HIV- AIDS
Australian medical experts have warned that Papua New Guinea is facing a
major humanitarian and economic crisis, as a result of HIV-AIDS. The
warning was included in a new report released after a joint study
undertaken by a group of Australian physicians and doctors at the Port
Moresby General Hospital. The research found that HIV has now become the
number one cause of death in Papua New Guinea. The study estimates 28
thousand people have the virus in PNG, although earlier estimates had put the figure closer to 50 thousand.
Breaking News
Niue
The world's smallest independent country could be sitting on ten per cent of the world's uranium reserves. The island of Niue, which lies
between Tonga and the Cook Islands, is going to be surveyed and drilled by Australian mining company Yamarna Holdings. But as well as potential wealth for the island of fewer than 2,000 people, there are already concerns about the impact on mining on the environment.
Uranium
Young Vivian
Niue's premier says the possibility of uranium being mined on the island is exciting, but there are a lot of hurdles to clear before any decisions are taken. Young Vivian says opinion on the island is divided about the prospect of a mine. However, he cautions against people jumping to conclusions yet, before all the facts are available. He says the possible costs and benefits will have to be weighed carefully, and the final decision may have to be taken by holding an island-wide referendum.
Niue
Highlands Highway
Papua New Guinea has announced that the Chinese government will help fund the rehabilitation of the country's Highlands Highway. The
announcement was made by PNG's foreign minister, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, in the wake of his recent trip to China, where he met his Chinese
counterpart, Li Zhaoxing. Sir Rabbie says a complete redevelopment of the Highlands Highway will guarantee the infrastructure a long life. The highway connects all highlands provinces to the country's second biggest economic port of Lae.
China
Big Plans for Pacific Flying School
The Pacific Flying School in Fiji is hoping to attract trainee pilots from Asia, as well as the Pacific, as it pushes ahead with major
expansion plans. More than 120 graduates of the School are employed flying wide-bodied jets for airline companies around the world and almost 80 pilots are currently undertaking their commercial pilots licence training at the schools Nadi facility.
Pacific Beat
Artificial coral
There's an ambitious program in Fiji to completely replace the export of live coral reef rock with a trade in artificial live rock within five years. The international demand for tropical coral reef rocks for fish tanks in the developed world is huge and that has led to some reefs being smashed up. However, scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States have been working with the University of the South Pacific and coastal communities in Fiji to develop an alternative.
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