PNG govt reveals biggest budget in country's history
The Papua New Guinea Government introduced the country's biggest budget in history on Tuesday.
At 24.5 billion PNG kina or $US6.78 billion, Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey, who presented the Budget, has called it the largest investment in the history of the country.
The government will be relying on income of 19.5 billion kina or $US5.4 billion - again a record in PNG.
But it leaves a substantial deficit to be bridged.
The shortfall is $US1.35 billion but this is lower than in the previous budget.
Oil spill in Solomon Islands suspected from WWII wreck
An oil spill in Solomon Islands, suspected to be from a sunken WWII wreck, has covered a beach about 100 metres from Vura village in northwest Guadalcanal.
The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reports villagers saying the spill may have resulted from last week's earthquake.
A chief from Vura Village, Dominic Bua, told SIBC news, that they believe the oil is from wrecks just a short distance from their beaches.
He said this is the first time they have seen such an oil spill and villagers are now fearful for their health.
Bua wants authorities to make an assessment of what caused the spill.
Meanwhile people have been warned not to fish or swim in the polluted water.
Aftershocks continue in Solomon Islands following 7.3 quake
Solomon Islanders have been told to expect aftershocks after last week's earthquake to continue for some time.
A 7.3 magnitude quake hit last Tuesday off the south-west coast of Guadalcanal.
The National Disaster Council has issued a situational report, saying the aftershocks won't cease until the tectonic plates stop moving.
It has advised communities living near rivers to note unusual water flows, because this could indicate damming of water courses, and result in flash floods.
It said people also need to be wary of recent landslides and extra careful when it rains, because they could become more unstable.
The Council said damage assessment is being undertaken in the six wards that were the first to report disaster impacts, while an assessment of government buildings is being done to determine their structural integrity and safety.
Study in Samoa reveals 60 percent of women experienced domestic violence
Samoa's Minister for Women says it's been ten years since the country joined the global campaign of 16 Days of activism to end violence in all forms, yet results are "very disappointing".
Leota Laki Lamositele said violence against women and girls is a continuous plight that has affected most, if not all, of the world's countries, and Samoa is no exception.
He said a study in Samoa reveals that 60 percent of women had experienced domestic violence in their lifetimes.
Consultations with stakeholders show 87 percent of women experienced threats of violence, with most subject to physical violence and about 10 percent raped by a family member.
The Minister said the statistics reveal families and communities are unsafe, and he said the government is taking measures to help reduce the violence.
China's ambassador to NZ and the Cook Islands visits Rarotonga
China's ambassador to New Zealand and the Cook Islands, Wang Xiaolong, is visiting Rarotonga this week to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Mark Brown Photo: Sprep/Cook Islands Government
Prime Minister Mark Brown, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the Cook Islands has much to celebrate over these 25 years of co-operation.
The Cook Islands News reports the grants and concessional loans provided by China have led to the construction of the courthouse, police headquarters, the Ministry of Education, the multi-sports complex in Nikao, and other projects.
The ambassador will also meet with senior government officials, the business community and civil society, including during a reception he will host to mark the 25th anniversary.