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HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Aug 5) – The Solomon Islands government has condemned in the strongest terms the unwarranted attack on the official car of the Ambassador of the Republic of China to Solomon Islands, George Chan, last night.

The car's tires were flattened, rear window smashed and the official flag vandalized whilst parked at the Honiara Hotel where the diplomat was attending an official function.

The government vows to take the necessary action to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice for their deplorable actions.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says he is shocked at the attack on the vehicle of the Ambassador and will do everything it can to ensure those responsible are arrested and punished accordingly.

He says the government sees the attack as not only directed at the ambassador but the entire government and the peace loving people of the Republic of China.

Mr Sogavare says Taiwan has...

By Liberty Dones

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Aug 5) – Hotel occupancy in the Northern Marianas in June improved a bit from two months ago but was still low compared to the same month last year.

Data from the Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands showed an occupancy rate of 55.42 in June this year. This is about 11 percent lower than in June 2006 of 66.38 percent, but higher than in May this year, which was at 52.32 percent, and April 2007, which had an unprecedented low of 49.45 percent.

In the first six months of 2007, average hotel occupancy rate was at 61 percent, a decline of about 4 percent from the same period in 2006.

In terms of room rate, June's median figure went up to US$82.88 from US$80.23 during the same month in 2006. June's room price was also the highest recorded for the month of June since 2000.

At the height of the CNMI’s tourism industry in calendar year 1996, average occupancy was 85.57 percent. Peak room rates...

By Bernadette H. Carreon

KOROR (Palau Horizon, Aug. 6) — More charges have been brought against the former President of the defunct Pacific Savings Bank including charges against three former bank employees.

Mack Timothy Taunton has been charged with six counts of cheating, six counts of embezzlement, one count of forgery, 18 counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy.

Based on Criminal Case No. 07-156, former employee John DeVivo is facing charges of two counts of cheating, two counts of embezzlement, two counts of forgery, six counts of money laundering and two counts of conspiracy.

Deborah Rengiil on the other hand is charged with seven counts of cheating, seven counts of embezzlement, two counts of forgery, 21 counts of money laundering and two counts of conspiracy.

Margo Llecholch meanwhile is facing two counts of cheating, two counts of embezzlement, two counts of forgery, six counts of money laundering and two counts of...

SUVA. Fiji (Fiji Times, Aug. 6) – The regulation gazetted last week revives the Great Council of Chiefs as an institution but not its former membership, says interim Fijian Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau.

As such, Ratu Ovini Bokini had no authority to speak as the council's chairman because all council members were terminated when the chiefly body was suspended earlier this year, he said yesterday.

Ratu Epeli was referring to last Thursday's gazetted regulation which revoked an earlier order that halted the council's operations. The agreement, reportedly negotiated between the two parties, resulted in Ratu Ovini and his colleague withdrawing its case in court.

"It's illegal for (Ratu Ovini) to be making statements on behalf of the council. He is not the chairman. The regulation does not reinstate membership. It just reinstates the institution. The membership and machinery is under review," Ratu Epeli said.

Ratu Ovini said Ratu Epeli clarified...