Ex-Solomons PM dies<\/p>\n
HONIARA, Solomon Islands—Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Solomon Mamaloni, 56, died Tuesday after being admitted to the hospital with a kidney ailment.<\/p>\n
He entered Parliament in 1972 and served four terms as prime minister between 1983 and 1997.<\/p>\n
He is expected to be buried later in the week at his family home in the village of Macedonia, Makira Island.<\/p>\n
Taiwan optimistic on establishing diplomatic ties with Marshalls<\/p>\n
MAJURO, Marshall Islands—Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzu-dan Wu, after a meeting with new Marshalls Foreign Minister Alvin Jacklick this week, said he has full confidence that cordial relations between the two countries will continue to grow.<\/p>\n
There has been increasing uncertainty about the future of the 14-month old ties, following the election of a new government headed by President Kessai Note.<\/p>\n
The AFP news agency reported that the new administration has raised concerns about where in excess of $15 million from Taiwan went over the past year.<\/p>\n
China broke off ties after the Marshalls after Majuro recognized Taipei in
\n1998.<\/p>\n
French army leaving 2 South Pacific atolls<\/p>\n
PAPEETE, French Polynesia—The commander of French military forces in Polynesia, Admiral Jean Moulin, had announced that after 37 years the 5th Foreign Regiment will leave Moruroa and Fangataufa.<\/p>\n
The two atolls were used for atmospheric and underground nuclear testing from 1963 until 1996. The bases, 780 miles southeast of Tahiti, later were closed and the testing facilities dismantled.<\/p>\n
Only 20 soldiers remain on the atolls as environmental monitors.<\/p>\n
Calls mount to name Kokoda Trail a nat’l park<\/p>\n
SYDNEY, Australia—New South Wales Premier Bob Carr has added his support for Papua New Guinea’s Kokoda Trail, made famous during the World War II battle with Japan, to be turned into a national park.<\/p>\n
Earlier MP Charlie Lynn, a Kokoda Trail tour leader for nine years, said the Australian government should provide aid to PNG for the proposed project.<\/p>\n
Their recommendations follow a New Year’s Day attack on tourists by “raskols” armed with rifles, shotguns and machetes.<\/p>\n
Air Niugini told to reinstate 96 engineers<\/p>\n
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—The National Court has ordered Air Niugini to reinstate 96 dismissed engineers following a long legal battle between the engineers’ union and the national airline.<\/p>\n
The airline’s acting managing director, Chris Mek, said the company will comply with the judge’s decision, and the engineers will be returned to the company payroll while the airline appeals.<\/p>\n
The engineers were released by the airline last August after striking over pay matters. (Pacific Islands Reports)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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