December 2009

Six dead in PNG plane crashAudio

Updated 31/12/2009 16:44:05

Six people have been killed in Papua New Guinea when a Cessna light aircraft crashed in the Sarawaget mountain ranges in Morobe province.

Former Indonesia President Abdurrahman Wahid diesAudio

Updated 31/12/2009 07:04:32

First to our near neighbours, and former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has died in a Jakarta hospital after a long illness, he was 69.

Pacific Beat 2009 year in reviewAudioTranscript

Updated 31/12/2009 07:04:28

As 2009 and the decade draws to a close, let us now take a look back on a year which has seen some momentous events take place in this, our Pacific home.

Australians still travelling in record numbersAudioTranscript

Updated 30/12/2009 09:27:25

Australia's inbound and outbound tourism industry is set to grow again next year having experienced the worst of the global financial crisis.

Fraudster Peter Foster discusses involvement in Fiji politicsAudioTranscript

Updated 30/12/2009 16:50:18

Peter Foster has been imprisoned for financial crimes on three continents, and you'll also remember him for becoming embroiled in the political intrigues of Fiji.

40 per cent of Fijians thought to have diabetesAudio

Updated 30/12/2009 16:50:23

Diabetes is a serious issue in most Pacific Island countries.

Fears Pacific islanders left out of 2010 US censusAudio

Updated 30/12/2009 16:50:23

It is difficult to put a figure on how many Pacific islanders are currently living in the United States.

Vanuatu police investigate fake euroAudio

Updated 30/12/2009 17:50:23

Vanuatu Police believe the fake Euros which senior government official, Johnson Naviti was questioned about by police recently in Copenhagen, were not printed in Vanuatu.

Scientists neuter mosquitoes in malaria fightAudioTranscript

Updated 30/12/2009 09:27:25

Scientists in the United Kingdom have discovered a way to combat the spread of malaria by meddling in the sex lives of mosquitos that carry the disease.

Hawaii migrant healthcare cuts ruled illegalAudioTranscript

Updated 30/12/2009 09:27:25

Pacific islanders living in Hawaii have succeeded in securing at least another month of state-funded medical benefits.

PNG climate ambassador confirms AOSIS riftAudio

Updated 29/12/2009 16:40:04

Papua New Guinea's ambassador for climate change to the United Nations has broken his silence on the rift between PNG and the Alliance of Small Island Nations.

UNAIDS Asia Pacific director to retireAudio

Updated 29/12/2009 16:40:04

The outgoing director of the UNAIDS Regional Support team for the Asia Pacific has called on certain Pacific Island countries to step up their commitment to tackling the virus.

What will global warming mean for coral reefs?Audio

Updated 29/12/2009 16:40:04

World leaders in Copenhagen have agreed, in principal, to limit global temperature increases to no more than two degrees.

Power and water restored in FijiAudio

Updated 29/12/2009 16:40:04

Almost all homes in Fiji have had power and water supplies restored in the wake of Cyclone Mick.

New barnacle species discoveredAudio

Updated 29/12/2009 16:39:59

They're not one of the seas most loved creatures, nor the most attractive.

Solomons Regional Assistance Mission chief reviews 2009Audio

Updated 28/12/2009 13:30:48

SUMMER SPECIAL--The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands is now in its seventh year of operation, and there are no signs it will be leaving soon.

Australia claims victory in banana tariff battleAudio

Updated 28/12/2009 16:48:50

Australia's Trade Minister is claiming a victory for international trade after a 16 year dispute over banana imports to the European Union was resolved.

Quiet Christmas in Solomons after violent incidentAudio

Updated 28/12/2009 16:48:50

Solomon Islands' Police Commissioner Peter Marshall is happy with the law and order situation throughout the country over the Christmas weekend.

Concerns over safety as Fiji extends trading hoursAudioTranscript

Updated 28/12/2009 16:48:50

Fiji's business community has welcomed the decision to extend trading hours.

Cooks deputy PM dumped, vows comebackAudio

Updated 28/12/2009 16:48:50

The Cook Islands former deputy prime minister says he may stage a comeback in the New Year and get rid of the prime minister who dumped him just before Christmas.

Marshall Islands on the watch for summer tidal wavesAudio

Updated 28/12/2009 16:48:42

The Marshall Islands have been spared the tidal wave surges which led to last year's Christmas period being declared a state of emergency.

PNG police warn against anti-Asian activityAudioTranscript

Updated 28/12/2009 16:48:50

Papua New Guinea police have warned residents of Port Moresby against staging any anti-Asian demonstration in the PNG capital.

Religious belief in times of disasterAudio

Updated 25/12/2009 13:30:44

SUMMER SPECIAL--As people around the Pacific celebrate the birth of Jesus and the significance of today in the Christian tradition, many people are suffering.

Vanuatu, NZ implicated in NKorean-Iran arms shipmentAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 08:56:08

Vanuatu and New Zealand have found themselves implicated in a complex plot to ship weapons to North Korea.

How reefs cope with Copenhagen two degree limitAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 08:56:08

World leaders in Copenhagen agreed, in principal, to limit global temperature increases to no more than two degrees, but assuming that is achieved what will it mean for Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and Pacific reefs in general?

Hatoyama election promise stalls Guam TreatyAudioTranscript

Updated 24/12/2009 08:56:09

Last week, the US Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas admitted to Pacific Beat that it was unlikely the 2014 deadline for the relocation of U-S troops from Japan's Okinawa to Guam would be met.

Few win from Northern Marianas minimum wage riseAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 08:56:09

It appears that despite several minimum wage increases in the Northern Mariana Islands since 2007, many people are now worse off.

Tongan Australian chosen for Harvard Model UNAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 17:18:03

A young Tongan Australian has been chosen as part of Australia's delegation to attend next year's Harvard Model United Nations conference.

PNG school in most notorious neighbourhoodsAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 17:18:03

Children everywhere are enjoying time away from the classroom on their school holidays.

Bainimarama accepts NZ PM offer of dialogueAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 17:18:03

Fiji coup leader Frank Bainimarama has responded positively to New Zealand prime minister John Key's request for dialogue.

Second PNG LNG project signedAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 17:18:03

An agreement has been signed last night for Papua New Guinea's second liquefied natural gas or LNG project.

Nauru denies diplomatic recognition for aid moneyAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 17:18:03

Nauru denies it's recognised two breakaway republics in the Caucusus in exchange for aid from Russia.

Jailed former French Polynesia President bailed for ChristmasAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 17:18:03

Veteran French Polynesian politician, Gaston Flosse, has been released on bail, and has resumed his political responsibilities.

Finance crisis, route boom changing Pacific holiday cultureAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 08:56:09

The Christmas-New Year period is synonymous with travel as people head home to family or just take a well-earned break.

Costly Australian red meat and chicken productsAudio

Updated 24/12/2009 17:18:03

Pacific island countries may wonder why red meat and chicken products imported from Australia are becoming more expensive.

Queensland Tongans raise funds for tsunami victimsAudio

Updated 23/12/2009 18:17:14

Tongans living in the Australian state of Queensland have raised thousands of dollars for tsunami victims in northern Tonga.

Scientists find rig oil in Indonesian watersAudioTranscript

Updated 23/12/2009 09:56:22

Scientists at the University of Indonesia say they have found oil contamination in water samples collected by fishermen in Indonesian waters which they believe may be from an oil rig leak off northwest Australia.

Second Papua New Guinea LNG signing due todayAudio

Updated 23/12/2009 09:56:22

The signing of a second deal for Papua New Guinea's liquified natural gas, expected today, has raised doubts that PNG could cope with two LNG projects.

Protection of endangered Pacific seabirdsAudioTranscript

Updated 23/12/2009 18:17:14

Globally important seabird colonies on 16 islands in 4 Pacific countries have been protected from rats for the first time.

NZ PM wants new engagement with FijiAudioTranscript

Updated 23/12/2009 18:17:14

New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key says he's looking for a new engagement with the Fiji government.

Samoa Tsunami survivors prepare for rough ChristmasAudio

Updated 23/12/2009 18:17:14

A large number of the Samoans left homeless after the September tsunami are going into the wettest part of the year still living under the tents and tarpaulins they were given after the disaster.

Gene-link in obesity lets parents off the hookAudio

Updated 23/12/2009 09:56:21

American Samoa and Kiribati have topped a ten-year study of the world's fattest countries.

Filmmaker's love for majestic Vanuatu volcanoAudioTranscript

Updated 23/12/2009 09:56:22

It may not be everyone's idea of a perfect Christmas, but for John Seach camping near the summit of the active Ambrym volcano in Vanuatu is the ideal way to spend the holidays.

Unravelling Copenhagen's climate-speak gobbledegookAudio

Updated 23/12/2009 09:56:22

Many of us are still pondering the value of those two weeks of hard negotiations in Copenhagen, but reporter Gregg Borschmann is pondering something a little more complex from the summit - unravelling climate-speak.

Energy expert says China, US must shoulder climate workAudio

Updated 23/12/2009 09:56:22

Analysis of the Copenhagen climate change summit is continuing, with the Director of the Climate and Energy Program at the World Resources Institute in the United States saying there is a lot of work to be done.

Millions of dollars of damage as Fiji assesses cycloneAudioTranscript

Updated 23/12/2009 09:56:22

Fiji's National Disaster Management Office has released its initial assessment of last week's cyclone that killed four people.

Solomon Islands crocodile worryAudio

Updated 22/12/2009 18:00:31

Crocodiles have now become numerous in Solomon Islands and are a constant threat to human lives in many parts of the country.

Vanuatu's bright economic outlookAudio

Updated 22/12/2009 18:00:24

As the year draws to a close, the Vanuatu economy looks to have turned the corner.

Action to save the Pacific's endangered birdsAudioTranscript

Updated 22/12/2009 18:00:30

The Pacific is home to one quarter of the world's critically endangered birds - and has the dubious distinction of being the region with the highest number of species on the brink of extinction.

PNG ombudsman reports on MotiAudioTranscript

Updated 22/12/2009 18:00:31

Papua New Guinea's anti-corruption watchdog, the Ombudsman Commission has presented a report into the escape of Australian lawyer, Julian Moti, from PNG in 2006.

Forest stewardship aim of Copenhagen REDD outcomeAudio

Updated 22/12/2009 09:00:15

The Copenhagen climate change talks may not have produced the legally binding commitment to reducing carbon emissions that many had hoped for, however it did set the stage for some important advancements in relation to the UN program to Reduce Emissions from Degradation and Deforestation, or REDD.

Pacific battles coconut rhinoceros beetleAudio

Updated 22/12/2009 09:00:13

The coconut rhinoceros beetle is already a well-known pest in Palau, Samoa, Fiji, and more recently Guam.

UNICEF highlights hidden cost of primary educationAudio

Updated 22/12/2009 09:00:14

Education is a fundamental human right and one that the UN children's agency, UNICEF, has been fighting to promote for two decades.

Tuna catch cuts strike Australia hardAudioTranscript

Updated 22/12/2009 09:00:14

The 30 per cent cut in Australia's southern bluefin tuna catch is hitting hard in Port Lincoln, with job cuts and financial losses already being felt.

PNG survivors still in Marshall IslandsAudio

Updated 22/12/2009 18:00:31

The five Papua New Guinea men who escaped death and taken to the Marshall Islands after 9 weeks lost at sea, will not be repatriated until after the New Year.

Lack of Pacific women representation at CopenhagenAudio

Updated 22/12/2009 09:00:14

The Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development has been pushing for the rights and needs of women to be considered in climate change negotiations.

Emissions targets ignored by Copenhagen powerbrokersAudioTranscript

Updated 22/12/2009 09:00:15

The world's biggest polluters, the United States and China, are defending the compromise reached at the United Nations climate conference, but among environmentalists there is widespread disappointment.

Sassy NZ Christmas ads fire-up Christian chorusAudio

Updated 22/12/2009 09:00:13

Some religious messages are causing controversy this Christmas as a church in the heart of Auckland put up a billboard featuring Mary and Joseph in bed.

Guam to keep its side of Okinama relocation bargainAudio

Updated 21/12/2009 10:20:39

The relocation of United States marines from Japan's Okinawa to Guam has been making headlines again, with Japan now saying it is not likely to make a decision on the relocation until later next year.

Two degrees bad, three degrees catastrophic for sea levelAudioTranscript

Updated 21/12/2009 10:20:39

A leaked United Nations analysis in Britain's Guardian newspaper says emissions cuts offered at Copenhagen would still lead to global temperatures rising by an average of three degrees celsius.

Lack of legally binding climate outcome upsets PacificAudioTranscript

Updated 21/12/2009 10:20:39

Among those following proceedings in Copenhagen was the Secretariat of the Pacific Region Environment Program, consulting regularly with the Pacific delegations.

Copenhagen Accord dubbed 'murderous' by climate frontlineAudioTranscript

Updated 21/12/2009 10:20:39

The UN climate change talks in Copenhagen wrapped up over the weekend but without the legally binding commitment so many Pacific nations had hoped for.

Call for indigenous knowledge in Western educationAudio

Updated 21/12/2009 10:20:37

The Australian government is always keen to promote what it calls its education revolution, but a Maori academic from New Zealand says any attempt to improve the lot of indigenous Australians must be accompanied by a more fundamental education revolution.

Maralinga compensation fight draws Moruroa parallelsAudioTranscript

Updated 21/12/2009 10:20:39

The remote Australian Maralinga Tjaratja people were relieved Friday upon receiving a huge land handback from the Australian government.

Largest emitters put gloss on Copenhagen AccordAudioTranscript

Updated 21/12/2009 10:20:39

Europe Correspondent Emma Alberici was there as world leaders presented their final document in the Danish capital, and while the world's largest emitters talked-up the Copenhagen Accord she says there has been widespread disappointment over the final outcome.

Former Forum Fisheries Director diesAudioTranscript

Updated 21/12/2009 18:09:16

The man who built the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency into one of the world's most effective inter-governmental organisations has died.

PNG men asked to help against domestic violenceAudioTranscript

Updated 21/12/2009 18:09:16

The head of an organisation working to prevent violence against women in Papua New Guinea says they have been enlisting men to help them achieve their aims.

Niue hopes all residents touch Commonwealth batonAudio

Updated 21/12/2009 18:09:16

Niue will welcome the Queen's baton relay in May next year and will attempt to get everyone on the island to touch the baton.

Huge national sporting contests a standout in 2009Audio

Updated 21/12/2009 10:20:38

The Manager of Regional Sport Development for the Oceania National Olympic Committees says 2009 has been a landmark year for national multi-sport events as the region powers toward the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Urban planning lacking in Pacific centresAudio

Updated 21/12/2009 10:20:39

According to a recent United Nations report, Pacific governments need to give urban planning greater attention.

Ashika Inquiry hears final evidence of 2009Audio

Updated 21/12/2009 18:09:16

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in Tonga, has gone into recess for the Christmas period.

Guadalcanal Guangdong relationship upsets TaiwanAudio

Updated 21/12/2009 18:09:16

The move by Solomon Islands' Guadalcanal Province to renew its sister relationship with China's Guangdong Province has angered the Taiwanese embassy in Honiara.

3 dead, 1 missing in Fiji cyclone aftermathAudio

Updated 18/12/2009 18:24:56

The toll in Fiji from Cyclone Mick now stands at three dead and one missing.

PNG government wants anti-corruption lawAudioTranscript

Updated 18/12/2009 18:24:57

The government of Papua New Guinea is moving to introduce an anti-corruption bill as it steps up its fight against corruption in the country.

New Zealanders squeamish over so-called caged cowsAudio

Updated 18/12/2009 10:41:16

New Zealand's dairy industry is facing an animal welfare battle more familiar to poultry and pork farmers as plans for a new intensive 20,000-head dairy triggers debate over just how far and wide a cow should roam.

Noumea-born swimmer now fastest woman ever in butterflyAudio

Updated 18/12/2009 10:41:15

New Caledonian-born swimmer Diane Bui Duyet has beaten the world record for the 100 metre butterfly.

Bizarre new coral, sponge finds off HawaiiAudioTranscript

Updated 18/12/2009 10:41:16

Scientists diving off the United States Pacific state of Hawaii have made a fascinating discovery of new and dramatic species of coral and sponges.

Planning makes Pacific's position clear in CopenhagenAudioTranscript

Updated 18/12/2009 10:41:16

Two days ago, there was uproar when negotiators were told there was a new draft text to be circulated in Copenhagen.

Smith defends charge of Australia support for rich nationsAudio

Updated 18/12/2009 10:41:16

Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, has been heavily involved in the pre-Copenhagen lobbying on climate change, and is currently tackling the thorny problem of Japan's controversial whaling program.

Tuvalu condemns Copenhagen for lack of transparencyAudio

Updated 18/12/2009 10:41:16

At the closing hours of the Copenhagan conference, Tuvalu demands again that big emitters cap their emissions.

Australia-PNG border communities seek services solutionAudio

Updated 18/12/2009 10:41:12

Australia's immigration department has denied claims that large numbers of Papua New Guineans are over-staying in Australian territory in the Torres Strait.

US Pacific chief concedes Japan-Guam timeline slipAudio

Updated 18/12/2009 10:41:16

The United States Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas, Tony Babauta, is in Guam for an official visit this weekend.

Kiribati President expresses frustration at CopenhagenAudioTranscript

Updated 18/12/2009 18:24:56

The President of Kiribati, Anote Tong has expressed his frustration at the Copenhagen conference.

Cooks PM pleas for climate change agreementAudioTranscript

Updated 18/12/2009 18:24:56

The Cook Islands Prime Minister, Jim Marurai says the pledges which have been put on the table by developed countries are not enough to guarantee the survival of his people.

Australian PM condemns 'petty nationalism' in CopenhagenAudio

Updated 18/12/2009 10:41:16

With just two days to go, those at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference have yet to come to any real decision.

Australia's Pacific sports assistance kicks-inAudio

Updated 17/12/2009 17:51:19

The Australian government's investment in Pacific sport is underway, according to the manager of international relations with the Australian Sports Commission in Canberra.

Nearly 500 TB cases strike Papua New Guinea capitalAudio

Updated 17/12/2009 17:51:19

Tuberculosis cases are on the rise in Papua New Guinea with the capital, Port Moresby finding it hard to contain the disease.

Radio Australia dropping sports bulletinsAudioTranscript

Updated 17/12/2009 08:59:59

Radio Australia is dropping its five minute Pacific sports bulletins from next year, with the head of the regional broadcaster saying sports will be better served by being covered as a normal part of existing programs.

Vanuatu, Palau, Solomons plea for Copenhagen dealAudio

Updated 17/12/2009 08:59:59

There's less than three days to go at the UN Climate Change talks in Copenhagen, but still no sign of an agreement on cutting carbon emissions or setting up an adaptation fund for climate-vulnerable nations.

Former Solomons PM wants Julian Moti compensatedAudio

Updated 17/12/2009 17:51:19

The man who appointed Julian Moti as Solomon Islands' Attorney General says he will help him get redress over his dismissal and expulsion.

Fiji ratings outlook upgradedAudio

Updated 17/12/2009 17:51:19

The devaluation of the Fiji dollar has paid off with ratings agency, Standard and Poors, revising its outlook for Fiji up from negative to stable.

Torres Strait PNG overstayers misperceptionAudio

Updated 17/12/2009 17:51:19

Claims that large numbers of Papua New Guineans are over-staying in Australian territory in the Torres Strait are based on misperceptions and old information, according to Australia's Immigration department.

Police confirm Papua province separatist leader killedAudio

Updated 17/12/2009 08:51:49

The killing of a prominent Papua province rebel leader has sparked riots and doubts that a peaceful settlement between separatists and Indonesia can happen in the near future.

Small islands continue pressure on big pollutersAudioTranscript

Updated 17/12/2009 08:59:59

Small island states have used today's Copenhagen meeting to issue a final, desperate plea for help.

Climate science critic responds to 'sinking islands' claimsAudioTranscript

Updated 17/12/2009 08:59:59

Lord Christopher Monckton is widely known for a number of reasons, but today we discuss his criticism of prevailing climate change opinion.

Witness to damage in Fiji's NadiAudio

Updated 16/12/2009 10:18:45

Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls is the coordinator of FEMLINK, a region wide media organisation for women, and was in Nadi at the time Tropical Cyclone Mick hit parts of Fiji's west coast.

No new leads on PNG ombudsman's shootingAudio

Updated 16/12/2009 10:18:45

The attempted murder of Papua New Guinea's chief ombudsman, Chronox Manek, continues to draw attention for an array of reasons - both locally and overseas.

Pourous Australia-PNG border draws concernAudio

Updated 16/12/2009 10:18:45

There are claims this morning that Australia's only international border is under-policed, and that people are able to cross it without detection.

Avowed foes debate man-made global warmingAudio

Updated 16/12/2009 10:18:45

When Professor Ian Plimer's outright denial of man-made global warming was championed in the UK Spectator magazine earlier this year, the magazine's editor promoted the idea of a great public debate in London between Professor Plimer and the Guardian newspaper's George Monbiot.

Pacific Voice makes pitch to Copenhagen leadersAudio

Updated 16/12/2009 10:18:45

Ministers and leaders from around the world have been officially welcomed to the Copenhagen climate change talks.

Charges dropped against former Solomons A-G MotiAudioTranscript

Updated 16/12/2009 10:18:45

The long running saga of child sex charges against former Solomon Islands Attorney-General Julian Moti has ended with charges against him being dropped.

Fiji clean-up begins as Cyclone Mick diminishesAudioTranscript

Updated 16/12/2009 10:18:45

Tropical Cyclone Mick which struck Fiji on Monday has been downgraded to a tropical depression off Tonga, and the final Mick alert was lifted yesterday.

More medical specialists threaten to leave PNGAudioTranscript

Updated 16/12/2009 17:57:36

The international humanitarian group Medecins Sans Frontiers, or Doctors Without Borders, working in Papua New Guinea have threatened to leave the country after continuous attacks on their staff and patients.

OPM commander reportedly killedAudio

Updated 16/12/2009 17:57:36

There are reports from Indonesia that West Papuan separatist leader Kelly Kwalik has been killed by police.

Vanuatu politics to court againAudio

Updated 16/12/2009 17:57:36

Once again it looks like the Speaker of Vanuatu's parliament has eluded expulsion.

Valuable time lost in Copenhagen summit walk-outAudio

Updated 16/12/2009 10:18:45

Vital negotiating time was lost at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen after African delegates walked out of the conference, angered at signs of weaking support for the Kyoto Protocol.

Australian Catholics close to MacKillop canonisationAudio

Updated 16/12/2009 10:18:43

The imminent sainthood of Mary MacKillop is expected to be an early Christmas present for Australia's Catholics.

AFP criticised over handling of Moti caseAudioTranscript

Updated 16/12/2009 17:57:36

Meanwhile, Australian Federal Police officers are facing criticism about their handling of the child sex case against Julian Moti.

Julian Moti child sex charges droppedAudioTranscript

Updated 16/12/2009 17:57:36

An Australian court has dropped child-sex charges against a former Solomon Islands attorney-general, ending a two-year legal battle.

Tonga on standby for Cylone MickAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 18:06:20

As the cyclone heads away from Fiji, there are concerns it might hit Tonga.

Cyclone Mick almost reaches category three across FijiAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 09:16:15

The Director of the Fiji Meteorological Service says Cyclone Mick almost reached a category three yesterday as it swept across the main island of Viti Levu.

Mick joins Laurence as first seasonal cyclonesAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 09:16:15

The Pacific is keeping a watchful eye on Tropical Cyclone Mick as it now heads near Tongan islands, while Australia faces Cyclone Laurence in the country's west.

Motion against Vanuatu Speaker pending court rulingAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 18:06:30

In Vanuatu, a pending supreme court ruling has prevented a motion to remove the speaker of parliament from being debated.

Australia's ADB boost to Pacific private sectorAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 18:06:30

The Australian government and the Asian Development Bank have announced big funding boost to programs to make things easier for the private sector.

Fiji counts the cost of cycloneAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 18:06:30

The official death toll from Cyclone Mick in Fiji was put at three, but that could rise as two fishermen have been reported missing at sea.

Fiji Red Cross aids cyclone victimsAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 18:06:20

Fiji's Red Cross says the country has coped well with the cyclone.

No plan to re-arm Solomons police following reportAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 09:16:14

The Commissioner of Royal Solomon Islands Police Force says there are no immediate plans to re-arm police.

'Irresponsible reporting' latest legal option in FijiAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 09:16:15

Fiji's interim government is about to pass another decree which it says will effectively control 'irresponsible reporting'.

Sleepless nights ahead for Copenhagen negotiatorsAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 09:16:15

Our regular contributor in the Cook Islands, Ulamila Kurai Wragg, is in Copenhagen for the climate change conference and she describes the G77 walkout, but first tackles how an islander is dealing with the weather.

G77, China walk out of Copenhagen talksAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 09:16:15

The UN climate change talks in Copenhagen are facing a major set back as early Monday the G77 and China grouping, which brings together over 130 developing countries, walked out of negotiations.

Audit draws admission of shortcomings in AusAIDAudioTranscript

Updated 15/12/2009 09:16:15

The Australian government has accepted that there are shortcomings in the domestic running of its aid agency AusAID after a recent auditor's report cited poor communication and transparency, and high staff turnover.

Damaged and displaced after Fiji cycloneAudioTranscript

Updated 15/12/2009 09:16:16

Tropical Cyclone Mick is about to leave the Fiji group and appears to be tracking towards Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, Ha'apai and the Eua group.

Tongan islands watch Cyclone Mick warilyAudio

Updated 15/12/2009 09:16:15

Tropical Cyclone Mick is now heading towards the Tonga Group and according to a weather bulletin issued just a few minutes ago a cyclone alert remains in force for Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Eua groups.

Cyclone Mick hits FijiAudio

Updated 14/12/2009 18:05:43

Fiji has been experiencing strong winds and flooding from tropical Cyclone Mick.

Combined FAO analysis shows Pacific fish vulnerabilitiesAudioTranscript

Updated 14/12/2009 08:59:57

According to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the region's fisheries and aquaculture are being threatened by climate change.

Pacific warned of ocean acidificationAudio

Updated 14/12/2009 18:05:39

Much of the focus of the climate summit at Copenhagen has been on global warming.

PNG Ombudsman survives shootingAudioTranscript

Updated 14/12/2009 18:05:43

Papua New Guinea's Chief Ombudsman says it's a miracle he's alive after he was shot in the driveway of his Port Moresby home on Friday night.

PNG Cholera spreadingAudioTranscript

Updated 14/12/2009 18:05:43

Papua New Guinea's first cholera outbreak is continuing to worsen, but a government promise to provide millions of dollars to fight the disease remains unfulfilled.

Fisheries call-to-arms in The End of the LineAudio

Updated 14/12/2009 08:59:57

The End of the Line, a documentary film revealing the impact of overfishing on our oceans, has now been aired in Australia.

New Zealand mayor fingered over annoying text messagingAudio

Updated 14/12/2009 08:59:57

A New Zealand mayor has been admonished by senior government members, including Prime Minister John Key, for his late night text messages.

Villagers apologise for killing of Vanuatu missionaryAudioTranscript

Updated 14/12/2009 08:59:57

Vanuatu villagers whose ancestors killed and ate a Scottish missionary in the 19th century have apologised to the man's descendants at a ceremony on the anniversary of his death.

Vanuatu sees success in freshwater tilapia farmingAudio

Updated 14/12/2009 08:59:57

Experts have deemed that freshwater tilapia, the so-called 'aquatic chicken', is the fish of the future.

Activists, archbishop fire-up as Copenhagen draft nears endAudio

Updated 14/12/2009 08:59:57

In just a few hours, delegates in Copenhagen will enter a second week of talks on a climate change agreement.

Cyclone Mick bears down on FijiAudio

Updated 14/12/2009 08:59:57

A tropical cyclone gale warning is in force for the Fiji group as Tropical Cyclone Mick, the first for the season, heads for Nadi, Fiji.

Fiji police continue hard drugs investigationAudioTranscript

Updated 11/12/2009 17:55:29

The Fiji Police Force says it's using multiple resources to look into the possibility of drug trafficking in the country.

Ross Garnaut writes off Pacific states on climate changeAudioTranscript

Updated 11/12/2009 17:55:29

The eminent Australian economist Ross Garnaut has written off the prospect of saving Pacific states that are threatened by rising sea levels.

Police watching developments in Fiji, NZ drug ringAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:03

The Pacific Transnational Crime Unit is concerned about the emergence of a drug ring involving Fiji locals.

Pacific fisheries watchdog gets strong new powersAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:03

From this week, distant water fishing nations have been sent a stern warning that they should follow procedures or face being blacklisted.

Formation of new Pacific Rugby League FederationAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 17:55:24

Regional sports leaders and rugby league's international body have formed a Pacific Rugby League Federation.

Fiji's Shamima Ali gathers major rights awardAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 17:55:25

Fiji human rights campaigner and frequent Pacific Beat commentator Shamima Ali has been recognised for her work in supporting women in crisis right across the region.

Australia gets serious about anti-whalingAudioTranscript

Updated 11/12/2009 17:55:25

Australia is insisting it is serious about taking international legal action against Japan if it cannot reach agreement on halting Japan's whaling program.

PNG govt approves second LNG projectAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 17:55:29

The Papua New Guinea government has approved a proposal by Canada's oil and gas company, InterOil, to construct a second liquified natural gas project in the country.

New Caledonian observer disappointed with rich nationsAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:04

Smaller countries attending the Copenhagen talks say their voices are being drowned out by the richer, industrialised powers attending the conference.

Former French Polynesia leader's court utterances leakedAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:04

The legal woes continue for former president of French Polynesia, Gaston Flosse, while local and French national media publish transcripts of recent interviews between Mr Flosse and investigating judges in 'confrontation' mode with other key suspects and witnesses.

Religions celebrate their beliefs in MelbourneAudioTranscript

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:00

The Parliament of the World's Religions wrapped-up in Melbourne this week after talks among around 8,000 participants from all the major faith groups.

PNG rugby league chairman holds onAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:03

Albert Veratau remains chairman of Papua New Guinea Rugby League after a ruling by the National Court.

Material change blowing through SamoaAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:03

From fales to fridges, coconut palms to cell phones, Samoa is a country in the midst of globalisation and technological change.

Samoa tourism industry shines despite tsunamiAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:03

Despite the devestating tsunami in September, Samoa's tourism industry is still growing and looks set to be the mainstay of the economy for the rest of this year and into 2010.

Japan reiterates whale meat importance to cultureAudioTranscript

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:03

In a massive blow to anti-whaling activists, Japan's new centre-left government has vowed to continue with its policy of scientific research whaling.

Top Australian scientist optimistic about climate dealAudioTranscript

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:04

Popular Australian scientist and global warming activist Professor Tim Flannery has long been outspoken about what is needed in a deal from Copenhagen.

Large developing countries block island Copenhagen demandsAudio

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:04

The Copenhagen Climate talks are being stoked with the conflict between big polluters and the developing world.

Alliance of Small Islands voice loudest at CopenhagenAudioTranscript

Updated 11/12/2009 09:52:04

The Alliance of Small Island States, AOSIS, says it cannot accept any climate change agreement that allows temperatures to rise by more than 1-point-5 degrees celcius from pre-industrial levels.

Vanuatu PM defeats fifth no confidence motionAudio

Updated 10/12/2009 18:21:56

Vanuatu's Prime Minister has survived a no confidence motion, the fifth one he has faced since coming to office last September.

Historic LNG signing goes smoothly for Papua New GuineaAudio

Updated 10/12/2009 10:14:04

Our regular commentator and CEO of Kina Securities in Papua New Guinea, Syd Yates, gives his take on the historic signing this week of PNG's liquified natural gas deal.

Eyesight NGO threatens to leave PNG over violenceAudioTranscript

Updated 10/12/2009 10:14:04

The blindness prevention Fred Hollows Foundation says it fears for the security and safety of its doctors and nurses working in Papua New Guinea.

Obama Administration plays trump card on pollutersAudioTranscript

Updated 10/12/2009 10:14:04

Earlier this week in the United States, the Obama Administration signalled it will regulate greenhouse gas emissions even if Congress does not approve climate legislation through a loophole that could shut down some of the biggest polluters in the world's largest economy.

High bar set for binding Copenhagen action: NZAudio

Updated 10/12/2009 10:14:04

Negotiators today have been trying to recover from the leaking of a hugely controversial document which reportedly shows that an outcome has already been reached in Copenhagen, but New Zealand's chief climate negotiator says there's broad acceptance that more talks will be needed to nail down a new treaty.

Tuvalu rep in Copenhagen spawns unprecedented walk-outAudioTranscript

Updated 10/12/2009 10:14:04

Tuvalu has caused quite a stir at the UN climate change talks in Copenhagen with the island's representative pleading with delegates to come up with a legally binding agreement, then in an unprecedented move stormed-out, closing the session until the afternoon.

Auckland City shocks Al Ahli in Abu DhabiAudio

Updated 10/12/2009 18:21:55

New Zealand's Auckland City caused a major shock at soccer's Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, when they beat Al Ahli 2-0 to knock the hosts out of the tournament on the opening night.

Guam schools face serious funds shortfallAudioTranscript

Updated 10/12/2009 18:21:55

Guam's Department of Education says a serious lack of funding means it won't be able to meet the legal standards set out for its schools.

Tuvalu Copenhagen delegate angeredAudio

Updated 10/12/2009 18:21:55

Tuvalu's delegation expressed deep anger at yesterday's UN climate talks in Copenhagen over concerns that its interests were being ignored.

RAMSI boss looks back on 2009Audio

Updated 10/12/2009 18:21:55

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands is now in its seventh year of operation, and there are no signs it will be leaving soon.

Solomons vulnerable to heinous crimesAudioTranscript

Updated 10/12/2009 18:21:56

Solomon Islands is at risk of becoming a safe haven for war criminals -- that's the warning issued by human rights group Amnesty International.

Vanuatu-Australia venture plunges into carbon tradeAudio

Updated 10/12/2009 10:14:03

While some Pacific have attracted great attention at the Copenhagen conference because of their threatened future, several other island countries are plunging into the carbon trade.

Meteorologist reviews 2009 climate extremesAudio

Updated 10/12/2009 10:14:04

The World Meteorological Organisation, the UN's voice on weather climate and water, has released its annual 2009 statement on global climate direct from Copenhagen.

Australia's opposition accused of foreign aid downgradeAudioTranscript

Updated 10/12/2009 10:14:04

Australia's political opposition has been accused of downgrading its commitment to international aid after new Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott dropped the position of parliamentary secretary for aid from his new line-up of shadow ministers.

How massive developing nations plan to tackle CopenhagenAudio

Updated 10/12/2009 10:14:04

Pressure is mounting on both China and India to make strong commitments at Copenhagen.

Pacific Seasonal Worker Scheme hot topic at conferenceAudio

Updated 09/12/2009 10:10:38

The Papua New Guinea and Pacific Update 2009 took place in Canberra yesterday, organised by Australian National University's Crawford School of Economics.

Jobs lacking for locals in PNG LNG projectAudioTranscript

Updated 09/12/2009 10:10:38

The big Exxon Mobil project has been given the much-awaited green light for its liquid natural gas project in Papua New Guinea, but which people and industries will most feel the negative impacts of the PNG LNG project?

Opposition claims Australia govt lacks climate credentialsAudio

Updated 09/12/2009 10:10:39

Australia's newly-installed opposition leader, Tony Abbott, has accused the Australian Government of strutting the world stage on climate change while neglecting Australians at home.

Kiribati presses for training in potential climate refugeAudioTranscript

Updated 09/12/2009 10:10:39

The people of Kiribati have a lot riding on the Copenhagen talks, fearing theirs will be the first country completely lost to climate change.

Fijian climate campaigner takes message to PolandAudioTranscript

Updated 09/12/2009 10:10:39

Day One of Copenhagen was punctuated by a number of passionate and emotional speeches, but the one which attracted yesterday's headlines was by a young women from Fiji, Leah Wickham.

Peak Pacific environment body fronts CopenhagenAudio

Updated 09/12/2009 10:10:39

Day Two of the Copenhagen climate change talks and a group we know well, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme, has taken the stage.

Tokelau, Samoa web addresses sizable source of spamAudio

Updated 09/12/2009 10:10:35

Some of the riskiest internet domain names are found right here in the Pacific with Tokelau and the independent state of Samoa among the most dangerous for malware, and Vanuatu one of the safest.

Tongan economy suffers from low remittancesAudioTranscript

Updated 09/12/2009 18:13:39

Tonga's Former Finance Minister, Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, says his country has weathered the global economic crisis better than some Pacific nations but admits times are tough tough.

Drug-resistant TB outbreak in Marshall IslandsAudio

Updated 09/12/2009 18:13:40

TB sufferers in the Marshall Islands have been banned from leaving the country, after an outbreak of a drug-resistant form of the disease.

Tonga's Ashika Inquiry ReconvenesAudioTranscript

Updated 09/12/2009 18:13:40

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in Tonga has reconvened for its final sittings before the end of the year.

Australia offers $US500 million loan to PNG LNGAudioTranscript

Updated 09/12/2009 18:13:40

Australia has offered a $US500 million loan facility if its needed in the development of Papua New Guinea's LNG project, which has now been given the go-ahead.

Bubbly flows as PNG LNG taps get go-aheadAudio

Updated 09/12/2009 10:10:38

The announcement may have been a couple of hours late, but yesterday the Papua New Guinea Government and executives funding the PNG liquified natural gas project finally signed on the line.

Solomons youth swap stories with islanders at CopenhagenAudio

Updated 09/12/2009 10:10:39

This morning on Pacific Beat we invited a couple of young voices from the Solomon Islands to tell us about their Copenhagen experience.

Maori coming to Australia in large numbersAudioTranscript

Updated 08/12/2009 18:06:40

Proportionally more Maori than Pakeha, or white New Zealanders are living in Australia.

Australia's funding outreach to Pacific womenAudio

Updated 08/12/2009 08:34:58

Australia has been extending its women's affairs outreach into the Pacific while continuing its own work in Indigenous communities and HIV/AIDS.

Australian penguins dying with erratic climate, foodAudioTranscript

Updated 08/12/2009 08:34:58

Scientists monitoring Australia's most famous population of penguins have had a scare as chicks have been dying of starvation because their parents had to go farther afield than usual to find food.

Beating carbon emissions key to CopenhagenAudio

Updated 08/12/2009 08:34:58

Ralph Ashton, the chair of the Terrestrial Carbon Group, an international group of climate change scientists and economists, outlines the challenges that negotiators and politicians must overcome if the summit is to produce a new global treaty.

Solomons Copenhagen rep says time over for talkAudioTranscript

Updated 08/12/2009 08:34:58

The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment in Solomon Islands, Rence Sore, says that two years after Bali the time is over for talk about climate change, and his country demands action.

New surveillance weapon in bid to stop whalingAudioTranscript

Updated 08/12/2009 08:34:54

Anti-whaling campaigners are gearing up for another season of interference in Japan's annual whale catching program.

Vanuatu says PACER Plus is a challengeAudioTranscript

Updated 08/12/2009 18:06:39

The Governor of Vanuatu's Reserve Bank says the proposed PACER Plus trade agreement with Australia and New Zealand will provide benefits and challenges to his country.

PNG'S LNG given okay to go aheadAudio

Updated 08/12/2009 18:06:40

Papua New Guinea's LNG project will go ahead.

Update on the Samoa tsunami disasterAudio

Updated 08/12/2009 18:06:39

As Christmas, and the wet season approaches, many along Samoa's South Coast will go through it this year still living under tents and tarpaulins.

The economics of climate changeAudio

Updated 08/12/2009 08:34:58

The Australian Government says it will re-introduce its proposed emissions trading legislation when Parliament returns after the summer break.

Largest-ever climate conference opens with optimismAudio

Updated 08/12/2009 08:34:58

The much-anticipated United Nations Climate Change Conference is now underway in Copenhagen.

Obesity drug treatment success on miceAudio

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:41

A breakthrough by medical researchers in Sydney is raising hopes that an effective drug treatment for obesity may not be far away.

Samoa's shattered tsunami victims rebuildingAudio

Updated 07/12/2009 18:29:55

The tsunami in Samoa will go down as one of the saddest stories of this year - happy families living peacefully by the ocean, torn apart by a giant wave.

PNG wants new election for ONOC presidentAudio

Updated 07/12/2009 18:29:54

Papua New Guinea is calling for fresh Oceania National Olympic Committee elections.

UN to probe climate change email exchangeAudioTranscript

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:41

Last week we reported on leaked emails that allegedly showed professors at a reputed university had fudged data and suppressed evidence contradicting theories on man-made global warming.

Brief history of climate change debateAudioTranscript

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:41

These days climate change is a daily fixture in the news media, but when did the issue first enter the public arena?

Edgy NZ Christmas play stuns some in child audienceAudio

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:36

A raunchy Christmas play intended for an adult audience has been performed for at-risk children in Wellington, drawing criticism from some parents but no apologies from the organiser.

American Samoa to host NFL youth competitionAudio

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:40

Sporting enthusiasts in American Samoa are about to be treated to a season of all-star NFL football, or gridiron.

Vanuatu National Games in full swingAudio

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:40

The big-ticket events in Vanuatu's National Games begin in earnest today and Brian Minikin, the Manager of Regional Sport Development for the Oceania National Olympic Committees, gives Pacific Beat an update.

Dame Carol details social risk of the PNG LNG projectAudio

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:41

This week, the Board of ExxonMobil is expected to make the much-awaited and momentus final investment decision on its liquid natural gas project in Papua New Guinea.

UN chief calls for end of Pacific AIDS discriminationAudioTranscript

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:41

The United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon has called on Pacific regional governments to repeal laws that stigmatise and discriminate against people living with HIV/AIDS.

Guam backs Pacific position in CopenhagenAudioTranscript

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:41

The Guam Governor's office says it stands firmly behind the position of Micronesian leaders in the message it is taking to Copenhagen.

New edition of Samoan language textbookAudioTranscript

Updated 07/12/2009 18:29:55

A new edition of the standard Samoan language textbook has been launched in New Zealand.

Torres Islanders' climate change worryAudio

Updated 07/12/2009 18:29:55

When the Australian Prime Minister arrives at the Copenhagen summit he will be able to boast that Australia has promised 150 million dollars in aid to Pacific Island nations to help them adjust to climate change.

PNG LNG due for final decisionAudioTranscript

Updated 07/12/2009 18:29:55

The developers of Papua New Guinea's multi-billion dollar Liquefied Natural Gas or LNG project, are expected to announce a Final Investment Decision on the project this week.

New Zealand struggles to control possum populationAudio

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:41

New Zealanders have never forgiven Australia for the possum, introduced 150 years ago to try and establish a fur industry with catastrophic environmental consequences.

Copenhagen talks may surpriseAudio

Updated 07/12/2009 10:05:41

The world's attention turns to Copenhagen today as nations begin to try to come to an agreement on limiting climate change.

PNG AIDS funding dries upAudioTranscript

Updated 04/12/2009 18:14:24

Papua New Guinea's government has pledged to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015.

Dubai financial crisis spare Rugby SevensAudio

Updated 04/12/2009 18:14:24

Dubai's debt crisis caused some jitters, but it won't affect this weekend's International rugby sevens tournament, now in its 40th year.

How PNG could sustain its developmentAudio

Updated 04/12/2009 18:14:24

The effectiveness and sustainability of development aid is a hot topic around the world.

New Caledonian teachers at odds over education transferAudioTranscript

Updated 04/12/2009 18:14:24

Authorities in New Caledonia are worried that the French territory may not be able to manage the massive costs in its education sector.

PNG economy growing strongly.AudioTranscript

Updated 04/12/2009 18:14:24

A new economic report says Papua New Guinea's economy has performed very well despite the global economic recession.

Australia commends its indigenous doctorsAudio

Updated 04/12/2009 09:12:09

There's been a strong increase in the number of Australian Aboriginal people studying medicine over the past 25 years.

SPREP says Tonga facing years of rehabilitation after tsunamiAudio

Updated 04/12/2009 09:12:09


The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has just wrapped up a series of Environmental Impact Assessment Training workshops in Tonga.

Auckland conference puts spotlight on Pacific democracyAudio

Updated 04/12/2009 09:12:09

A conference underway in Auckland New Zealand is putting democracy under the microscope.

Climate change opponents meet in LondonAudio

Updated 04/12/2009 09:12:10

Nicholas Stern, whose 2006 climate review was like a call to action around the world, has told an audience in London that those who deny that the globe is warming and that human beings are responsible for it are "muddled and confused".

Australian PM holds Sydney meeting on Asia Pacific CommunityAudio

Updated 04/12/2009 09:12:10

Australia is hoping to inject some fresh energy into its plan for its Asia Pacific Community.

Kiribati and Tuvalu hit by job losses for seafarersAudioTranscript

Updated 04/12/2009 09:12:10

Kiribati and Tuvalu have been hit hard by job losses among their seafarers working overseas.

New South Wales gets first female premierAudio

Updated 04/12/2009 09:12:09

The Australian state of New South Wales is preparing to swear in it's first female Premier.

Fiji women's rights activist praises UN attempts to include womenAudio

Updated 04/12/2009 09:12:09

Sharon Bhagwan Rolls is the coordinator of FEMLINK, a media organisation for women headquartered in Suva, Fiji.

Less skilled Kiwis migrate to AustraliaAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 17:23:42

New research has confirmed what has long been thought in Australia - less skilled Kiwis are migrating there in higher numbers than skilled professionals.

Fiji claims it hasn't been notified of Commonwealth Games banAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:43

Fiji's peak sports body says it wasn't told about it's ongoing ban from the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Retiring MP makes last attempt to get more women into PNG parliamentAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:44

Papua New Guinea's sole woman parliamentarian is about to retire from politics.

PNG stockex continues upward trendAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:43

For a look at trading on the PNG stockex and whether plunging oil prices this week have had an impact, Geraldine Coutts spoke to the CEO of Kina Securities Syd Yates.

PNG's rural and urban populations differ on definition of corruptionAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:44

There is a lot of talk about the prevalence of corruption in the Pacific, but how different are people's perceptions of what corruption actually is?

Australia mineral industry fears labour shortageAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:44

In Australia there are concerns that the mining industry may not have the workforce to staff the billions of dollars of projects currently being planned.

PNG to get a second LNG plantAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:44

The Canadian oil and gas company, InterOil, is going ahead with a proposal to build Papua New Guinea's second Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant.

David Attenborough says Copenhagen deal unlikelyAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:43

With the U-N climate change conference in Copenhagen just around the corner the topic is on just about everybody's lips and the world's best-known naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, is no exception.

Low immunisation rate puts Marshall Islands' babies at riskAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:43

A recent survey carried out in Marshall Islands shows a correlation between infant mortality and poor immunisation programs.

Fiji athletes disappointed by Commonwealth Games banAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:43

The news that Fiji won't be allowed to take part in next year's Commonwealth Games has been met with disappointment by Fijian athletes hoping to attend.

Sport, politics cannot be separated: Commonwealth Games chiefAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:43

The debate over Fiji's eligibility to participate at the 2010 Commonwealth Games continues.

Continuing resistance to Asia-Pacific Community proposalAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 10:41:43

Australia's Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is taking another step to advance his vision of an Asia Pacific Community by the year 2020.

Sports 'biological passport' approvedAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 17:23:42

The World Anti Doping Authority has approved a "biological passport" - a new tool against doping in sport.

New Caledonia prepares to take control of key sectorsAudioTranscript

Updated 03/12/2009 17:23:42

It's not often that New Caledonia's pro and anti independence camps agree on political issues.

Commonwealth changes AIDS funding systemAudioTranscript

Updated 03/12/2009 17:23:42

Pacific members of the Commonwealth are not happy about a decision by the Commonwealth to change the way it funds the fight against HIV/AIDS.

PNG and Indonesia cross-border tradeAudio

Updated 03/12/2009 17:23:42

The governments of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia are hoping a new project to upgrade immigration and quarantine facilities on their shared border will boost cross-border trade.

Pride in Australia's international broadcaster at 70Audio

Updated 02/12/2009 10:20:33

Radio Australia marked its 70th anniversary last night, with a party here at the Southbank studios in Melbourne.

Logbook of Bounty mutineers' discovery auctionedAudioTranscript

Updated 02/12/2009 10:20:32

A piece of Pacific history has recently been sold at auction for a massive price with the logbook of the first Royal Navy ship to make contact with the descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers going under the hammer for 40,000 pounds, or more than $US65,000.

Fiji Commonwealth Games LobbyAudio

Updated 02/12/2009 17:57:34

The Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell promised to lobby the Commonwealth Secretary General, for sports to be dropped form the sanctions imposed on Fiji.

UN helps combat torture and ill-treatment in PacificAudioTranscript

Updated 02/12/2009 17:57:35

A United Nations official whose job is to combat torture around the world says ill-treatment of detainees probably does happen in the Pacific, but there are no figures on the extent of the problem.

Fiji's economist blasts interim government's budgetAudioTranscript

Updated 02/12/2009 17:57:35

A leading Fiji economist says figures provided in the country's budget show the country is going backwards.

CNMI adapting to US takeover of immigration systemAudioTranscript

Updated 02/12/2009 17:57:35

November 28th 2009 is a date many in the Northern Marianas will remember for years to come.

Vanuatu Volcano evacuees still not back homeAudio

Updated 02/12/2009 17:57:34

Hundreds of people in Vanuatu are still being prevented from returning to their home island after a volcano explosion more than two months ago.

Marshalls PNG Survivors recoveredAudio

Updated 02/12/2009 17:57:34

The five Papua New Guinea men who escaped death after being lost at sea for more than two months are still recovering in hospital in Marshall Islands.

Speaking with an Australian voice for 70 yearsAudio

Updated 02/12/2009 10:20:30

An impassioned supporter of Radio Australia, the Director of Australia's Lowy Institute for International Policy, Michael Wesley, gave the keynote speech on the occasion of its 70th.

Focus on Indonesian Papua's alleged rights violationsAudioTranscript

Updated 02/12/2009 10:20:32

Indonesia's poorest province, Papua, is once again in the spotlight over its human rights record.

AIDS front page news in PNG as virus gains momentumAudio

Updated 02/12/2009 10:20:32

World AIDS Day may have made front page news in Papua New Guinea, but concern continues that not enough is being done in the stifling its spread in the region's worst-hit country.

Vanuatu's Natapei survives one more weekAudioTranscript

Updated 02/12/2009 10:20:32

Vanuatu's prime minister, Edward Natapei, has managed to hold onto power for at least another week.

UN expects final climate change treaty by JuneAudioTranscript

Updated 02/12/2009 10:20:29

With less than a week until the United Nations climate talks, the United Nations' chief negotiator has denied suggestions the Copenhagen meeting will be a 'failure'.

PNG Rugby Sevens and Netball to India GamesAudio

Updated 01/12/2009 17:33:39

Papua New Guinea's rugby sevens and netball teams are expecting confirmation that they'll replace Fiji's teams at next year' s Commonwealth Games in India.

World Aids day recognises millions with HIVAudio

Updated 01/12/2009 17:33:39

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV can cause the body's immune system to fail - known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS.

Australia's Liberal Party changes leadershipAudio

Updated 01/12/2009 17:33:40

Australian Liberal Party M-Ps have voted out their leader Malcolm Turnbull over the divisive issue of climate change, but may have failed to find a unifying figure after days of bloodletting.

Standard and Poor's punishes French Polynesia instabilityAudioTranscript

Updated 01/12/2009 08:48:21

French Polynesia latest returning President, Gaston Tong Sang, has appointed a new government.

GEC threatens hundreds more Pacific child deathsAudio

Updated 01/12/2009 17:33:40

The global economic crisis could lead to hundreds of extra child deaths in the Pacific, according to the United Nations Children's agency, UNICEF.

PNG goes under torture spotlightAudioTranscript

Updated 01/12/2009 08:48:21

A high level meeting on the prevention on torture and ill-treatment of detainees is underway in Papua New Guinea.

Risk factors contributing to HIV spread in PacificAudio

Updated 01/12/2009 08:48:21

Today is World Aids Day, and after more than 28 years since the first case of AIDs was reported it has evolved to become an international pandemic.

Radio Australia celebrates 70 yearsAudio

Updated 01/12/2009 08:48:21

Radio Australia turns 70-years-of-age this year on the 20th of December, but tonight Radio Australia staff and guests are coming together to celebrate the occasion.

Number of women Methodist ministers rises in grad classAudio

Updated 01/12/2009 08:48:17

When it comes to religion, women often have to take a back seat, but that may be changing if this year's graduates from the Methodist College in Fiji are anything to go by.