Regional
![Samoa Airways’ 737-800 aircraft is now on the ground in Milan where it is being prepared for its ferry flight to Samoa. [Courtesy photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/for%20the%20Pac%20Brief.jpg?itok=pNljuEWd "Samoa Airways’ 737-800 aircraft is now on the ground in Milan where it is being prepared for its ferry flight to Samoa. [Courtesy photo]")
PUBLIC URGED TO HELP 'BROKE' SAMOA RUGBY UNION
The Samoan public is being asked to dig deep to bail out the country's rugby union, which has been labeled "bankrupt" by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
Tuilaepa, who is also the chair of the SRU, said the Union cannot afford to pay off...
![Cans of Spam. [Photo: AFP via RNZI]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/spam.jpg?itok=PRdcgboq "Cans of Spam. [Photo: AFP via RNZI]")
The head of Hawaii's Retail Association says the canned corned beef product Spam is being used as currency and traded for drugs.
Tina Yamaki said thefts of Spam had escalated since a recent law change on the value of stolen goods defining a crime.
She said organised criminals appeared to be...
![[Photo: mshmeljov/123RF via RNZI]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_854934_l.jpg?itok=MD9Btm8S "[Photo: mshmeljov/123RF via RNZI]")
Details from the corporate registries of four Pacific island countries are among millions of leaked files purporting to show the extent of tax avoidance around the world.
The leak, dubbed the Paradise Papers, contains more than 13.4 million documents mostly from the offshore law firm Appleby.
The...
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa%20court_0.jpg?itok=txGEY8nV "[SN file photo]")
Three Samoan teachers have admitted in court that they assaulted a student at Faleata College.
A district court judge in Samoa issued a stern warning to them after they pleaded guilty to slapping a 14-year-old male student on the cheek for misbehaving.
Judge Alalatoa Rosella Viane Papalii has...
![BRINGING THE ISSUE TO THE FORE: Samoa Fa’afafine Association President, So’oalo Tootooalii Stanley. [Samoa Observer]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/faafafine%20prez.jpg?itok=Cg_6JiXr "BRINGING THE ISSUE TO THE FORE: Samoa Fa’afafine Association President, So’oalo Tootooalii Stanley. [Samoa Observer]")
Bringing together the circle of fa’afatama (transmen) in Samoa was the goal of the Talanoa session spearheaded by the Samoa Fa’afafine Association.
Held at the Palolo Deep late last month, S.F.A. President, So’oalo Tootooalii Stanley welcomed the participants and applauded their courage to turn up...
![GOOD girl: Flame the black Labrador is Samoa’s newest detector dog. [Samoa Observer]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/flame%20detector%20dog.jpg?itok=I3CxI5gD "GOOD girl: Flame the black Labrador is Samoa’s newest detector dog. [Samoa Observer]")
He might be a new detector dog but “Flame” is already a hero in the eyes of his new handlers.
On his first day at work, Flame the black Labrador sniffed out plastic bags of suspected methamphetamine and utensils suspected for drug use.
The Detector dog is in Samoa as part of the Pacific Detector...
![The Samoa Government’s vision for Samoa to be the Pacific ICT hub by 2020 took a leap frog with the arrival of the Tui-Samoa Cable at Moataa last week. [Courtesy photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Connecting%20Tui.jpg?itok=zsmnAKHG "The Samoa Government’s vision for Samoa to be the Pacific ICT hub by 2020 took a leap frog with the arrival of the Tui-Samoa Cable at Moataa last week. [Courtesy photo]")
Government’s vision for Samoa to be the Pacific ICT hub by 2020 took a leap frog today with the arrival of the Tui Samoa Cable at Moataa last week.
But that is not stopping government in exploring more fibre optic cable networks to leverage Samoa as the Pacific Hub in Information Communication...
![Samoan prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoaPM_22.jpg?itok=ncXL8Pvd "Samoan prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi [SN file photo]")
The Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Samoan prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, says it's up to the people, communities, and organisations of the region to build a healthy, peaceful, secure and prosperous Pacific.
In announcing the launch of the 2017 regional policy consultations,...
![Okeanos Marianas arriving in the waters off Susupe Civic Park on Saipan. [Credit: Mark Rabago]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/canoe-IMG_4777.JPG?itok=_eViqqgR "Okeanos Marianas arriving in the waters off Susupe Civic Park on Saipan. [Credit: Mark Rabago]")
Okeanos Marianas, a 15 metre, double-hulled Polynesian canoe built in New Zealand, completed its delivery voyage to Saipan in the Northern Marianas this week.
Built at a cost of over $US500,000 by Okeanos Sustainable Sea Transport Ltd, the vessel is being eyed for commercial transport between...
![Tongan league fans show their support. [Photo: NRL Photos]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_tonga_fans.jpg?itok=v0YlE_M_ "Tongan league fans show their support. [Photo: NRL Photos]")
Workers in Otara's town centre are expecting more violence on the streets tonight.
Last night six people were arrested, after 200 Samoan and Tongan rugby league supporters clashed in a carpark in Otara.
Businesses that border the carpark here say they will probably close early today.
They say staff...