Falling objects hit Tahiti<\/p>\n
PAPE’ETE, French Polynesia – An object believed to be a meteorite or satellite debris has struck a remote area in the center of French Polynesia’s mountainous main island of Tahiti.<\/p>\n
The AFP news agency reported that homes along the island’s western coast were shaken when the falling object landed. Witnesses said it exploded with a blinding white light.<\/p>\n
The Polynesian Geophysics Laboratory is conducting an investigation.<\/p>\n
Taiwan to help fund Nauru’s private sector<\/p>\n
YARE, Nauru – Taiwan will provide $ 2.25 million during 2001 to help develop the island republic’s private sector, President Bernard Dowiyogo announced during the opening of the country’s new Business Advisory Center.<\/p>\n
The center has been established to help direct Nauru’s economy away from reliance on the island’s once lucrative, but now almost depleted phosphate deposits.<\/p>\n
We’re really sorry, Fiji soldiers say<\/p>\n
SUVA, Fiji Islands – An army officer who led troops in an attempted mutiny at Fiji Military Headquarters last November 2 has written a letter from prison seeking forgiveness.<\/p>\n
Captain Shane Stevens, in the letter addressed to military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama, said, “We admit we were wrong and we regret what we did. We made a bad move and we beg you for your mercy, love and forgiveness.”<\/p>\n
Eight soldiers were killed and others seriously wounded in the gun battle between those loyal to the commander and the members of a now disbanded elite counter revolutionary warfare unit.<\/p>\n
Rough year for small Pacific airlines<\/p>\n
ALOFI, Niue – Small national air carriers in the Pacific, such as Royal Tongan Airlines, face a turbulent year ahead, said Center for Asia Pacific Aviation director Peter Harbison.<\/p>\n
The double whammy of fuel price hikes and a stronger U.S. dollar will squeeze discretionary Pacific area travelers’ dollars and make 2001 a difficult year for the visitor industry, he said.<\/p>\n
Harbison recommended that smaller airlines code share and join global aviation alliances or face a serious erosion of their current market revenue. (Pacific Islands Report)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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