PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from November 2008

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from November 2008

Arrest sparks serious US, Samoa rift.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ---- There has been a serious deterioration in US-Pacific relations following the arrest of a Samoan politician in the United States. In an exclusive interview with ONE News, the Samoan government has called...

WHO warns of Pacific dengue pandemic.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ----- New Zealand health officials are warning travellers going to Pacific Islands with dengue fever, to take extra precautions, reports TVNZ. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of a Pacific...

Chinese president, Tongan king exchange messages to celebrate 10th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 BEIJING (Pacnews) ----- Chinese President Hu Jintao and Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou V exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations,...

Air NZ extended deadline to Samoa.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ---- Samoas deputy Prime minister Misa Telefoni, believes Air New Zealand has extended its deadline for Samoa to come up with an answer to its demand about the Los Angeles route, reports Samoa Observer. Air...

Eastern Pacific tuna hang in the balance.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 SAN DIEGO (Pacnews) ----- This week marks a pivotal moment for Eastern Pacific tuna. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the international body charged with the conservation and management of tuna and...

Vanuatu begins consultations to accede to WTO Ambassador Roy Mickey Joy.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 BRUSSELS (Pacnews) --- Thirteen years after Vanuatu applied to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), it has now decided to resume discussions to accede to the world multilateral trading body. The countrys first...

Work permits could be axed in New Zealand.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) ----- New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark says if the economic downturn bites hard, the large number of short-term work permits issued to foreign workers plugging gaps in the workforce will not be renewed....

No climate of fear in Fiji: Bainimarama.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ---- There is no fear of threats in Fiji because police, supported by the military have things under control, says interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama, reports Fiji Live. Commodore Bainimarama...

Top Australian aid official visit PNG.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Australias parliamentary secretary for international development assistance Bob McMullen will be in Papua New Guinea (PNG) from today through Wednesday to hold talks on the Australia-PNG development...

Cook Islands PM denies MP allowance increase.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) ----- Cook Islands Prime Minister Jim Marurai has completely denying that his government was discussing increases to the allowances of MPs last week. But his ministers are not singing the same tune, and...

Strategies for adding value to local foods in Pacific nations.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 SYDNEY (Pacnews) ------In the midst of global economic crises and escalating food prices, Pacific leaders are meeting in Parramatta, Australia this week to recommend strategies for Pacific Island consumers to get the most...

Four school boys die in horror car crash in Tonga.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) ----- Tongas police commander says speed was the key factor in a road accident on Tongatapu in which four teenage boys were killed last Friday afternoon, reports Radio New Zealand international. Chris...

Overseas votes could make big difference in New Zealand election.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ------ The overseas vote has a history of changing New Zealand election outcomes, a new paper from Oxford University says, NZ Herald reports . With overseas enrolments running at 28 per cent up this...

New tuna facility to benefit Solomons community.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ------- The Solomon Islands Government has signed an accord with landowners on the setting up of a tuna loin factory at Tenaru in Central Guadalcanal, reports Radio Australia. Fisheries Minister Nollen...

Vanuatu looks north to increase tourist numbers, call for government to step in to keep bus fares down.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ----- Vanuatus trade minister, James Bule says the country is aiming to more than treble the annual number of tourists visiting the country, Radio New Zealand International reports . The industry is...

Niue public servants prepare to move into new administration building.
November 3, 2008... 03 NOVEMBER 2008 ALOFI (Pacnews) ---- A new US$2 million public service administration building for Niue has been opened, reports Radio New Zealand International . It was built with aid money from France and New Zealand and will house up...

Landslide UN vote in favour of Arms Trade Treaty.
November 3, 2008... Control Arms campaign demands urgent move to end the carnage. 03 NOVEMBER 2008 NEW YORK (Pacnews) ------ On Friday (31 Oct)147 states at the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to move forward with work on an Arms Trade Treaty. The Control...

Sky war starts in PNG.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Competition in Papua New Guineas (PNG) aviation industry is at full throttle with the government looking at bringing in another international airline Sky Air World next month. This was revealed...

Fiji back in the Forum Joint Working Group.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- Fiji will meet with the Pacific Islands Forum's Joint Working Group on Thursday (06 Oct ) since pulling out in June, reports The Fiji Times. Fijis foreign affairs permanent secretary Ratu Isoa Gavidi...

French Parliament scraps over-pensions scheme in overseas territories.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 PARIS (Pacnews) ----- The French National Assembly has endorsed a bill that will eventually scrap provisions that for the past 55 years, have allowed French public servants retiring in French Overseas countries and territories...

Health setbacks affect millennium goals.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- It will be difficult to achieve national health goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, without greater and more effective investment in health systems and services, reports The...

Fiji heading for power shedding.
November 4, 2008... Reports from Islands Business online. 04 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- Pray for rain. That was the request from the Fiji Electricity Authority ( FEA) as it announced a big possibility of power shedding within the next three weeks as...

Election season in Pacific.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) -----As the worlds attention is focused on the U.S presidential elections, a number of Pacific Island communities are also going to the polls, Radio Australia reports . Elections are being held in the...

Forum special representative to Solomon Islands secure job with UN.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ------Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat representative to Solomon Islands, Dr Lesi Korovavala has landed a lucrative job with the United Nations. PACNEWS has been informed Dr Korovavala has joined the...

Sports legends run on for National in NZ election.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) -----All Black legend Michael Jones could have been a National MP, but turned down leader John Key's offer of a high list placing for family reasons, reports NZ Herald . But the Iceman still cometh for...

Vanuatu hails NZ workers scheme.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ----- The Vanuatu Government says the guest worker scheme with New Zealand is so successful that charter flights have been organised to get the workers to and from their seasonal fruit picking jobs overseas....

Media promulgation to be ready by December.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ---- Fijis interim government says the work on the media promulgation is well underway and government expects to have a draft document ready by December this year. Deputy secretary for Information Major Neumi...

Australia unveils K250m plan for PNG.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ------ Australian parliamentary secretary for international development assistance, Bob McMullen, yesterday announced a K250 million (US$95 million) Australian Government initiative to support communities...

Australian found guilty of killing wife.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- Fijis High Court has found Australian Simon McCartney guilty of the murder of his Indo-Fijian wife Ashika last October, reports Fiji Live. The five assessors in the case, returned with a unanimous...

Coast Guard team seizes illegal loot in Cook Islands EEZ.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 HONOLULU (Pacnews) ----- United States Coast Guard boarding team members seized 15 pounds of shark fins aboard a fishing vessel in the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on Friday, reports Cook Islands News. A Cook...

$1.29 million to host Pacific Youth Festival next year.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ---- Fijis ministry of Youth and Sports has asked the countrys finance ministry for $1.2million to host the Pacific Youth Festival next year. Interim minister for youth Filipe Bole said the amount would cater...

Cook Islands Hilton project now turns to demolition.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) ---- The Vaimaanga Hilton Rarotonga Resort developers JVCI Ltd are hoping to get environmental approval this month to begin work on the revised project now estimated to be costing $50 million (US$29.3...

Greenpeace ramps up whales activities in Japan.
November 4, 2008... 04 NOVEMBER 2008 TOKYO (Pacnews) ------ After 30 years and nine expeditions Greenpeace announced today the next phase of its campaign to end lethal whaling by ramping up its activities in Japan. Ending the political prosecution of two...

Democrats look to retain their majority in Guam.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 HAGATNA (Pacnews) ---- With about half of the ballots counted from yesterday's General Election, Democrats were poised to retain the majority in the Guam Legislature and voters were strongly opposed to an initiative to legalize...

Palau votes for new president.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 KOROR (Pacnews) ----- Voters in the Pacific Island of Palau are selecting their new president - facing a choice between a U.S military veteran or a lawyer. With President Tommy Remengesau stepping down after his second...

PM Clark optimistic of NZ election victory.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ------ New Zealand's prime minister, Helen Clark, says she is confident she can win this weekend's election, despite trailing in the polls, Radio Australia reports . PM Clark said she is the country's...

84 illegal miners from China caught in PNG.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- A joint special operation with officers from the Labour and Foreign Affairs departments and members of the Trans-National Crime unit detained 84 Chinese at the Ramu nickel mine, in Madang Province....

American Samoa seeks veto power.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) ------ Voters in the U.S. territory of American Samoa will decide Tuesday whether to give their elected representatives the power to override vetoes, reports AP. The ballot question will ask whether the...

Self-censorship concerns subsiding, says Fiji Media council.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ------ Debate has resurfaced in Fiji about how much pressure is now being brought to bear on those who oppose the ruling regime, reports Radio New Zealand International. A former Fiji Law Society President ,...

Culture key to successful development strategies.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 LONDON (Pacnews) ------ Civil society is calling for issues of culture to be integrated into development plans and policies if countries are committed to reaching and going beyond Millennium Development goal targets, according...

Protest march for Samoan Associate minister schedule for next week.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ----- A march to protest the arrest of Samoan Associate Minister Hans Joachim Keil in the United States is scheduled for Monday, 10 November, reports Samoan Observer. Veterans of the United States military in...

Study tells truth on the HIV/AIDS in PNG.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) -----A study has shown that people living with HIV/AIDS were not spreading the virus but those who do not know their status were scattering the disease, Post Courier reports . This was revealed by...

USP cuts back on courses.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- The University of the South Pacific (USP) plans to delete 98 courses which it believes have been undersubscribed for many years, reports The Fiji Times. USPVice-Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra said...

800 civil servants jobs in Fiji to go.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ---- Eight hundred civil servants posts in Fiji have been identified by Public Service Commission (PSC) for disestablishment, Fiji Times reports . PSC chairman Rishi Ram said restructure of the 800...

WTO head Lamy seeks new term in office.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 GENEVA (Pacnews) ----- World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Pascal Lamy has confirmed he would seek another four-year term heading the international agency, reports BBC. In a letter to the WTO council, Mr Lamy said he...

New Zealand contribution to Tokelau Trust Fund.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ----- New Zealand is contributing $15 million (US$9 million) this financial year to the Tokelau International Trust Fund, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today. The funding comes from the backline...

200 years history shattered, America elects first African President.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 WASHINGTON (Pacnews) ---- A historical vote in the United States, with the election of a first African American to become the 44th President. Barack Obama, 47 and one term senator from Illinois, shattered 200 years of...

U.S ambassador to Fiji wows to work with Pacific.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- United States new ambassador to Fiji and four other Pacific Island Countries, Steve McGann says he is ready to serve his term, despite the fact that his appointment was made by a Republican President. ...

PNG liquefied natural gas project safe PM Somare.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says Papua New Guineas first liquefied natural gas, PNG LNG Project, will survive the current global financial crisis, Post Courier reports....

Samoas deputy prime minister says dropping air route would raise costs.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ----- A decision by the Cook Islands to stop subsidising a direct flight to Los Angeles may be behind Air New Zealands demand for a subsidy from Samoa and Tonga to continue the weekly Nukalofa, Apia, Los Angeles...

Australian jailed for life for mudering his wife.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ---- Fijis High Court has sentenced Australian, Simon McCartney to life imprisonment after been found guilty of murdering his wife Ashika Lata, reports Fiji Tines online. High Court judge Justice Daniel...

New UN forum to promote better energy policies in Asia-Pacific region.
November 5, 2008... 05 NOVEMBER 2008 BANGKOK (Pacnews) ------- The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) today launched a new forum to try to develop energy policies across the region that are more gender and...

Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin re-elected in American Samoa.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 PAGOPAGO (Pacnews) ------ American Samoas Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin has been re-elected to an 11th term as American Samoas delegate to Congress winning over seven thousand ballots. Aumua Amata received 4,349 and...

Samoa PM supports Fijis political dialogue process.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ---- Samoan Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi is supportive of the political dialogue process as a way forward for Fiji. He also has committed Samoas assistance and support to the consensus...

Conference hears nutrition biggest Pacific killer.(Conference news)
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 SYDNEY(Pacnews)---- A conference under way in Australia has heard that undernutrition and overnutrition are now the biggest killers in the Pacific. Representatives from 22 Pacific island states and territories are...

Foreign firms must comply with PNG laws: Abal.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) -----Foreign companies must comply with Papua New Guinea foreign affairs, Trade and Immigrations Minister Sam Abal said yesterday, reports Post Courier. Whether they are minor or major laws, foreign...

Tonga, Palau, Nauru encouraged to ratify CEDAW.
November 6, 2008... Reports from Matangi Tonga. 06 NOVEMBER 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) ------Three Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, that have not yet ratified the United nations CEDAW - Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination...

Forum / Fiji joint working group agreed to consider possible revision on terms of reference.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- The Pacific Islands Forum/Fiji joint working group has agreed to possible revision of the terms of reference proposed by the island nations interim government. The Group in todays meeting discussed...

PNG Somare to brief Australian PM Rudd on Fiji.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 SYDNEY (Pacnews) ----- Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Michael Somare will brief Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd on the Fiji situation when the pair meet in Sydney on Thursday. Sir Michael Somare is in Australia on...

PNG congratulates Obama on victory.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ------ The Papua New Guinea Government (PNG) has congratulated Barack Obama on his historic election as the 44th president of the United States, reports The National. PNGs foreign minister Sam Abal...

Vote of no confidence plans in Samoa.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ----- A senior opposition MP in Samoa has revealed a planned vote of no confidence against the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) party before it tables its third financial year budget for the current...

Tongan crash highlights need for road safety: police.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) ----- Tonga's police commissioner, Chris Kelly, says a weekend crash which killed four school boys, highlights the need for better road security in the country. Six teenagers were travelling home from...

Australia wants greater Asia Pacific engagement for Obama.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 CANBERRA (Pacnews) ----- The Australian Government says it will press the U. President-elect Barack Obama to make the Asia Pacific region a priority for his administration, reports Radio Australia. Australian foreign...

Fiji got to accept changes: Qarase.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fijis deposed Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase believes that indigenous Fijians have to accept changes someday and nominate other races to be Prime Minister or President of the country. Speaking to...

New Zealanders tip National to seize power: poll.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ---- Close to half of all New Zealanders believe there will be a change of government after this weekend's election, a poll out Thursday shows, reports AAP. The Herald-DigiPoll of 700 people published...

Australia to help train PNG workers for gas project.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Australia has agreed to help train Papua New Guineans to meet the enormous labour demand for the proposed LNG project, reports The National. The agreement was one of the outcomes of a visit to...

Iran to cover airfares for students to Cuba: report.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ----Solomon Islands Government is believed to have accepted an offer by Iran to meet the travel costs for Solomon Islands medical students studying in Cuba, reports Solomon Star. Iran made the offer in...

Japan, ADB to Promote Natural Catastrophe Risk Mechanisms for Asia and Pacific.
November 6, 2008... 06 NOVEMBER 2008 MANILA (Pacnews) ----- Japan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have committed to promote programs that develop natural catastrophe risk insurance and reinsurance mechanisms in the Asia and Pacific region. The commitment...

Final New Zealand poll gives it to Key - and his allies.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ----- There will be a change of government after tomorrow's election in New Zealand if the Herald-DigiPoll survey taken in the closing days of the campaign is translated to votes. It shows National...

Toribiong maintains narrow lead in Palau presidential election.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 KOROR (Pacnews) -----Palaus Presidential candidate Johnson Toribiong and running mate Kerai Mariur were still leading by 199 votes as of 5pm. yesterday with some 1,400 absentee ballots from Guam and Hawaii yet to be tabulated,...

Writs issued for Bougainville President by-elections.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 BUKA (Pacnews) --- By-election in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville for the President and Ramu seats started formally yesterday when Speaker Nick Peniai signed and issued the writs, reports Post Courier. Acting...

Forum group to decide Fijis fate.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- Fijis status in the Pacific Islands Forum will be decided after a visit by the Forum Ministerial Contact Group soon, says Australian High Commissioner James Batley. Mr Batley told Fijilive that Fijis...

Pacific Ministers Health Meeting.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 NADI (Pacnews) ------Health Ministers, senior government delegates from over 14 Pacific Island Countries, members of the Diplomatic Missions and the United Nations system have gathered in Nadi for the second Pacific Ministers...

Johnson Toribiong wins Palau presidential Race.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 KOROR (Pacnews) ----- Former diplomat and attorney Johnson Toribiong and running mate Kerai Mariur have won Palaus presidential race by 216 votes. Mr Toribiong early this morning told Pacific Magazine that he received a...

Futuna crowns a new King.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 MATAUTU (Pacnews) ----- The tiny kingdom of Futuna, which belongs to the French Wallis and Futuna islands has on formally crowned a new King after the position was left vacant in February this year, Oceania Flash reports. ...

Islanders to gain representation after NZ election.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ---- New Zealand will have at least one Pacific representative after this weekend's election, with all the main parties' candidates in the Polynesian dominated electorate of Mangere having Pacific origins....

PNG PM defends Australian property purchase.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, says he has nothing to hide over property purchases made by him and his son in Australia over the past two years. PNGs Ombudsman...

Tiny Pacific island to get internet connection.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 SWAIN (Pacnews) ---- One of the most remote islands in the Pacific is about to be connected to the internet. Swain's island, which lies between American Samoa and Tokelau, has a population of fewer than 40 people. It...

American Samoa governor candidates face election run-off.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) ----- Voters in US-administered American Samoa face another trip to the polls in two weeks after elections to select a governor failed to produce a clear winner, reports AFP. Under the territory's...

NZ taxpayers fund Solomon Islands houses.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ---- New Zealand taxpayers are providing 34 new houses for Solomon Islands police to replace the Island's existing barracks, reports TVNZ. The Government's NZAid arm on Friday announced the building...

French court throws out challenges to French Polynesian senate election.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 PARIS (Pacnews) ---- The French constitutional council has rejected all challenges to the re-election of Gaston Flosse as French Polynesias member of the French senate, reports Radio New Zealand International. Several...

Poachers massacre fruit bats on Rota.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 SAIPAN (Pacnews) ------ The CNMI's Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) raised alarm yesterday over the declining number of Mariana fruit bats on Rota due to illegal hunting, reports Saipan Tribune. DFW biologists estimated...

French State Secretary for Overseas on Pacific tour next week.
November 7, 2008... 07 NOVEMBER 2008 PARIS (Pacnews) ------ French State Secretary for Overseas Yves Jgo will embark on a Pacific tour next week, when he will visit Australia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna. Oceania Flash reports his four-day trip will...

New Zealand Prime Minister elect John Key moves quickly to form government.
November 10, 2008... 10 NOVEMBER 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ----- New Zealand Prime Minister elect John Key has set a tight deadline for forming his new government and he's starting work on it on Monday, reports TVNZ. National leader and soon to be prime...