US probing Pacific economies; four missing in French Polynesia; and chess star up against it in Tonga
US to review Pacific economies
The ambassador of Office of the US Trade Representative has requested a federal probe and review into the economies of Samoa, American Samoa and 20 other Pacific countries and territories.
Ambassador Kathrine Tai wrote to the US International Trade Commission chairman, saying the US recognises the importance of enhancing trade ties with the Pacific Islands countries, which can help support the development of the region.
Tai said the US Trade Representative seeks to better understand potential impediments to, and opportunities for, increased trade flows between the US and the Pacific Islands, with an emphasis on barriers the Pacific Islands may face exporting to the States, to help with future US policy.
It would also like to identify impediments to and opportunities for increased US investment.
The US International Trade Commission said a public hearing is set for February 14, 2023.
Four people still missing after French Polynesia floods
Three children and a woman remain missing after being in a car washed away by a flooded river in French Polynesia a week ago.
Beach areas are being combed near the Ia Maroto river, after days of searches in the Papenoo Valley were unsuccessful.
The missing children are aged four, seven and 15.
A man died in the flooding trying to help the five people stuck in the car. One woman was rescued.
Five new faces for American Samoa's House of Representatives
Mid-term elections in American Samoa have ended with five new members elected to the territory's 20-seat House of Representatives
The new members will begin their two-year terms next year.
American Samoa incumbent congressperson, the Republican Party's Amata Coleman Radewagen won re-election for another two years after running unopposed.
Chess champ Short has tall plans for Tonga visit
A chess grandmaster will play ten other players at the same time in Tonga.
Nigel Short will be involved in the Chess Simultaneous Exhibition at the Hotel Nuku'alofa on Wednesday evening.
For the Exhibition, Short will play 10 opponents at once.
Short will also be meeting with officials from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Sport, and the National Olympic Committee.
Photo: JIPSON SIKHERA/AFP
Lockdown led to drop in Pasifika fever rates
A New Zealand Pacific health director says the rates of rheumatic fever among Pacific peoples decreased during lockdown.
Speaking after the launch of the 'Ola Manuia' Pacific health plan, Te Whatu Ora's National Director of Pacific Health, Makerita Poutasi said during the development process, it was noted that there was a huge drop of Pacific peoples contracting the illness.
In a 2021 research, it showed Pacific children being 80 times more likely to develop the disease than non-Pacific children.
Teenager arrested over driving death
A 21-year-old man has died in hospital in Tonga after a hit-and-run.
Police in 'Eua said the man sustained severe head injuries, and died later on in hospital.
Police arrested the driver not long after the incident, an unlicensed 15-year-old male.
Pasifika students gain scholarships
Six New Zealand students have been awarded $NZ8000 scholarships from the Pasifika o Wairarapa Trust to help them with their first year of tertiary education.
The Trust was established during the response to Covid-19, to address the social disparities and lack of social service support available for Pasifika families in the Wairarapa region, in the south-east of the North Island.
Trust General Manager Luther Toloa said the scholarship fund was established after the Trust's Board noted the disproportionate number of Pasifika students dropping out of their first and second year of tertiary studies.
He said while Covid was the instigator, it was also about the inability of students' families to provide ongoing financial support.
