Regional
Two men aged 42 and 45 have been arrested and kept in custody in connection to the possession of methamphetamine found at the Fagali’i Airport this week.
The incident was confirmed by the Acting Assistant Police Commissioner, Sala’a Moananu Sala’a, who said the Police were alerted by the staff at...
![Comedian Chris Lilley as his character in Jonah from Tonga. [RNZI]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_jonah_2.jpg?itok=aGIxpCYJ "Comedian Chris Lilley as his character in Jonah from Tonga. [RNZI]")
New Zealand Labour Party MP Carmel Sepuloni has concerns over Māori Television choosing to air the controversial Australian TV comedy series Jonah from Tonga.
Minister for Pacific Peoples Alfred Ngaro has criticised the decision by the network to air the show, saying it perpetuated negative...
![[Hawaii News Now]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/am-flag-inlights.jpg?itok=1dvKXZpk "[Hawaii News Now]")
KANEOHE, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - This July Fourth, lots of folks are putting out American flags to show their patriotism.
But one condo went much further.
An American flag now adorns the side of the Haiku Hale condominium in Kaneohe -- and it was created entirely from lights.
The 135-unit building...
![Talofa Airways staff at the launch of the airline [Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_Talofa_airways_2.jpg?itok=8q8XrEGS "Talofa Airways staff at the launch of the airline [Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia]")
Talofa Airways launched its inaugural flight to Tonga yesterday from Fagali'i Airport in Samoa.
Airline spokesman Taua Fatu Tielu says travel between Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa is a nightmare.
Taua said their core customers are Tongan and Samoan travellers between those three locations,...
![Charged with theft: Yang Quigreen and Zhong Shuiming. [Samoa Observer]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/atm%20thieves_0.jpeg?itok=UMsrca1c "Charged with theft: Yang Quigreen and Zhong Shuiming. [Samoa Observer]")
Samoa is sending a strong warning to international criminals that they will be caught, prosecuted and punished.
The message comes from the Office of the Attorney General with the conviction of two Chinese tourists who skimmed $70,000 from local A.T.M machines.
In her submission at the hearing,...
![Boxing legend David Tua will speak at the The Gathering of the 3000. [Photo: RNZ / Mei Heron]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Pac%20Breifs_David_Tua_II.jpg?itok=RHh3se0E "Boxing legend David Tua will speak at the The Gathering of the 3000. [Photo: RNZ / Mei Heron]")
SAMOA POLICE COMMISH DENIES PISTOL ALLEGATION
Police Commissioner, Fuiavaili’ili Egon Keil, has denied being armed with an illegal clot pistol, the Samoa Observer reports.
The Commissioner denied allegations when he took the stand in the Commission of Inquiry investigating the suspension of...
![[Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_Cow_2_low.jpg?itok=lc7Z7XqG "[Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson]")
Cattle farmers in Samoa may soon have a modern abattoir that the government hopes will help improve their chances of exporting beef to American Samoa.
Samoa's minister of agriculture, La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polata'ivao Schmidt, confirmed in Parliament that negotiations with the World Bank to...
![Aumua Amata with James Comer (KY), Chairman Steve Chabot (OH), and Dwight Evans (PA). [courtesy photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Small%20Business%20Committee%20%20Roundtable%20Aumua%20Amata%20Steve%20Chabot%20Comer.jpg?itok=uJTeDd8O "Aumua Amata with James Comer (KY), Chairman Steve Chabot (OH), and Dwight Evans (PA). [courtesy photo]")
SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE HOLDS ROUNDTABLE
Washington, DC — Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata and the Small Business Committee held a roundtable on the best ways to help veteran-owned small businesses.
The discussion focused on the aftermath of the Supreme Court case Kingdomware Technologies, Inc...
![For the first time, church pastors in Samoa will have to pay income tax. [Photo: Tipi Autagavaia]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_Malua_Jubilee_church_temple_dedicated.JPG?itok=IT3Fp9RX "For the first time, church pastors in Samoa will have to pay income tax. [Photo: Tipi Autagavaia]")
For the first time, Samoa's Head of State and church pastors will have to pay income tax.
Despite opposition from a handful on MPs, the country's parliament has passed the Income Tax Amendment Act.
The MP for Urban West, Faumuina Wayne Fong, said it should have been a tax on the church rather than...
![Artist photographer Pati Solomona Tyrell's work focusses on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pacific communities in New Zealand. [photo: Pati Solomona Tyrell]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Wai-Fagogo-2016.jpg?itok=r88ijfOO "Artist photographer Pati Solomona Tyrell's work focusses on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pacific communities in New Zealand. [photo: Pati Solomona Tyrell]")
WHAT DESPERATION?
That was the response from the Minister of Revenue, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt to claims by Member of Parliament, Olo Fiti Vaai, made in Parliament last week.
According to Olo, the government is financially desperate which is why they have moved to tax the Head of State and the...