Pacific nuclear test accidents.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 PARIS (Pacnews) - A group representing victims of radiation fallout from French nuclear tests in the Pacific and Algeria has made submissions to the French parliament demanding an end to the military secrecy surrounding the...

Palau to get US$5 million from Federal Aviation Administration.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 KOROR (Pacnews) Palau is to receive an additional funding assistance of over US$5 million for Year 2007 for the improvement of the Palau International Airport from the Federal Aviation Administration, Marianas Variety reports....

Taiwan joins U.S. as major Marshall Islands trust fund contributor.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 MAJURO (Pacnews) - Taiwan has joined the United States as a major contributor to the Marshall Islands trust fund now over US$75 million.. Marianas Variety reports Marshall Islands Government officials worry that the trust...

Taiwan to attend regional media conference.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Taiwan will for the first time attend the biennial Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Convention to be held in the Solomon Islands later this year. This year's PINA convention will be hosted by the...

RAMSI review talks starts next week.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) The first round of consultations on the review of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) will be held in Honiara next week. The review is in line with the decision of Pacific Islands...

Australian and U.S Governments campaign of deceit: Academic.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - A respected Australian academic has accused the Australian and U.S. governments of campaigning against allegedly illegal timber imports to protect their domestic forestry sectors, The National reports....

Samoa says all athletes attending Pacific Games must be vaccinated against typhoid.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 APIA (Pacnews) - The head of the medical team for the Pacific Games in Apia Dr Stanley Dean says no athlete will be permitted into Samoa unless they are vaccinated. Dr Dean who was also general manager of Samoas National...

Solomon Islandss silence over air space breach puzzling.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea (PNG) Defence Force board of inquiry chairman Justice Gibbs Salika has expressed surprise as to why the Solomon Islands Government did not immediately protest the violation of its...

Double Trouble for Our Airline - Solomons, Fiji not playing ball on Nauru proposal.
February 7, 2007... 07 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) - Plans by Nauru to form a regional airline suffered two setbacks last month with one of its proposed shareholder declining to offer its 100 percent commitment. In addition, its desire to introduce a truly island...

Fiji military intimidating critics: Australia.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Australia has accused Fiji's military regime of using extreme intimidation to stamp out opposition, Radio Australia reports. Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer told parliament that since...

Oxfam critical of continuing NZ - Fiji trade talks despite coup.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - The charity group OXFAM is critical of the New Zealand Government for pressing on with free-trade talks that involve Fiji, despite not recognising its government as legitimate because of the latest coup....

Alleged Australian conspirator out on bail.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The Australian man charged for plotting to kill the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogovare has been released on bail yesterday. Bill Johnson, 61, a Vietnam War veteran was released after the...

Opposition call for Niue government cuts.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 ALOFI (Pacnews) - There are calls for Niue to make cuts in government programmes before it puts its staff on four-day weeks. The island nation was battling to reduce a budget shortfall of about US$1million. The Niue...

Samoa bans smoking on ferries.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoas Ministry of Health has supported the decision by the governments Shipping Corporation to ban smoking on board ferries serving Upolu and Savaii islands. The ban also applies to the corporations ferry...

Keelty critical of Solomons plans to rearm force.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty says the rearming of the Solomon Islands police force is a step back and will bring new problems to the conflict-ridden nation, ABC reports. Last week...

Government denies political motive for MP arrests.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) - The Tongan Government has rejected claims that the arrest and prosecution of several MPs is politically motivated, Radio Australia reports. Four MPs are now facing serious charges in relation to...

Fiji Government must re-double efforts against HIV AIDS now or pay dearly later.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) - UNAIDS is calling on the Fiji Government to re-double its efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS now or pay dearly later. The call comes after the Ministry of Health released figures showing an increase in the...

Turkey seeks support of Palau for UN Security Council.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 KOROR (Pacnews) - The Turkish Government is seeking support from Palau in its candidacy to the United Nations Security Council for the term 2009-2010. Marianas Variety reports Turkey Ambassador Aydin Sahinbas met Palaus...

Union defiant, civil servants refuse to heed PMs mercy plea.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fijis Interim Government is bracing for a nation wide strike from civil servants after a direct snub to the Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimaramas plea for the public service unions to put the...

Weather stations in the Pacific to be upgraded by NZ and UK.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - New Zealand and Britain have signed a deal to upgrade weather stations in the Pacific region, Radio New Zealand International reports. Meteorologists say they would improve the monitoring of cyclones...

West Papua name change criticised.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 JAYAPURA (Pacnews) - The Papua Presidium Council says the name change of the Indonesian province of West Irian Jaya to West Papua is part of Jakartas divide-and-rule approach to Papua, Radio New Zealand International reports....

Clark, Howard not banned from Fiji.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) - Neither New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark nor Australian Prime Minister John Howard is banned from Fiji, says the acting head of the Fiji Prime Minister's Office, Parmesh Chand. Nor is Foreign...

U.S. Senate staffers to discuss CNMI immigration with Governor.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Two staff members of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and an attorney with the U.S Department of Homeland Security will be in the Northern Pacific o discuss local immigration policies...

Reports from the Island Business Magazine February issue.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fying across the Pacific, crews have up to five air traffic managers that they need to liaise with. But if the Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA) has its way, the five different airspace managements...

PNG warned of mass deaths in AIDS epidemic.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - A new report on HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea predicts that a million people will die of the disease if the government does not tackle the problem head on, Radio New Zealand International reports. The...

U.S wants to help American Samoa with cable link.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 PAGO PAGO (Pacnews)- The U.S. Interior Department is proposing a US$3 million appropriation to help this U.S. territory develop an undersea fiber-optic cable link touted by Governor Togiola Tulafono, reports Associated Press....

Interim government appoints acting Police chief.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 SUVA (Pacnews)- Fijis interim Government has appointed former senior police officer Romanu Tikotikoca to be the Pacific nations acting police commissioner . Fiji Live reports Mr Tikotikoca was appointed by the countrys...

France reclassifies overseas possessions.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 PARIS (Pacnews) - The French parliament has approved changes to the status of the French overseas possessions. Radio New Zealand International reports the change means that the overseas territory of Wallis and Futuna and...

Forget election on Bouganville: Official.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 BUKA (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea (PNG) Electoral Commission should not hold the national election on Bougainville if it cannot settle an outstanding claim of K300,000, (US$101,000) election manager Mathias Pihei said. The...

Dad tells Norfolk trial Patton 'on top of the world'.
February 8, 2007... 08 FEBRUARY 2007 NORFOLK (Pacnews) - Janelle Patton was on top of the world and loving Norfolk Island the day before she died, her father has told the territory's Supreme Court, NZ Herald reports. Ron Patton today gave evidence at the trial...

PM Sogavare lashes out at 'bully' Australia.
February 9, 2007... 09 FEBRUARY 2007 HONIARA (Pacnews)- Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has attacked prosecutors and police handling an alleged assassination plot against him, and has also taken another swipe at Australia, Sydney Morning Herald...

Pay cuts ahead for Niue MPs: Premier.
February 9, 2007... 09 FEBRUARY 2007 ALOFI (Pacnews) - Niue Premier Young Vivian says the salaries of parliamentarians are likely to be cut to match planned reductions in the income of public servants as the country faces a budgeting crisis, reports...

Foster denied bail in Brisbane.
February 9, 2007... 09 FEBRUARY 2007 BRISBANE (Pacnews) - Convicted conman Peter Foster has been refused bail by a Brisbane Court on fears he would be flight risk if released, ABC reports. Foster was arrested on Monday night on a money laundering charge as he...

U.S. aid body welcomes Solomons' funding bid.
February 9, 2007... 09 FEBRUARY 2007 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - United States aid organisation says it would welcome an application for funding from Solomon Islands, but will not guarantee its success, Radio Australia reports. The Millennium Challenge Corporation...