Regional
![[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...
![Tuiloma Pula Lameko [on the left] being sworn in as a deputy head of state alongisde Le Mamea Ropati [Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_The_late_Member_of_Council_of_Deputies_Tuiloma_Pule_Lameko_on_the_left_being_sworn_as_deputy_head_of_states_with_Le_Mamea_Ropati_before_the_.jpg?itok=3HWlLCzO "Tuiloma Pula Lameko [on the left] being sworn in as a deputy head of state alongisde Le Mamea Ropati [Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]")
Apia, SAMOA — Samoa is making preparations for a state funeral for one of the country's two deputy heads of state, Tuiloma Pule Lameko, who died on Monday at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital.
The 83 year old was one of Samoa's longest serving politicians and public servants, having entered...
![Tropical Cyclone Josie causes major flooding in Fiji's Ba [Photo: Fiji Village via RNZI]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_JosieMon1.jpg?itok=A982Uss5 "Tropical Cyclone Josie causes major flooding in Fiji's Ba [Photo: Fiji Village via RNZI]")
Suva, FIJI — Tropical Cyclone Josie is moving away from the Fiji group but the category one cyclone has caused severe flooding in parts of the country.
Fiji Village online reports four people have died and one person is still missing after being washed away by flood waters.
Police have confirmed...
![CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 31: Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker exchange punches during there WBA, IBF, WBO & IBO Heavyweight Championship title fight at Principality Stadium on March 31, 2018 [photo via NZ Herald]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/2RTQTDGTLRB5BNCE7K7D4NE32Y.jpg?itok=iTSm8RSM "CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 31: Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker exchange punches during there WBA, IBF, WBO & IBO Heavyweight Championship title fight at Principality Stadium on March 31, 2018 [photo via NZ Herald]")
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — Boxing fans were queuing from 6am and some churches started mass late: Joseph Parker may not be the WBO champ any more, but New Zealanders still love him.
Parker lost this morning's (NZ time) world heavyweight unification bout by unanimous decision, but is the first man to...