PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from January 2006

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from January 2006

Palau is alternative 'safe haven' site.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANAURY 2006 SAIPAN (Mariana Variety) - With the withdrawal of the "safe haven" proposal due to strong and very vocal opposition from the local community in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), the humanitarian group United...

Single lease plan mooted for Fiji.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Fiji Times) -- Fiji should adopt a single land leasing system, the Asian Development Bank says. In an assessment on the country's private sector, the bank said the single land leasing system should see the Government...

Tonga reform committee member sets date for outer island work.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (RNZI) - The vice-chairman of Tonga Parliamentary National Committee for Political Reform says the group will start gathering peoples' opinions on the proposed political reform by the end of January, Radio New Zealand...

Pacific region gets new French Ambassador.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 PARIS (Oceania Flash) - France has appointed a new Ambassador for the Pacific region, with a focus on the Nouma-based Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). The new French ambassador and permanent representative to the...

New Zealand company negotiates more vessels to fish in Solomon Islands.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 HONIARA (SIBC) - Solomon Islands caretaker fisheries minister, Mathias Taro will leave next month for further negotiation with a shipping company in New Zealand for additional ships to fish within Solomon Islands waters. ...

New report to highlight French cover up in the Pacific.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - An all-party French Polynesia Assembly committee is expected to publish findings into claims that atomic explosions, conducted over 30 years, caused fatalities and severe long-term health problems, The...

New Year brings changes to citizenship.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 AUCKLAND (TVNZ) - Changes to citizenship laws mean that from 01 January, not all babies born in New Zealand will automatically become citizens. If at least one parent is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or if one...

Three Asians arrested in Vanuatu.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 PORT VILA (Vanuatu Daily Post) - Three Asian nationals believed to be travelling on falsified documents to Australia through Vanuatu were denied entry and forced to return to Port Vila, the Vanuatu Daily Post reports. Local...

Fiji Government taken to task for opening up the market.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Islands Business) - As Fiji begins the long overdue reform of its telecommunication industry, its sole mobile telephony service provider Vodafone Fiji filed an injunction in the Fiji High Court last month to stop the...

Proposed WTO ban on fishing subsidies to affect Pacific nations.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Islands Business) - Calls for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to consider a ban on fishery subsidies that may include fishing licenses and access fees have sent shockwaves around the islands of the Pacific that rely on...

Rabi community lays claim to Ocean Island.
January 2, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Fiji Television) - A member of the Rabi Council of leaders says islanders want to sever ties with the Kiribati Government and cede their original home, Banaba, to Fiji, Fiji Television reports. Teitirake Corrie is a...

Major police review in Cook Islands.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 RAROTONGA (Cook Islands News) - Cook Islands police force is to undergo a thorough review, Prime Minister Jim Marurai has announced. Cook Islands News reports that the comprehensive review of the national police services...

41 stranded whales shot in New Zealand.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 WELLINGTON (AP) - New Zealand - Wildlife officers shot 41 pilot whales that beached on New Zealand's South Island, the Department of Conservation said. A total of 49 whales came ashore Saturday (31 Dec) near Farewell Spit...

Four members of Pacific Islander community in New Zealand honoured.
January 2, 2006... 02 JANUARY 2006 WELLINGTON (RNZI) - Four members of New Zealand's Pacific community are honoured in the New Year Honours List. The Auckland Justice of the Peace, Epafala Auimatagi has been awarded the Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for...

Skate on life support: Report.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's former Prime Minister and National Capital District Regional MP Sir William Skate is clinging to life-support system in Brisbane's Wesley Hospital. Sir William was in a critical...

5.7 quake jolts Guam.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 HAGATNA (Pacnews) - A moderate earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 5.7, shook Guam late yesterday morning (02 Jan). No injuries or damage were reported, Marianas Variety reports. . According to the U.S....

Dozen-plus violators to face deportation cases.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - More than a dozen of citizens the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Palau in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) are going to be slapped soon with deportation cases. These...

Samoa opposition queries decision to postpone election.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoa's Opposition leader Le Mamea Ropati has questioned the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi's decision to delay the general election to the end of March. At the weekly press conference of his...

Call for people to elect good leaders in Solomon Islands.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Governor General, Sir Nathaniel Waena has urged the people of Solomon Islands to elect 'suitable' leaders in the upcoming general elections. And he's described these leaders to be credible and capable to...

Instant deportation for Fijian trio says Commissioner Inguba.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Three of the eight Fijians who have overstayed their visas will be deported from Papua New Guinea immediately, PNG Police Commissioner Sam Inguba said yesterday. Mr Inguba who is the acting chairman...

7.1 undersea earthquake recorded off Tonga and Fiji.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - A major undersea earthquake occurred close to Tonga and Fiji, at 10:13:40 am this morning. The quake shook buildings in central Nuku'alofa for a few seconds, but no damage has been reported. The...

Sir Moi urges nurses to return to work.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's acting Prime Minister Sir Moi Avei has called on striking nurses nationwide to return to work immediately. Sir Moi said a court order, obtained by Acting Health Secretary Dr Isaac...

China to fund construction of new MSG headquarters.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - China has expressed its interest to fund the construction of the new Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) secretariat in Port Vila. The Vanuatu Daily Post quotes the deputy director for international aid...

Team Nauru not home for the holidays.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2005 MAJURO (Pacnews) - The Nauru delegation that recently competed in the 2nd Micronesia Athletics Championships encountered difficulty returning home and was stranded in Majuro during the Christmas holiday. According to...

Fiji men to be deported from PNG.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Investigations by the Papua New Guinea National Security Advisory Council (NSAC) has concluded that the three former Fiji soldiers, now under house arrest in Port Moresby, did not breach their visa...

Governor Babauta retires from government service.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) Governor, Juan Babauta tendered his retirement from government service last month. As an elected official, though, the governor remains in office until...

Fiji to welcome Queens's baton this evening.
January 3, 2006... 03 2005 VALETTA (Pacnews) - The Queen's baton arrives in Fiji this evening on its final leg in the Pacific before it reaches Australia in time for the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Australia in March next year. The baton will be...

Mines Department to address Ok Tedi crisis.
January 3, 2006... 03 DECEMBER 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The Papua New Guinea Department of Mines has prepared an options paper for the PNG National Executive Council on the looming acid rock drainage (ARD) crisis caused by the Ok Tedi mining operations. ...

New Caledonia fires threaten wildlife.
January 3, 2006... 03 JANUARY 2006 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - Ecological group, World Wildlife Fund believes that fires currently burning in highly protected forests in New Caledonia will destroy many species of plants and animals unique to the area. Arsonists are...

Vanuatu receives US$65 million from Millennium Challenge Corporation.
January 4, 2006... 04 JANUARY 2006 WASHINGTON (Pacnews) - Vanuatu is one of the six recipients of the US$900 million from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Of that amount, Vanuatu will be entitled to US$65 million. The Millennium Challenge...

Alternative fuel pursued by Vanuatu and Samoa.
January 4, 2006... 04 JANUARY 2006 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - The South Pacific nations of Vanuatu and Samoa are turning coconuts into fuel to combat the soaring cost of importing diesel, the International Herald Tribune. Unelco Vanuatu is diluting diesel for its...

Leung appointed Judge Advocate for Fiji military court martial.
January 4, 2006... 04 JANUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - After much wrangling over remuneration for the Judge Advocate to preside over the military court martial in Fiji, government has now confirmed the appointment of Suva lawyer, Graham Leung. His initial...

Hawaii endorse Micronesian bank.
January 4, 2006... 04 JANUARY 2006 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - State regulators have approved an application by a Micronesian bank to open a branch in Hawaii. But the Bank of the Federated States of Micronesia will not be open to the public nor accept any deposits...

Climate change response high on Red Cross Tuvalu priority.
January 4, 2006... 04 JANUARY 2006 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) - Tuvalu Red Cross is conducting a survey targeting locals and Tuvaluans living overseas on how it can improve services on the tiny island nation. Questions in the survey ranged from peoples understanding...

Alleged ex-Abu Sayyaf member arrested.
January 4, 2006... 04 JANUARY 2006 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - An alleged former member of the notorious Philippine-based terrorist group Abu Sayyaf is facing deportation charges in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI). 48-year-old Roger Samortin...

Former PNG leader Sir William Skate dies.(Obituary)
January 4, 2006... 04 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir William Skate, has died in an Australian hospital aged 52. Sir William Skate suffered a heart attack in Port Moresby last week and was airlifted to a...

NZ offers more places to Pacific Islanders under the new residual work permit policy.
January 4, 2006... 04 JANUARY 2006 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - New Zealand's Immigration Department is yet to decide on a new residual work permit policy offered to Samoans and Pacific Islanders last year. The new wok permit policy came into effect on 19 December...

Northern Province President suffers mild stroke.
January 4, 2006... 04 JANUARY 2006 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - New Caledonia's pro-independence Northern Province President Paul Naoutyine suffered a mild stroke last week and has since been kept under medical supervision in the capital Nouma, local media report. ...

Fiji man wins FJ$1.45 million.
January 4, 2006... 04 DECEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - A 51-year-old Fiji man, identified only as C. Singh has won himself FJ$1.45- million (US$838,000) in the recent AUD$32million (US$23.7 million) mega draw for Tattslotto held on New Year's Eve. The...

Wildfires in New Caledonia destroy at least 5,200 hectares.
January 4, 2006... 04 DECEMBER 2006 NOUMEA' (Pacnews) - Wildfires in New Caledonia have been fuelled by wind and high temperatures, with at least 5,200 hectares of land destroyed in the last nine days. Firefighters have had to return to nature reserve areas...

Voter education to prepare Tokelauns for next months national referendum.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 APIA (Pacnews) - A voter education workshop will be conducted on Tokelau next week to prepare voters for the first ever national referendum next month. Tokelaus 1,500 population will decide on being self governing or remain...

Vanuatu clarifies trade impasse.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu has clarified there isnt any trade restriction imposed on the Fiji breakfast crackers, Vanuatu Daily Post reports. Instead, under the Melanesian Spearhead Group Trade Agreement, import duty on...

French Polynesias economy minister replaced.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - In a government reshuffle, French Polynesias Vice-President Jacqui Drollet has taken over the economy portfolio from outgoing Emile Vanfasse, who is said to have resigned from the Temaru-led government. ...

Abram1off plea may implicate CNMI.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 SAIPAN (Pacnews) -- Former Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoffs plea bargain agreement with the United States in a fraud case may open up a can of worms that could implicate some former and current Commonwealth of the Northern...

Japan aid reimbursement still negotiated by Fiji Government.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) -Negotiations are continuing between Japanese and Fiji over the reimbursement of aid money earmarked for a fisheries jetty in Suva, which did not get off the ground. Fijis Fisheries Minister, Konisi Yabaki...

Labor calls for action on 'drowning' islands.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) - Australia should gather a coalition of countries to take "climate change refugees" from low-lying Pacific island nations threatened by rising seas, Labor has said in a major environmental policy paper. ...

Election dates to be finalised soon.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands Electoral Commission expects to meet before the end of this month to finalise a comprehensive plan for the country's national elections. Chief Electoral officer, Musu Kevu says the plan...

Migrating doctors puts pressure on Fiji Medical School.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) ---The exodus of Fiji doctors for greener pastures overseas has forced the medical fraternity to call on the Fiji School of Medicine (FSM) to churn out more doctors to fill in the gap. The dean of the FSM,...

Cops deployed in Porgera after 2 killed in tribal fight.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Heavily armed Papua New Guinea policemen are guarding the giant world-class gold mine in Porgera after a tribal fight erupted during the festive season. Two people were killed and 12 others injured...

Solomon Islands and Taiwan hospitals sign agreement.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 HONIARA (Pacnews) - An agreement to formalise the sister relationship between the National Referral Hospital and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital of Taiwan was signed yesterday in Honiara. Signatories to the agreement...

5.8 quake hits CNMI.
January 5, 2006... 05 JANUARY 2006 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) on Tuesday (03 Jan) night, according to the CNMI Emergency of Management Office said. EMO...

ADB says exploitation of phosphate deposits offers no prospect for medium term economic growth for Nauru.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) says continued exploitation of phosphate deposits, which are almost exhausted in Nauru, offers no prospect of medium-term economic growth. In its outlook for 2005, the bank...

Taiwan to fund Marshall Islands loan programme.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 MAJURO (Pacnews) - Taiwan is set to provide US$800,000 to launch the first "micro credit" scheme in Marshall Islands. Marshall Islands Foreign Affairs Minister Gerald Zackios and Taiwanese Ambassador Lien-gene Chen signed...

More trouble predicted after Samoan Village shooting.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 APIA (Pacnews) - A prominent Samoan 'matai' and Leader of the Samoa Progressive Party (SPP), Toalepaiali'i Toesulusulu Siueva II is predicting more trouble following the fatal shooting that killed a man in Samoa hours before New...

Chamber of Commerce now seeking active role in management of Tahiti's international airport.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia's Chamber of Commerce has changed its position on the management of four French State airports in Tahiti, including the Tahiti-Faa'a International Airport. SETIL-Aroports, a semi-public...

Striking nurses to face arrest.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The Port Moresby General Hospital (POMGH) who defied a National Court order for them to return to work will be dealt with for contempt of court, acting POMGH chief executive officer Dr Simon Mete said...

Helen Clark on list to head UN.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - New Zealand's prime minister and governor-general are on a list of candidates being pushed to give the United Nations its first female head, StuffNZ reports. Prime Minister Helen Clark and...

Be specific on alert Australia told.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The Australian Government has been asked to review the travel alert on Papua New Guniea, which portrays PNG as a very undesirable place for Australians to visit. The travel alert issue was raised...

Coconuts from ten Pacific countries banned in the Phillipines.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Coconut palm seedlings, plants and germinated seed nuts from Solomon Islands and nine other Pacific Island Countries are prohibited from entering the Philippines. The Philippines Government made the move...

Marshall Islands agrees on US$25m funding to rebuild college.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2005 MAJURO (Pacnews) - The Marshall Islands government has agreed to a five-year, US$25 million funding plan to rebuild the campus of the College of the Marshall Islands in Majuro. The President Kessai Note says the funding...

PNG passenger plane grounded.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - A passenger plane belonging to Papua New Guinea's national airline has been grounded after a hail storm damaged a wing on flight to Australia, Radio Australia reports. Air Niugini engineers say the...

Continental brings in charter flights.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Continental Micronesia has begun providing charter flights bringing in Japanese tourists to Saipan following the pullout of Japan Airlines' regular flights to the CNMI. Continental joins in the efforts of...

Niue Premier says new hospital nearing completion.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 ALOFI (Pacnews) - The Premier of Niue, Young Vivian says workers are putting the finishing touches to the country's new hospital, which he says will be ready for an official opening shortly. The old hospital was demolished...

ADB Predictions on Nauru Phosphate Mining Discouraging: Forum Secretariat.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 YAREN (Pacnews) - The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat says it is disappointed with the Asian Development Bank's 2005 Outlook comment that possible phosphate re-mining in Nauru offers no prospects for medium-term economic...

Australia's reaction to Climate Change not good enough.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell had revealed his government's attitude to climate change was simply "let's hope it never happens," Labor said today. Senator Campbell's comment that there...

Marovo Lagoon under threat.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 HONIAR A (Pacnews) - Marovo Lagoon in Solomon Island's Western Province is facing a significant environmental threat due to inappropriate land use. The lagoon, which is believed to be the eight wonder of the world, is said...

All set for inauguration.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Three days of festivity starting tomorrow (07 Jan) will culminate on Monday (09 Jan) with the inauguration of Governor elect Benigno Fitial and Lt. Gov.-elect Timothy Villagomez. Inauguration committee...

Calls for Cook Islands to survey tourism spending.
January 6, 2006... 06 JANUARY 2006 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Officials in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management of the Cook Islands are calling for a survey into tourism spending patterns. This follows complaints from those in the country's dominant...

Fiji military warns government.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - If the Fijian Government keeps up its racial policies, the military would not hesitate to move in and take over the running of the country, says army commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. The commander...

Minister's sea-level view lands him in hot water.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Australia's Environment Minister Ian Campbell has been told to "pull his head out of the sand" over his insistence global warming may never submerge tiny Pacific nations. The criticism came after he...

Return of bones anger Kwaio chiefs.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The return of the remains of three of the 10 Kwaio men killed in Solomon Islands East Kwaio region at the height of the ethnic crisis in 2002, has angered chiefs of the area. Solomon Star reports the...

Three Tongan youth charged in the U.S for high speed chase.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 SAN MATEO (Pacnews) - Three Tongan youth in San Mateo County have been accused of a high speed chase after shooting randomly at several homes and vehicles. The three, Simione Paletua, 21, David Tupou, 18 and Nalesoni...

Lawsuit threat to NZ as Cup host.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 LONDON (Pacnews) - The Asian Rugby Union has threatened legal action unless the International Rugby Board (IRB) annuls its vote, giving the 2011 Rugby World Cup to New Zealand, London's Sunday Times reported yesterday. The...

Fijians on contracts.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 BUKA (Pacnews) - The five former Fijian commandos still at large in Bougainville's Tonu area allegedly signed two-year contracts with failed U-Vistract money scheme principal Noah Musingku. The revelation could be the...

Guam chamber wants more military business.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 HAGATHNA (Pacnews) - The Guam Chamber of Commerce is lobbying for a bigger slice of the military procurement pie, complaining that off-island companies enjoy an undue advantage in doing business with the military. Newly...

Four political parties to take on Human Rights Protection Party.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 APIA (Pacnews) -- Four political parties are confirmed to challenge the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) in this year's General Election scheduled for 31 March, eventspolynesia.com reports. Currently, the Samoa...

Fijian fishing Boat Detained.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - The Vanuatu Maritime Wing in MV Tukoro stopped and detained a Fijian fishing boat eight miles South West of Eton on Efate., Vanuatu Daily Post reports. The crew said that they have a valid licence to...

Police in Samoa arrest murder suspects.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 APIA (Pacnews) - Police in Samoa have charged two men from Faleatiu village in connection with a fatal attack on New Year's eve in neighboring Satapuala village, Radio New Zealand International reports. The incident left...

Striking nurse mocked, told to resign: Union.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - A nurse at the Port Moresby General Hospital who was involved in the strike was mocked and told to resign, the PNG Nurses Association has claimed. Association president Lawrence Namaro claimed that...

Solomon landowners launch legal action to claim land where airport and RAMSI are based.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 HONIARA (Pacnews) - In the Solomon Islands, landowners on Guadalcanal are taking legal action to reclaim two areas of land. The government says the commissioner of lands transferred the title of Lungga and Tenaru lands...

Greenpeace launch whaling petition.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - Greenpeace Pacific today launched a petition drive aimed at five Pacific Island governments who abstained from voting against whaling at last year's International Whaling Commission meeting in South Korea. ...

Women to stage anti-logging protest in the Solomons.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Women opposed to logging in the Solomon Islands Makira Province will stage a peaceful protest at the provincial capital on Wednesday (11 Jan). Radio New Zealand International reports that the women are...

Trade talks not good for Fiji.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji will lose all agricultural preferences by 2013 following a decision taken at the 6th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Hong Kong in December. The meeting decided that...

Convicted PNG governor to appear in court again.
January 9, 2006... 09 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - In Papua New Guinea, convicted governor James Yali is due to appear before the court again, the day after he is sentenced for rape. Yali is due to be sentenced on January 17 for his convicted rape of...