Regional
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_police_11.jpeg?itok=9PmdTnFl "[SN file photo]")
SPS ARRESTS 20 IN LUATUANUU INCIDENT
The Samoa Police Service (SPS) is continuing its investigation into the incidents that occurred in the village of Luatuanuu during the weekend from Saturday, 17 March 2018 through Monday, 19 March 2018.
During this period, the SPS received numerous calls from...
Port Vila, VANUATU — Vanuatu says it's not in talks with China on a new military base.
Fairfax Media has reported China approached Vanuatu about building a permanent military presence in the South Pacific.
However, the Pacific nation's foreign minister Ralph Regenvanu told the ABC on Tuesday there...
![Sasina village council with church ministers and MP Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt. [Photo: RNZ Pacific/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/SASINA%20LAND%20LEASE.jpg?itok=kX2g_T7l "Sasina village council with church ministers and MP Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt. [Photo: RNZ Pacific/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]")
Sasina, SAMOA — The Samoan village of Sasina has paid families and church ministers their portion of lease money for land rented to Hong Kong based investors.
The 500 acres of customary land is being rented out at US$125,000 a year for nonu tree farming for the export of juice and fruit.
The cash...
![[Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/taro.jpg?itok=Hggapvxz "[Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]")
Apia, SAMOA — Taro from Samoa may be allowed into American Samoa if stringent control measures being proposed by the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture are accepted.
Of major importance to this new proposal is confirmation from Samoan authorities that the taro is pest free.
Consignments of taro for...
Apia, SAMOA — The Samoa Police Service has issued a statement confirming the severity of the attack against Police officers when they were called to Luatuanu’u to resolve a conflict there, last month.
According to a statement issued to the Weekend Observer, the Police estimate that $10,000 is the...
![A forecast of the track Cyclone Kala would take over the weekend. It could be a category three at its closest point to Fiji. [Photo: Fiji Meteorological Service]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_KALA_TRACK.jpg?itok=UCk-Qsy9 "A forecast of the track Cyclone Kala would take over the weekend. It could be a category three at its closest point to Fiji. [Photo: Fiji Meteorological Service]")
Suva, FIJI — People in Fiji's sodden west were being urged to prepare for the worst on Saturday as the country prepared to be hit by the second cyclone in a week.
A tropical depression - TD13F - continued to gather strength as it slowly moved east towards Fiji. It would likely be declared category...
SAIPAN – The CNMI's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children on Tuesday launched an electronic benefit transfer system, dubbed eWIC, replacing paper checks with a card.
As of Tuesday, the WIC program has distributed 62 eWIC cards to families and will continue to...
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is set to compete in the Commonwealth Games – despite Australia and Samoa’s forceful objections.
Hubbard, 40, was named to the New Zealand women’s weightlifting team in November, sparking backlash within the sport.
The athlete, who...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Samoa%20Air%20jet_3.jpg?itok=PDc0dIHk "[SN file photo]")
Apia, SAMOA — Samoa Airways is planning to add new dry-leased narrowbody aircraft to replace its sole B737-800 currently wet-leased from Italy's Neos (NO, Milan Malpensa), CEO Seiuli Alvin Tuala has told the Samoa Observer.
The replacement, likely to happen in 2019 when the current lease contract...
![Iuniarra Sipaia of Samoa competes in the women's +75kg final during the 2014 Commonwealth Games. [photo: AFP via RNZI]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Pac%20News%20weightlifter.jpg?itok=ed5SXiwx "Iuniarra Sipaia of Samoa competes in the women's +75kg final during the 2014 Commonwealth Games. [photo: AFP via RNZI]")
Apia, SAMOA — Samoan weightlifter Iuniarra Sipaia has been cleared of any wrongdoing after mistakenly taking a banned substance.
But the decision by the International Weightlifting Federation has come too late for the 24-year-old to compete at the Commonwealth Games.
Iuniarra Sipaia was originally...