Teilweise neu: 2001-11-27 Contents of this issue:
1. Pride Restored 2. Pumping Iron 3. Changing Hands 4. Satellite Spin 5. Island Boxing 6. Nature's Fireworks 7. Combating Terrorism ======================================================================== Old contents were: 1. Funding Refused 2. Graduation Rounds 3. Costs Awarded 4. Record Fat November 27th, 2001 1. Pride Restored: Samoa, despite being reduced to 14 men for more than half the game, restored Pacific Islands rugby pride with a 17-9 rugby win over Italy in Italy. Centre Fara'aoni Lalomilo was sent off for a high tackle late in the first half. But the Samoans scored the game's only try and produced a gutsy second half effort. In France, Fiji's miserable tour continued when France scored 12 tries to beat them 77-10, with four tries before halftime and eight in the second half. (PINA Nius Online). 2. Pumping Iron: Niuean weightlifters are preparing for the the Oceania South Pacific Junior Weightlifting Championship to be held in in Tarawa, Kiribati, early next month. The team is hoping to bring back medals in an event they are becoming renowned athletes. The main building where the competition will be held is nearing completion.The Kiribati team is already in camp, where they are undergoing intensive training. 3. Changing Hands: American Samoa's Samoa Air has been sold to the South Seas Group by former owners and operators Jim and Connie Porter. The South Seas Group owns and operates the South Pacific Duty Free Shops in American Samoa and neighbouring Samoa. Its chief executive, Andre Lavigne, has 30 years experience in aviation as a pilot and captain for Air Canada. Samoa Air was first established in the late 1980s to operate flights within American Samoa. Since then it has expanded services to Upolu and Savaii in Samoa and Vava'u in Tonga.It also flew to Niue for several years when a jet service from New Zealand ceased. It has two Twin Otter aircraft and plans to add a third.( Samoa News/PINANius Online). 4. Satellite Spin: Putting up a satellite for free and reaping rich rewards is yet another vote catching ploy by the Niue Premier Sani Lakatani. That's the opinion of leading common roll Opposition member Terry Coe, who along with sitting MP's and other political wannabes, goes to the polls in March. Mr Coe said the Niue Peoples Party three year stint has failed to achieve anything worthwhile. "The premier has a very short memory when it comes to grandiose plans.Can't he recall the cyber city scam last year which embarrassed him straight after the Coral Air debacle?" said Mr Coe when referring to a statement last week that Niue was getting involved in a $USD300 million deal to launch a satellite for developing its information technology industry. Mr Lakatani said the satellite and its launch would cost Niue nothing but would provide jobs for hundreds of people operating call centres and data transfer systems. "It'll be just like they're doing in India," said the Premier who envisages Niueans living abroad will start moving home to participate in the enterprise. Mr Coe has called upon the Premier to name those who are involved in the proposal. "The people have a right to know - if things have gone as far as being able to make a public announcement surely he can tell us who the venture capitalists in the United States and even Australia are fronting this very ambitious scheme, " said Mr Coe. He suggested the Premier should have remained quiet about the proposal until he was sure the backers were going to get permission from the International Communications Union to launch and position the satellite. Mr Lakatani says the investors and advisors will remain confidential at this stage of the planning. However, Mr Lakatani recently named Mr John Rex Woods a former bank officer in PNG and economic adviser to the government of Niue, now a property developer of Sydney, as being one of the instigators of the project. Mr Rex Woods was named in Parliament two year's ago by Mr Lakatani as being the island's honorary consul in Australia. Others understood to be involved in preparing the proposal for the project are Richard Duncan ( former economic advisor to the Niue government) now living in New Zealand still retained by the government and Maryland US based Gerald McClurg an advisor to the Niue Information Technology Committee.(Copyright - Niue Economic Review). 5. Island Boxing: Samoa (two), American Samoa,Fiji and Tahiti have won gold medals in the finals of the Oceania amateur boxing championships in Suva. Results of finals: <!--mstheme--><table border="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->48 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Peter Wakefield (AUS) def Taslim Shah (FIJ) RSC Round 2<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->51 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Emmett Gazzard (AUS) def Raphael Lare (PNG) Points 30 - 27<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->54 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Gyan Kumar (FIJ) def Benjami Jnr (PNG) Points 29 - 16<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->57 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Sada Wulf (SAM) def Tim Chapman (AUS) Points 24 - 18<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->60 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Vaiavea Tausaga (SAM) def Ryan Langham (AUS) Points 45 - 40<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->63.5 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Wayne Parsons (AUS) def Arono Toilolo (SAM) Points 37 - 32<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->67 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Daniel Codling (NZL) def Jason Lewis (AUS) RSC Round 2<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->71 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Kahu Bentson (NZL) def Steven Ng (AUS) RSCI Round 2<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->75 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Soulan Pownsby (NZL) def Peniamina Roberts (ASA) Points 34 - 32<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->81 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Ben McEachran (AUS) def Sigapoa Asiata (SAM) RSCH Round 4<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->91 kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Romeo Talosaga (ASA) def Shane Cameron (NZL) Points 61 - 52<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="12%"><!--mstheme-->91 + kg<!--mstheme--></td> <td width="88%"><!--mstheme-->Hubert Apeang (TAH) def David Turner (AUS) KO Round 2<!--mstheme--></td> </tr> </table><!--mstheme--> FINAL MEDAL TALLY Australia: 4 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze New Zealand: 3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze Samoa: 2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze Fiji: 1 gold, 1 silver, 9 bronze American Samoa: 1 gold, 1 silver Tahiti: 1 gold, 2 bronze Papua New Guinea: 2 silver, 3 bronze Tonga: 2 bronze. ( PINA Nius Online). 6. Nature's Fireworks: An extended lightning storm hit Niue last night accompanied by torrential downpours. The weekend rain broke a four month drought although the weather forecast this week is for more dry hot weather. Taro growers are happy to see the rain but say there will need to be more on a regular basis to assist with the growth of taro and other vegetables. 7. Combating Terrorism: New Zealand's Foreign Minister Phil Goff has announced that Cabinet has approved Regulations providing tougher measures against specified terrorist organisations. The new regulations allow New Zealand to meet its commitment to implementing the United Nations anti-terrorism measures outlined in resolution 1373, which are obligatory on all member States. The regulations have been passed under the United Nations Act 1946. Niue passed an Act last week making provision Under the United Nations Act 1946 for its Cabinet to pass anti terrorist regulations without gaining authority from the Govenor General. The NZ regulations are an interim measure until the passing of the Terrorism (Bombings and Financing) Bill expected to be early next year, and will expire at that time or no later than 30 June 2002. __END__