Regional

Alohilani Resort in Waikiki
Honolulu, HAWAII — A group of Hawaii hotels said it will start requiring proof of COVID vaccination for all guests and visitors beginning in October. Among the hotels requiring the vaccine is Alohilani Resort in Waikiki as well as seven Highgate Hawaii hotels. Many of the hotel employees will need...
Samoa Tourism authority logo
Apia, SAMOA — The Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Tourism Authority says tourism in Samoa will not be opening up anytime soon. Faamatuainu Lenata'I Suifua Faamatuainu was clarifying a statement on Radio Australia quoting him as saying the borders will reopen next year. He said while there have...
Supreme Court building
Washington D.C. — Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general urging the Supreme Court to reject the exclusion of Americans living in territories from nationwide federal aid programs. In an amicus brief filed in United States v. Vaello-Madero, a case...
Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa
Apia, SAMOA —Samoa's Prime Minister says the world must take urgent action on climate change or low-lying Pacific nations will face a "dire" future. AFP reports Fiame Naomi Mata'afa gave a stark assessment of the Pacific's prospects if there's not greater effort to tackle global warming at the COP...
Nufanua II
Apia, SAMOA — In Samoa, the suspended Officer-in-charge of the Nafanua II patrol boat, Superintendent Taito Sefo Hunt, faces five charges of misconduct over the grounding of the vessel on a reef.   Deputy Police Commissioner, Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo told Samoa Observer that Taito is facing...
David Letele, right, and his food bank workers
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — Every day, David Letele and the workers at his Brown Buttabean food bank are run off their feet. From morning until well into the night, they're busy packing parcels by the hundreds to meet an unprecedented demand. Letele's central Manukau foodbank is one of many across...
Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi and Fiame Naomi Mata'afa
Honolulu, HAWAII — It seemed like a new era for Samoa when it voted its first woman prime minister into office, after more than 20 years under the previous leader. But the small Pacific nation’s political future is still uncertain, as the fallout from the election continues with potentially power-...
Leasiosiofaasisina Oscar Malielegaoi
Apia, SAMOA — The chief executive of Samoa's Ministry of Finance has resigned. The CEO, Leasiosiofaasisina Oscar Malielegaoi, is the son of the country's former Prime Minister. Leasiosiofaasisina posted a video on social media saying he had been asked by the Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa...
Samoa Airways logo
Apia, SAMOA — The future of a Samoa Airways leased Boeing 737-800, which is yet to touch down in Samoa, is being considered by the new government. The Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, said the previous government did not take the advice from key government stakeholders not to bring in the...
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Apia, SAMOA — The former prime minister of Samoa has accused Jacinda Ardern of being behind the recent political crisis in Samoa, suggesting she had wanted to install a female prime minister. “I am starting to get suspicious maybe New Zealand is behind all of this,” said Tuilaepa Sa’ilele...

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