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PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, July 31) - Four [religious sects] have emerged in Papua New Guinea’s Northern Province, attracting about 23,000 followers throughout the province.

The groups are believed to be breakaways from the three mainstream churches - the Anglican, Catholic and Lutheran - although some Pentecostal churches in the province have also been affected.

Several followers of cult groups interviewed separately last week confirmed they all worshipped and believed in the return of their ancestors although they regarded themselves as belonging to the mainline churches.

However, the Anglican Church Archbishop James Ayong and Bishop Joseph Kofafa from the Anglican Diocese of Popondotta said these followers had no ties with the Anglican Church.

This reporter flew into the province and returned after interviewing several members of four different sectarian groups. Several followers of two of the four cult groups, "the Living Stone...

By Ralph Saoa

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Times, Aug. 1) - Ambassador of Taiwan His Excellency George Chan yesterday presented a cheque for SB$800,000 [US$114,800] to the Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare for the upcoming Premiers conference.

The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) released the funds for the 2007 Premiers Conference to be held in Rennell Bellona Province from the 11th -15th September.

The fund was made available following a request by the Solomon Islands Government to the ROC [Republic of China] Embassy.

In handing over the cheque, Ambassador Chan said he is he is confident that the fund will be used for the benefit of the country. Ambassador Chan also reiterated Taiwan's continuous support to the Solomon Islands' Provincial Governments.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Provincial Government and Rural Development Mr Fred Ganate said the Conference Taskforce have only to finalise details of the accommodation...

By Gerardo R. Partido

SAIPAN, CNMI (Mariana Variety, July 31) – The US$30 million expansion of the Guam Hotel Okura has hit a snag as representatives of Chamorro activist groups asked the hotel owners to save what’s left of the ancient Chamorro cemetery being excavated at the hotel’s renovation construction site.

The groups claim that more than 280 ancestral remains have already been excavated without public notice and that the archaeological contractor, PHRI, allegedly has plans to mail these remains off-island via parcel post.

In a letter sent to Guam Resorts Inc., the owner of the hotel, former Senator Hope A. Cristobal asked for a meeting with hotel officials to discuss the preservation plans for the cemetery and the exact number of remains that have been removed, including when they were found and where the remains are being stored.

"We feel that the whole scale removal of this Chamorro cemetery is unnecessary and disrespectful. We want people to...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, July 31) - Papua New Guinea’s major gold miner Lihir Gold Limited has become the first company to be hit with pressure associated with the rising Australian dollar against the U.S. dollar.

The Australian newspaper reported yesterday that the miner had become the latest in a long line of resources companies to note the difficulties associated with the rising Australian dollar.

Lihir Gold Mine Limited posted its record first-half production of 375,730 ounces. Lihir Gold chief executive officer Arthur Hood told the Australian newspaper that while unit costs remained stable over the first half of 2007, the rapidly appreciating Australian dollar had led to "significant increases in costs." Production cash costs were steady at AU$282 [PGK712; US$240] an ounce for the three months, while the average cash price per ounce of gold was AU$664 [PGK1,676; US$565].

"It (the higher Australian dollar) has certainly added to our...