How will Trump’s executive orders impact US foreign relations with Pacific Islands?
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor In the ever-evolving landscape of international relations, the Pacific Islands have emerged as a crucial arena for geopolitical competition, particularly between the United States and China. The recent executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump, while primarily focused on domestic policies, also hold significant implications for U.S. foreign relations…
US could soon become ‘a bigger country’ – Trump
Richard Sanders The US could acquire new territories in the future, President Donald Trump has told a crowd of his supporters. In recent weeks, Trump has expressed ambitions to expand US territory and showed interest in annexing Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal. “We might be an enlarged country pretty soon,” Trump said during a speech…
Climate change and China will define US relations with Pacific Islands under Donald Trump, security experts say
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Under a return of Donald Trump to the White House, the dynamics of U.S. relations with Pacific Island nations could be significantly influenced by two primary factors: climate change and China’s increasing influence in the region. Security experts argue that these elements will be pivotal in shaping U.S. strategies and…
Vanuatu’s AG Critiques U.S. Withdrawal from Paris Agreement Amidst Climate Concerns
Richard Sanders Vanuatu’s Attorney General Arnold Loughman expressed deep concern over the United States’ recent decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, marking a second exit by President Donald Trump. Loughman, who has been instrumental in Vanuatu’s significant climate litigation at the International Court of Justice, described this move as a significant setback for global…
Biden joins black Freemasons
Dave Chamberlain Former US President Joe Biden, a self-professed Catholic, has joined an African-American Masonic lodge as a ‘Master Mason’. The Vatican takes a dim view of Freemasonry, and Catholics who join the fraternal order face excommunication. Biden was inducted into the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge in South Carolina on Sunday, one day…
First load of fuel removed from sunken Manawanui
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor The first lot of fuel has been removed from New Zealand navy ship Manawanui which sank in October off the southwest coast of Upolu in Samoa. The recovered fuel and pollutants are being offloaded in Apia and the barge has since returned to start the second cycle of fuel removal….
BlackRock boss predicts $700,000 Bitcoin
Richard Sanders Bitcoin could reach an astonishing $700,000 if institutional investors allocate between 2% and 5% of their portfolios to the cryptocurrency, Larry Fink, the head of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm, has predicted. The digital coin has seen a surge in its value in recent months. In 2024, its price jumped 121%,…
‘De-colonising’ aid the call from Fiji’s Biman Prasad
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor De-colonising’ aid the call from Fiji’s Biman Prasad Fiji’s Finance Minister Biman Prasad responds to media at the post-Budget press conference.Fiji’s Finance Minister Biman Prasad responds to media at the post-Budget press conference. Photo: Screenshot / Fiji GovernmentFiji’s deputy prime minister, Biman Prasad, told an international conference last month in…
Emergency Relief Efforts in Papua New Guinea Following Devastating Floods
Tusi Tala The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, has successfully delivered emergency relief supplies to 250 individuals affected by flooding in Papua New Guinea. The Kagua-Erave district, located in the Southern Highlands Province, experienced severe flooding and landslides last October, displacing many residents and causing significant damage. According to a report…
Kiribati Opposition MP Critiques Budget for Ignoring Presidential Commitments Amid Controversy Over Governance and Fiscal Policy
Tusi Tala An opposition MP in Kiribati, Sir Ieremia Tabai, criticized the Budget presented late last year for failing to allocate funds for the commitments outlined in President Taneti Maamau’s electoral manifesto. This manifesto, released before the October elections, detailed 148 specific pledges, including tax reductions and infrastructure improvements, which are to be monitored by…
