PACIFIC NEWS BRIEFS
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A new initiative in Samoa aims to strengthen prevention and response to drug abuse among children and adolescents in the country.
In a joint statement, the governments of Samoa and Japan, together with UNICEF, said it comes amid growing concern about the harmful impact...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Most government offices in the Marshall Islands began enforcing a new policy this week of closing by 3pm daily as a way to conserve fuel given uncertainties of fuel supply globally.
The move is to save energy and reduce the strain on the Marshalls Energy Company's diesel...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Residents of Safata are reacting with relief and cautious optimism after being informed that the long-awaited $WST 10 million distribution will be released either this week or next.
The $10 million is the compensation paid by the New Zealand government for the damages...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Overnight and early Wednesday morning, Hawaiian Electric restored power to more than 1,500 customers across Maui County, Hawaiʻi Island, and Oʻahu who were impacted by the powerful Kona low storm.
Power restoration is taking longer in areas hit by heavy downpours that...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Vanuatu has allocated US$160,000 to response efforts for the ongoing minor eruption on Ambae Island.
Local media reported Prime Minister Jothan Napat saying there is a contingency plan in place should the Ambae community need to be evacuated.
A level-three alert remains...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A $28 million project to survey 103,000 square kilometers of seafloor in American Samoa waters has begun this month.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Ocean Service has contracted NV5 to undertake the work, using the survey vessel...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Playwright and author Papalii Sia Figiel was laid to rest on Saturday at the Tafaigata Cemetery, where family, friends and loved ones gathered to remember her life.
The funeral service was held just after 10 am at Matautu Tai EFKS Church, where loved ones reflected on...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A new poll shows a majority of New Zealanders want the fishing method of bottom trawling banned, as New Zealand is the last country operating a bottom trawling fleet in the high seas of the South Pacific.
But the Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said it was too...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Picture-perfect weather set the scene for this year's Wellington Pasifika Festival, drawing large crowds to celebrate the cultures, languages and traditions of the Pacific.
The annual event has become a major gathering for Pasifika communities in New Zealand's capital,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) says their new report shows that global tuna markets are changing.
The FFA said the report finds that global tuna markets are becoming more competitive and volatile.
It said this is due to shifting consumer demand, rising...