Exim Bank offers Fiji loans, Australia to soften stance on Fiji, PNG cracks down on illegal immigrants

Regional headlines:

• Exim Bank of Malaysia offers Fiji US$120 million in capital projects (Fiji Sun)

• Australian PM rejects suggestions that bill to stop illegal logging threatens Indonesia relations (ABC News)

• Foreign minister Carr to soften Australia’s stance on Fiji (Adelaide Now/The Australian/Pacnews)

• PNG task force investigating illegal immigrants- Malaysians, Sri Lankan, Chinese and Bangladeshis in custody (Post Courier)

• Chinese firm wins K600 million Lae Port contract (PNG Post Courier)

• Papua New Guinea, Philippines mull pact on fishing, food exports (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

• Palau President faces lawsuit over Chinese refugee money (Radio New Zealand International)

• Solomons Government deports Chinese businessmen for ignoring beche-de-mer ban (Solomon Star)

• Vanuatu Fisheries Director defends beche-de-mer agreement with Chinese investor (Vanuatu Daily Post)

• Indonesia to limit foreign ownership in mines (Reuters)

• Philippines pushes for an end to Pacific tuna ban (Manila Bulletin)

• Foreign airlines lose tax exemption in Cook Islands (Cook Islands News)