High-surf warning issued

The National Weather Service has issued a high-surf warning for all north-facing shores and a high-surf advisory for all west-facing shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau in effect now through 6 a.m. Monday.

Giving blood now fights hunger

“Give the Gift of Life” has been a long-time slogan of the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i, and has double meaning during this holiday season. Its “Give Blood. End Hunger” holiday campaign was announced on Giving Tuesday.

46 Kaua‘i nonprofits share charity walk funds

PO‘IPU — Celebration was in the air Thursday when the Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association and the Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk leadership distributed more than $260,000 to 46 Kaua‘i nonprofit organizations at Keoki’s Paradise.

Happy Camper for Friday, December 3, 2021

Kudos to Emilia Knudsen and Erik Burton of The Kaua‘i Store for establishing the Second (Erik said they had one last year so this is the second) annual (and now it becomes annual because they plan on doing it next holidays) Great Toy Exchange in the Kaua‘i Community Food Pantry space.

Obituaries for Friday, December 3, 2021

• Isabella Emily (Linda) Victorino • Janet Hovis • Beatrice S. Silva • Sunny ‘Raybeth’ Brown-Lazaro • Ernest ‘Olaf’ S. Fujita • Judith Pi‘ilani Taniguchi • Yolanda Keli‘ikuli

US is still battling delta variant; omicron pops up in Hawaii

While all eyes are on the new and little-understood omicron variant that has been detected around the U.S., the delta form of the coronavirus isn’t finished wreaking havoc in the U.S., sending record numbers of patients to the hospital in the Midwest and New England.

Charges weighed for Michigan shooting suspect’s parents

OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A prosecutor on Thursday repeated her criticism of the parents of a boy who is accused of killing four students at a Michigan school, saying their actions went “far beyond negligence” and that a charging decision would come by Friday.

House votes to avert shutdown, but quick Senate OK in doubt

WASHINGTON — The House passed a bill Thursday that funds the government through Feb. 18 and avoids a short-term shutdown after midnight Friday, but quick Senate approval was in doubt because of a fight over President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Pushing COVID-19 boosters, Biden says ‘we need to be ready’

BETHESDA, Md. — With rising numbers of COVID-19 cases predicted this winter, President Joe Biden on Thursday appealed for Americans to get their boosters and get behind his plan to tackle the new omicron variant through wider availability of vaccines and shots, but without new major restrictions on daily life.

South Africa accelerates vaccination campaign amid surge

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has accelerated its vaccination campaign by giving jabs at pop-up sites in shopping centers and transportation hubs to combat a rapid rise in new COVID-19 cases a week after the discovery of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Women’s tennis’ China stance could be unique, cost millions

WTA President and CEO Steve Simon did not set out to lead the way for how sports should confront China when he announced that the women’s tennis tour would suspend tournaments there because of concerns about former Grand Slam doubles champion Peng Shuai’s well-being.

US, EU and allies hit Belarus with coordinated sanctions

BRUSSELS — The United States, European Union, Britain and Canada slapped simultaneous sanctions Thursday on dozens of officials, organizations and companies in Belarus, with the EU taking aim at those accused of participating in a “hybrid attack” on the bloc using migrants.