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Budget cuts see shift from French Polynesia to New Caledonia

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 3, 2013) – The French defence minister says the Asia-Pacific region remains a strategic challenge for France.

Jean-Yves Le Drian says France has intensified its politico-military cooperation in the region despite budget difficulties.

Speaking to the Security Forum Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, he says France can not turn away, whatever the constraints of geography, the impact of fiscal restraint or false assumptions about the exclusive economic dimension that would take the Euro-Asian relationship.

Mr Le Drian says France also intends to approach the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

For budgetary reasons, France has scaled down its military presence in French Polynesia and concentrated operations in New Caledonia.

Scholarship association VP reassures parents of safety

By Thompson Marango

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, June 13, 2013) – Vice President of the Vanuatu Scholarship Students Association in Philippines, Kabrini Dick, has refuted rumors of threat to Vanuatu students studying in institutions in the Philippines.

The rumors came after the sudden death of two students recently and the late Vanuatu Honorary Consul to Philippines, Sampson Ngwele.

Daily Post understands that due to the rumors some parents have delayed sending their children back for the next academic semester.

Mr. Dick, who was in Philippines when the three unfortunate incidents happened, said the parents could be assured that "the last three deaths happened as they have been formally reported."

"There are over 100 students studying in the Philippines and I can assure all parents that...

‘Niuatoputapu Tsunami’ to benefit those affected by 2009 disaster

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 24, 2013) – The Tongan Broadcasting Commission (TBC) is looking for donors to help it print 9,000 copies of a book about the impact of the 2009 earthquake and tsunami on the people of Nuiatoputapu.

The book, Niuatoputapu Tsunami, documents the experiences of survivors of the tsunami, which killed 9 people in Tonga’s northernmost islands.

The general manager of the TBC, Nanise Fifita, says it already has 150 copies of the book in Tongan and English, but wants to distribute copies to all of the Kingdom’s schools, as well as some in the wider Pacific.

"This book is not for TBC’s own commercial interests. First and foremost it has to benefit the people of Niuatoputapu. The survivors of the 2009 earthquake and tsunami, what they have contributed should become a learning material for Tonga’s present generation and those to come."

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

PNG Opposition’s Namah ‘Welcomes’ Alleged Fraud Probe Denies monies for road project were used inappropriately

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, June 6, 2013) – Opposition leader Belden Namah has welcomed investigations into how the K9.9 million [US$4.4 million] of Log Export Development Levy funds from the Vanimo Timber Rights Purchase (TRP) blocks 1-6 project area in Bewani that has been obtained and spent.

Mr. Namah has accused the O’Neill-Dion government of orchestrating the police Fraud Squad investigation into the K9.9 million, describing the action as "cheap politics and highly malicious" and intended to silence him from exposing corruption in government.

The Opposition leader said just as the mineral and hydrocarbon development area landowners are entitled to memorandum of agreement (MOA) funds or...