NewsBite

Samoa

December 2024

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Sydney on Tuesday.

Bigger than sport: PNG’s PM on getting an NRL team

James Marape, Papua New Guinea’s prime minister, says the bid to join the NRL goes way beyond sport and commerce for the country, and will also benefit Australia.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith

October 2024

The All Blacks perform their traditional pre-match haka before a test against the Wallabies last year.

The haka is overused and we shouldn’t just stand for it

It is preposterous that opponents are supposed to be mute and reverential while 15 man mountains threaten to tear them to tiny pieces, writes Oliver Brown.

  • Oliver Brown
King Charles used his speech at CHOGM to call for greater effort on climate change.

Albanese defends Australia amid Pacific climate criticism

King Charles has used a summit of Commonwealth leaders to warn that lives, livelihoods and human rights are at risk across the Pacific from advancing climate change.

  • Tom McIlroy
HMNZS Manawanui

New Zealand Navy ship sinks off Samoa, all 75 on board safe

A Royal New Zealand Navy vessel ran aground and sank off Samoa but all 75 crew and passengers on board were safe, the New Zealand Defence Force says.

  • Lucy Craymer

August 2024

High school students danced and marched in Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa, on Tuesday to promote awareness of climate change’s impact on Pacific nations.

Australia pressed to spend more climate dollars in Pacific

As he heads to the Pacific Islands Forum, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under pressure to boost Australia’s contribution to poorer nations’ fight against climate change.

  • Andrew Tillett
Advertisement

October 2023

Rodrigo Marta of Portugal scores his team’s third try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Fiji and Portugal at Stadium de Toulouse.

A weekend of rugby drama sets up titanic quarter-final clashes

A match with two winners confirmed the Wallabies as the Rugby World Cup’s biggest losers, and sets up a mouthwatering series of Rugby quarterfinals.

  • Simon Poidevin

September 2023

Do or die: Time for the Wallabies to step up against Wales

The world has got very ugly for the Wallabies since their loss to Fiji, and will get worse unless they bring the mongrel, determination and smarts needed to beat Wales.

  • Simon Poidevin

March 2023

Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister of Samoa Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa.

China should deal with Pacific as a pack, Samoa says

Samoan leader Fiame Naomi Mata’afa also says she has no problem with AUKUS as long new submarines do not carry nuclear weapons.

  • Andrew Tillett

November 2022

Lalomanu Beach on Upolu, Samoa, easily lives up to the saying “paradise on earth”.

Worried about over-tourism? Head to Samoa’s deserted beaches

At a time when the ultimate luxury is to be far from crowded places, this jewel of the South Pacific is having its moment in the sun.

  • Paul Best

September 2022

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, greets dignitaries from Pacific Island countries during the US-Pacific Island Country Summit at the State Department in Washington.

US and Pacific Islands agree ‘big dollar’ partnership to counter China

The Biden administration is hosting a summit with Pacific Island leaders in Washington to forge closer ties and stem China’s influence in the region.

  • David Brunnstrom, Alexandra Alper and Michael Martina

June 2022

Former Westpac board member Steve Harker picked up an AM for “significant service to the banking sector and to the community”.

Steve Harker’s service to Samoan banking

The former Westpac director was a model of support for Pacific engagement with his offshore super fund.

  • Neil Chenoweth

May 2022

Samoa’s Head of State Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II meets with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Apia.

Pacific Islands forum welcomes closer ties with China

Australia and the US are closely watching Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip to the region, fearful China could be laying the groundwork for an eventual military presence.

  • Trudy Harris

April 2022

Scott Morrison.

‘Remarkable similarity’: Solomons scripted by China, says PM

Relations between Australia and Solomon Islands have nosedived after  Scott Morrison dismissed an attack on his government by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare as being scripted by Beijing.

  • Phillip Coorey and Michael Smith
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing in 2019.

Solomons PM slams AUKUS as China calls military base ‘fake news’

Chinese officials have told other Pacific island nations that Australia is interfering in their affairs.

  • Michael Smith

March 2022

Rene Rivkin.  Steps taken by  lawyer Benno Hafner which stalled investigations of Rivkin’s offshore money by ASIC and the Tax Office also protected Hafner’s wealthy Russian clients.

How Rene Rivkin’s lawyer helped Putin’s circle

While Zurich lawyer Benno Hafner was fending off Offset Alpine investigators, he was helping Russian oligarchs set up offshore funds to hide money

  • Neil Chenoweth
Advertisement

October 2021

The partnership to acquire Digicel Pacific represents “an important milestone in the company’s relationship with the Australian government,” says Telstra chief executive Andy Penn.

Telstra joins Team Australia on China

Telstra would have no interest in Digicel without the federal government’s prodding and the generous taxpayer funding that allows it to proceed.

  • Jennifer Hewett
There should be a Samoan sunset for hidden funds.

How to lift the lid on those Pandora’s boxes of offshore cash

The Australian government needs to honour its commitment to a transparent trail of ownership for money hidden away in tropical trust accounts.

  • Miranda Stewart and Katy Barnett
Samoa’s Prime Minister-elect Fiame Naomi Mataafa.

Morrison knows Australia needs to do more on climate: Samoan PM

Fiame Naomi Mata’afa said global co-operation on the COVID-19 vaccine should be replicated to stop carbon emissions.

  • Tom McIlroy

August 2021

Jacinda Ardern: “Any changes to border settings will be carefully considered in phases, based on risks.”

Ardern under pressure to open borders as labour shortages bite

The dairy, horticulture, housing, services, health and broader public sector have all reported acute staff shortages, and called on the government to raise border blocks.

  • Praveen Menon

July 2021

Telstra chief executive Andy Penn.

Telstra caught in China row

Shareholders are alarmed the telco could be used as a Morrison government tool to outbid the Asian nation buying the Digicel Pacific phone network.

  • Lucas Baird, John Kehoe and Andrew Tillett

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/samoa-ez3