French Polynesia posts 4.3 percent growth<\/p>\n
PAPEETE, French Polynesia-\u2013French Polynesia’s economy grew 4.3 percent in 1998, according to just-released statistics.<\/p>\n
Minister for Economy Georges Puchon said, “Since 1996, we have started to see things getting better gradually.”<\/p>\n
In 1995, Papeete was the scene of ongoing protests against nuclear testing at Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls and investments ground to a halt.<\/p>\n
Puchon said for the past two years business investments have been growing, mainly made in the tourism and building sectors.<\/p>\n
McKinnon is new Commonwealth head<\/p>\n
DURBAN, South Africa-\u2013New Zealand Foreign Minister Don McKinnon has been elected as the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
The announcement was made by South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki at the current Commonwealth heads of government meeting.<\/p>\n
Mr. McKinnon, who received unanimous support from Pacific Islands Commonwealth nations, will succeed Nigeria’s Chief Emeka Anyaokou next April.<\/p>\n
Protest fizzles out<\/p>\n
JAKARTA, Indonesia-\u2013An independence rally in Irian Jaya, on the island of New Guinea, Friday failed to match the massive demonstration in Aceh earlier this week.<\/p>\n
In the capital of former Dutch New Guinea, a crowd of up to 3,000 marched peacefully to commemorate the birthday of a pro-independence leader.<\/p>\n
Indonesian police and military forces appeared to ignore the demonstration, which included the flying of an independent West Papua flag in other parts of the Indonesian province.<\/p>\n
Fiji firecraker sales banned<\/p>\n
SUVA, Fiji Islands-\u2013The Ministry of Commerce has imposed a three-month ban on the sale of firecrackers while a regulatory proposal is developed.<\/p>\n
The move was taken following the decapitation of a 14-year-old boy by a so-called “Dragon’s Egg” firework during the recent Hindu Diwali Festival.<\/p>\n
The Trade Standard Board has begun consultations with the government and the public in developing formal controls on the sale of firecrackers.<\/p>\n
Outrigger Marshall Islands’ profit drop<\/p>\n
MAJURO, Marshall Islands-\u2013The government-owned Outrigger Marshall Islands Hotel and Resort suffered a net loss of $265,459 in fiscal year 1998, but began operating at a profit beginning this past July, according to the Office of the Auditor General.<\/p>\n
The report also shows that the government provided the resort with a 1998 subsidy of $1,119,664.<\/p>\n
The Majuro property is managed by Hawaii-based Outrigger Hotels and Resorts.<\/p>\n
East New Britain UFO probably satellite<\/p>\n
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—The unidentified flying object seen by thousands over East New Britain and New Ireland provinces this week is believed to have been a falling satellite.<\/p>\n
John Mcleod, manager of the Malangan Beach Resort, said he watched the object from his motel. “I thought it was a meteorite at first but it looked more like a satellite falling out of orbit.”<\/p>\n
He said the object appeared to be “bouncing off the sky and was burning red hot.”<\/p>\n
Officials are investigating the incident.<\/p>\n
WHO: 1 million Pacific HIV\/AIDS cases in 2000<\/p>\n
UNITED NATIONS, New York\u001f-The World Health Organization predicts one million people will be infected with HIV\/AIDS in the Pacific Islands and eastern Asia by the end of next year, up from 700,000 in 1998.<\/p>\n
Particularly rapid infection rates are being recorded in Papua New Guinea and the Asian nations of China, Cambodia, and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Figures show the virus has already infected almost four percent of Cambodia’s population between the ages of 15 and 49.<\/p>\n
Qantas suspends port Moresby-Cairns flights<\/p>\n
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea\u2013-Australia’s Qantas Airways has suspended all flights between Port Moresby and Cairns for three months.<\/p>\n
A spokesman at Qantas’ Sydney office said the decision was made to review the operations of the airline, not only in Papua New Guinea but worldwide, following a 13 percent drop in passengers during August.<\/p>\n
He also said the Port Moresby flights are being cancelled as a precautionary measure against the impact of the Y2K millennium bug.<\/p>\n
Senate confirms US envoy to Samoa<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON, D.C-\u2013The Senate has voted to confirm Carol Moseley-Braun as the next U.S. ambassador to Samoa and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Her nomination by President Bill Clinton was approved by an overwhelming Senate vote of 96-2, well over the required two-thirds majority.<\/p>\n
Moseley-Braun becomes the seventh black woman currently serving as a U.S. ambassador.<\/p>\n
Betel nut chewers face fines<\/p>\n
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—Betel nut chewers will be slapped with a $15 fine if they are caught spitting in public places, police chief Raphael Huafolo has warned.<\/p>\n
A newly introduced capital district clean-up law targets litterbugs, street vendors and the chewing and spitting of betel nut.<\/p>\n
“It is time we made Port Moresby look like the capital city of Papua New Guinea,” he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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