Neu: 2001-10-13 Contents of this issue:
1. Islands Ambassador 2. City Leaders 3. Hijacking Scare ======================================================================== October 13th, 2001 1. Islands Ambassador: Career diplomat Don Washington has been named ambassador to the Pacific islands nations of Fiji, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu by President George W. Bush His nomination is subject to approval by the U.S. Senate. Washington, who will succeed Osman Siddique in the diplomatic post, previously served as ambassador to Australia, Indonesia and South Korea. 2. City Leaders: New Zealand top cities have chosen Mayor's to head their local bodies. Results of yesterday's election were: Auckland City - John Banks; Waitakere City - Bob Harvey; Manukau City - Sir Barry Curtis; Wellington - Kerry Prendergast; Dunedin - Sukhi Turner; Invercargill - Tim Shadbolt.(NZ Herald). 3. Hijacking Scare: An Australian Air Force Hercules was denied permission to land in American Samoa for more than half an hour last night. Authorities feared it may have been hijacked and flown by terrorists. But the Hercules was eventually allowed to land to refuel but was ordered to stay well away from the terminal. The American Samoan airport management had originally issued the Royal Australian Air Force Hercules with authorisation to land to refuel but that was prior to the terrorist attacks on New York. After September 11th, the Federal Aviation Administration had declared all such authorisations invalid and ordered a new system of diplomatic clearances. Apparently there was some mix up and the clearance number given by the Hercules crew was rejected as incorrect. After the Hercules circled the airport for half an hour it was allowed to land after checks with the FAA in Washington and the U.S. State Department. The chief of Pago Pago's airport security said that after searching the plane she was told by the Australian captain that he was impressed with their security precautions.(Radio Australia). __END__
