Regional
Apia, SAMOA — The Samoa Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the HRPP and ordered the Speaker of the House to swear in the party's members.
The HRPP members were elected in April's national poll and have not been knocked out by post-election legal challenges.
The Samoa Observer reports the orders...
Honolulu, HAWAII — The World Bank’s second Groundswell report estimates 216 million people could be displaced by 2050, across six regions, due to climate change.
A newly released World Bank report has predicted climate change could displace 48.4 million in the Pacific and East Asia by 2050.
Water...
Apia, SAMOA — For the first time in the 59 years of Samoan independence, the Parliament grounds have been barricaded for today's session of the House.
The barricades went up late last night after Police put out a public notice declaring Parliament building and surrounding grounds out of bounds for...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Elected members of the opposition Human Rights Protection Party have been banned from attending Parliament session scheduled for September 14 at Mulinuu.
The HRPP party, led by former prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, were told by a letter Monday from Speaker...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...

![HRPP members who were earlier protesting their inability to enter Parliament. The Samoa Supreme Court has now ordered them to be sworn in. Photo: Supplied] HRPP elected Members of Parliament](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/hrpp_members_web_.jpg?itok=o4xXEr_3)

![Samoa police behind barricades set up in front of Parliament as Samoa parliament meets. Police issued a public notice putting the Parliament building and surrounding grounds out of bounds and erecting barricades at Tiafau, Mulinu'u. [courtesy photo] Samoa police behind barricades](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_barricade_web.jpg?itok=2OOuQYwF)
![The leader of the HRPP party, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi [photo: RNZ Pacific/Tipi Autagavaia] Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegao](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tuilaepa_sailele_leader_of_hrppweb.jpg?itok=p_FyYX57)



![Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa warns rising seas are already swamping tiny atoll states in the Pacific [SN file photo] Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fiame.jpg?itok=DX06GqA7)
![Nafanua II patrol boat seen at the dock in Pago Pago earlier this year. [SN file photo] Nufanua II](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_police_boat_mv_nafanua.jpeg?itok=ZG292nAS)
![David Letele, right, and his food bank workers are run off their feet packing parcels to meet unprecedented demand during a resurgence of the pandemic in New Zealand. Letele's central Manukau food bank is one of many across Auckland confronting a food crisis where vulnerable families are having to wait as long as a week for help. Currently, Auckland and the Northlands are still at Level 4, while the rest of New Zealand is at Level 3. [photo: courtesy David Letele] David Letele, right, and his food bank workers](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/nz_food_banks.jpg?itok=zjSE5-ss)