Pacific Beat

In Papua New Guinea's West New Britain Province, thousands of people are turning to local authorities for help following the recent eruption of a volcano near Mount Pago.

In Guam, victims of Typhoon Chata'an which devastated the territory last month may now seek counselling following the release of a special grant by the American Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The Tjibaou Cultural Centre in New Caledonia is hosting the Noumea Biennale of Contemporary Art, showcasing work by twenty local and international artists including three from Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.

The push for West Papuan autonomy has moved to Fiji.

Tuvalu's new Prime Minister says one of his government's priorities will be to ensure Tuvaluans have plenty of reasons to remain in the country and not give into fears of climate change and sea level rise.

After just four months in office, Niue's Premier Young Vivian is facing a constitutional crisis.

A judge in the Vanuatu Supreme court has handed down a landmark ruling in a dispute over the appointment of Police Commissioner.

An Australian in the vital post of Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum could jeopardise the region's relations with Europe and threaten the very future of the 30-year-old peak organisation.

Diego T.

A new Internet website has been launched with information about Papua, the Indonesian province formerly known as Irian Jaya.

Today, August 7, is the sixtieth anniversary of the start of the battle on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands - a turning point in the Pacific War.

Palau last week hosted the second meeting of the Presidents of Micronesia in the state's capital Koror.

Air safety and security in the Pacific will come under the watchful eye of a new regional body called the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO).

Papua New Guinea's new government must act soon to deal with a sharply declining economy, according to the President of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In Vanuatu, Prime Minister Edward Natapei has gone on radio to appeal for a meeting with senior ranking police officers.

Tourism authorities in Guam are planning to develop a major market for visitors from mainland China.

Still in Papua New Guinea.

In Fiji, there's been a breakthrough between Indo-Fijian cane farmers and indigenous landowners with the announcement by the Native Lands Trust Board to allow displaced cane farmers to renew their expired leases for farming purposes.

In Vanuatu a group calling itself the "Right-Wing Movement" has issued an ultimatum to Australian Federal Police officers in Port Vila -- get out of the country within 48 hours.