Pacific Beat

Friday, 3 February 2012

Search for survivors continues after PNG ferry disaster

Updated 03/02/2012 17:35:08

The search is continuing in Papua New Guinea for any survivors of yesterday's ferry disaster.

Red Cross helping PNG ferry disaster survivors

Updated 03/02/2012 17:35:08

The Papua New Guinea Red Cross is trying to put survivors of the ferry disaster in touch with their relatives.

PNG Chief Justice fights suspension

Updated 03/02/2012 17:35:08

Papua New Guinea's Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia was denied access to office by armed policemen following his suspension by the government this week.

Search continues after PNG ferry capsizes

Updated 03/02/2012 10:05:21

The search will resume at first light this morning for 100 people, many believed to be students, missing after a ferry sank off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea.

Angry protest by PNG ferry passenger relatives

Updated 03/02/2012 10:05:21

The Rabaul Queen sailed from Kimbe in East New Britain Province...

PNG Chief Justice suspended

Updated 03/02/2012 10:05:21

Little damage from strong quake in Vanuatu

Updated 03/02/2012 09:58:54

Vanuatu has been shaked by a 6.9-magnitude earthquake.

Renewed efforts in Solomons to tackle leprosy

Updated 03/02/2012 09:58:54

To Solomon Islands now...

Forest clear felling raises Fiji flood damage

Updated 03/02/2012 09:11:43

Fiji's interim government says its investigating the reason the devastating floods, after logs, debris and sludge blocked waterways and inundated rural areas.

Marshall's new President visiting Hawaii

Updated 03/02/2012 09:16:21

The new President of Marshall Islands Christopher Loeak is visiting Hawaii, to meet with the State's governor.

Hawaii backdown on controversial internet bill

Updated 03/02/2012 09:06:25

The Hawaii state legislature has had a change of heart over its controversial internet tracking bill.

Massive influx of foreign workers in New Caledonia

Updated 03/02/2012 08:51:20

There are more than six thousand foreign workers living in New Caledonia, with many of them working in the giant mines.

Fiji & Samoa fancied in IRB Wellington 7s

Updated 03/02/2012 08:51:20

The International Rugby Board Seven's competition resumes this weeked in New Zealand.

Thursday, 2 February 2012

PNG's MV Rabaul Queen ferry has sunk

Updated 02/02/2012 17:32:18

A ferry with hundreds of people on board has sunk off Papua New Guinea.

193 rescued so far from PNG ferry disaster

Updated 02/02/2012 17:32:18

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is assisting in search and rescue efforts in PNG's ferry disaster.

Flannery says Aust should be concerned about PNG's record log exports

Updated 02/02/2012 17:32:18

Australia's Chief Climate Commissioner, Time Flannery, says Australia needs to be concerned about record tropical log exports from Papua New Guinea.

Expert speaks out on impact of logging in PNG

Updated 02/02/2012 17:32:34

One of the world's leading tropical biologists says clear felling of forests on Papua New Guinea's controversial Special Agricultural and Business leases is likely to have profound impact on PNG's environment.

Tongan auditor-general faces charges in Parliament

Updated 02/02/2012 17:32:34

Tonga's auditor-general's job is on the line as Parliament considers his fate.

More doubt thrown on early PNG elections

Updated 02/02/2012 17:32:34

A Papua New Guinea academic and past official election observer says there is little chance the country will be able to hold this year's national election early.

Tongan luge athlete revealed to be a hoax

Updated 02/02/2012 17:32:34

The story last year about a Tongan athlete trying to get to the Winter Olympics to compete in the luge event sounded too good to be true.

Russian FM winding up Fiji visit

Updated 02/02/2012 09:11:34

Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov winds up a visit to Fiji today after an agreement to set up regular meetings with Fiji officials.

Philippines base may slow Guam build up

Updated 02/02/2012 09:11:19

The much heralded US plan to move troops from the Japanese island of Okinawa to Guam may now not take place.

Lawyers call on Rudd to condemn Papuan treason trials

Updated 02/02/2012 09:11:19

Lawyers from the Human Rights Law Centre and the International Lawyers for West Papua are urging the Australian Government to speak out against the Papuan treason trials.

New English push in Tongan schools

Updated 02/02/2012 08:57:33

There's a new push to teach English in schools across Tonga in the hope of creating a bilingual society more suited to the modern world.

El Nino & La Nina study provides new Pacific weather insights

Updated 02/02/2012 08:57:18

Seattle in Washington state on the US west coast is certainly not known as a tropical haven.

Sea cucumber 'poo' crucial in protecting coral reefs

Updated 02/02/2012 08:57:18

Scientists have found that the humble sea cucumber can play an important role in protecting coral reefs from the impacts of climate change.

New generation learns traditional PNG Oksapmin counting

Updated 02/02/2012 08:42:44

When we were in primary school it was frowned upon to use your fingers to count, but not so in Papua New Guinea.

Critical doctor shortage in Marshall Islands

Updated 02/02/2012 08:42:44

Majuro Hostpial in Marshall Islands is seriously short-staffed, with doctors working 12 hours shifts being pulled out of their regular dutires to fill haps in the emergency room and outpatient clinic.

Soggy Brisbane keeping close eye on river levels

Updated 02/02/2012 08:42:44

This time last year the usually sunny Australian state of Queensland was devastated by floods.

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Solomons' Temotu workers flee Guadalcanal over violence fears

Updated 01/02/2012 17:56:36

A major palm oil producer in Solomon islands says it's had to send many of its workers back to their home province following a violent incident with locals.

PNG media facing conflict of interest in current political standoff.

Updated 01/02/2012 17:56:36

The regional media watchdog group, the Pacific Freedom Forum, is calling on Papua New Guinea's media to be careful about threats of violence.

Reaction to Japanese ban on Australian poultry products

Updated 01/02/2012 17:56:36

A Japanese ban on Australian poultry products has been labelled an over reaction by the Australian industry.

China owns relatively small piece of Australia

Updated 01/02/2012 17:56:36

A new report shows that contrary to popular belief China's investment into Australian farms and mining assets is tiny.

Contempt case unlikely to resolve PNG leadership crisis

Updated 01/02/2012 11:26:04

The battle for the prime ministership in PNG has been dragging on since early December.

Vanuatu low could threaten rain-drenched Fiji

Updated 01/02/2012 11:26:19

Forecasters fear Fiji's flooded Western Division could be facing the prospect of more heavy rain from a tropical depression which has already affected most of Vanuatu.

Ambassador defends Ahkhazia's Pacific relations

Updated 01/02/2012 11:26:19

Australia's Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has asked his Russian counterpart to be open about the development assistance it gives to Pacific island nations, amid ongoing concerns Moscow is using aid to buy diplomatic support in the region.

Proving work to begin on Saipan geothermal prospect

Updated 01/02/2012 11:26:19

An Australian company, Kuth Energy, is to begin checking the potential for geo-thermal energy on Saipan Island in the Northern Marianas.

Satellite bouys to track tsunami debris

Updated 01/02/2012 11:26:04

Scientists at the University of Hawaii are continuing to track the estimated 25 million tonnes of debris generated by the Japanese tsunami last march as it tracks across the Pacific.

300 workers repatriated in Solomons labour dispute

Updated 01/02/2012 11:26:19

Workers at the Guadalcanal Plain Palm Oil plant in Solomon Islands have been repratiated home to Temotu province after constant threats of violence.

Demolition of earthquake damaged houses in Christchurch

Updated 01/02/2012 11:26:19

The New Zealand government has started demolishing houses in earthquake-damaged Christchurch.

Review awards Norfolk Island public service 82/1000

Updated 01/02/2012 11:26:19

An Australian governmen review of the Norfolk Island Public Service has been handed down and it doesn't paint a pretty picture.

New role for Winter Paralympics bronze medal winner

Updated 01/02/2012 11:26:19

Vision Australia has appointed its first Global Ambassador for Australia's efforts to overcome avoidable blindness.

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Somare filed contempt proceedings against O'Neill & Namah

Updated 31/01/2012 17:48:11

Papua New Guinea's former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has filed contempt proceedings against the parliament installed prime minister, Peter O'Neill and his Deputy Belden Namah among others.

Pacific can avoid coastal fish collapse by taking action:SPC

Updated 31/01/2012 17:48:11

Crucial fish species, lobsters and sea cucumbers are in danger of disappearing from Pacific Island coastlines unless local people take action to protect them, according to the region's leading fisheries experts.

Marles describes talks with French government as constructive

Updated 31/01/2012 17:48:26

The Australian government has taken part in talks in Paris, aimed at opening the way to allow New Caledonia to become a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Fiji braces for more rain on top of floods

Updated 31/01/2012 17:48:11

Red Cross sets up water treatment plant in Fiji's west

Updated 31/01/2012 17:48:11

It might seem ironic, but one of the major problems in Fiji's west as a result of the flooding is a shortage of water.

Bid to recognise Australia's First People to continue

Updated 31/01/2012 17:48:26

Aboriginal leader, Patrick Dodson says the violent clash involving tent embassy protestors is an indicator of the unresolved issues still affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

PNG crisis leads to credit rating downgrade

Updated 31/01/2012 09:51:45

The cost of Papua New Guinea's political crisis which resulted in the failed military mutiny last Thursday has resulted in an immediate economic cost.

Cyclone fears grow in flooded regions of Fiji

Updated 31/01/2012 09:51:45

There are fears that a tropical depression heading for Fiji could turn into a cyclone, as the clean-up from the recent deluge continues.

Ligo to stand in Vanuatu's toughest constituency

Updated 31/01/2012 09:40:28

Leading Vanuatu community worker, Jenny Ligo has announced she will contest November's national election, as the sole woman candidate for Port Vila.

Samoan women surprised by reserved seats proposal

Updated 31/01/2012 09:40:28

Samoa's prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele is supporting a plan to guarantee 10 per cent of seats in the parliament are occupied by women.

Great Barrier Reef survival frozen in Outback

Updated 31/01/2012 09:07:02

A piece of Great Barrier Reef has been frozen...

Sustainable tourism needed to fund wetlands protection - SPREP

Updated 31/01/2012 09:07:02

Protecting wetlands while increasing access for tourists is the theme of Thursday's World Wetlands Day.

Former American Samoan official guilty of corruption

Updated 31/01/2012 09:07:02

A former American Samoan education official is facing a long jail term after being found guilty of witness tampering and obstruction of justice.

Monday, 30 January 2012

PNG mutineers surrender weapons and pardoned

Updated 30/01/2012 17:47:28

The soldiers involved in last week's failed mutiny in Papua New Guinea have surrendered their weapons.

Major doubts PNG is ready for early elections

Updated 30/01/2012 17:47:28

Both the O'Neill and Somare camps in Papua New Guinea have voiced a willingness to go to early elections to end the ongoing political fight.

PNG cabinet to make historic visit to Bougainville next month

Updated 30/01/2012 17:47:12

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has promised to hold a meeting of his National Executive Council on the mainland of Bougainville, next month.

PNG Red Cross waiting for report on landslide

Updated 30/01/2012 17:47:12

PNG's Red Cross organisation is still waiting for detailed reports on the effects of last week's devastating landslide in the Southern Highlands province before deciding what help they can send.

Australia should let Kiwis become MPs without losing passports

Updated 30/01/2012 17:47:12

A former New Zealand associate foreign minister would like to see Australia allow New Zealanders living there with dual citizenship have the right to stand for parliament.

Concerns about hazard to marine life and humans

Updated 30/01/2012 17:47:28

Now to that story about how pieces of your clothing may end up in the food chain..

Disaster preparedness worskhop by UN in Australia

Updated 30/01/2012 17:47:28

Officials from the UN and Pacific nations including Solomon Islands will join dozens of aid workers in the Victorian town of Warnambool this week to learn how to better manage the response to natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes and cyclones.

Some Australian nurses struggle to get back into nursing

Updated 30/01/2012 17:47:28

Australia has long suffered from a shortage of nurses...one reason why hospitals recruit thousands from overseas.

O'Neill considers early election as PNG leadership battle continues

Updated 30/01/2012 11:03:39

Papua New Guinea's leadership conflict between Peter O'Neill and Sir Michael Somare shows no signs of abating after last week's failed military takeover.

Kidu upset by Somare inspired military mutiny

Updated 30/01/2012 11:03:38

PNG's only woman politician and Somare supporter, Dame Carol Kidu is upset by Thursday's failed military mutiny but as other Somare supporters continue their boycott of Parliament Dame Carol is planning on forming a one-woman opposition in Parliament.