PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from March 2008

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from March 2008

PM Rudd to visit PNG, Solomons.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 CANBERRA (Pacnews) ----- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is set to head off on a three-day visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Solomon Islands on Wednesday, reports Herald Sun. The visits will be a further step in the...

Oscar Temaru elected French Polynesia Assembly speaker.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 PAPEETE (Pacnews) ----- Pro-independence party leader and co-majority coalition government leader Oscar Temaru was elected speaker of the French Polynesia Assembly on Friday by a vote of 28-27 with two blank ballots, reports...

Call for Pacific Islands Forum summit to be held in NZ not Niue.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 ALOFI (Pacnews) ----- A Niue Opposition MP says this years Pacific Islands Forum summit should be held in New Zealand because the island lacks the resources to run it properly, reports Radio New Zealand International. Niue is...

Nauru eyes becoming a fishing trawler service centre.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 YAREN (Pacnews) ------ Naurus Foreign and Finance Minister, Dr Kieren Keke, says Australia might help the island become a centre for fishing vessel maintenance and servicing, reports Radio New Zealand International. He said...

SkyAirWorld flies to the Solomons.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ---- SkyAirWorld is set to fly its first international service into Honiara from Brisbane today launching intense competition on the route, reports Solomon Star. A SkyAirWorld office is about to be opened at...

Drug trafficking a big issue for Kiribati seamen.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 TARAWA (Pacnews) ----- The German recruiting company responsible for hiring many i-Kiribati seamen is concerned about the number of them who have been convicted for drug trafficking, reports Pacific Magazine. Its sad to...

Good governance still lacking in PNG.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ------ A senior researcher at the National Research Institute (NRI) has said Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a problem when it comes to good governance, reports The National. Dr Alphonse Gelu said the...

Fast action to halt wage hikes.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 WASHINGTON (Pacnews) ------ The Senate committee in charge of U.S. insular affairs has vowed to act quickly on a federal bill suspending further increases in the minimum wage in the Northern Marianas and American Samoa, reports...

PNG has vital role to play in regional assistance missions.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a valuable role in the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) due to the similarity in Melanesian culture, RAMSI coordinator Tim George said. And we...

Global warming threatens more than just coral.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 BRISBANE (Pacnews) -------Rising sea levels from global warming will threaten the livelihoods and homes of more than 200,000 people who live on coral atolls in coming generations. The warning came from University of Queensland...

HIV fears over PNG border breaches.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 CANBERRA (Pacnews) ------- Australian and Papua New Guinea (PNG) officials have been secretly examining the need for tough border restrictions in the Torres Strait to protect remote indigenous communities from a looming public...

Ramos Horta forgives rebel leader.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 DARWIN (Pacnews) ------ East Timor president Jose Ramos Horta says he forgives rebel leader Alfredo Reinado for staging a near-fatal attack on him at his home in Dili, reports The Australian. Reinado was killed in the gunfire...

Tonga organisation struggles with rehabilitation efforts.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) ------ The volunteer organisation LIFELINE Tonga says its struggling to cope with the influx of referrals from the Supreme Court for rehabilitation. Radio New Zealand International reports 388 cases have...

Vanuatu ready to Trade under PICTA.
March 3, 2008... 03 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- The Vanuatu Government has completed the domestic requirements to be able to trade under the terms and conditions of the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA). In a communication to the Pacific...

New Zealand fully behind Forum summit being held on Niue.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ----- A New Zealand Foreign Affairs official says New Zealand police and the Defence Force will be part of the support for Niue when it stages the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in August this year,...

Expo looking to boost Pacific trade.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) ------The second Pacific Trade Expo, which starts in Auckland tomorrow, aims to address one of the region's most urgent challenges - boosting two-way trade, reports NZ Herald . New Zealand's exports to the...

Chaudhry's lawyers advice him to sue Fiji Times for $1bn.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- Lawyers of Fijis interim Finance Minister have written to him, advising him to sue Fiji Times Limited for $1billion for defamation, reports The Fiji Times . In a press release yesterday, his lawyer GP...

Taiwan offers to finish Solomon Islands Parliament project.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ------ Taiwan has a surprise gift for the people of Solomon Islands and democracy the completion of the multi-million dollar National Parliament Building project in Honiara. But only if Honiara agrees to...

Vanuatus Prime Minister asked to discipline Lands Minister.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ----- Vanuatus Prime Minister, Ham Lini, has been requested by the second largest party in his coalition government to discipline the Lands Minister, Maxime Carlot Korman. The Vanuatu Daily Post reports...

Lawsuit against military backed government begins.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- Fijis ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarases case against interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama and the interim regime got underway in the High Court in Suva today, reports Fiji Live. Mr...

Wallis and Futuna to get US$25 million from EU's 10th EDF.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- The European Union (EU) has earmarked some 16.49 millions euros (US25 million) for development funding in the French Pacific territory of Wallis and Futuna, EUs envoy has announced, Oceania Flash reports. ...

Tornado destroys two homes on Rarotonga.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) ------ Two houses were wrecked when a tornado ripped through part of the Cook Islands main island of Rarotonga at the weekend, reports Radio New Zealand International. The tornado, in the Nikao area, swept...

Fiji media council chairman rejects industry report.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- The chairman of Fiji's media council, Darryl Tarte, says a report into the industry is not credible and will not be accepted. The report into media freedom in Fiji, released last week, has called for more...

Solomons Islands group plans education on children's rights.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ------ A Honiara based NGO group, Save the Children, has launched a campaign to educate the Solomon Islands police on children's rights, to help ensure young people get a fair treatment at the hands of...

Pacific will get share of EU Agriculture fund.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ----- An international meeting in Samoa has heard that a new fund from the European Union (EU) to support agriculture development will be shared among the 76-member African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of...

Forum Team releases its report on Marshall Islands 2007 Election.
March 4, 2008... 04 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ---- The Pacific Islands Forum Team which observed the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) 2007 Nitijela election has publicly released its report. The public release of the report is in accordance with usual...

Push for sports boycott of Fiji.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 CANBERRA (Pacnews) ------ Australia is pushing for further sanctions against Fiji, including a sports boycott, to force rugby-obsessed military leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama to respect human rights and return the country to...

Solomons calls for improvement in womens lives.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 NEW YORK (Pacnews) ------- -The Solomon Islands delivered a hard hitting statement at the 52nd session on the Commission on the Status of Women saying that in the history of the CSW the actions do not line up with words and the...

Marshalls launches anti-cancer vaccine drive.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 MAJURO (Pacnews) ------- The Marshall Islands is launching a nationwide campaign to immunize young women against cervical cancer, reports Marianas Variety. The U.S. Center for Disease Control is funding the US$4.5 million...

Activities of former senior cabinet minister in Nauru under police scrutiny.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 YAREN (Pacnews) ------ The Nauru Government has confirmed that police are investigating some of the activities of the former finance and foreign Minister, David Adeang, reports Radio New Zealand International. Claims by a...

PNG Opposition urges frank talks with Australian PM.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ------- Talks between Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd should include open and frank discussion about the growing lack of good governance in Papua New Guinea...

Fiji in top 10 remittance recipients list.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ------ Fiji was one of the top 10 remittance recipients in 2007 in the East Asia and Pacific region, according to the World Bank Migration and Remittances Factbook 2008, reports Fiji Live. Fiji is estimate to...

Police honour for Pitcairn duty.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 KENT (Pacnews) ------- Two Kent policeman have been appointed MBEs for their work in a sex abuse investigation in the South Pacific, BBC reports. Rob Vincent, from Margate, has been recognised, along with Peter George, from...

ILO supports financing for gender equality.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 NEWYORK (Pacnews) ------- The International Labour Organisation says that work on gender equality throughout the world needs good financial backing, if not it would be ineffective. ILOS Director of Bureau for Gender Equality-...

French Polynesian leaders plan Paris trip.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 PAPEETE (Pacnews) ------- The newly elected president of the French Polynesian assembly, Oscar Temaru, says he plans to travel to Paris with the new President, Gaston Flosse. Mr Temaru told RFO television that once the budget...

PNG Government coy over Fijis journalists expulsion.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ------ The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare yesterday refused to condemn outright the deportation of Fiji Sun publisher Russell Hunter, reports The National. Mr...

Eight Tongan election candidates await court hearing.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) ----- Eight of the 71 candidates for Tonga's April general election are confirmed to have pending court cases with the Tongan Judiciary, Matangi Tonga reports. They include five of the nine incumbent...

Faith Organisation points to new challenges.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 NEW YORK (Pacnews) ----- A faith based organisation says governments must enact laws, implement programmes and enforce measures to protect women from unscrupulous predators, subhuman working conditions and dehumanizing work. ...

Food producers from around Pacific region meet in Auckland for a workshop.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) ------- Food producers from around the Pacific region are coming together this week to attend a trade negotiations workshop in Auckland, reports Radio New Zealand International. The workshop thats organised...

Australia to propose shutting down scientific whaling loophole.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 SYDNEY (Pacnews) ------ Australia hopes to close a loophole in International Whaling Commission (IWC) rules that allows Japan to conduct whaling as long as it is carried out for scientific research, Post Courier reports. ...

Film festival calls for Pacific climate change stories.
March 5, 2008... 05 MARCH 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ------- The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), in partnership with the British High Commission, Suva, is calling for submissions to the Pacific's inaugural Climate Change Film...

Australian PM on first official visit to PNG.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Australias Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd is expected in Papua New Guinea later this morning, in his first state official visit. Mr Rudd and his PNG counterpart Sir Michael Somare will discuss climate...

Qarase challenges legality of military takeover.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The much awaited court challenge against the military takeover of Fijis democratically elected government in December 2006 has begun in the capital, Suva. Deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is...

'Afu'alo Matoto appointed acting finance minister.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) --- Afualo Matoto has been appointed the new acting finance minister in Tonga. Matangi Tonga reports the announcement was made in Nukualofa in the absence of Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele, who was away...

Solomon Islands first session of parliament opens on 17 March.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The first session of Solomon Islands Parliament' will convene on 17 March. One of the first items on the agenda is the speech by the Governor General. The Finance and Treasury Minister, Snyder Rini is...

Tuvalu supports efforts to tackle climate change.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 NEW YORK (Pacnews) --- Tuvalu is more then eager to support any efforts to tackle the issue of climate change. In his statement at the 52nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Tuvalus Minister for Home Affairs...

Fiji rugby will play Pacific Nations.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The Fiji Rugby Union has reacted strongly to suggestions the Australian government will increase sporting sanctions. A report in The Australian newspaper yesterday, quoting high level government sources...

Solomons unbeaten.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 NADI (Pacnews) -- Waitakere United star Benjamin Totori scored a brace of goals as Solomon Islands mesmerised Vanuatu 5-0 in the Oceania Olympic playoffs last night, Fiji Times Sports reports. Solomon with the backing of a...

President cannot be challenged.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The State has challenged the courts powers to review the decision of Fijis President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo to replace the Qarase government after the 2006 coup. Queens Council Gerard McKoy said this was the...

Former PNG prime minister calls for review of Australian aid to PNG.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- As Prime Minister Kevin Rudd arrives in Port Moresby this afternoon, a former PNG prime minister has called for Australia to review its multi-million dollar aid package in an effort to counter systemic...

Heirlooms sold to fund habit.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) --- Many Pacific Island families have been forced to sell family heirlooms to fund their gambling addictions, MPs have been told. Yesterday, campaigners told a New Zealand parliamentary committee examining...

UNIFEM has major plans for the Pacific.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 NEW YORK (Pacnews) ---- The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) has major plans for the Pacific region. UNIFEMs chief for the Asia-Pacific & Arab States section, Socorro Reyes told Fijis Ministry of Health and...

Fiji confident of Pacific Forum invitation.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's interim minister for foreign affairs, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, says he is optimistic about receiving an invitation to the Pacific Island Forum foreign ministers meeting in New Zealand later this month. ...

Rasta walks free.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Former Malaita Eagle Force commander Jimmy Rasta Lusibaea is now a free man, reports Solomon Star. Since the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands in 2003, Mr Lusibaea has been...

Rudd greeted by Port Moresby protests.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Australian Prime Minister has been greeted by protesting landowners in Port Moresby, on his first trip as Prime Minister to Australia's nearest neighbour. Land owners from the Kokoda Track travelled...

Media Council chairman resigns from government sponsored charter committee.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Another member of Fijis National Council for Building a Better Fiji has resigned. Daryl Tarte, the chairman of the Fiji Media Council resigned from the council yesterday. He is the third member to step down...

Top Samoa weightlifter banned for using steroids.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 APIA (Pacnews) --- One of Samoas top weightlifters, Niusila Opeloge, has been banned for two years for using steroids. The decision has been made by the International Weightlifting Federation and follows a positive test after...

Tongan candidates eligible for election despite sedition charges.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) --- Tongas supervisor of elections says candidates can contest next months election despite charges of sedition relating to the 2006 November riot. Eight out of 71 candidates have been confirmed to have...

Sinking Pacific atolls 'may be abandoned in a generation'.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 BRISBANE (Pacnews) --- A leading coral atoll expert has called on the Australian federal government to fund more research into rising sea levels to fully assess the threat to island nations. University of Queensland...

US military looking at using Northern Marianas for training.
March 6, 2008... 06 MARCH 2008 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- The United States Department of Defence says it is considering using Tinian and other islands in the Northern Marianas for training purposes. Captain Bob Lee, the acting director of the Departments Joint...

Australia and PNG sign carbon partnership.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his Papua New Guinea counterpart Sir Michael Somare, have signed-off on a carbon partnership to reduce gas emissions from deforestation. Nearly two-thirds of...

Sir Paul calls for early election.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) -- A former New Zealand Governor-General and head of the 1997 Constitutional Review Commission has urged Fiji to go back to general elections as soon as possible, Fiji Times reports. Sir Paul Reeves, who is in...

Radio Fijis editor says media freedom has been affected.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The editor of the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation says media freedom has been affected by the military coup. His comments come after the military summoned five Radio Fijii journalist to explain anews item on the...

Rare sea bird rediscovered off PNG.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- A rare sea bird not sighted since the 1920s and feared extinct has been rediscovered by a British expedition in waters off Papua New Guinea. The critically endangered Beck's petrel was re-discovered...

NZ player misses crucial games against Solomon Islands today.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 NADI (Pacnews) --- New Zealand will face the Solomon Islands in today's crucial Beijing Olympic men's football qualifier in Fiji without key midfielder Dan Keat. The Dartmouth College (USA) player has been found guilty of...

PNGs womens soccer team meets New Zealand in Olympic Games qualifying match.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea womens soccer team has been urged to give their best shot at New Zealand in the upcoming Olympic Games qualifying soccer tournament tomorrow in Port Moresby. Sports Minister and...

Netball hopes fade, govt promise on the line.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- The Cook Islands Netball Association (CINA) is yet to find out if the country will be able to host the 2009 World Youth Netball Tournament. Currently, no venue has been confirmed, according to Cook...

Honiara ready for boxing clash.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ---- Honiara welcomes its first international boxing bout this year after the sport has taken a dive in recent years. Solomon Star Sports reports that a visiting Kiribati boxing team are expected in the...

Charter affects work of Boundaries Commission.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fijis Constituency Boundaries Commission is unsure whether the 1997 Constitution will be still in place come the next general elections, Fiji Sun reports. Commission chairman Suresh Chandra yesterday said...

Fineasi's future awaits the return of PM.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) --- The Auditor-General's report on the alleged misuse of funds by Tongas tourism minister, Fineasi Funaki has been completed and handed to the prime minister, reports the Matangi Tonga Online. Deputy...

Bill introduced to ban smoking in public in Northern Marianas.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- A bill seeking to ban smoking in public places in the Northern Marianas islands will probably face opposition from the tourism industry. The bill, sponsored by Representative Justo S. Quitugua, would ban...

No public holiday for Samoa Head of State birthday.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 APIA (Pacnews) --- The Government of Samoa has yet to declare the birthday of the current Head of State of Samoa, His Highness Tupua Tamasese, a public holiday. This was revealed to Samoa Newsline by Chief Executive Officer...

PNG-China trade up K550mil.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guineas total trade volume with China has increased by US$550 million since 2002, Chinese Ambassador Wei Ruixing said yesterday. Mr Wei made the revelation while handing over a completed...

Cruise ships visit Solomon Islands.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Two cruise ships will be in Solomon Islands later this month. Managing Director of Destination Solomon Wilson Maelaua says MS Statendom will arrive on Sunday (09 March) for a day's stopover in Honiara....

Dawn of a new era.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Australia will increase its development assistance to Papua New Guinea and Pacific Island Countries under a new policy framework announced by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Port Moresby yesterday. It...

NZ and Samoa sign agreement on WTO accession.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 WUCKLAND (Pacnews) --- New Zealand has signed a market access agreement with Samoa as part of their bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Trade Minister Phil Goff announced today. New Zealand fully supports Samoas...

Australia and New Zealand defence ministers discuss common defence issues.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 SYDNEY (Pacnews) --- New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff today met with his Australian counterpart Joel Fitzgibbon in Sydney today their strong shared interests on defence. The meeting the first for the two Ministers...

Women reclaim Suva's dark streets.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- To mark International Women's Day this year, the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre has organised a Reclaim the Night march through the capital citys dark streets. FWCC coordinator Shamima Ali said the march was a...

Cook Islands continues it push for inclusion on CEDAW Committee.
March 7, 2008... 07 MARCH 2008 NEW YORK (Pacnews) --- Cook Islands will continue to push for Dr Marjorie Crocombe to be elected in to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Committee in July. Cook Islands delegate at the...

Japan paid Solomon Islands for whaling support.
March 10, 2008... 10 MARCH 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua confirmed Saturday what had long been suspected: Japan bought support for its so-called scientific whaling programme in the International Whaling Commission (IWC),...

Rudd makes bid to host next Pacific forum.
March 10, 2008... 10 MARCH 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is seeking to host next year's Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' meeting to prove that he is serious about advancing a new Pacific policy. Mr Rudd says he has won the...

Police call on kids to help quell violence in Nauru news.com.
March 10, 2008... 10 MARCH 2008 YAREN (Pacnews) --- Australian police in Nauru were forced to deputise teenage children over the weekend to quell an outbreak of violence that resulted in the country's main police station being destroyed by fire, Australian media...

NZ to help rebuild Solomon homes.
March 10, 2008... 10 MARCH 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Thousands of homes damaged or destroyed by earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands last April are to be rebuilt with help from New Zealand, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today. Funding...

German TV team kicked out of Bougainville.
March 10, 2008... 10 MARCH 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Bougainville administrator Raymond Masono has ordered a team of German environmental and TV crew out of Bougainvilles sinking atoll on the Carterets Islands. Mr Masonos decision to prohibit the crew...