Transition

Launched Papua New Guinea’s long-awaited 50 tina banknote, at a ceremony at Parliament House, Port Moresby. The new note features an

engraved portrait of Foreign Minister

Michael Somare. Bank of PNG gov ernor Sir Henry Toßobert said the in clusion of Mr Somare’s portrait was a sign of respect for the of the nation” the first Chief Minister and first Prime Minister. The K5O note also bears an engraving of the Parlia ment building and the PNG national crest.

Launched Compensation proceed

ings in the International Court of Jus tice, by the Nauru Government m a bid to secure compensation from Au stralia for rehabilitation of lands work ed out by phosphate mining. A Nauru Commission of Inquiry recently set a figure of SA72 million to cover the

cost of damage caused by long-term

mining on the mineral-ricn island.

Elected Francois Burck, as leader of New Caledonia’s pro-independence Union Caledonienne. Burck, 50, re

places slain UC leader Jean-Marie

Tjibaou. Leopold Joreidie was elected

deputy leader, to replace Yeiwene Yeiwene who died with Tjibaou on the island of Ouvea on May 4. While the killings were seen as a protest against the Matignon accord signed with France, both Burck and Joreidie were expected to hold early talks with French leaders to ensure continuity of the accord process.

Appointed Ilinome Tarua CBE, as Consul General in Papua New Guinea’s Sydney consulate. Mr Tarua is 48 and has pursued an extensive career in law, public service and the

diplomatic corp.

Died Emos Raboni, softly spoken PNG radio broadcaster, of internal

bleeding, at Nonga Base Hospital in

East New Britain Province. Though only 33, Raboni was one of the National Broadcasting Commission’s longest serving staff members. He be gan his radio career at age 18 and became NBC’s co-ordinator of sport.

He had worked for Radio Rabaul for the past three years.

Papa bilong ol PNG stret - honoured on new bank note.