Samoa

Months after being named 2009’s Young World Player of the year, Fruean was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and ordered to have emergency surgery.

His sternum was split down the middle — leaving an eight-inch scar — and his teenage dreams of playing for the All Blacks suddenly vanished. He had a second bout of open-heart surgery in 2013 and, the following year, two further operations after his doctor spotted dangerous heartbeat irregularities.

Fierce rivals Samoa and PNG have fought another close battle in Sano, Japan at the 2018 ICC Women’s World T20 – East Asia-Pacific Qualifier 2017, with Samoa taking the spoils this time.

PNG captain Pauke Siaka won the toss and again sent the opposition in to bat first under beautiful blue skies in Sano.

An early wicket to off-spinner Sibona Jimmy appeared to justify the decision to bowl first but Samoa’s top order had other ideas.

Samoan captain Ivan Fepuleai said their set piece play let them down.

"If we fixed up our set pieces, the game would be a lot more free-flowing," Fepuleai said.

"I think when we had the ball in hand we were a lot more deadly but full credit to Australia, they really brought it to us."

RNZ reports the next round of matches will be on Tuesday.

Samoa will play New Zealand and Australia will meet Fiji.

The tournament finishes next Saturday.

In the opening match of the Qualifier, Samoa won the toss and sent Japan in for the first ICC match on turf in Japan.

Japan got off to a slow but solid start before captain Kurumi Ota was unluckily run out at the non-striker’s end.

From there Japan lost regular wickets throughout their 20 overs which restricted their ability to set a defendable score.

Former captain Shizuka Miyaji was the only batter to stay there for her 27 not out with Japan setting Samoa a target of just 71 for victory.

The Baby Manu has been training together for six weeks in preparation for the Oceania tournament and the upcoming World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Georgia.

Samoa won the second tier Under 20 Trophy last year to earn promotion back to the elite division.

Head coach Junior Leota said testing themselves against Australia, New Zealand and Fiji will tell them exactly where there preparations are at.

"It's crucial that we get preparation right and I guess Oceania it's a first step on our journey," he said.

This is the first workshop for regional executive-level police officers facilitated by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) and funded by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). It builds on four previous training sessions funded by the AFP with frontline police officers from across the Pacific to improve policies and responses to cases of violence against women.

Reporters Without Borders places Samoa on 21st place, followed by Tonga on 49th place and Papua New Guinea on 51st.

The lowest ranked Pacific country is Fiji on 67th place.

They are all ranked higher than India, China, Indonesia or Russia.

Samoa is also ranked higher than the US, Britain or France.

New Zealand and Australia make the top 20, with places 13 and 19 respectively.

The top four countries are all in Scandinavia, with Norway being first.

Photo file: Pacific journalists in action 

Samoa was a German protectorate between 1900 and 1914.

Called 'To Walk Under Palm Trees', the book contains rare photos, many sourced from family collections.

The books author, Tony Brunt, said the pictures had captured historical moments in Samoa.

"One of the primary motivations is to get these photos that are historically significant out of purely private collections and into the digital archives of the Museum of Samoa," said Mr Brunt.

The offshore earthquake was registered at 10.18am, and it occurred at a depth of 10km.

The Fiji Times reports the earthquake was located 293km Southwest from Apia, Samoa, 496km Northwest from Alofi, Niue, and 908km Northeast from Suva.

The earthquake dod not pose any danger to the region.

The territory's Congresswoman Aumua Amata discussed the issue with Senators and House Representatives although it is not immediately clear how Samoa-Chinese relations impact on the US territory.

RNZ reports Senator Tuiagamoa Tavai asked her if President Donald Trump was aware of the close connection between Samoa and China, and the fact that Samoa is American Samoa's closest neighbour.

He said several colleagues shared his concern, suggesting extra security measures be put in place at Pago Pago International Airport to protect the territory.