Pacific Beat

In Papua New Guinea, eighteen public servants have been charged in relation to a high-profile case of corruption involving illegal passports.

Papuan human rights activists have questioned Indonesian military claims that the West Papuan independence movement is responsible for an attack on a bus of teachers and students.

In Fiji, land and constitutional negotiations between the Lasenia Qarase government and former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry have reached a deadlock.

Today is a national day of mourning in Solomon Islands for government MP Father Augustine Qeve who was killed last week.

Nuclear testing in the Pacific ended in 1996 - but many people are still concerned over the lasting effects on health and environment.

In Papua New Guinea, eighteen public servants have been charged in relation with a high-profile case of corruption involving illegal passports.

In Tonga, the debate is continuing over suggestions that whaling should resume in the islands.

After an absence of two years, Fiji's biggest charity fun event - the week long Hibiscus Festival - is back on the entertainment calender.

Papua New Guinea's largest gold mine is suspending some operations because of ongoing vandalism to the mine's main power supply line.

In the Cook islands, continuous water shortages on the country's main Island of Rarotonga are causing a terrible impact on people, with some reported to be relocating to other areas in search of water.

The head of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry, says the office of leader of the opposition in Fiji's parliament should remain vacant.

The people of Tokelau have told the United Nations that resolving everyday issues such as health and housing are more important for them than fast-tracking the decolonization process.

Scientists in New Zealand say they have evidence sea levels have been rising in the Pacific despite recent claims by Australian scientists that there have been no such increases.

The Fiji Navy says it is concerned that Fiji will be become a haven for people smugglers and drug traffickers - and will be unable to stop their activities.

The Pacific island of Tuvalu is intensifying it's threats to take legal action against Australia,over greenhouse gas emissions.

Pacific people could be the targets of biotechnology companies and genetics researchers who want to exploit them, according to an international non-government organisation.

In Vanuatu, there is growing concern that 20 police officers who are facing charges of mutiny may have gone into hiding.

Analysts in Papua New Guinea have cautiously welcomed the Somare governments interim budget which was handed down yesterday.

Solomon Islands authorities need to realise that one man's paranoia is behind the recent spate of killings.