Regional
![RAISING AWARENESS: Member of Samoan Solidarity International Group, Unasa Iuni Sapolu. [Samoa Observer]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Unasa%20Iuni%20Sapolu.jpg?itok=23jyifyj "RAISING AWARENESS: Member of Samoan Solidarity International Group, Unasa Iuni Sapolu. [Samoa Observer]")
Members of the Samoan Solidarity International Group (S.S.I.G.) will present a petition to Parliament when it commences on 23 January 2018.
This was confirmed by S.S.I.G. member, Unasa Iuni Sapolu, in response to questions from the Samoa Observer.
“We are appealing the same issue to repeal L.T.R....
![Flag of the Northern Marianas Islands [photo from website]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Flag_of_the_Northern_Mariana_Islands.svg_.png?itok=rxcddfJj "Flag of the Northern Marianas Islands [photo from website]")
Two police officers in the Northern Marianas under the direction of the Department of Corrections have escorted an alleged child molester Sean McDonnell back to Illinois in the US Mainland.
The extradition was unique because normally Mr McDonnell would have been fetched from Saipan by officers...
![Leausa Dr Take Naseri, Director General, Ministry of Health Samoa [hoto: Alex Perrottet / RNZ]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_Leausa_Dr_Take_Naseri.JPG?itok=9jpx8gjo "Leausa Dr Take Naseri, Director General, Ministry of Health Samoa [hoto: Alex Perrottet / RNZ]")
Samoa's director general of health says he expects healthcare in Samoa to improve once the National Health Service and the Ministry of Health merge at the end of the month.
The management of the two offices has been separate over the last ten years.
The director general of health and head of the...
![Tui Samoa cable brought ashore [Photo: RNZI Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_Tui_Samoa_cable.JPG?itok=wBWNXz0G "Tui Samoa cable brought ashore [Photo: RNZI Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]")
TUI SAMOA INTERNET CABLE OPERATION DELAYED
Samoa's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupa'i, has revealed a delay in the start of operation for the country's new Tui Samoa submarine cable, which was scheduled to begin last month.
The minister has told Radio 2AP...
![Tautai Toko Tafaeono with classmates of 1981 in reunion mode in Auckland, New Zealand this week. [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Toko%20me.jpg?itok=bNBQc-5o "Tautai Toko Tafaeono with classmates of 1981 in reunion mode in Auckland, New Zealand this week. [courtesy photo]")
AMATA WELCOMES OVER $2M HEALTH CARE GRANT FOR AMERICAN SAMOA
Washington, D.C. - Friday, January 5, 2018 - Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed a $2,321,000 federal grant for the American Samoa Department of Health, for the Pacific Basin Health Center Cluster program.
“I appreciate this funding for...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/dengue-fever-prevention-us%20copy_2.jpg?itok=OU5dJ4IQ "[SN file photo]")
The death toll from the dengue fever outbreak in Samoa has increased to five.
The figure was confirmed by Samoa's Ministry of Health, which says the number of people affected by the mosquito-borne disease has increased from 1700 to 2446 since October.
The Ministry said people under 19 were the age...
![Palalaua college in Siumu [Photo: Samoa Observer]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_Palalaua_college_on_fireweb.jpg?itok=1zuvTzBq "Palalaua college in Siumu [Photo: Samoa Observer]")
A fire in Samoa has destroyed Palalaua college in Siumu district just two weeks before the start of the school year.
Police were not immediately available to comment on the fire but an officer at the head quarters of Fire and Rescue says fire trucks have been sent this afternoon from Apia as no...
![Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva. [Photo: RNZI/Alex Perrottet]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Tonga%20PMweb.jpg?itok=I6O6I_uc "Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva. [Photo: RNZI/Alex Perrottet]")
Tonga's prime minister 'Akilisi Pohiva is in the Intensive Care Unit at Nuku'alofa's Vaiola Hospital.
While no statement has been issued by the Prime Minister's Office, hospital staff have confirmed to RNZ Pacific that the 76-year-old Mr Pohiva is currently a patient.
Local media said Mr Pohiva had...
![Samoa's Parliament [Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Samoa_ParliamentRNZI_0.jpg?itok=v09qzeZJ "Samoa's Parliament [Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]")
The Samoan parliament looks set to get a membership facelift which will likely see an increase in the number of parliamentarians.
The Newsline newspaper reported that Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi told his ruling Human Rights Protection Party late last year that government is already...
![Tialavea Tionisio Hunt [Photo: Samoa Observer via RNZI]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Tialavea%20Tionisio%20Hung.jpg?itok=w1gz68_d "Tialavea Tionisio Hunt [Photo: Samoa Observer via RNZI]")
The Samoan government has raised the threshold for tax free earnings.
Workers making up to $US5900 dollars or $15,000 tala will not be pay tax under reforms announced late last year by revenue minister Tialavea Tionisio Hunt.
The reforms include controversial meaures to tax church ministers....