PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from September 2003

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from September 2003

US$40 million per year in loans earmarked for Fiji.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 MANILA (Pacnews) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans an annual lending programme to Fiji of US$40 million over the next three years, says the ADB's Country Strategy and Programme (CSP) Update for 2004-2006. ADB will...

Samoa's first police contingent to join RAMSI.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoa's Cabinet has approved of the country's first police contingent to join the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), scheduled to depart for Solomon Islands on Friday 5 September 2003. ...

Big island braces for storm.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - As Hurricane Jimena moves closer to the southern tip of Hawaii, Big Island civil authorities are preparing for action and asking residents to do the same. In expectation of dangerous surf conditions,...

Procedure guidelines to help Land Tribunals Act implementation.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu's office of the Lands Tribunal has launched the Administrative Procedure Guidelines for customary land tribunals as a step towards proper implementation of the Land Tribunals Act. The...

Plan to turn secondary school into university.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Plans are underway to turn Waimapuru Secondary School on Makira Islands in Solomon Islands' Makira-Ulawa Province into a university. Principal of the school Sunil Datt revealed the plans during the...

French aquatic park to offer French Polynesia theme.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- An aquatic activities and discovery park devoted to French Polynesia could open in 2005 in the southern French city of Avignon if plans go ahead. Announced plans call for a budget of US$336 million....

PACNEWS SPECIAL: Reports from Forum Island Countries media team in China.
September 1, 2003... China cracks down on "dubious and illegal" operators interested in investing in the Pacific 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 BEIJING (Pacnews) - China has stepped up measures to prevent "dubious" and "illegal" business interests from investing in Pacific...

Fiji's president visits China.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 BEIJING (Pacnews) --- Fiji's president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo will arrive in Beijing this evening for an eight day official visit. While nothing much has been revealed about his itinerary for security reasons, PACNEWS has...

Regional Ombudsmen conference begins in PNG.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Ombudsmen from the Pacific and beyond will begin a two-day conference in Madang Papua New Guinea, today. Hosted by the Papua New Guinea Ombudsman Commission at Madang, the 21st meeting of the...

Tonga's visitor arrivals continue to rise.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - There has been an increase in visitor arrivals into the country during the past five months compared to the same period last year. A total of 12,579 visitors arrived in Tonga over the past five...

Cultural Heritage Month celebrated in CNMI.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - The people of Northern Marianas have dedicated this month to celebrating their cultural heritage. They are targeting primary and high school students, who will be taught some of the Pacific nation's...

Human rights workshop identifies issues of concern.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - Delegates at a human rights workshop in Noumea last week identified domestic violence, the rights of illegitimate children, divorce, aid to people with disabilities, customary laws and the changing...

Meeting to review SARS outbreak and other infectious diseases.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Public health professionals from the Pacific islands will meet in Suva this week to review Pacific island experience of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak and to plan further developments...

Death issues raised.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 ALOFI (Pacnews) - The lack of inquests held into deaths on Niue has prompted leading independent MP Terry Coe to question the country's Police Minister and Justice Fisa Pihigia and Police Chief, John Satini Tohovaka. Mr...

PM Qarase adamant on his offer to Chaudhry.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, is adamant his offer to Mahendra Chaudhry's Fiji Labour Party (FLP) is genuine and is his final solution for the way forward for Fiji. Speaking at the opening of...

Lake Rotoiti chokes in an algal grip.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 WELLNGTON (Pacnews) - In the mid-1990s, Rotoiti was the most heavily fished lake in New Zealand. Bagging a 7kg trout was not uncommon. Last summer the average size was just 2kg. The cause of the rapid decline - algae -...

Philippines boasts new dual-citizenship law.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - A new law that allows dual citizenship for Filipinos who have immigrated to other countries provides "the best of both worlds" according to the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, Hawaii. ...

US ambassador to Samoa to intercede in visa interview row.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 APIA (Pacnews) - The United States Ambassador to Samoa, Charles Swindell says he will look into a new policy demanding that applicants for US visas be interviewed in New Zealand. Travellers to the US are complaining about...

Weapons allegedly found in Kili's possession during his arrest.
September 1, 2003... 01 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) may have had its first encounter with people who have not handed in weapons in their possession, before the lapse of the weapons amnesty on 21...

PACNEWS SPECIAL: Reports from Forum Island Countries media team in China.
September 1, 2003... Fiji soon to be recognised as a destination for Chinese tourists BEIJING, CHINA --- Fiji's ambassador to China, Luke Ratuvuki is optimistic that Fiji will soon be recognised as a destination for Chinese tourists. While it takes almost ten years...

PNG's auditor general could be sacked if allegations proven.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's auditor general, Mark Wani, will face dismissal from his position if the Leadership Tribunal finds that allegations against him are valid. The Ombudsman Commission alleges...

Pacific Islands' scholarship for governance.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - The Australian Government will establish a scholarship programme for senior public servants in the Pacific islands to study at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. The Pacific Islands...

Tahiti's Assembly approves proposed sanctions for flag dishonouring.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- The French Polynesia Assembly has approved a proposed six-month imprisonment and a fine of 894,950 French Pacific francs (US$8,136) as penalty for dishonouring the territory's symbols, such as its flag....

RAMSI out to capture police officer charged for murder.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is planning an operation to capture the police officer charged for the murder of former police commissioner, the late Sir Frederick Soaki early...

Three new medical centres as health launches overhaul.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- New medical centres are to be built on Mitiaro, Mauke and Manihiki as part of an effort to upgrade healthcare in the Cook Islands. The Health Department is funding the work, which will cost more...

Air New Zealand records full-year report.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - The Pacific's largest airline, Air New Zealand has announced a significant profit completing a remarkable turnaround from its last financial year but the airline says its long-term survival is still...

Fiji Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, outlines Fiji's positive business and investment climate at Australia/Fiji Business Forum.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 NADI, FIJI - Fiji Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase's traditional state of the nation address went to political leaders and senior business representatives from Australia and Fiji yesterday instead of executives of the Fiji...

Pacific Ombudsman representatives told to monitor leaders' behaviour.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 MADANG (Pacnews) - Ombudsman representatives from all over the Pacific have been told to monitor and report on the behaviour of leaders in their respective countries. Addressing the Ombudsman representatives at their...

Health officials concern about increase of antibiotic-resistant staph in Pacific islands.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - Hawaiian state and federal health authorities are seeking input from Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific island residents to learn why antibiotic-resistant staph infections are increasing in those groups. ...

Island governments to watch fraud.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - A meeting of the anti corruption watchdog group, Transparency International, has been told that fraudulent governments of the south Pacific are threatening the stability and development of the area. ...

Marshall Islands' quarterly bulletin reveals CPI.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 MAJURO (Pacnews) - Consumer prices in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) rose by almost half a percent during the last quarter, according to the Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics for 3rd Quarter, published 27 August,...

Latest census shows over 245,000-strong population.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia's population now stands at over 245,000, latest statistics released last week show. According to the French territory's statistical institute ISPF, the new figure (245,516 precisely),...

Pro-independence FLNKS admits differences within.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONI --- New Caledonia's pro-independence movement, the FLNKS, has admitted differences within its several party components, but has urged members to stay united to ensure the French territory's institutional...

Rising tension in Timika a cause for concern in West Papua.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 JAKARTA (Pacnews) - Two migrants were beaten to death in Timika, West Papua last night after unknown attackers pounced on a group of seven people. The other five are reported to be critically ill in hospital and those...

Wewak tuna plant opening soon: Negints.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 WEWAK (Pacnews) - A grand opening for what's billed the south Pacific's largest canned fish project, the multi-million kina Wewak Tuna loining facility, is expected at the end of this year after construction work is completed...

Absence of screeners might defer first direct international flight.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Northern Marianas' much-awaited first direct international flight might not go ahead after all, due to the absence of screeners at the Tinian Airport. Carlos Salas, executive director of the Commonwealth...

New complex for Vanuatu's Ministry of Education.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu's Ministry of Education officials are now working in a new complex funded under the European Union/Vanuatu Education Development (EUVED) programme. Built by a local construction company and...

Crisis Corps volunteers help rebuild island state of Chuuk.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 WASHINGTON, D.C (Pacnews) - United States Peace Corp volunteers are helping the people of Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in rebuilding various environmental infrastructure following a storm. A...

Jimena downgraded to tropical storm.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONOLULU (Pacnews) --- Hurricane Jimena weakened and was downgraded to a tropical storm on Monday morning, Hawaii time, and so far has caused no serious damage on the Big Island, police and fire officials reported. ...

For Savai'i's enterprising women, loans offer rare opportunity.
September 2, 2003... 02 SEPTEMBER 2003 SAVAI'I, SAMOA - Starting up a small business in the Pacific is difficult, as land is communally held and cannot be used as collateral. It is even more daunting on the volcanic, largely rural island of Savai'i, which, though...

USDA provides over US$600,000 for rural economic development in the western Pacific.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 HILO (Pacnews) --- Hawaii State Director for Rural Development, Lorraine P. Shin announced the selection of 15 projects in economically distressed communities in the western Pacific that will receive $648,356 in Community...

Medical team assessing malaria outbreak in Bougainville after 31 reported deaths.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 BOUGAINVILLE (Pacnews) --- The United Nations Mission on Bougainville (UNMOB) says a medical team is now in the Panguna area to assess a severe malaria epidemic which has reportedly killed 31 people. Clement Bireo from...

Solomon islands has potential in its coconut industry.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- There is potential for Solomon Islands to increase its coconut industry earnings of between $36 million - $50 million (US$4.781 - $6.64 million) annually by 50 percent. Minister for Commerce,...

Distress call from ship south of French Polynesia.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- A distress call has been received from a boat carrying 22 people in waters south of the Polynesian archipelago. The ship is near the island of Rimatara, some 600 km south-west of Tahiti. On...

Police investigate whale shooting.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Top government ministers have met with police and marine resources officials after shocking reports that a fishing vessel had shot at a whale off the coast of Rarotonga. And police have begun the...

Launch of guide on media education in the Pacific.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 NADI (Pacnews) --- Some 20 educators from 16 Pacific islands nations met in Nadi, Fiji this week to launch the "Media Education in the Pacific: A Guide for Secondary School Teachers" and to learn skills and strategies on how...

Air NZ slashes fares to Auckland.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- Air New Zealand has announced new low cost airfares from Rarotonga - just days after Royal Tongan Airlines began flying to Cook Islands. Hoteliers and tourist industry officials had hoped the...

Number of guns reaches 3,850.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The total number of guns collected and confiscated under the destruction of arms and weapons programme carried out by the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI, had now reached 3,850. ...

Problems providing homestead lots for indigenous population.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- Only seven percent or about 3,000 to 4,000 hectares of public lands on Saipan remain undistributed, posing a problem to the Marianas Public Lands Authority (MPLA) which has to provide the growing...

Deadline a month away for Compact renewal.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 MAJURO (Pacnews) --- The United States' Congress has "a very short window" to enact legislation for the reauthorisation of the Compact of Free Association, as amended with the Marshall Islands and Federated States of...

Pro-independence groups call for Australian intervention.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Pro-independence groups in West Papua have issued an urgent call for immediate assistance from Australia to help stop escalating violence in the Indonesian province, Radio Australia's Asia Pacific...

Samoa PM calls for media ethics code.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele, said Samoa's media should set down a code of ethics and establish a committee to oversee compliance. He used his keynote address at celebrations to mark the...

Papua New Guinea PM tells Downer to stay at home.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, angered by Canberra's new tough love policy, has rebuffed Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's plans to visit PNG next week. The snub...

US Diversity Immigration Visa Lottery Programme applications go on line.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) - US officials today announced what they called "a very important change in the rules" in the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Lottery Programme application format. Applications for DV, commonly known as the...

Hawaiian rights march is scheduled for Sunday.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - A coalition of native Hawaiians is planning a "March for Justice" in Waikiki on Sunday "in response to attacks on Hawaiian rights." Vicky Holt Takamine, head of the sponsoring 'Ilio'ulaokalani...

Fiji visas on sale.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) - Some Asian business people are obtaining entry visas to Fiji by bypassing the Fiji Embassy and the Pacific Islands Forum Trade Office in Beijing, the Daily Post reports. "This could be the loophole used by...

League duo absent from final Tonga squad.
September 3, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Planet Rugby has revealed that New Zealand-based star Rugby League duo, Lesley Vainikolo and Tevita Vaikona, have not been included in Tonga's 30-man squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, having...

Three dead, four missing in territorial ferry tragedy.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) -Tahiti-based French Army personnel are combing the sea off Rimatara and Rurutu Islands in a major search operation for four people missing at sea after an inter-island ferry sank this week. They are...

Government set to eradicate poverty: PM.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, says his government wants to eradicate poverty and set a target of bringing it down by at least five per cent a year. "This is to be achieved not merely through...

Japan gives more help to health ministry.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The Japanese Government this week handed over 54 microscopes to senior staff of Solomon Islands Malaria Training Institute, (SIMTRI) building complex to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. ...

New media journal makes debut in New Zealand.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) - Auckland's University of Technology (AUT) has become the new hub of Pacific Journalism Review (PJR), a journal critically examining the media industry in the Asia-Pacific region. The redesigned and...

Hundreds need rescuing in Roughwater Swim.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONOLULU (Pacnews) ---Hawaii's premier long-distance swim lived up to its reputation when treacherous currents forced rescuers to pull at least 260 participants from the 34th annual Waikiki Roughwater Swim on Tuesday. 947...

Big Busting Tongan to miss RWC 2003 for Wallabies.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Big busting Tongan Wallaby, Toutai Kefu's Rugby World Cup dreams came to an abrupt and cruel on Tuesday, when it was revealed that he has been ruled out of the global showpiece, to be staged in Australia...

Regional health officials to strategise on Pacific health programmes.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - Health officials, educators, workers, policy-makers and community advocates from all over the Pacific islands will gather in Fiji next week for the annual Pasifika Medical Association (PMA). The...

Tonga parliament delays second reading of proposed constitutional amendments.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - The People's Representatives in the Tongan Legislative Assembly have won more time to try and convince the government to drop plans to change the constitution. The planned amendments, which would...

Pacific water experts to join Oceania colleagues at annual conference.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - Members of one of the Pacific Islands' largest organisations, Pacific Water Association (PWA) will join their Oceania counterparts in the New Zealand city of Auckland next month for their annual...

China reiterates stance on reunification with Taiwan.
September 4, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 SHANGHAI (Pacnews) --- China has reiterated its plea to Pacific Island countries (PICs) to respect its position on its reunification with Taiwan. The Vice Minister for Taiwan Affairs in the Chinese Government, Mr Mingwei...

Commonwealth SG visits Abuja for 2003 CHOGM preparation.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 ABUJA(Pacnews) - Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon visited Nigeria this week with President Olusegun Obasanjo and Foreign Minister Olu Adeniji to discuss preparations for and issues relating to the Commonwealth Heads...

PACNEWS DIGEST - The views expressed in PACNEWS DIGEST are those of agencies contributing articles and not necessarily those of PIBA and/or PACNEWS.
September 4, 2003... Tongoa makes history as water gushes through TONGOA, VANUATU --- How appropriate that Kurumabe village in Tongoa should be the first village on the island to use a permanent water supply system; after all, the village has always been the...

Evicted Wallisians claim "ethnic cleansing" at work in Saint Louis.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- Ethnic Wallisians and Futunians, who have been evicted from the village of Saint Louis, near New Caledonia's capital Noumea, have hired a lawyer to defend what they claim is "ethnic cleansing" at work in...

Unpaid fee worry Solomon Islands USP students association.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The president of the Solomon Islands Student Association (SISA) at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva, Fiji, Samson Faisi, is concerned about the future of 124 first year Solomon Island...

Palau to host meeting of Micronesia leaders.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 KOROR (Pacnews) - Palau's President, Tommy Remengesau says his country will host a summit meeting this month of leaders of island-nations in Micronesia. Radio Australia says the leaders will review economic progress in...

$143 m development for Fiji's coral coast.
September 4, 2003... 03 SEPTEMBER 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) - One of the country's most "dramatically beautiful and diverse environments" - Natadola Beach on the country's famous Coral Coast - may soon undergo its first phase of development worth almost FJD$143 million...

China prepares for world exposition in 2010.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 SHANGHAI (Pacnews) --- Preparations have begun in China for the 2010 World Exposition to be hosted by the southern city of Shanghai. China was given the nod ahead of Russia, Korea, Mexico and Poland. Vice Chairman of...

Kava industry seeking more scientific backing over safety of kava.
September 4, 2003... 04 SEPTEMBER 2003 PACIFIC (Pacnews) --- Stake holders in the kava industry want independent evaluation of research they have showing there are no health dangers from the product. Many western countries have banned kava and kava products...

World Bank puts breaks on FCP.
September 5, 2003... 05 SEPTEMBER 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The World Bank has suspended its $US7million Forestry and Conservation Project (FCP) in Papua New Guinea. A statement released from the World Bank office in Sydney, Australia, said the Bank...

Higher Education College urges SI Govt to pay debt.
September 5, 2003... 05 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The director of Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE) has highlighted the imbalance in priority the government places on educational institutions like SICHE. Gabriel Taloikwai made his...

Projected state revenues jump.
September 5, 2003... 05 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONOLU (Pacnews) - An extra US$35.9 million in anticipated income brings calls for more funding for education in Hawaii. Modest growth in the economy will increase the projected size of the state treasury, according to...

Commonwealth SG special envoy to monitor Tonga.
September 5, 2003... 05 SEPTEMBER 2003 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - It's still unclear when a former New Zealand Cabinet Minister will take up his appointment as commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon's special envoy in Tonga. Mr McKinnon had appointed former...

Aussie to head Fiji Military review.
September 5, 2003... 05 SEPTEMBER 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) - An Australian national security adviser has been appointed to lead a three member team that will conduct Fiji's national and defense review. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Lowry is being funded by the...

Marshall Islands nuclear victims protest at US embassy.
September 5, 2003... 05 SEPTEMBER 2003 MAJURO (Pacnews) --- Victims of US nuclear weapons tests in the Marshall Islands have demonstrated outside the US embassy in Majuro. They have called on the US to continue funding health care, nuclear clean-up and...

Academic calls to control sex industry.
September 5, 2003... 05 SEPTEMBER 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- The illegal sex industry is increasing in Papua New Guinea and must be controlled in order to work out ways to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, a top academic has said. The statement was made by...

Guadalcanal leaders meeting.
September 5, 2003... 05 SEPTEMBER 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- A Guadalcanal Leaders Summit is underway in the Solomons capital, Honiara. Chairman of the summit, Honourable Ephrem Limani Kua confirmed to SIBC News that the focus of the meeting is to look at all...

New Caledonia's president to lead delegation to Australia.
September 5, 2003... 05 SEPTEMBER 2003 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- New Caledonia's President Pierre Frogier will lead a six-member delegation from the French National Assembly to Australia next week, the French embassy stated in a release yesterday. During their five-day...