PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from March 2005

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from March 2005

Former MEF spokesman appear in court.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Two former Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) senior members - Andrew Nori and Leslie Kwaiga have both appeared in the Central Magistrates Court charged with demanding and receiving money with menace from the Malaita...

Cook Islands resorts ready for business.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Rarotongan tourist resorts are open for business, says New Zealand High Commissioner, Kurt Meyer. Approximately 95 percent of hotel rooms in Rarotonga are ready and waiting for tourists, following the...

Australian scientists stumble across HIV therapy.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 BRISBANE (Pacnews) --- Australian scientists have accidentally stumbled upon a simple way to dramatically stimulate immunity to deadly viruses like HIV in what's considered a major discovery in the fight against AIDS, NZ Herald...

PNG Government chipping away at public debt.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's Treasury and Finance Minister Bart Philemon says the country's outstanding debt had been reduced from over K8 billion (US$2.6 billion) and to K7.6 billon (US$2.5 billion). Mr...

Regional official unhappy with SOPAC's decision to extend advertisement for deputy director's post.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The Suva-based South Pacific Geo-science Commission (SOPAC) has re-advertised the position of its deputy director because of poor number of expressions of interest for the top job. A senior regional...

Flosse's party boycotts Presidential vote.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) ---French Polynesia's vote to elect a new President could not take place as scheduled today (Monday Tahiti time, GMT-10) due to a boycott by outgoing long-time ruler Gaston Flosse's party, the Tahoeraa...

Academic warns of rising seas.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ---Low lying areas and atolls of Papua New Guinea (PNG) are most likely to observe rapid rises in sea levels, an academic said last week. Dean of the Research and Postgraduate Studies Centre at the...

ELSHAM wins Pacific human rights award.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- West Papua's Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (ELSHAM) has won the Pacific region's human rights awards for its work on promoting the rights of its people. The award was given by the Suva-based...

CNMI need help in the protection of its coral reef.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- The absence of financial and human resource prevents the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI) from accomplishing long-term plans to protect its coral reefs, says Governor Juan Babauta. In written...

Autonomy could lead to chaos: O'Neill.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's Opposition leader Peter O'Neill has predicted widespread chaos and fragmentation if provinces are allowed to follow the Bougainville autonomy initiative and rush into determining their...

Low-level volcanic activity on Anatahan.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- Anatahan volcano in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI) has been showing signs of "very low levels of activity" over the past 11 days, the Emergency Management Office (EMO) and the U.S. Geological...

Cook Islands receives relief aid from Forum Secretariat.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Cook Islands is to receive FJ$60,000 (US$36,400) this week from the Regional Natural Disaster Relief Fund, to assist with relief efforts following recent cyclones. "The Forum regrets the damage and...

Missing fishermen found by RNZAF plane.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion has located a fishing vessel missing in an area of the Pacific Ocean ravaged by Cyclone Percy, finding the crew safe and well. The Orion flew to the area this...

Marshall Islands nuclear test survivors hear Chernobyl victim talk in Majuro.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 MAJURO (Pacnews) --- A group of Marshall Islanders who survived the fallout from the U.S. largest hydrogen bomb, have met a Ukrainian woman who survived fallout from the world's worst nuclear reactor disaster at Chernobyl. ...

Terrorism charge dropped, 13 get suspended sentences.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- Prosecutors in Port Vila have dropped the terrorism charge against former Tanna parliamentarian Jimmy Nicklam following the burning of ballot papers on 19 July last year outside the Whitegrass airport. ...

SUMMARY HEADLINES - TUE 1 MAR 05.
March 1, 2005... REGION Pukapuka and Nassau Still Under Shelter Air Force Locates Missing Fishing Boat PAPUA NEW GUINEA Grieving Father says Foul Play - Survivor Says not SOLOMON ISLANDS MEF Spokesman Charged over Missing $5 Million FIJI...

Pukapuka and Nassau Still Under Shelter.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 REGION - 600 people on Pukapuka in the northern Cook Islands are packed into ten houses after cyclone Percy decimated many of the buildings, houses and other structures. Another 40 people on nearby Nassau Island have moved to the...

Air Force Locates Missing Fishing Boat.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 REGION - A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion has located a fishing vessel missing in an area of the Pacific Ocean ravaged by Cyclone Percy, finding the crew safe and well. The Orion flew to the area this morning after a distress...

Grieving Father says Foul Play - Survivor Says not.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 PNG - There are two different versions of how six young men died circulating in PNG. In a report carried by The National newspaper, the father of one of the men says he believes they were killed by police. He's called for an...

MEF Spokesman Charged over Missing $5 Million.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 SOLOMON IS - Former spokesman of the now disbanded Malaita Eagles Force Andrew Nori is the latest high-profiled ex-militant to be arrested and charged by the RSIP/PPF Corruption Taskforce. The Malaitan lawyer was arrested on...

Don't Panic, Union Told.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 FIJI - Labour Minister Kenneth Zinck has asked that the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions not panic about certain clauses of the Employment Relations Bill. He said the ministry has received the union's submissions and clarified...

Lack of Quorum Delays Tahiti's Presidential Election.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 FRENCH POLYNESIA - The scheduled election of a new government president for Tahiti has been postponed Monday until Thursday due to a lack of a three-fifths quorum in the 57-seat French Polynesia Assembly. Photo: P.Bastianaggi...

Submerged Lands Appeal Junked.
March 1, 2005... 01 MARCH 2005 CNMI - The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands has lost its appeal against a U.S. District Court decision declaring that all submerged lands in the Northern Marianas belong to the United States. The 9th Circuit Court of...

Australia opposed to extending UN mission in East Timor.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 CANBERRA (Pacnews) --- Australia has opposed extending the United Nations peacekeeping mission in East Timor when its mandate expires in May. The move runs counter to the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi...

PNG seeks Australia help to set up detention centre.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ---Papua New Guinea has asked the Australian government to help it set up a migrant detention centre, Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu told Parliament yesterday. Speaking in...

Sir Allan appoints new minister and reshuffles two others.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza has appointed a new minister and reshuffled two portfolios following the resignation of provincial government and constituency development minister, Clement...

Only ten buildings left standing on Nassau and Pukapuka in Cook Islands after cyclone Percy.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Just 10 buildings are still intact on Nassau and Pukapuka in the northern Cook Islands, home to over 600 people, following Cyclone Percy's track of destruction, a report from New Zealand says. ...

French naval vessel stranded in Fiji.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The New Caledonia-based French Navy frigate Vendmiaire, which arrived on Monday (21 Feb) last week for a four-day courtesy call, has been forced to stay in the Suva harbour because of mechanical problems. ...

Palau support Japan's bid for UN Security Council seat.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 KOROR (Pacnews) ---Palau says Japan should be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Minister of State Temmy Shmull said Palau's ambassador to the U.N, Stuart Beck, delivered a strong message supporting the...

Preparations underway for land summit.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Preparations are being made for a land summit in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in July to address the land ownership issue in the country. The land summit is expected to be held in Port Moresby and experts...

Nuclear survivors say they were fed lies in government cover-ups.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 MAJURO (Pacnews) --- Survivors of two severe cases of nuclear contamination met in the Marshall Islands today to mark the 51st anniversary of the first U.S. hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, and accused authorities of lying...

Vanuatu youth unemployment - a time bomb.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- The Vanuatu Government has been urged to provide employment opportunities for the growing number of young people dropping out from school every year. An investigation by the Daily Post newspaper reveals...

Investor threatens to leave.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL) hopes to start its operation on the former SIPL on 17 April 7 but warns that further delay will lead to the entire loss of the project. NBPOL made...

Legal battle setback for NZ nuclear test veterans.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 WELINGTON (Pacnews) --- New Zealand nuclear test veterans seeking compensation from the British government are continuing their legal battle, despite a funding setback. About 551 New Zealand naval men witnessed nine nuclear...

Australia says East Timor peacekeeping should end.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 CANBERRA (Pacnews) --- Australia's support for ending the United Nations peacekeeping mission in East Timor in May was not a bid to strengthen its often uneasy ties with neighbouring Indonesia, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer...

Fiji's Court of Appeal to rule on jailed soldiers appeal.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's court of appeal will give its ruling on notice on whether to quash the convictions of more than 100 Fijian soldiers charged with offences related to the military coups and mutiny of 2000. The appeals...

Class disruption looms as UPNG academics warn of stop work.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- The academic year at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) faces disruption after national academic staff at the university warned that they would go on strike next week if their demand for salary...

ANZ banking group opens office in New Caledonia.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- The ANZ Banking Group has announced the establishment of its first office in New Caledonia, mainly for business and corporate clients. ANZ said in a release the "representative office" is mainly to...

SUMMARY HEADLINES - WED 2 MAR 05.
March 2, 2005... REGION Just 10 buildings Left Standing on Two Islands PAPUA NEW GUINEA Home Grown Detention Centre Considered Gun Campaign Kicks Off Tomorrow Wenge's War on Crime Lae Orders Police to 'Shoot To Kill' FIJI No...

Just 10 buildings Left Standing on Two Islands.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 REGION - Just ten buildings are still intact on Nassau and Pukapuka in the northern Cook Islands, home to over 600 people, following Cyclone Percy's track of destruction. Two days ago Cyclone Percy hovered directly over the tiny...

Home Grown Detention Centre Considered.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 PNG - In an effort to control illegal immigrants, Papua New Guinea has asked the Australian government to help it set up a migrant detention centre. Immigration Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu made the announcement in parliament...

Gun Campaign Kicks Off Tomorrow.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 PNG - The campaign to gauge the views of the public on the guns issue will officially begin tomorrow. Acting Prime Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu will launch the campaign at a special breakfast and Opposition Leader Peter...

Wenge's War on Crime.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 PNG - More than 100 policemen in Morobe province are trained and ready for action says Morobe Governor Luther Wenge. Speaking to the people of Finschaffen, Governor Wenge said tough police action might be needed to counteract...

Lae Orders Police to 'Shoot To Kill'.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 PNG - There has been an increase in crime in Lae City in the past month and police will not hesitate to shoot to kill if confronted by a dangerous situation, Regional Police Commander Giossi Labi said yesterday. Labi was...

No Help in 'Mel Gibson' Island Claim.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 FIJI - Villagers challenging the purchase of 'their' island by movie star Mel Gibson will not be assisted by Fiji authorities. The villagers of Namalata claim that Mago island, which Gibson is believed to have purchased from...

Back off, PM tells US.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 FIJI - The Prime Minister has called on the United States not to interfere in Fiji's affairs following the release of the latest American Department of State Human Rights report on Fiji yesterday. The report states that the...

Officer Knew of Plans for a Coup.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 FIJI - A Senior military officer knew a takeover of government was being planned before June 2000 from information gathered by four undercover agents. Lieutenant-Colonel Viliame Seruvakula said he deployed four undercover...

121 Lawyers Lack Papers.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 FIJI - A total of 121 lawyers are believed to be without practicing certificates for this year as of Tuesday. However, Fiji Law Society president Graham Leung neither confirmed nor denied the number of lawyers without...

Temaru Calls Flosse's Members 'Appalling, Childish'.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 FRENCH POLYNESIA - Majority coalition leader Oscar Temaru accused outgoing French Polynesia President Gaston Flosse's opposition members of "appalling and childish" behavior Monday for not showing up to elect a new government...

Reef Shipping to set up Airline.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 NIUE - The Auckland based company, Reef Shipping, which has established several operations on Niue in recent months, is now setting up an airline service from the island. Reef Shipping established a fish processing on the...

Nuclear Survivors Call for Justice.
March 2, 2005... 02 MARCH 2005 MARSHALL IS. - Survivors of the largest ever United States hydrogen bomb test in the Marshall Islands have called for fair compensation, during a ceremony to mark the 51st anniversary of the test. The Mayor of Rongelap Atoll,...

Population explosion worrisome, PNG Governor warns.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea (PNG) will encounter serious social and economic problems if it does not curb the growth of its population, Morobe Governor Luther Wenge has warned. Mr Wenge said the country's...

Keke claims his uncle killed Father Geve.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Rebel leader, Harold Keke, who is charged with the murder of former Solomon Islands cabinet minister has told the court that Father Augustine Geve was already dead before he arrived at Haliatu village on 20...

Tonga's Ha'apai Island reports an increasing number of dengue fever like cases.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) --- Tonga's island of Ha'apai is experiencing an influx of people suffering from dengue fever. Medical Officer in charge of Niu'ui, Dr. Ma'ake Tupou told Radio Tonga that as of yesterday afternoon hundred...

New Caledonia unveils plans for futuristic airport by 2008.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- New Caledonia's Chamber of Commerce (CCI) has unveiled plans for what is to become New Caledonia's new international airport, at an estimated cost of some US$25 million. The construction of other...

Sacked Solomons minister Maina refuses to go.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The Solomon Islands prime minister, Sir Allen Kemakeza, is being defied by Michael Maina who insists he is still the police minister. It has been twelve days since Maina was charged with theft in...

RAMSI faces court challenge.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The High Court in Solomon Islands has granted leave to a local law firm to take legal action against the Regional Assistance Mission in Solomon Islands (RAMSI) for an alleged breach of constitutional rights...

MPs withdraw UMP affiliation.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- Two independent members of parliament in Vanuatu have withdrawn their support for the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP). Vanuatu Daily Post reports that Port Vila MP Pierre Tore and Malekula MP Caleb...

Malaysian company to develop limestone deposits in PNG.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea (PNG) has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Malaysian company to develop the rich limestone deposits in the country. Minister for Mining Sam Akoitai signed the agreement...

Polynesian granted exemption to operate charter flights to Manu'a.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 PAGOPAGO (Pacnews) --- Samoa's national carrier, Polynesian Airlines has been given the green light to operate charter flights to American Samoa's Manu'a Island to transport cyclone relief supplies. The decision was endorsed...

Port Moresby to usher in building boom.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- The National Capital District Building Board and Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry are hosting a workshop to publicise the start of the country's biggest-ever building boom, industry sources...

NZ host's Pacific workshop on cleaning up pollutants.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- Delegates from New Zealand, Australia and 12 other Pacific nations met in Wellington today for a three-day workshop on how to reduce contamination by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins....

Plans for state government system to be finalised in 2006.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza says the proposed federal system of governance in the country will be finalised in 2006, Solomon Star reports Sir Allan revealed this in his address to...

Fiji troops stay in East Timor.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji soldiers will not be affected by the United States' and Australia's call to end the United Nations peacekeeping mission in East Timor when operations are scaled down in May. The U.S. is the only...

PNGDF first battalion is 54-years-old.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) first battalion of the Pacific Island Regiment will celebrate its 54th anniversary at the Taurama barracks in Port Moresby on Saturday (05 March). The...

French Polynesia's Tahoeraa split over possible role in a Temaru government.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- French Polynesia's Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party appears split ahead of tomorrow's presidential election which is likely to see Oscar Temaru of the Union For Democracy to be chosen for the top job for the second...

CNMI Government could earn US$12 million from Pagan pozzolan mining.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- If mined and commercially sold, Pagan's pozzolan would yield an estimated US$12 million in annual revenue for the government, Senate President Joaquin Adriano said. Senator Adriano said this amount is...

Former Solomons minister denies being sacked.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The former Solomon Islands Minister for Police, Michael Maina, is denying he's been sacked and replaced. His denial follows the Prime Minister's appointment of the former Minister for Reconciliation,...

Prostitution on the rise as Saipan factories close.
March 3, 2005... 03 MARCH2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- There has been a sudden increase in prostitution activities in Garapan following the recent shutdown of three garment factories in the Northern Marianas, according to Lt. Governor Diego Benavente. Mr...

Judge Attacked after Child-Rape Suspect Bailed.
March 3, 2005... PNG 03 MARCH2005 (Pacnews) - Wabag town was the scene of chaos and destruction as angry relatives of a 7 year-old rape victim rampaged after a magistrate granted bail to the suspected rapist. The relatives had gone to the courthouse...

ECP Cops to Fan Out Soon.
March 3, 2005... PNG 03 MARCH2005 (Pacnews) - Internal-Security Minister Bire Kimisopa told parliament yesterday that Australian policemen under the Enhanced Cooperation Programme in PNG will be deployed to other parts of the country. He was responding to...

Keke says Others Killed Father Geve.
March 3, 2005... SOLOMON IS 03 MARCH2005 (Pacnews) - Harold Keke said when he arrived at Haliatu beach on the morning of 20 August 2002, the former Cabinet minister he was accused of killing - Fr. Augustine Geve - was already dead. During...

RAMSI Faces Challenge in High Court.
March 3, 2005... SOLOMON IS 03 MARCH2005 (Pacnews) - The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)'s immunity will be challenged in High Court following for the first time at a full hearing between John Makasi and the Commander of the Participating...

$3 Million in Application Fees for 400 Jobs So Far.
March 3, 2005... FIJI 03 MARCH2005 (Pacnews) - Applications for jobs in Kuwait through the Meridian Services Agency reached the 20,000 mark this week amounting to about $3 million in fees A source close to the agency yesterday said at $150 per application...

Typhoid Outbreak.
March 3, 2005... FIJI 03 MARCH2005 (Pacnews) - All medical divisions have been placed on alert after 23 cases of typhoid fever were confirmed in the Central, Eastern and Northern divisions. Ministry director Primary and Preventive Health Services, Dr...

No Fish Big Problem.
March 3, 2005... FIJI 03 MARCH2005 (Pacnews) - The Ministry of Fisheries says the problem of insufficient fish at Pacific Fishing Company is out of its control. Chief executive Mitieli Baleivanualala said people must understand that fishing is seasonal and...

Flosse Government Tour to Inaugurate New Facilities.
March 3, 2005... FRENCH POLYNESIA 03 MARCH2005 (Pacnews) - Ministers of outgoing French Polynesia President Gaston Flosse spent three days inaugurating new facilities in remote parts of the Tuamotu Archipelago and the Gambier Islands, according to a communique...

Opposition's Absence was a Protest, Candidate Explains.
March 3, 2005... FRENCH POLYNESIA 03 MARCH2005 (Pacnews) - The opposition's absence Monday for a French Polynesia Assembly vote to elect a new president was a protest, said Bora Bora Mayor Gaston Tong Sang, the opposition's candidate for president. He said...

Palau national turned over to U.S. authorities.
March 4, 2005... 04 MARCH 2005 KOROR (Pacnews) --- A Palau national charged with bribery, fraud and misuse of visas has been turned over to United States authorities last night. Eunice Raphael will be brought to the U.S. where she will be prosecuted. ...

Congress urged to grant Hawaiian rights.
March 4, 2005... 04 MARCH 2005 WASHINGTON (Pacnews) --- Hawaiian Governor Linda Lingle and other leading Hawaiians have won a promise of prompt Senate action on longstanding legislation to give Native Hawaiians the same rights of self-government enjoyed by...

Major drug bust trial set for May.
March 4, 2005... 04 MARCH 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The trial of six people charged in the largest drug bust in the Pacific region has been scheduled for May in Fiji, Fiji Sun newspaper reports. Yuen Hei Ha, also known as Diane Yuen or Diane Zhong, appeared...

SPREP hoping to have worst Pacific toxic waste cleared by mid year.
March 4, 2005... 04 MARCH 2005 APIA (Pacnews) --- The Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPRED) says it hopes to have the most serious toxic waste of 13 Pacific countries packed by mid year ready for shipping. The chemicals are known as persistant...

Global tobacco treaty comes into force.
March 4, 2005... 04 MARCH 2005 GENEVA (Pacnews) --- At a ceremony organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), government officials and health advocates gathered in Geneva yesterday to celebrate the global tobacco treaty's entry into force. Formally...

Temaru returns as President of French Polynesia.
March 4, 2005... 04 MARCH 2005 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) --- French Polynesia's legislative assembly has elected pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru as its new president, media report says. Mr Temaru, who leads a coalition of parties, the Union for Democracy...