News

Samoa’s first female PM sworn in a tent after she was locked out of Parliament

Published

5 years ago

May 25, 2021

Samoa’s first female Prime Minister has been sworn in. But Naomi Mataʻafa’s ceremony took place in a tent as she was locked out of the nation’s Parliament.

The Prime Minister is embroiled in a power struggle with the country’s longstanding leader, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi. He has been in power for over two decades.

The newly-elected leader of the Faith in the One True God Party (FAST) said the dramatic turn of events follows a “bloodless coup”. It also comes after weeks of uncertainty following a deadlocked election last month.

While FAST went ahead with the swearing-in ceremony, it is still unclear how legitimate the proceedings will be. However, Samoa’s Supreme Court ruled the order of canceling the parliamentary sitting as “unlawful.”

The Prime Minister’s narrow election victory is set to end almost 40 years of rule by the Human Rights Protection Party.

News

Australia shuts millions of teen social media accounts

Australia’s social media ban leads to 4.7 million teen account closures, prompting debate over online safety and freedom.

Published

1 day ago

January 16, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Australia’s social media ban leads to 4.7 million teen account closures, prompting debate over online safety and freedom.

Nearly five million social media accounts belonging to Australian teenagers have been closed since the nation’s social media ban began in December. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were responsible for removing around 4.7 million accounts held by minors, according to the eSafety Commissioner.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the figures as encouraging, highlighting the government’s commitment to protecting children online. The new law holds social media companies accountable, with fines imposed on platforms that fail to prevent underage accounts from being created or maintained.

Despite these measures, some teenagers have reportedly bypassed the restrictions by falsifying their ages or using parental information. The debate continues over the effectiveness of these regulations and the balance between safety and online freedom.

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#AustraliaNews #SocialMediaBan #TeenSafety #eSafety #Instagram #TikTok #OnlineProtection #TechLaw

News

Iran protests and the global fight for freedom

Protests in Iran escalate as citizens demand women’s rights; Rabbi Cooper discusses global solidarity and advocacy efforts.

Published

2 days ago

January 15, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Protests in Iran escalate as citizens demand women’s rights; Rabbi Cooper discusses global solidarity and advocacy efforts.

Amid escalating protests in Iran, citizens are risking everything to demand women’s rights and basic freedoms. The world watches as these demonstrations grow, with many hoping for meaningful change in the face of a brutal regime.

We speak with Rabbi Abraham Cooper from the Simon Wiesenthal Center about the advocacy work supporting Iranian voices and the historical context of defending human rights. He explains the vital role of international solidarity and how governments and communities can respond.

From the human cost on the ground to the influence of the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles, this interview sheds light on the stakes, the movement, and why public attention is critical.

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#IranProtests #HumanRights #WomensRights #FreedomMovement #IranNews #SimonWiesenthal #TickerNews #GlobalSolidarity

News

Greenland and Denmark signal security divide with the United States

Greenland, Denmark assert Arctic island not for sale, emphasizing cooperation with the US on their own terms.

Published

2 days ago

January 15, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Greenland, Denmark assert Arctic island not for sale, emphasizing cooperation with the US on their own terms.

Greenland and Denmark have used high-level talks in Washington, D.C. to firmly restate that the Arctic island is not for sale, pushing back against long-standing US interest in the strategically vital territory.

Foreign ministers from both Greenland and Denmark acknowledged that major disagreements remain following discussions with US officials, despite what they described as constructive engagement on shared priorities.

Greenland’s government made clear it is open to closer cooperation with Washington, but only on its own terms, rejecting any suggestion of ownership or control.

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#Greenland #Denmark #UnitedStates #Geopolitics #ArcticPolitics #WorldNews #Security #Ticker