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Arrested man was expecting package of sausages, not drugs
Northern Marianas authorities have seized methamphetamine worth more than $US300,000 from a man picking up a package at the US Postal Service.
Northern Marianas Customs officers arrested the man, who claimed that he was actually expecting a package of sausages in the mail.
He is accused of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (methamphetamine) in the US District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.
Customs officers discovered the illicit drugs rolled in a towel and concealed in a package during a routine inspection.
PNG's Attorney General faces crash charges
Papua New Guinea Police have charged the Secretary of Justice and Attorney General Eric Kwa with dangerous driving causing death after a crash.
Commissioner David Manning said the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary is satisfied with the weight of the evidence to support the charge against Kwa.
He also said there are separate police actions to be taken on other parties involved.
Marianas treatment facility may have to close
One of only two addiction and mental health treatment facilities in the Northern Marianas may have to shut down due to a lack of government resources.
The HOPE Recovery Center could be one of the casualties of budget-tightening measures of the new administration of Governor Arnold Palacios following alleged financial mismanagement by the previous administration.
The Center is akin to inpatient housing for people with addictions.
The Office of the Attorney General's Criminal Division chief prosecutor, Chester Hinds, believes closing it is a mistake as the center has kept many of those with addiction and mental health issues off the streets and has provided them with the treatment they need.
Potentially huge bill for Fiji carbon plan
Fiji will have to pay a multi-billion-dollar bill if it wants to achieve carbon emissions cuts of 30 percent by 2030.
FBC News reports the Minister for Public Works and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, saying the target will require an investment of close to $US3 billion.
The minister made this statement at the just-ended 13th International Renewable Energy Agency Ministerial Intervention in Abu Dhabi.
Tuisawau told the meeting the "terrifying urgency" for islands facing severe natural disasters means leaders are going global with their messages.
Air link to Vava'u to continue
Fiji Airways will provide flights to Kingdom's second largest island Vava'u.
Lulutai, Tonga's state-owned domestic airline, grounded a 34-seater Saab 340 aircraft for maintenance and repair last week.
The aircraft is the only flight that services Vava'u.
Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni said it would take 3 to 4 months to restore domestics operations.
Officials to look into controls on food prices
American Samoa's Chief Statistician has suggested a feasability study on 'price controls' for goods, especially food.
This follows a Senate committee hearing called after public complaints to senators over the high cost of living in the territory.
Officials informed senators they were not aware of any law giving any government agency the authority to "control" the price of goods.
Chief statistician Meleisea Vai Filiga said they need to study other systems, especially neighbouring countries with similar price control systems.
He said they also need to identify counter systems, including black markets, in the presence of a government-controlled price system.
News group welcomes government's media move
The new Fijian Government's push to review the current media laws has been welcomed by the president of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA).
Kora Nou said PINA was particularly pleased and applauded the commitment from the Coalition Government to restore media freedom in Fiji after 16 years.
Nou told the Fijian Deputy Prime Minister that PINA will work with the Fijian Media Association on its submission to the legislation review.
He said PINA fully supports the Association's call to repeal the existing Act and allow for media self-regulation through the setting up of a Fiji Media Council to handle complaints and media standards.
