Samoa

Having pipped New Zealand 22-21 in the Cup quarter finals, courtesy of an intercept try in the dying seconds, Fiji were thumped 31-12 by a resurgent South Africa in the semifinals, with the Blitzboks going on to claim their first tournament victory of the season - and only their second in the past 15 legs.

Fiji recovered to defeat to World Series leaders the United States 24-14 in the third place playoff, after the Americans failed to reach the final for the first time this season.

Students of the programme are working professionals seeking the skills to take their careers to the next level.

Classes, will run in the evenings to accommodate work schedules.

Hasmukh Lal, Chief Executive Officer of USP Pacific TAFE said that “expansion of delivery of these programmes to Samoa has been a priority for some time but it was vital to get the right personnel on board, with Dr Amosa in place we can be assured of the high standard of delivery that we need to maintain in all of our courses.” 

The hearing of contempt of court charges against Faamausili Moli and 15 other matais of the village council of Malie was scheduled to start yesterday.

But the validity of the interim injunction, as well as the appeal against the Lands and Titles decision to appoint Faamausili, and whether or not an order of stay of that decision was issued - are some of the preliminary matters the presiding judge wants to deal with first.

New Zealand will play Mate Ma'a Tonga on 22 June at Mt Smart Stadium in the first match of the new Oceania Cup.

The Kiwi Ferns will also play against an unnamed opponent in the double header - they'll play a second match against Australia in October.

The Oceania Cup will be played in June and November during the international Test windows.

Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Fiji and Australia make up the six-nation competition.

The Samoa Observer reported the officials are high-ranking members of the justice ministry and courts administration.

The Commission said the pair's separate actions had brought the ministry into disrepute.

Papali'i was fired more than three years ago for non-compliance after an investigation by the Public Service Commission.

The attorney general, Lemalu Herman Retzlaff, told the Samoa Observer the commission had uncovered evidence that led to the police investigation.

Papali'i told the newspaper he had no idea he was being investigated, adding he would defend himself.

The original plan was for athletes to be housed in hotels but a lack of providers forced organisers to approach the Methodist Church of Samoa, who agreed to have the athletes stay at their Faleula compound.

Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue believes the change of plan is a blessing in disguise.

"It's a big advantage actually to have all of the athletes in one place, like we had in Port Moresby (four years ago) and in New Caledonia in 2011. The last time the Games were here (in 2007) all the athletes were housed in schools around the town.

"What it looks like, is that the abuser uses certain patterns of behaviour to establish and maintain power and control over their partner," she said.

"Although often, it includes physical violence, physical violence doesn't have to be necessarily present. There is verbal abuse, the name calling the put downs. You're fat you're ugly you're stupid, you're a whore."

The panel discussion was part of the United Nations' Spotlight Initiative To Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls.

National Voters Day commemorates, celebrates and recognizes the importance of raising awareness to vote in a democratic society.
The theme for this year’s National Voters Day is, “Know Your Elections”. 

The Office of the Electoral Commission in partnership with the Women in Leadership in Samoa (WILS) Project, WILS – a three-year joint project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women with funding from the Australian Government in partnership with the Government of Samoa.

The total worth of all contracts is ST$1,355,280.

A statement said the hotels were selected based on the number of Officials, location and proximity of the hotel to Games venues and Dining Hall facilities, as well as the overall suitability in the transportation plan for the Games.