Samoa skips Friday to end US time ties

CANBERRA, Australia - New Year's Day will come early in Samoa after the tiny South Pacific nation cut Friday from its 2011 calendar so that it can catch up with Asia, New Zealand and Australia, ending 120 years of its time alliance with the United States.

The country of about 180,000 people will jump to the west of the international dateline, which runs through the Pacific Ocean and broadly follows the 180 degree line of longitude.

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the change would make it easier for the country to do business with key trade partners, ending the need for many to work on Sundays.