Regional

Downed trees over a roadway with vehicle stopped
Apia, SAMOA — More than 50 people are staying at two of three evacuation sites set up around the Samoan capital of Apia after the flash flooding on Friday. The National Emergency Operations Center Chairman, Agafili Shem Leo, said 25 people were hosted at the National University of Samoa campus and...
Coronavirus logo
Apia, SAMOA — The Samoan government has made some significant changes to the State of Emergency Orders for the Covid-19 pandemic. Cabinet has decided that supermarkets can be open on Sundays from 3pm till 10pm. They have also been allowed to open from 6am till 10pm from Monday to Saturday each week...
The fuesaina.
Apia, SAMOA — Samoan traditional knowledge in medicine is proving valuable for SROS- the Scientific Research Organization of Samoa’s exploration of local native plants. At the frontline of the SROS scientific research of Plants and Postharvest Technologies division at Nafanua, is...
Covid-19 vaccine bottles
PACIFIC ISLANDS — Covid-19 vaccinations begin in the Northern Mariana Islands this weekend, but it's not yet clear when other Pacific countries will have access to a vaccine. The Northern Marianas, which is a US territory, was expecting 5,000 doses of the The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to...
Car stalled on flooded road in Apia
Apia, SAMOA — In Samoa, there's major flooding in parts of the Apia Township and landslides in other vulnerable parts of the country following extreme heavy rain. The Samoa Observer said river banks have burst and traffic has been brought to a complete stop in some places in the capital. The...
VA Healthcare logo
Honolulu, HAWAII — The Department of Veterans Affairs began administering its first doses of the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine on the mainland this week. But veterans in Hawaii and the Pacific will have to wait a bit longer. The VA recently announced its initial 37 vaccination sites that will be...
Destroyed house in Vanua Levu Fiji
Vanua Levu, FIJI  — Many houses in Fiji's Vanua Levu have been destroyed, some families sheltered under beds and tables in their houses and others in cane plantations, as Cyclone Yasa wreaked havoc in many parts of the Northern Division, Fiji Village reports. Buildings and crops were destroyed on...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND — The New Zealand government has secured another two vaccines, enough for every New Zealander and its Pacific partners, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced to the media on Thursday (NZ time). $75M IN SUPPORT FOR PACIFIC PARTNERS Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta...
Covid-19 vaccine bottles
Apia, SAMOA — Vaccinating Samoa against COVID-19 is projected to cost nearly US$9 million (T$22.8 million), and save Samoa from an estimated 4,050 hospitalisations and 385 deaths should an uncontrolled outbreak of the virus occur. The estimate comes from the Asian Development Bank’s latest policy...
Inside Samoa's new parliament building
Apia, SAMOA — Samoa's parliament has passed three laws that fundamentally alter the country's constitution and judicial system.  The proposals were widely condemned by lawyers and judges, and saw several MPs - including the former deputy prime minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa - leave the ruling party...

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