JAKARTA (Reuters) – Implicated in five corruption scandals since the 1990s but never convicted, the speaker of Indonesia’s parliament Setya Novanto is a political survivor. Last week Novanto was detained by anti-corruption investigators over the biggest graft scandal to hit Indonesia’s legislature. [restrict] The 62-year-old political powerbroker was defiant, denying any wrongdoing and urging parliament […]
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South Africa’s new export is Miss Universe
Las Vegas (AFP) – Beauties from across the globe converged in Las Vegas Sunday, where Miss South Africa was crowned Miss Universe. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, 22, edged out her rivals from Colombia and Jamaica to take the crown. [restrict] Nel-Peters, a graduate in business management, said her disabled half-sister has been among her great inspirations. In […]
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Damage at French Polynesia UNESCO site
PAPE’ETE, 23 NOVEMBER 2017 (RNZI) — A wall at French Polynesia’s UNESCO World Heritage site has collapsed. The culture minister, Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu, said the wall at Taputapuatea marae on the island of Raiatea was weakened and had fallen away. [restrict] The minister told Radio1 that experts would restore the wall which included coral from the […]
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Fiji’s COP23 $35k celebration query
SUVA, 23 NOVEMBER 2017 (FIJI TIMES) — Fiji’s former prime minister and Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) leader Sitiveni Rabuka has described the planned celebration by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs to welcome the COP23 president and delegates as “premature and waste of public funds”. [ [restrict] In a press conference on Monday, the permanent […]
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Foreign Policy White Paper says Australia looks to the US for security as China’s power grows
CANBERRA, 23 NOVEMBER 2017 (THE WEST AUSTRALIAN) — Australia’s alliance with the US will become more important in the Indo-Pacific region as China’s power and influence grows, the long-awaited Foreign Policy White Paper has declared. [restrict] The blueprint, released by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop today, reinforces Australia’s desire for the […]
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Papua New Guinea officials pressure refugees to leave camp
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Papua New Guinea authorities on Thursday ratcheted up pressure on more than 300 asylum seekers to abandon a decommissioned immigration camp, where refugees reported their shelters, beds and other belongings have been destroyed. [restrict] Police Chief Superintendent Dominic Kakas said 90 police and immigration officials entered the Manus Island camp Thursday […]