Samoa political saga: Challenge to party removal reported
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Samoa’s prime minister and the five other ousted members of the ruling FAST Party are reportedly challenging their removal. FAST chairman La’auli Leuatea Schmidt on Wednesday announced the removal of the prime minister and five Cabinet ministers from the ruling party. Twenty party members signed for the removal of Fiame…
Trouble brewing in Samoa: Fiame’s leadership hangs in the balance
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Analysis – With just over a year left in her tenure as Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa faces a political upheaval threatening a peaceful end to her term. Ironically, the rule of law — the very principle that elevated her to power — has now become the source of…
PNG PM Marape promises new deal for landowners
Tusi Tala Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape, has pledged that a community benefit-sharing agreement with the landowners of Porgera will be finalized by the end of March this year. The Porgera mine, jointly owned by Barrick Gold from Canada and China’s Zijin Mining Group, remained inactive for three years due to the PNG…
Samoa- whooping cough on the rise
Tusi Tala Whooping cough cases continue to be reported in Samoa, with a total of 321 cases documented from September to January 5. The Ministry of Health has confirmed 17 of these cases, noting that four involved individuals with incomplete vaccinations. “The vaccination status for the other confirmed cases is being investigated,” stated the Ministry….
ADB assists Cook Islands healthcare
Tusi Tala, Staff Writer The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has entered into a grant agreement worth US$2 million with the government of the Cook Islands aimed at enhancing health screening capabilities at the nation’s airports. According to Cook Islands News, the funding will be utilized to upgrade health screening equipment that is essential during public…
Trump adviser says preparations for Putin meeting underway
Richard Sanders, Staff Writer Preparations for talks between US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are underway, incoming US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz has said. Phone conversations between the two are expected to occur in the “coming days and weeks,” Waltz believes. Asked during an interview with ABC News how soon a Trump-Putin meeting could happen,…
Australia unveils $190 million security deal for Solomon Islands
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Australia has struck a new security agreement with Solomon Islands to bolster the size of the Pacific island nation’s police force. The ABC has been told that Australia has committed $190 million (US$118 million) to grow the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and establish a new police training centre in…
CIA can read WhatsApp messages – Zuckerberg
Tusi Tala, Staff Writer Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has acknowledged that US authorities, including the CIA, can access WhatsApp messages by remotely logging into users’ devices, effectively bypassing the platform’s end-to-end encryption. Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Friday, Zuckerberg explained that while WhatsApp’s encryption prevents Meta from viewing message content, it does…
PM terminates Samoa MP at centre of police charges
by Martin Haffner Associate Editor Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has terminated Laauli Leuatea Schmidt as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. Laauli, Chairman of the country’s ruling FAST party, also faces several criminal charges. A government statement said this matter arose following the formal announcement of allegations implicating the minister. It cited an incident…
Japan’s New Ambassador to Solomon Islands presents credentials to Governor General.
Governor General, His Excellency Rev. David Tipa Kapu with Japan’s new Ambassador to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Keiichi Hagiuchi. Richard Sanders, Staff Writer Japan’s new Ambassador to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Keiichi Hagiuchi, formally presented his Letter of Credentials to the Governor General, His Excellency Rev. David Tipa Kapu, during a ceremony held today. Ambassador…
