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Cyclone Freda causes widespread power outages, flooding

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Jan. 3, 2013) – One man has been killed and another is missing after Cyclone Freda hit New Caledonia, officials in the French Pacific territory say.

Wind gusts had weakened to 90 kilometers per hour as it moved towards the east Caledonian island of Mare, after hitting the Solomon Islands earlier this week as a destructive storm with gusts reaching 231 kilometers per hour.

High commissioner Albert Dupuy told reporters in the capital Noumea that one man had drowned in high seas whipped up by Freda, while an 18-year-old man was missing after attempting to cross a swollen river.

Some 3,200 people were without power, Mr. Dupuy said, adding that multiple roadways were blocked by landslides or flooding.

The storm was moving eastward at 30 kilometers per hour and set to leave the New Caledonian region over the next 48 hours, officials said.

Commander claims Yash Ghai overstepped authority

By Lavenia Vuadreu

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, Jan. 3, 2013) – Fiji Military’s Land Force Commander Mosese Tikoitoga maintains that Professor Yash Ghai does not have the authority to disseminate and make public the 2012 draft Constitution.

He said the role is reserved for the Constituent Assembly, to be appointed by the Head of State, to hold public consultations, debate and adopt the document.

Tikoitoga said the commission’s work ceased on 21 December 2012 when they handed over the draft to the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

Tikoitoga’s comments come after Professor Ghai via a blog site published copies of the "authentic" Draft Constitution and the supplementary documents that he, along with his fellow Commissioners, presented to Ratu Epeli.

He said in publishing the draft documents, the commission wants to be as transparent as possible.

In his accompanying note on the "authentic" draft...

Pok denies replacement rumors, re-instatement of retired colonels

By Isaac Nicholas

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Jan. 3, 2013) – Brigadier-General Francis Agwi will complete his term as Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

Defence Minister Fabian Pok gave that assurance at a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday.

Mr. Pok said the purported National Executive Council (NEC) submission to remove Brig. Gen. Agwi and replace him with someone else is being circulated by people with vested interests.

"There is no NEC submission or decision to change the commander at this point in time. It is not coming from me and I am not sure where this information is coming from," Mr. Pok said when responding to media reports that a submission is before Cabinet to replace the commander.

Commander Agwi, Defence Secretary John Porti and Minister Pok called a joint...

Government still assessing damages, relief allocations

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Jan. 3, 2013) – Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa'ilele, is calling on survivors of Cyclone Evan to start rebuilding their lives, instead of waiting for help.

The cyclone destroyed homes and businesses, and killed at least five people.

The Samoan Prime Minister has told local media people should adopt a 'self-help' attitude.

"There are other means of rebuilding houses that were destroyed," he said. "We are a nation that does not rely on people for help, we have families to help."

Samoan media says Mr. Tuilaepa's government is yet to finalize assistance for families, because it is still assessing the damage.

An Australian-based group which trains farmers in sustainable practices has been running an appeal to help Samoa's farmers get back on track following the disaster.

Mike Smith, Principal of the Organic Matters Foundation, has told Radio...