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SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, Feb. 28) - Fiji's leading bottled water 'Fiji Water' lost its case in the Australia Federal Court on Tuesday against close rival 'Island Chill' over exclusive rights to market water in Australia.

Dayals (Fiji) Artesian Waters Limited, the owners of 'Island Chill' are now seeking close to FJ$1 million [US$605,000] in damages.

Managing Director, Mr. Jay Dayal said that the litigation by Natural Waters of Fiji had no basis and was designed to suppress the momentum and ultimately kill their interest in the Australian export market.

"I urge the Government to act without delay to urge by all possible mean Fiji Water from repeating this in the interest of saving the water bottled industry as fighting such cases is really expensive."

In passing her judgment, Federal Judge, Justice Annabelle Bennett said the causes of action are each founded on the assertion that Island Chill's packaging shares a sufficient number of the features of Fiji...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (NiuFM, Feb. 28) - The Premier of Niue has been challenged about his "easy going attitude" towards a team of investors that locals believe are trying to establish a cult on the island.

The group believed to be the Maha Devi Ascension Movement was in Samoa a few years back but were sent packing after living at the Sinalei Resort in Apia for at least a year.

They're now staying at the Matavai Resort in Alofi where they've been for some months, operating under the name Ananda Health Resort, saying they want to build health resorts on the Island.

Premier Young Vivian says he's aware of the cult allegations but says he owes it to the group to discuss their plans with them.

Niue’s [economy is] in dire straits at the moment and has been looking for investors for some time...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Feb. 28) - Bougainville Copper Limited will be the only mining company that will be allowed by the Panguna landowners to discuss the future of the Panguna Mine.

This is because the company is currently the mining leaseholder of the area, which the mine is located and also because there are outstanding issues that needed to be sorted out with the company.

Road Mining Tailings Lease Trustee Ltd director and Panguna Landowners’ Association spokesman Mr. Lawrence Daveona said this yesterday after learning that a proposal by Australian junior mining company Ord River Resources was currently before the Bougainville Executive Council for the executives to deliberate on today. "We made a resolution in November last year to deal with Bougainville Copper Limited regarding the Panguna Mine," Daveona said. "The (PNG) Mining Minister Mr. Sam Akoitai is aware of this...

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa, (Samoa News, Feb. 28) - The VA clubhouse in Tafuna will no longer be a place for bingo games.

[PIR editor’s note: Tafuna is a town on the southern coast of Tutuila, the main island in American Samoa.]

Last Friday, the High Court granted a permanent injunction banning directors and officers of the organization running the clubhouse as well as those who operated bingo games there and all others from using the clubhouse for illegal and/or unauthorized bingo games.

The court's order, outlined in a 24-page decision, was based on a suit filed by members of the Samoan Veterans Association (SVA) against the organization's officers and directors, and Samoana Fellowship Inc. (SFI), an organization that operated bingo games at the clubhouse since 1990.

SFI's principal owners are former House Speaker Matagi M. McMoore and his wife Purinisese.

The plaintiffs sought the court to declare that SFI was...