Trump to be sentenced over hush money case but won’t face jail

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04/01/2025

A judge has ordered that President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced on 10 January in his hush-money case in New York – less than two weeks before he is set to be sworn in as president.

The hearing is scheduled 10 days before Trump’s inauguration ceremony in Washington DC on 20 January.

Judge Juan Merchan signalled he’d sentence Mr Trump to a conditional discharge, in which a case is closed without jail time, a fine or probation, and that the president-elect could appear in person or virtually for the hearing.

A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The case stems from Trump being convicted in May of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump’s defence had argued the case would hang over him during his presidency and impede his ability to govern.

The Judge had been advised there were several measures he could employ that could assuage Mr Trump’s concerns about being distracted by a criminal case while serving as president that fell short of the “extreme remedy” of overturning the jury’s verdict.

Mr Trump had initially, and unsuccessfully, argued the case against him ran afoul of a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity in his first motion to dismiss the case.

In July, the country’s top court ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official actions” they take while in office.

However, last month Justice Merchan ruled Trump’s hush money conviction was valid.

His sentencing on 10 January will make him the first felon to serve in the White House.

The president-elect was initially scheduled to be sentenced on 26 November, but Justice Merchan pushed the date back after Trump won the presidential election.

BBC

‘Alarming evidence’ of alleged dishonesty in government ministries, claims Dr ‘Uhilamoelangi Fasi

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Kalino Latu

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04/01/2025

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The MP for Tongatapu 2 Dr ‘Uhilamoelangi Pingi Fasi has raised alarming claims about evidence of dishonesty within government ministries.

In Tongan he said “ko e ngaahi fakamo’oni ko ia’ ‘oku fu’u fakailifia ‘aupito ia ‘i he’eku sio ki ai ‘i he fehū’aki holo ‘a e ngaahi me’a ta’efaitotonu ‘i he loto’i potungāue”.

In English, he said: “Those evidence are quite alarming in the way I look at it and how dishonesty pervades the ministries”.

MP Fasi mentioned the Ministry of Education in particular.

The former head of the Ministry’s Examination Unit commented during an interview with a US-based Tongan podcaster.

It comes in the wake of the new government’s vow to review all ministries as part of its to-do list within its first month in office.

As Kaniva News reported this week, Dr Fasi has been provisionally nominated as the Minister for Education, according to a leaked preliminary document.

MP Fasi used the Tongan proverb “Matamata Lelei Fakafa’itoka”, which literally translates to “beautiful like a cemetery,” to articulate the troubling circumstances. However, he did not provide further details about the dishonesty claims.

The proverb figuratively means something may appear attractive or pleasant on the exterior but hide a darker reality inside.

MP Fasi claimed that the ongoing development of new infrastructure at the Ministry has attracted a sense of intrigue and appreciation among the public.

However, he pointed out a significant concern regarding the state of affairs within the classrooms.

Despite the investment in modern facilities, he alleged that the learning environment has become chaotic, with issues such as inadequate resources, lack of organization, and ineffective classroom management disrupting the educational experience for students.

He is worried that the gap in educational outcomes raises important questions about the balance between improving school facilities and the quality of teaching and learning.

MP Fasi said that Tongan education has achieved great results in the past, which has made it outstanding in the Pacific. He feared that past successes would be at risk without equal attention to school improvements and effective teaching.

The Ministry of Education could not be reached for comment.

The former Minister of Education Hon Hu’akavameiliku responded to accusations made against him in Parliament about complaints about his leadership. He claimed that his government operated within the framework of the constitution.

He challenged the Opposition to pursue legal action against him if they had any evidence of wrongdoing.

Dr ‘Aisake Eke to meet king in Auckland for his swearing-in as Prime Minister: Reports

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Kaniva Staff

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04/01/2025

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Destructive fruit fly found in South Auckland surveillance trap

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Kaniva Staff

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04/01/2025

By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission

A major biosecurity operation is underway in South Auckland after an Oriental fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap in a suburban backyard.

Oriental fruit fly Photo: Supplied / MPI / Justin C. Smith

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) confirmed a “single male” fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap in a suburban backyard.

As a result, restrictions are set to be enforced on the movement of fruit and vegetables with trapping and testing stepping up around the Papatoetoe and Mangere areas.

Checks of the other 187 traps within this zone did not find any fruit flies.

The insect is considered one of the most “destructive and widespread” of all fruit flies, that can jeopardise the country’s produce exports if found in New Zealand.

Biosecurity NZ spokesperson Mike Inglis said details of the controls and the “exact area affected” will be outlined on Sunday, once an initial investigation had been completed.

“In the meantime, we ask that people who live and work in the suburb not take any whole fresh fruit and vegetables out of your property.”

Inglis said previous experience when eradicating different fruit flys suggested other insects could be found.

“It is important we move quickly, look for any others and eradicate them,” he said.

“We will be ramping up trapping and testing, with daily checks in a 200-metre zone from the original find and three daily testing in a second zone out to 1500m.”

The Oriental fruit fly is native to Asia but has now spread to many warmer countries, especially as the climate warms.

Adult flies lay eggs into fruit and the young stages (maggots) feed inside the fruit, causing it to rot and become unmarketable.

The Oriental fruit fly maggots can feed on 300 different fruit and vegetables, particularly apple, guava, mango, peach, and pear.

There have been 12 incursions of different fruit flies across Auckland and Northland since 1996 and had all been successfully eradicated courtesy of the work of Biosecurity New Zealand, the horticulture sector, and local communities, Inglis said.

MPI’s lure-based surveillance trapping network involves about 7900 throughout the country.

“By setting traps for these pest insects, we are able to find them early, know exactly where the problem is, and respond quickly and effectively,” Inglis said.

The fruit fly poses no human health risk, but there would be an economic cost to the horticulture industry if it were allowed to establish here.

“The capture of a single male does not mean we have an outbreak. However, while we do our checks for any other fruit flies, we need community help to prevent any possible spread,” Inglis said.

“As a precautionary measure, we’ll be putting legal restrictions in place on the movement of fruit and vegetables out of the area where the fruit fly was found.”

Biosecurity staff will be out on Saturday providing local residents with information.

“You may notice increased activity in the neighbourhood as we go about inspections and trapping.

“Our field officers may ask to look at fruit trees on your property.

“They will always show you a form of official identification and will only enter your property with your permission.”

Grower shows off one of the longest ever grown manioc root in Tonga

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Kaniva Staff

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03/01/2025

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Tongans urged to change mindset on visiting doctors only if they feel sick as kingdom battles alarming rate of deaths due to non-communicable diseases

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Kalino Latu

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03/01/2025

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A Tongan health expert has provided a piece of important advice amid Tongans’ struggle with an alarming death rate that is attributed to non-communicable diseases.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death in Tonga, accounting for 79.4 per cent of deaths in 2019.

Tonga is one of the top countries in the world with the highest obesity rate.

Various reports indicate that obesity has serious implications, potentially leading to excess body fat that can trigger inflammation, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.

Assistant Professor Pakieli Kaufusi recommended that Tongans adopt a more proactive approach to healthcare by scheduling regular health screenings rather than only visiting doctors when feeling unwell.

He made the advice recently during an online livestream health advice.

The session was one of his ongoing series aimed at providing comprehensive guidance on various health topics specifically tailored for individuals with diabetes.

The professor, at the University of Hawai’i’s Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, delved into the main parts of the body that diabetes can significantly impact, including the liver, cardiovascular system, kidneys, and pancreas.

He said the liver plays a crucial role in detoxification, metabolism, and overall health.

He also said it’s a common practice in European cultures to see a doctor consistently, whereas Tongans typically only visit when they are unwell.

He believed this approach could be detrimental to overall health.

Tonga and obesity

A recent health study revealed that nine out of 10 countries with the most number of obese people in the world are from the Pacific.

The research published in The Lancet ranked American Samoa as the most obese nation in the world, followed by Tonga, which has the highest number of obese women.

As Kaniva News reported previously, there was an upward trend of Tongan children being orphaned in New Zealand due to their parents dying young because of diabetes-related conditions, according to another Tonga health expert.

Some Pacific Islanders, who were in their 40s, have died of diabetes, while others ended up on dialysis treatment at Middlemore Hospital.

Dr Viliami Tūtone, a Tongan nephrologist at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital, said some Tongan orphans have been as young as 10 years old.

These children “have no mothers and the number is expected to grow”, he told Kaniva Tonga news in an exclusive interview.

“When patients are brought for dialysis their bodies have already been hugely affected by the damage to their vascular system and problems with the kidneys,” he said.

Tongan foods

Professor Kaufusi said Tongan foods are good but must be wisely managed and reduced.

He was referring to root vegetables such as yams, taro, and cassava, which have a lot of carbohydrates. Various reports say carbohydrates (carbs) can be part of a healthy diet for people with diabetes, but it’s important to choose the right ones and eat them in the right amounts.

Professor Kaufusi said that nutrients in food consumed daily by Tongans are roughly 90 per cent sugar or glucose. However, he pointed out that the body only requires 10 percent of that amount.

The remainder can pose a challenge for the body’s organs to digest, potentially leading to significant damage over time, he said.

Fiji police investigate alleged sexual assault of Virgin Australia crew member

By

Kaniva Staff

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03/01/2025

Fiji police are investigating allegations of theft and sexual assault on two Virgin Australia crew members, the Fijian Government said Thursday.

A suspect known to Police for the alleged sexual assault has been questioned, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said.

Police investigations continued into the incident in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

The crew, who were in good health, were being accommodated at a local hotel, the nominated crew’s accommodation for layovers.

“The alleged incidents are regrettable,” Gavoka said in a statement.

The three crew members were also advised by their Headquarters to remain within the hotel vicinity to ensure contactability and assist with Police investigations; they should return home before the end of this week.

Virgin Australia has sent representatives to Fiji to support the affected staff.

Gavoka also said: “Regrettably, incidents like this can happen anywhere, and Fiji is not immune.

“We, as always, remind tourists to exercise caution in nightclub areas and late at night”.

Arrest after two stabbed at New Year’s Eve party

By

Kaniva Staff

-

02/01/2025

Whangārei police say they’ve arrested a 19-year-old after two people were stabbed at a New Year’s Eve party in the suburb of Ōtāngarei early this morning.

Photo: 123rf

Officers were called to the party about 2am, when one victim was taken to hospital in a serious, but not life-threatening, condition, and the other was treated by ambulance staff.

Police said the offender had fled by the time they arrived but he was found later Wednesday morning.

He is due to appear in the Whangārei District Court tomorrow charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and assault with a weapon.

Police want to hear from anyone who witnessed the assault.

Tongatapu crash victims rushed to hospital

By

Kaniva Staff

-

02/01/2025

A mother and her child reportedly sustained injuries in a car crash that occurred at Niutao this morning at around 3.45am.

Reports said the victims had been rushed to the hospital.

There have been no reports regarding the condition of the driver.

The Lapaha District Officer, Siosifa Lamipeti, reported the incident on Facebook.

He alleged that high speed was likely the cause of the crash.

He said the incident marked the first road accident reported in the district since the beginning of the new year.

Officer Lamipeti emphasized the significance of this occurrence, highlighting the ongoing concerns surrounding road safety and the need for increased vigilance among drivers in the community.

He asked the residents to drive to the limit and avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol.

FBI offers US$10 million reward for Chinese hackers linked to cyberattack on the US Treasury

By

Kaniva Staff

-

02/01/2025

The United States government is offering financial rewards in its efforts to apprehend Chinese state-sponsored hackers who infiltrated the systems of the U.S. Treasury Department earlier this month.

Guan Tianfeng, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is being sought for his involvement in a conspiracy to hack indiscriminately into firewall devices worldwide in 2020, the US Officials said.

It said Guan and his co-conspirators worked at the offices of Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co. Ltd. to discover and exploit a previously unknown vulnerability in certain firewalls sold by U.K.-based Sophos Ltd.

Sophos is an information technology company that develops and markets cybersecurity products.

The malware that exploited the vulnerability discovered by Guan was designed to steal information from infected computers and to encrypt files on them if a victim attempted to remediate the infection.

Guan and his co-conspirators infected approximately 81,000 firewall devices worldwide, including a firewall device used by an agency in the United States.

The FBI is offering US$10 million for information about the 30-year-old, his company, or their alleged hacking activities.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington rejected any responsibility for the hack in a response to Reuters, saying that Beijing “firmly opposes the US’s smear attacks against China without any factual basis”.

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