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HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News/PINA) - Tropical Storm Pongsona was upgraded to a typhoon late Thursday and was expected to pass north of Chuuk on Friday.

The new threat to Chuuk, part of Federated States of Micronesia, comes about five months since Tropical Storm Chata'an left a path of death and destruction.

Typhoon Pongsona was moving west at 9mph and packing winds of 75mph with higher gusts. It is expected to move west-northwest and continue to intensify.

The official forecast predicts it passing closer to Saipan and Tinian in the Northern Marianas, probably late in the weekend.

But all of the Mariana Islands, including Guam, should prepare for the typhoon, said Tom Birchard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

Chuuk Disaster Office Administrator Bernard Billimont said yesterday: "After seeing all the damage caused by Chata'an, we are very much concerned about this typhoon."

Chata'an caused landslides in Chuuk that killed...

PAGOPAGO, American Samoa (Radio Australia) – The United States environmental protection agency has launched an investigation into the quality of fuel being sold to American Samoa.

In October this year, the territory was hit by severe shortages after a tanker carrying 400 tons of fuel was turned away when it was discovered the product violated Federal EPA Standards.

The fuel was missing a detergent additive, required by the EPA that limits build-up in engines and reduces exhaust emissions from vehicles.

American Samoa's Congressman, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, says the EPA’s initial investigations have revealed that Exxon Mobil has been failing to comply with federal requirements since March 2000, amounting to the sale of millions of gallons of fuel.

He has called on the company to issue an immediate apology to the people of American Samoa and to meet any costs for damages.

An EPA representative is to visit the island to investigate.

For...

PAPEETE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse/PINA) - Air Tahiti, which operates inter-islands flights in French Polynesia, will soon get a fifth ATR 72-500

The government of French Polynesia has granted tax exemptions.

The new plane is needed both to serve the people of remote islands and for the increasing tourism in French Polynesian islands other than Tahiti, Tahitipresse reported.

A local company, FHP, which has Air Tahiti as one of its main shareholders, is developing more hotels and the government is expanding airports.

The Tahitian airline plans to spend as much as US$20 million for the new plane and a stock of ATR spare parts, Tahitipresse said.

ATR, headquartered in Toulouse, France, is a European joint venture between Finmeccanica/Alenia Aeronautica and EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company). It designs and produces the ATR 42 and ATR 72 regional aircraft, focusing on 40 to 70-seat turboprop aircraft.

Air Tahiti already operates a...

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Sun/PINA) - Former Fiji Military Forces officer Naulu Mataitini is leading the United Nations security team with the United Nations weapons inspectors now in Iraq.

Mataitini reached the rank of major in the Fiji Military Forces before joining the United Nations full time more than 15 years ago.

He has served as a United Nations security officer in New York and in such hot spots as Venezuela, Bosnia, Somalia, and Sierra Leone.

A number of Fiji military officers who served on United Nations peacekeeping missions have been employed full time by the United Nations.

Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Website: http://www.pinanius.org