Pacific Beat

The police mutiny trial in Vanuatu is expected to conclude this week.

The Opposition has fared better than the Government in the first round of the national elections in Kiribati.

After PNG, Guam, New Caladonia, French Polynesia and Fiji have the largest amount of people living with AIDS in the Pacific.

The people of Guam, FSM, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana's have been warned - the dreaded El Nino phenomenum is here again, so be prepared.

Kiribati, electoral authorities in the country claim they are satisfied with voter turnout in today's general election.

This Sunday is World Aids Day.

In Solomon Islands, police are questioning six people who may have witnessed last Friday's shooting deaths of an officer in the Star Division of the Police Force, and a civilian assisting the police in the hunt for rebel leader Harold Keke.

The finding's of a commission of inquiry into Papua New Guinea's largest private sector superannuation fund has revealed shocking revelations of misappropriation, extortion, kick-backs and money laundering.

The Australian Government's defence think-tank says Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands are struggling to survive as nations.

Deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry took to the stand today in Fiji's controversial treason trial to provide his side of the story relating to the events of May 19, 2000.

There are two types of economists in Papua New Guinea -- the pessimists and the optimistic pessimists.

New Caledonia's third government , in as many years, was elected this morning by the 54 members of the Territorial congress.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community has just signed an agreement for ongoing funding from the Australian Government worth 24 million Australian dollars over the next three years.

In Papua New Guinea, the government's economic blueprint for 2003 has been handed down.

Samoa's Water Authority has launched a media campaign to stop the illegal sale of water.

A national campaign against domestic violence has been launched by the Fijian government and the Fiji Womens' Crisis Centre.

Member countries of the International Fisheries Forum have called for an International Plan Of Action to protect sea turtles from longline fishing.

A major crime awareness campaign, to help prevent child abuse, has been launched in the Samoan Capital, Apia.

In Vanuatu, current prime minister, Edward Natapei, says a qualified and experienced lawyer will head a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the controversial decision to grant a presidential pardon to former Vanuatu Prime Minister, Barak Sope.