Teilweise neu: 2001-12-04 Contents of this issue:
1. Two Cases Adjourned 2. Games Open 3. Season's First Cyclone ======================================================================== Old contents were: 1. Games Open 2. Season's First Cyclone December 4th, 2001 1. Two Cases Adjourned: A politician and a publisher on Niue did not enter pleas to separate charges of criminal libel when they appeared before the High Court on Niue today. Both cases were brought after a complaint by the Premier Sani Lakatani. Publisher Stafford Guest told the Court that the information on a summons was incorrect. He said he was surprised that a case of criminal libel was brought to court nearly 18 months after the alleged offending article was printed and said he felt the matter had become a political one because of an upcoming general election on the island. Opposition MP Terry Coe said the information laid concerning the broadcast of a news item by Radio New Zealand International was also incorrect. The Chief of Police John Satini Tohovaka sought an adjournment in both cases until next year and said he would consider amending the informations. 2. Games Open: The South Pacific mini Games has opened in one of the region's smallest territories, Norfolk Island, with 17 countries and territories represented. A contingent of 38 are representing Niue. President of the South Pacific Games Council Ric Blas opened the games and said in sports not only do people enjoy themselves but also find friendships and see broader aspects about life. Blas commended the Norfolk Organising Committee for hosting the games and acknowledged the volunteers recruited to run the games in the next 10 days. (PINA Nius Online.) 3. Season's First Cyclone: Rarotonga and the southern island of Mangaia have been battered by high winds for several days with Cyclone Trina building up south of the group since late Thursday evening. The cyclone has now been downgraded as it moved off to the south east. The two islands were put on cyclone alert early Friday morning. Air New Zealand flights from Auckland to Rarotonga were cancelled on Saturday and several big social events on Rarotonga, including an annual teen beauty contest, were put off until later this week. Although there has been heavy rain, no serious flooding has been experienced on Rarotonga, where three motorists were injured by falling debris on Thursday when wind gusts reached 55 knots. The extent of damage to crops, including pawpaw (papaya) and banana trees has yet to be assessed. __END__
