Archive - Dec 12, 2011

ASHINGTON (AP) -- Eager to put the long and divisive Iraq war to rest, President Barack Obama declared Monday "those days are over" with the last American troops heading home, but he pledged the U.S. would remain committed to the fledgling government they leave behind. He and Iraq's leader somberly saluted America's war dead at Arlington National Cemetery.

MOSCOW (AP) -- After a week of surprising challenges to his authority, Vladimir Putin faces a new one from one of Russia's richest and most glamorous figures: The billionaire owner of the New Jersey Nets says he will run against him in March's presidential election.

The announcement Monday by Mikhail Prokhorov underlines the extent of the discontent with Putin, who has dominated Russian politics for a dozen years - first as president, then as prime minister.

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- A psychedelic gecko and a monkey with an "Elvis" hairdo are among 208 new species described last year by scientists in the Mekong River region of Southeast Asia, a conservation group announced Monday. The animals were discovered in a biodiverse region that is threatened by habitat loss, deforestation, climate change and overdevelopment, the WWF said in a report. The newly described species include a "psychedelic gecko" in southern Vietnam and a nose-less monkey in a remote province of Myanmar that looks like it wears a pompadour.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Forget the material things - reindeer sweaters, clunky toys, stocking stuffers that end up as, well, stuff. How about a skydiving lesson, a spa pampering or a night at a cozy bed and breakfast? This holiday season, a lasting memory is worth a thousand knickknacks.

With less money to spend in the weak economy, and with daily-deal sites like Groupon growing in popularity, more Americans are giving experiences instead of glitzy gifts. Think comfort and joy, not five golden rings.

E ui o lea ua tu’uina mai le tali a le pulega o le Fa’alapotopotoga o le Eletise ma le Suavai (ASPA), e uiga i le mataupu na mafua ai ona faaalu a latou tupe e totogi ai faasalalauga i luga o le Samoa News, e tau faapupula ai le mataupu e uiga i ripoti i le latou tupe mama o lo o i ai, peitai o loo tumau pea le le talitonu i ai o nisi o le mamalu o le atunuu.

O le ali’i lea na ulufale fa’amalosi i totonu o se fale a se tasi o lona aiga i Amaluia ma ave fa’agaoi ni mea aoga, ua tu’ua’ia nei e le malo i moli’aga mamafa e lua, o le talepe fale i le tulaga muamua ma le gaoi.

I fa’amaumauga a le fa’amasinoga o lo o ta’ua ai e fa’apea, i le vaveao o le aso 8 Tesema na tea nei pe tusa o le itula e 5:00, na ulufale faamalosi ai le alii o Pio Fagaautau i totonu o se fale ma ia gaoia ni mea aoga e aofia ai ni telefoni feaveai, seevae ma se tinoitupe.

O le Aso Lulu o le vaiaso ua mavae, na tu lau'ele'ele ai i laufanua o Amerika Samoa ia le fa'ili ta'uta'ua o le Te Vaka, lea o lo o aofia ai ni isi o alo o Samoa.

Na mafai ona asia e le Te Vaka ni isi o aiga i totonu o le teritori, e pei ona fa'aalia i lenei ata, le latou asiasi atu i le afioga i le Aloali'i ia Afoa Moega Lutu ma le faletua ma le aiga i Utulei, i le aoauli ananafi.

O le po o le Aso To'ona'i na faia ai se koneseti tele i le Veterans Stadium i Tafuna lea na fa'afiafia ai lenei fa'ili, ae e le'i toe malaga ese atu i le afiafi ananafi.

O le fa’atupulaia ai o amioga le tau pulea a nisi o fanau aoga o le atunuu, na fautuaina ai e se tasi o tama le alii kovana i luga o lana polokalama...

The Return of the Toa Cage Fights is now officially on the record books after its successful Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event held last Friday night at the Tafuna High School gymnasium that saw a crowd of young and old alike witness Samoa's MMA fighters, Judo practitioners, boxers and Karate competitors make history by fighting inside of a steel cage.

The first MMA event which was called Combat Sports Challenge (CSC 4:11) made history as the first MMA event held here in the territory, and took place this past April, where the combatants competed in a boxing type ring.

The American Samoa High School Athletic Association (ASHSAA) Girls Varsity Volleyball Champions, the Samoana Sharks had a barbecue this past Saturday at the the Utulei Beach Park to celebrate their winning the championship title.

The Sharks who were seeded #4 going into the playoffs, defeated the #1 seeded team, the Leone Lions in Leone for their championship game berth, and then captured the title by downing the #2 seeded team, the Tafuna Warriors. Coach Tautua said that he was proud of his team and they did a great job and played well.