PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from September 2004

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from September 2004

Negotiations for economic partnership with EU to be launched later this month.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fourteen Pacific Island states, who are members of the African, Caribbean and the Pacific Group, will launch Phase II negotiations next week on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union...

Sir Michael supports call for death penalty.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- "I am embarrassed for Papua New Guinea," Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare declared on Monday (30 Aug) regarding the country's worsening culture of sexual violence against women and children. ...

Terror fears hang over Australian election.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) ---A former U.S. presidential adviser has warned Australia is at increased risk of a Spanish-style attack ahead of the October 9 election, citing the opposition's plan to withdraw troops from Iraq. ...

HIV voluntary tests to be introduced.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands health ministry will soon establish a new HIV confidential voluntary testing system to be known as 'voluntary counselling and testing' system. The ministry's HIV Technical Advisor Dr...

Former FSM speaker resigns, gets lighter sentence.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 HONOLULU (Pacnews) --- Long-time Chuuk lawmaker and former Speaker Jack S. Fritz has resigned his seat in the Federated States of Micronesia Congress, avoiding the brunt of his conviction last month on multiple felony counts...

Pig hunter finds WW 11 wreckage.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - A villager in the hinterlands of Fiji's main island, Viti Levu, last weekend found what is believed to be a World War Two wreckage. The villager, from Naivucini Village, in Naitasiri Province, an hour's...

Brokers break Telecom deal.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's Minister for Trade and Industry, Paul Tiensten, has said that a partly-Fiji-owned Amalgamated Telikom Holdings (ATH) is a "strong contender" for the 30-percent stake at Telikom Papua New...

Tongan King expected to settle row over resignations of three ministers.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) --- An Opposition MP in Tonga says politicians are waiting for the return of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV to settle a dispute which has seen three ministers sacked. Akilisi Pohiva says the prime minister,...

Trial of former university founder begins in Saipan.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- More than 20 former students of the defunct Saipan University gathered outside the U.S. District Court in Saipan yesterday (31 Aug) to show their support to the government's position that the university...

Archaelogical find in Vanuatu may shed light on earliest Pacific peoples.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- An Australian archaeologist says the discovery of 13 skeletons just outside Port Vila in Vanuatu may be the most significant site in the region. Matthew Spriggs says it's believed the burial site...

Guam to cut down anti-brwon tree snake activities.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 HAGATNA (Pacnews) --- Guam is to cut anti-brown tree snake activities to prevent the exit of brown tree snakes at two military ports on Guam. According to a statement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant...

PIRA executives to meet over financial state.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Executives of the financially-troubled Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) will meet in Suva, Fiji tomorrow (02 Sept) to iron out some of the financial difficulties the Alliance faced following the players'...

Media Operator's Act invalid, say plaintiffs.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - The lawyer for over 100 Tongans who took the government to court for imposing the controversial media laws has challenged the Tongan Government on the legality of the law. Submitting a 77-page...

US$2 billion Pacific tuna fisheries in trouble.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The Pacific Ocean, the world's largest tuna fishery, is under threat from over-fishing and pirate fishing, according to new information collected by Greenpeace. A Greenpeace tour of some of the richest...

FSM programme to focus on good governance in 2005 - 2006.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 MANILA (Pacnews) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will promote good governance in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) through technical assistance grants, according to a Country Strategy and Programme (CSP) Update for...

SPREP annual meeting geared up for Tahiti.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- At least 100 delegates from 25-member states of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) are expected in French Polynesia in two weeks' time for the organisations' annual meeting. The...

Malaysia donates to flood victims.
September 1, 2004... 01 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Malaysia's High Commissioner to Fiji, Dr Fauziah Mohd Taib, last night donated a USD$10, 000 cheque to the Fiji Government to assist victims of the recent flash floods. Dr Fauziah said the donation was...

New Zealand University to study Vanuatu Lapita find.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) --- A University of Otago researcher may be about to unravel the mysteries shrouding Vanuatu's first human settlers by analysing the 3000-year-old headless remains unearthed in the South Pacific's oldest...

PNG has lost direction, lacks political will: MP.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's Internal Security Minister, Bire Kimisopa says his country has lost direction because of lack of political stability, fiscal management and capacity in the public service. ...

Controversial census begins in New Caledonia.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- A controversial and belated census has begun in New Caledonia, amidst debate on the sensitive issue of identifying the ethnic origins of the population. For the first time in eight years, some 500...

Air Tahiti Nui pilot jailed for being in possession of ecstasy pills.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- Tahiti's Correctional Court has sentenced an Air Tahiti Nui pilot to three months in jail for being in possession of illegal ecstasy pills. Karim Chin Foo, a pilot-instructor who was arrested by...

Fiji and Tonga qualify for South Africa tournament.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji and Tonga have qualified for the U-19 Rugby World Cup in South Africa in 2005, after the weeklong U-18 tournament in Suva, Fiji this week. Fiji beat Samoa 20 - 16 in the Oceania qualifying final match...

Cabinet minister arrested.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) ---A cabinet minister in Solomon Islands has been arrested by police for charges relating to events during the ethnic crisis in 2001. Alex Bartlett, the Minister for Agriculture is currently in police...

French Polynesia's cabinet minister receives a suspended jail sentence.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- French Polynesia's minister for outer islands development, Emile Vernaudon, has been convicted and given a suspended jail sentence for abuse of office. Tahitipresse news agency reports that Vernaudon...

Fiji's council of chiefs meets next week to discuss status of jailed vice president.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) meets in the capital, Suva next week in an emergency session to discuss among other things the status of jailed vice president, Ratu Jope Seniloli. A brief statement...

PNG and Fiji try bilateral trade.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Senior Fiji and Papua New Guinea officials are meeting in Fiji this week to try and balance their bilateral trade relations. PNG's Trade and Industry Minister, Paul Tiensten, told the Fiji Times that the...

UN man suggests a new path for juvenile reform.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's juvenile justice reform process should keep the under-aged involved in crime out of the courts system. UNICEF child rights representative in PNG Bruce Grant said juvenile...

Australia launches national register of child sex offenders.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) ---- The Australian government launched a national register of child sex offenders as it moved to implement tighter law and order policies before the 09 October election. Under the Australian National...

Tongan PM gives up foreign affairs, appoints new minister.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) ---- Tonga's Prime Minister, Prince Ulukalala Lavaka Ata has given up his foreign affairs portfolio to a long time senior civil servant and diplomat. This is the latest in his attempt to reshuffle...

Vanuatu's Head of State issues a warning of the dangers of political infighting.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- Vanuatu's head of state, President Kalkot Matas-kelekele has warned that the present political instability in parliament could destroy the country. The head of state advised both government and...

South African company positioned to buy Telikom PNG.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC) has welcomed the announcement that Allied Technologies Ltd (Altech) of South Africa has purchased 50 percent of the Econet Wireless...

Another non-stop jet service for CNMI.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- Continental Micronesia has announced plans to introduce non-stop service between Saipan and Taipei, and expand its direct service between Saipan and Manila. Filipino and Taiwanese workers on Saipan who...

New link to make big impact.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Faster connections in a new direct Internet link between the University of the South Pacific (USP) and an Australian research institute is expected to be formalised soon. The Fiji Government issued a new...

CHOGM dates announced.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 LONDON (Pacnews) --- The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will held in Maltese capital Valetta from 25-28 November, 2005. The dates were announced in London last week by the Commonwealth...

Solomon MP's to visit Taiwan.
September 2, 2004... 02 SEPTEMBER 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands deputy prime minister, Snyder Rini will lead a seven member parliamentary delegation to Taiwan later this month. The delegation includes five government ministers and two members of...

Nauru ordered to attend mediation court.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 YAREN (Pacnews) - Nauru's new government says it has been ordered to attend mediation meetings on Wednesday by the Australian Federal Court. The move is in relation to legal action between it and the Australian company,...

200 die annually from snakebites - research.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - At least 200 Papua New Guineans die every year from snakebites, a research has found. The PNG figures are estimated to be 800-percent higher than Australia's, says a report on The National. A...

Pitcairn Islanders have two days left to hand in guns.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 ADAMSTOWN (Pacnews) - A deadline is looming on Pitcairn Island, for residents to hand in their guns, ahead of the trial of seven men facing sexual abuse charges. Officials say a notice has been put up by the police...

Japan donation to produce better television programmes.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Local television production capabilities will be enhanced greatly at the Fiji Government's Film and Television Unit (FTU) in Suva following the signing of an agreement by the Japan Government to provide over...

Ethnic tension victims press for compensation.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Hundreds of Solomon Islanders affected by the 2000 ethnic clashes are still wondering whether government would compensate them for what they went through. Speaking on their behalf, a chief from West...

Fire chief receives long service award.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Pacific rugby followers may recall a big Tongan called Polutele Tuihalamaka who played at lock position in the eighties against his regional and international counterparts. Although Tuihalamaka did...

Australia, New Zealand to help Cooks.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - The Cook Islands, the New Zealand and Australian governments have signed an agreement marking the first official joint New Zealand and Australian aid program to the Cook Islands. New Zealand has...

Tongan royal family scrutinised.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - There are reports that Tonga is seeing its first signs of rebellion from former royal family supporters, a serious threat that would create instability in the island kingdom. Reports from Tonga...

PM Clark dismisses interpretations of Maori voter poll.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has criticised claims that a poll shows the Maori Party could take all seven Maori seats off her Labour Party. The Marae-Digipoll found that 23.3 per cent...

Australian PM defiant on Kyoto stance at World Energy Congress launch.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 SYDNEY (Pacnews) - Australia's Prime Minister John Howard defended his country's controversial refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gases Sunday as he launched the 19th World Energy Congress in Sydney. PM...

East-West Center announces Pacific scholarships.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - The East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii has announced the opening of the 2005 United States - South Pacific Islands Scholarship Programme Competition. The United States - South Pacific Islands...

Singh ready to dethrone the Tiger.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 USA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Vijay Singh converted a birdie on the 18th hole to move nearer his aim of taking over Tiger Woods' world number one ranking. Singh shot a three-under-par 68 to take a three-shot lead after the third...

Work schemes important to Fiji.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Employment schemes with Australia and New Zealand will be one of the issues Fiji will push for at the Pacific ACP-EU Launch of Phase II Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations beginning tomorrow in Nadi....

French environment minister to attend SPREP annual session.
September 6, 2004... 06 SPETEMBER 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - France's Minister for Environment, Ecology and Sustainable Development, Serge Lepeltier, is scheduled to attend the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) conference next week in French...

Support for legislation to give more rights to Hawaii's indigenous people.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - There's support in Hawaii for a law which aims to giving more rights to indigenous people. A candidate for the mayor of Honolulu, Duke Bainum, says he supports a congressional bill on the issue. ...

PNG environmentalists quiz WWF credentials.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Environmentalists in Papua New Guinea are questioning the conservation credentials of a major international green organisation. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been accused of not doing enough...

Fielakepa new Attorney General.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - With reports that Tonga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV was unaware of the sacking of three Cabinet Ministers while he was out in the outer islands last week, a government statement under his name this...

VBTC board threatens court action against dismissal.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu Prime Minister, Serge Vohor, faces court action in the coming days following the sacking of the entire Vanuatu Broadcasting & Television Corporation (VBTC) board. The board, under journalist...

Samoa starts off-field battle.
September 6, 2004... 06 SEPTEMBER 2004 ZSUVA (Pacnews) - An appeal committee for the Oceania U18 tournament is yet to decide on the Samoan complaint against the victorious Fiji national under 18 team. The Samoans allege that the Fiji team in their decider clash...

VBTC Board members stage battle with PM after dismissal.
September 6, 2004... PORT VILA, VANUATU - The dismissed Board of Directors of the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation have written to the Prime Minister Serge Vohor, giving him 24 hours to reverse the decision or face a court action. A court...

Vanuatu Government adopts aggressive plan against HIV/AIDS.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu has an aggressive policy in place to fight against a future onslaught of HIV/AIDS. Senior Vanuatu officials attending the recent Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' meeting in Samoa had expressed...

Fiji NGOs and unions hold workshop on EPA negotiations.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's non government organisations (NGOs), trade unions and community groups are holding hands in Suva to discuss the various issues that will be considered in the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) launch...

MPs call for referendum.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - Representatives of commoner Tongans have grouped together to go on a campaign for a referendum in the island kingdom. Speaking to the local media yesterday, People's Representatives to the Tongan...

Chiefs to meet this week on Vice President position.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Great Council of Chiefs in Fiji is expected to meet for three days this week to discuss the position of jailed Vice President, Ratu Jope Seniloli. GCC chairperson Ratu Ovini Bokini said the meeting...

No end in sight for strike at RFO TV and Radio.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - There are worries in New Caledonia today that the strike at France's overseas television and radio network stations will not end, with a new black-out in the past three weeks. Viewers and listeners in...

Fiji's Vijay Singh becomes world number one as Tiger surrenders top spot.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 NORTON, MASSACHUSETTS - One of the most dominant runs in sport ended today when Fiji's Vijay Singh replaced Tiger Woods as world number one after winning the Deutsche Bank Championship in USA. The 41-year-old Lautoka-born...

Solomon Islands focuses on New Zealand tourists.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) is next week holding five days of tourism promotions in New Zealand to attract NZ tourists to the country. Various traditional shows and tourist promotional...

Over 9700 voters for tomorrow.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - A total of 9712 people have been registered to vote in the national elections in Cook Islands this week. According to Cook Islands News, this figure is a decrease of 889 from the 1999 elections. ...

AusAID to fund work on 15 major airports.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The Australian Government supports Papua New Guinea's budget with PGK700 million annually and part of these funds will be used to improve 15 major airports in the country. Prime Minister Sir...

Leaders to fight casinos.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 HAGATNA (Pacnews) - The debate over whether casinos should be allowed on Guam kicked into high gear yesterday, when a group of business, government and religious leaders announced they will fiercely campaign against the...

PACNEWS DIGEST - The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PIBA and/or PACNEWS.
September 7, 2004... Pacific women gather in Bangkok to renew vows for the Beijing Platform for Action on gender Issues BANGKOK, THAILAND (Pacnews) - As a group of women from the Pacific Islands gather with their Asian colleagues this week, they look to renew...

Vanuatu government asks Australian officers to leave.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu has given Australia until September 15th to remove its small contingent of federal police. Vanuatu is reported to be threatening to expel two AusAID officials working at the State Law Office,...

Observers to look for fairness during election.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Election observers are in Cook Islands to document how free and fair the 2004 general elections are carried out. The observers' team leader, Governance Professor at the Fiji-based University of the...

Solomon and Nauru sign airline agreement.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Air Nauru and Solomon Airlines have further developed their business relationship with the signing of new General Sales Agency Agreement between the two companies. The new Agreement appoints Solomon...

Samoa seeks new boundaries.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 APIA (Pacnews) Samoa is seeking to change the boundaries of its exclusive economic zone, a move that would certainly involve talks with the U.S. State Department. Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele has told Parliament...

Hopes fading for the return home.
September 7, 2004... 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 ALOFI (Pacnews) - Hopes are fading in Niue for the return home of those who have packed their bags to leave after Heta devastated the island early this year. It has moved the island's High Commissioner to New Zealand,...

PACNEWS DIGEST - The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PIBA and/or PACNEWS.
September 7, 2004... Did the first Americans come from...er...Australia? 07 SEPTEMBER 2004 EXETER, ENGLAND (Reuters) - Anthropologists stepped into a hornets' nest on Monday, revealing research that suggests the original inhabitants of America may in fact have...

Barak Sope says all foreign advisors should be asked to leave Vanuatu.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu's Foreign Minister Barak Sope says he would like to see all foreign advisors and expatriates working in the Government leave the country. His Government has called for a review of the work...

Election results to be known by midnight.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Cook Islanders are expected to know at midnight tonight who their next state leaders are. Reports from Cook Islands News say the first election results are expected in at around 8pm and counting in...

Soldiers' Iraq duties praised.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Tongan soldiers serving alongside US soldiers in Iraq have been praised for their peacekeeping duties in the war-torn Middle East nation. The Commander of the Tonga Defense Services in Iraq, Tau'aika...

Kon Tiki Replica to sail Pacific in 2005.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - A replica of the Kon-Tiki balsa raft made famous by anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl in 1947 will sail the Pacific in 2005, to study increasing environmental threats to the ocean. One of Heyerdahl's...

Samoa secondary education curriculum & resources project.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 APIA (Pacnews) - A joint education project between Samoa and New Zealand to improve quality, equity, relevance and efficiency in Samoan secondary education is coming to an end. The project began in response to the 1995...

Unitech classes boycotted.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Students at Papua New Guinea's University of Technology boycotted classes yesterday in protest against a 33% fee increase next year. They also locked the gates and blocked them with empty drums,...

Fiji wild with euphoria over Singh's golf victory.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji went into euphoria yesterday as it celebrated Vijay Singh's ascension to Number One ranking in the world in golf. Leaders, journalists and golf enthusiasts led the celebrations in public statements,...

Fiji Government reaffirms commitments in the Beijing Platform for Action.
September 8, 2004... BANGKOK, THAILAND - The Fiji Government has reaffirmed its commitments to the Beijing Platform for Action ((BPfA) as a tool to enhance the empowerment of women and meeting global, regional and national goals of gender equality. As one of...

This report from FemlinkPacific's Sharon Baghwan-Rolls in Bangkok: Women speak up about rising tide of sexual assaults.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Women in Papua New Guinea say they will continue a campaign against sexual assault to protest increasing violence against women and children. In the past 12 months, more than one-thousand rape...

Fishing Company lays off workers.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) The National Fishing Corporation of Tuvalu (NAFICOT) has laid off eighty percent of its employees due to financial difficulties. General Manager for NAFICOT, Mr Satalaka Petaia told Tuvalu News that...

Chiefs thanked for foresight.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Members of Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) this morning received accolades from GCC chairman, Ratu Ovini Bokini, for their contribution towards nation building in the past two decades. Speaking at...

Air Wallis now a reality, plans to link regional destinations.
September 8, 2004... 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 MATA'UTU (Pacnews) - France's tiniest Pacific territory, Wallis and Futuna, is reported to have formed its very own airline, "Air Wallis", with plans to launch its inaugural flight in January 2005, between Wallis and New...