Free Republic

The tiny Pacific nation of Niue is having a new set of coins with Star War characters emblazoned on them. However, the 2000 residents of Niue, which uses New Zealand currency is unlikely to use the $NZ2 coin for their regular shopping as it is worth way more than its value, Australia’s Herald Sun reported. The legendary film series - which has influenced literature, music, toys and popular culture for decades – is set make its first appearance on legal tender by November this year. The coin set, which includes eight one-ounce silver coins and 10 silver-plated metal coins, has...

TOKYO, March 27 (UPI) -- China's insatiable appetite for energy and natural resources, and its desire to secure the sea lanes through which such resources are transported, are propelling the country's outreach to even the smallest of the Pacific Islands, leaders from the island nations heard last week at a convention in Tokyo. China's determination to undermine Taiwan's influence in the South Pacific is prompting generous assistance in infrastructure projects, such as building sports complexes in Fiji and Kiribati, and providing cargo ships to Vanuatu. Representatives from 22 island nations gathered in Tokyo at the Asia-Pacific Island Nations Summit from...

WELLINGTON (AFP) - A New Zealand Air Force Hercules carrying emergency supplies and two air ambulances arrived in cyclone-torn Niue as more details of the devastation, death and injury on the tiny Pacific island emerged. Niue government secretary Cecelia Talagi said the 1,500 islanders were reeling from the ferocity of Cyclone Heta which ripped through on Tuesday night, killing one woman, and seriously injuring her baby and a foreign volunteer worker, and there were reports of several other injuries. "Yesterday morning we woke up to a scene of so much devastation, it was just unbelievable. Cyclone Heta was just so...