Regional

125 of these were tourists staying in the hotel, motels or on yachts, but there were other visitors staying long term in private accommodation. The figures also show there were 489 private households with 1,176 people of Niuean descent on the island. Vaha said it will be June next year before the f…

But in a year when most departments were either cut or saw their budgets remain stagnant, Auditor General Junior Patrick said he believes he can launch the beginnings of expansion with the modest increase the parliament has approved. “My appreciation to the Appropriations Committee,” Patrick said W…

But in comments made while they were in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup, they added they would not enter a bidding war with Russia in the way that China and Taiwan did a few years ago. The issue was raised in bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Murray McCully last week. Georgian Prime Ministe…

Congress took up the President Manny Mori’s nominations for his cabinet positions, heads of agencies and offices of the national government along with the posts for FSM representatives abroad, 23 nominations all together. Congress confirmed six of the 23 during the morning session and deferred the …

According to the bureau, most of the visitors came from Australia recording 31,073 (3.7 percent) followed by New Zealand with 11,545 visitors (9.4 percent); 6,111 visitors came from the U.S. (8 percent) and 2,247 from Continental Europe (2 percent). “People arriving for holiday purposes contributed…

First light honors, shared in summer by Poverty Bay’s Mt Hikurangi and the Chatham Islands, will now belong to Fakaofo in Tokelau. Tokelau, a three atoll New Zealand colony and home to 1,200 people, has opted to move across the Dateline, following Samoa to the south. Earlier this year Samoa’s Prime…

Following intense deliberation on the national budget, Congress extended the second regular session for six  more days until Oct. 8 to tackle the nominations by President Emanuel “Manny” Mori for his cabinet positions, heads of agencies and offices of the national government along with the posts fo…

This means assembly members have had their remuneration reduced by 10 percent to no more than $7,800 a month. The assembly earlier rejected a proposal by Sabrina Birk to cut entitlements in half, reflecting a call by President Oscar Temaru in May when he suggested such a cut to balance the budget. …

“Without them, there is no school system”, said Techur. “I would be defying myself if we are to educate the state’s pupils without their parents and the communities.” He continued seeking  support from the parents and students for a better school year by working hand in hand in ways to alleviate th…

This visit is a follow-up from the May 2011 trip to Ulithi. The team will be visiting all the community schools in the whole atoll. The main purpose of the trip is to monitor teacher performance in the classroom to be sure they have included lessons and activities for children with special needs. I…