MELBOURNE'S Samoan community spent yesterday frantically trying to contact relatives but many were frustrated to find phone lines to the stricken South Pacific islands had been cut.

HONDURAS' de facto leader has offered for the first time to hold direct talks with ousted President Manuel Zelaya to resolve a political crisis, even as soldiers laid siege to the embassy where he has taken refuge.

EWEN McKENZIE will weigh up his coaching options in Australia before deciding on his future, but he is definitely interested in taking over from sacked Queensland Reds head coach Phil Mooney.

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THE Swedish waitress Charlotte Lindstrom soothed her jailed fiance saying, "Don't worry little husband ... Mama's going to look after you," before the pair fell about laughing in a telephone call recorded by prison staff, the Supreme Court heard yesterday.