PACIFIC NEWS BRIEFS
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — China has rejected an allegation by the United States that it is backing malicious cyber activity that targets the Pacific Islands.
The allegation came in a series of statements from the US Embassy in Suva, which claimed that "in the Pacific Islands region, the United...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Forecasters said Nolo's outer bands could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island possibly getting up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain. Heavy rain also was expected on the other islands.
More than 120 National Guard members were...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Most Pacific countries were among 34 nations which did not vote on a decision to admit Palestine to the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Leaders from across the region are making their way to New York for assembly week.
The UN said the vote became necessary...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Beauty pageants remain an important part of cultural and social life in many Pacific Island countries, although their significance vary across the region.
Pageants such as Miss Pacific Islands, Miss Samoa, Miss Heilala (Tonga), Miss Hibiscus (Fiji) and Miss Cook Islands...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 31, the National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition hosted a "Ship Day" for local youth at Matautu, Apia Harbor.
Welcoming twelve schools from across the island, the research team transformed their vessel into an interactive classroom designed to inspire...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A whale-watching boat carrying several New Zealand Anglican Church delegates capsized and sank in Tonga on Saturday.
RNZ Pacific understands several passengers were briefly hospitalized, but there were no serious injuries.
Paramedics from New South Wales, who were in the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Northern Mariana Islands' delegate to the US Congress wants the territory to receive half of any federal revenue generated from potential seabed mining around the islands.
The US has recently invited bidders for seabed mining licenses in American Samoa, and will soon...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A large, luxury yacht owned by a Japanese billionaire has been traveling around the islands over the past few days, leaving a trail of curiosity in its wake.
Multiple boating websites reported the vessel is the 375-foot German- made yacht Nausicaa, owned by Japanese...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Pasifika unemployment in New Zealand remains over double that of the general population, even as the nationwide unemployment rate reaches a near-11 year high.
Figures released by Statistics NZ on Wednesday put the unemployment rate for Pacific peoples at 11.6 percent in...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt is in New Zealand this week to meet seasonal workers and their families.
He and Labor Minister Fata Ryan Schuster met Samoan Recognized Seasonal Employer workers near Napier on Sunday.
While in Napier, La'auli heard from...

![The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand told RNZ Pacific that the claim was similar "disinformation" to what they had seen many previous times. [Photo credit: 23RF] flags](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/us_china_flags.jpeg?itok=_BY8_vgk)

![Vanuatu is considering linking marine weather warnings to permissions for allowing varioius categories of vessels. [Photo credit:Facebook / Matai Seremaiah] permissions for allowing varioius categories of vessels](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/marine_weather_warnings.jpg?itok=XdoMZsu_)
![Left to right: Miss World Cook Islands Tiare Henry-Anguna, Miss Samoa (2026-27) Poumau Astes Ah Lam Tiufea Va'a, Miss Hibiscus (2026-27) Sala Korosaya./ Tiare Henry-Anguna / Philomena Va'a Tiufea-Tuitea / Hibiscus Festival [Photo credit:Facebook] Pacific beauty queens](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/pacific_beauty_queens.jpeg?itok=3a8wePyo)
![Whitney Goodell, a Marine Ecologist and scientist with the National Geographic Pristine Seas sharing her experience with Apia, Samoa students about the usage of underwater cameras used to capture deep sea marine life. [Photo: Samoa Observer/ Ramaleh Viliamu] Aboard the Pristine Seas](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/aboard_pristine_seas.jpeg?itok=ZAJ0AWBA)
![RNZ Pacific understands that several passengers were briefly hospitalized when the whale-watching boat capsized in Tonga. [Photo: Facebook / Tonga Emergency Services - Rotary VTT] WHALE](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/whale_from_boat.jpg?itok=wNHNh6ue)

![The boat, Nausicaa, is owned by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa. [screenshot from video] [screenshot from video] super yacht Nausicaa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/super_yacht_nausicaa.png?itok=V7pPIY1i)

![Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt embraces New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Apia in March. [Photo Facebook / Government of Samoa] Samoa PM and New Zealand PM](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_pm.jpeg?itok=wvHtFV4c)