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Aug
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Palau House, Senate Pass One Version of 2014 Budget

Submitted by admin on Fri, 08/30/2013 - 00:00

With OEK’s approval, bill now awaits president’s signature

By Aurea Gerundio-Dizon

KOROR, Palau (Island Times, August 29, 2013) – The Senate and the House of Delegates finally passed yesterday one version of Palau’s national budget for Fiscal Year 2014.

The FY 2014 budget bill approved by both houses in the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) authorizes the sum of $69,382,100 and appropriates the sum of $68,432,100. It also amends RPPL No. 9-5 to authorize and appropriate the sum of $50,000 to the Inauguration and Independence Day Committee. The conference committee, which ironed out differences on the budget, agreed firstly to remove tax riders except for one – the amendment to tobacco tax and the penalty for violating such tax.

A consensus was reached that instead of an ongoing yearly increase in the tobacco tax, the increase would be limited to two separate increases. The first would be effective January 1, 2014 that would increase tobacco tax from $2 to $3.50...

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Fri
30
Aug
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Growing Number Of Microbusinesses Spring Up In Fiji

Submitted by admin on Fri, 08/30/2013 - 00:00

Authorities have lent about $2 million to enterprises since 2008

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, August 29, 2013) – A growing number of Fijians are now engaged in micro business enterprises as a form of employment and source of revenue.

The Microfinance Unit of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) has registered five thousand four hundred and fifty five (5,455) micro enterprises since its establishment in 2008.

FCOSS Microfinance Unit manager Lavenia Rabo said that a total of more than FJ$3 million (FJ$3,752,132.00, or US$2 million) was lent during this period to clients. Baro said they started giving microfinance assistance to clients in the Central Division a few years back but expanded to the Eastern Division and Western Division from 2008 to 2012.

She said they have opened offices in Sigatoka to service the province of Nadroga and Navosa and also expanded their services to clients in Koro, Ovalau and Moturiki in the Lomaiviti province.

"In...

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Fri
30
Aug
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$1.7 Billion In Australian Aid To PNG Allegedly Abused

Submitted by admin on Fri, 08/30/2013 - 00:00

Channel 7 report claims money laundered back to Australia

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Pacific Scoop, August 29, 2013) – Huge amounts of Australian taxpayers’ money, supposedly supplying aid to Papua New Guinea, are being lost to corruption.

An estimated AU$1.7 billion of Australian aid has been "stolen" from Papua New Guinea’s budget annually, according to Channel 7’s Today Tonight programme.

The stolen money was then brought to Australia to be hidden in banks and the Queensland property market.

Around 59 people have already been charged with corruption offences in Papua New Guinea, and it was alleged much of their illegally obtained money was spent in Cairns.

Money laundering expert, Professor Jason Sharman of Griffith University, and Sam Koim, head of the anti-corruption task force in Papua New Guinea, were on a mission to lift the lid on billions of dollars of dirty money leaving Papua New Guinea to be laundered in Australia.

"Corrupt...

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Fri
30
Aug
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Chamorro DNA Sought To Map Human Migration

Submitted by admin on Fri, 08/30/2013 - 00:00

National Geographic project seeks samples of male DNA

By Cameron Miculka

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, August 30, 2013) – A worldwide project aimed at mapping the history of human migration and native cultures is coming to Guam.

Miguel Vilar, a researcher with the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Anthropology, will be on island this weekend, collecting DNA samples as part of the National Geographic Society's Genographic Project.

Frank Camacho, an assistant professor with the University of Guam biology program, is helping to facilitate Vilar's research by recruiting residents to donate DNA samples.

Human migration

Camacho said the project is in the process of collecting genetic samples from thousands of people across the globe as part of an effort to trace the evolutionary and migration histories of mankind.

One part of the project focuses on indigenous populations around the world.

That's where Vilar's focus...

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Fri
30
Aug

Pacific Agriculture Sector Looks To Revive Exports

Submitted by piradmin on Fri, 08/30/2013 - 00:00

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

News Release

Secretariat of the Pacific Community Suva, Fiji

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Farmer and Chair of Tonga Market Access Working Group (MAWG), Mr. ‘Afeaki Pousima reminisced on the heydays of Tongan exports in the 50’s and 60’s – thousands of tonnes of copra to Europe, all-year-round banana exports to New Zealand, and in the winter months fruit and vegetables to New Zealand.

"In my childhood in the 60’s, I remember there was so much leftover export bananas that even the pigs wouldn’t eat them," said ‘Afeaki with a chuckle. "All Tongan farmers in all the four island groups and their families enjoyed much prosperity from income earned from the exports."

But alas, the export bubble burst in the 70’s and going into the 80’s. It was disastrous to say the least said ‘Afeaki. The copra/coconut oil was branded...

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Fri
30
Aug

Stakeholders Push To Enhance Sexual Health Efforts In Pacific

Submitted by piradmin on Fri, 08/30/2013 - 00:00

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

News Release

Secretariat of the Pacific Community Suva, Fiji

Thursday, August 29, 2013

The rights of groups at risk of poor sexual health will be a key part of the development of the Pacific Sexual Health and Wellbeing Shared Agenda 2014–2018; an enhanced approach to improving the sexual health and wellbeing of men and women in the Pacific.A two day consultation with civil society organisations working directly with at risk groups such as women, youth, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people will begin today at the Holiday Inn in Suva, Fiji.

‘Sexual and reproductive health and rights are the final frontier. For us in the Pacific, it is one of the main concerns for women, youth and LGBTI groups,’ says Kris Prasad from Drodrolagi Movement, a network advocating for LGBTI rights in Fiji....

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