Regional
![[Photo: Tipi Autagavaia]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_Malua_Jubilee_church_temple_dedicated_0.JPG?itok=FuuF4OJa "[Photo: Tipi Autagavaia]")
The newly introduced income tax on Samoan church ministers and pastors continues to cause ripples in Samoa.
The mayor of the Savai'i village of Fagasa, Fa'itau Tuitama'i, told the Samoa Observer the government had misled the public over the tax.
The mayor said they were told only 'alofa' or members...
![[Photo: 123rf / RNZI]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_dengue.jpg?itok=tfX6WhLG "[Photo: 123rf / RNZI]")
Samoa's Ministry of Health says there is an outbreak of dengue fever type two in the country and people need to be vigilant.
The ministry's chief executive, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri, said the public shouldn't panic but must take immediate action to eliminate mosquito-breeding places.
He said while...
![Samoa's PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoaPM_21.jpg?itok=oHQ6S7q_ "Samoa's PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi [SN file photo]")
At the reception to acknowledge the arrival of the Tui-Samoa Cable to the country, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi served notice to the ICT service providers in the country.
He challenged the ICT service providers to prioritize affordable retail broadband internet for the...
![Pictured L–R standing: New Zealand Police Sergeant Al Campbell, Samoa Police Commissioner Egon Keil, NZ High Commissioner in Samoa HE David Nicholson, Samoa Police K9 Unit officer in charge Senior Sergeant Tavete Tusani. Kneeling: Constable Mozart Milo and Flame. [photo: New Zealand High Commission, Samoa]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/011117_handover_of_flame_2web.jpg?itok=5o1zU40J "Pictured L–R standing: New Zealand Police Sergeant Al Campbell, Samoa Police Commissioner Egon Keil, NZ High Commissioner in Samoa HE David Nicholson, Samoa Police K9 Unit officer in charge Senior Sergeant Tavete Tusani. Kneeling: Constable Mozart Milo and Flame. [photo: New Zealand High Commission, Samoa]")
‘Flame’ the black Labrador arrived in her new home Samoa on October 18th and has this week begun her new role as a Pacific Detector Dog.
The Pacific Detector Dog Programme (PDDP), managed by the Police Dog Section and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has been running for 10...
![A Virgin Australia Boeing 737 takes off at Auckland Airport. [Photo / Grant Bradley via NZ Herald]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/virgin%20air.jpg?itok=klcvcqEU "A Virgin Australia Boeing 737 takes off at Auckland Airport. [Photo / Grant Bradley via NZ Herald]")
Virgin Australia has made press statements regarding the decision of the Samoa Government to decline an Auckland - Apia air service under the operating licenses sought by Virgin Australia International (VAI).
This decision should not have come as a surprise to VAI, as the previous license was...
![There were complaints the ambassador’s behavior was “culturally insensitive”, “rude” and “undiplomatic”. [photo: PeaceCorps Samoa Facebook]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/brown%20n%20samoa.jpg?itok=EkLY6aEk "There were complaints the ambassador’s behavior was “culturally insensitive”, “rude” and “undiplomatic”. [photo: PeaceCorps Samoa Facebook]")
A priest shouted "f... Trump" at a Peace Corps celebration party in Samoa after being rudely "shushed" by United States Ambassador Scott Brown, an attendee claims.
The clash is alleged to have occurred at the July event that sparked a State Department investigation, to which Brown referred as a "...
![Kalisolaite 'Uhila's Mo’ui tukuhausia, 2012 [Photo: Vimeo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_homeless.jpg?itok=Z5TjuRQI "Kalisolaite 'Uhila's Mo’ui tukuhausia, 2012 [Photo: Vimeo]")
A Tongan-born artist who has won this year's contemporary Pacific artist award in New Zealand says he almost gave up his passion for art.
Kalisolaite 'Uhila said he felt humbled and overwhelmed at the award for an art project on homelessness.
He produced it after spending three months living on...
Health officials in Samoa say a huge increase in the numbers undergoing dialysis treatment is alarming and should be a wake up call for the country.
The manager of Renal Services, Christina Poloai, told the Samoa Observer that when dialysis started in Samoa in 2005 there were five patients, but now...
![Scott Brown at the party with his wife, Gail Huff (left). [Photo: @peacecorpssamoa/Facebook]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Scott%20Brown%20n%20wife%20in%20samoa.jpg?itok=Yvea1pr4 "Scott Brown at the party with his wife, Gail Huff (left). [Photo: @peacecorpssamoa/Facebook]")
It was a balmy day when the US ambassador to New Zealand, Scott Brown, touched down in Apia, the capital of the South Pacific island nation of Samoa.
Brown had flown in with his wife, Gail Huff, in July for a party to celebrate 50 years of the peace corps in the country. It was his inaugural visit...
![[Courtesy photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa%20court.jpg?itok=zBHQc9ph "[Courtesy photo]")
A church minister in Samoa faces jail after admitting to raping his niece five times.
The victim was living with the defendant and his wife and attended a church college in Apia where the first offence took place.
The police said other offences took place in a village on Savaii Island where the...