Trump and Pacific Island States: New possibilities

Leaders across the Pacific Island states are ready for the return to Oval Office by President Donald Trump. They are both anxious and hopeful. There is turbulence ahead in the Pacific Island States and the US

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Take them off: Concern over teen social media use

Australia’s bold move to ban social media for children under 16 years, a world-first law, has sparked a global debate. The policy is now a topic of conversation and consideration in many countries, including those in

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It’s DO or DIE: Fiame fights for survival

Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has fought all her life. That’s not surprising, given that she was born in 1957, on the cusp of Samoa regaining its independence from New Zealand in 1962, due in part to the efforts of freedom

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Briefs

American SamoaAmerican Samoa’s Department of Health has announced an increase in respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the flu. The Department of Health is urging people to

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Movers and Shakers

Aisake Eke is Tonga’s new Prime Minister, after the shock resignation of Siaosi Sovaleni Hu’akavameiliku, just before the latter faced a discussion and ballot on a Vote of No Confidence in his government. Dr Eke is

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Hundreds of Fijians, Tongans among 1.4 million facing deportation from US

A total of 151 Tongans is currently among the estimated 1.4 million people in the United States who are at risk of deportation, reports said. It comes after President Donald Trump held firm to his campaign promise of

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Federal judge blocks President’s freeze, depts awaits info

American Samoa Government departments and non-profit organisations receiving federal grants are scrambling to get information from their federal grantors about how the freeze ordered by President Trump will impact local

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Fuel removed from Manawanui as government declares no backup for stricken ship

The initial phase of fuel removal from the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel Manawanui, which sank off the southwestern coast of Upolu in Sāmoa in October, has been completed.  The HMNZS Manawanui (A09) ran aground on the

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Fruitful Ambitions: Juice Fiji fights NCDs with visionary business model

For a nation blessed with bountiful fresh produce, Fiji is puzzlingly wrestling with a severe epidemic of non- communicable diseases (NCDs). This is a paradox that continues to frustrate health stakeholders in the

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Movers and Shakers

Alex Herman, the Seabed Minerals Commissioner at the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority has resigned. Herman will take up a regional role with the Pacific Community (SPC) in early 2025. Under Herman’s five-year

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SSC to Review Fisheries Data and Management Strategies

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet Dec. 12-13, 2024, to address key issues affecting fisheries management in the Pacific Islands. Electronic

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Opinion: Tonga’s PM Hu’akavameiliku throws in the towel

In a highly anticipated session of the Tongan parliament to debate and vote on the second vote of no confidence (VONC) scheduled for Monday 9th December, Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni Hu’akavameiliku surprised

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