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SYDNEY, Australia (ABC News Online, Nov. 1) - The Australia-led foreign intervention force in Solomon Islands says it is celebrating the success of the first 100 days of its operation to restore law and order.

The head of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, Nick Warner, says the 2,000-strong military force has achieved more than he had thought possible.

He says the arrest of more than 340 people, including 25 police officers, is an indication of the progress being made.

He says that as the military presence decreases, the mission will focus more on nation-building and economic measures, including the placement of advisors in the finance ministry.

Mr Warner says the regional assistance mission has laid a strong foundation but its personnel, the people of Solomon Islands and the Government must continue to work together.

There was a similar upbeat assessment from the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, during the week, when he...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Nov. 3) - Aif Niugini is headed for a K45 million (US$13.7 million) profit this year after nearly a decade of hard times.

The profit forecast was announced at a cocktail party held on Saturday night to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s national airline.

Chairman Joe Tauvasa said the turnaround had been achieved by a combination of factors, including sacrifices by staff and foreign currency savings.

Mr Tauvasa, a former managing director of the airline, also heralded the introduction of a new Fokker aircraft, an F-100 on the lucrative route to Cairns in Far North Queensland early next year. 

He said the airline had performed well despite the negative critics and difficult financial pressures.

The news comes amid controversy over Labor and Employment Minister Peter Yama wanting to remove recently appointed managing director Rod Nelson.

Mr Tauvasa on Saturday night said: "I...

By Colin Taimbari

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Nov. 3) - Two Sepik members of parliament have brushed aside comments that the proposed radio station, Central Sepik FM in Maprik, would divide the East Sepik province.

Local Maprik MP and Works Minister Gabriel Kapris and Ambunti/Drekikir MP Tony Aimo said the FM station was a major development for the central Sepik area after 38 years of neglect.

Mr Aimo said it was only proper and fair that such vital services are not concentrated in Wewak, but distributed to the districts.

He said the electorates of Ambunti-Drekikir, Yangoru-Saussia, Maprik and Wosera-Gawi would all benefit from the service.

"We, the new breed of leaders, have vision and creativity and as politicians we are delivering and the people are excited. They are happy that they are now seen results. They are now seen developments," he said.

The MPs were responding to comments by East Sepik provincial administration...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, Oct. 31) - Law enforcement officials in Palau have released an unlicensed Taiwanese fishing vessel carrying banned shark fins because they lacked the evidence to prove it was fishing illegally.

The vessel Yang Szu 232 is licensed to fish in the Marshall Islands but was found near the remote southern islands of Palau, an area close to Indonesia and thousands of kilometres from the Marshalls.

The Yang Szu was escorted back to port pending an investigation.

But public safety director, Hazime Telei, says the vessel was used to carry the load of smaller fishing boats back to port for off-loading and there was no way to prove where the catch had been taken.

Mr Telei says vessels in the region are allowed to cross waters, although it is unclear why a Taiwanese vessel licensed to fish in the Marshalls would be found so far from either country.

November 3, 2003

Radio New Zealand International:...