Samoa

The assistance was accepted by founding members of WICC, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Su’a Julia Wallwork and Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson.

The assistance falls within the scope of work of WICC which is to strengthen the resilience of women through collaborative and meaningful actions across sectors.

China initiated the assistance as their way of assisting vulnerable women through better access to water.

Talamua Online reported Health Minister Tuitama Dr Talalelei Tuitama said doctors had been instructed to take notice of children with fever because it is the first symptom of the potentially deadly disease which could be mistaken as flu.

Tuitama said three children had been treated for meningococcal so far.

The symptoms include sudden high fever and severe persistent headaches and can lead to death within three to four days if untreated.

They have been summoned by the Elders Committee to decide what action to take after the apparent failure of their boycott of a new government tax on church ministers.

The meeting comes as the government starts to prosecute ministers for failing to file tax returns.

A CCCS minister told KHJ News, on condition of anonymity, that the ministers hope the meeting would clear up confusion about the next course of action and some direction on the legal front.

Catholic Deacon Kasiano Le'aupepe made the comment at a forum organised by the national human rights institution and UN Women.

Mr Le'aupepe said what has happened to Samoa and its people is because they have violated God's ordinances.

He said Samoans have destroyed and ignored the laws of God and placed more weight on laws of the world.

The chairman said the solution for the problem is for government to seek assistance from the National Council of Churches in calling a national day of repentance.

The Polynesian rivals clash in the first leg of the Oceania Under 20 Trophy at Marist Park this afternoon, with the second leg at the same ground on Saturday.

The winner will compete at next year's Under 20 Trophy in Brazil.

Samoa skipper Simon Peter Toleafoa was a part of the Baby Manu team thrashed 58-8 by Fiji in the final of this year's World Junior Trophy.

The Auckland-based first five said Samoa's local and overseas based players have been able to train together for the past few weeks and will give it everything.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said on his weekly national radio programme that the country was governed by nearly 300 statutes.

But he said more than 100 of these needed to be repealed.

Tuilaepa said there were laws that needed to be reviewed and set for amendment in Parliament.

He said one of the pressing laws in need of reform was the Electoral Act, and the amendment bill had gone through its first and second readings.

"This law needs to be passed now as it will be used to govern the next General Elections," he said.

While opening the exhibition Samoa's Education Minister, Loau Keneti Sio, thanked and praised the contribution of Chinese people who were brought to the country by Germans to work in plantations.

Many stayed and married locals during the New Zealand administration.

The Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, Wang Xu Feng, said the Chinese played an integral part in Samoan history, despite being mistreated at times.

Police Commissioner Egon Keil told RNZ Pacific that police are working with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General to deal with a perceived threat.

He said for security reasons, he could not discuss the nature of the threat.

About  20 uniformed police officers were in court while the Chief Justice was presiding over a bail hearing on Thursday.

It is also believed there were plain-clothed officers outside the court.

The Samoa Observer reported the country's biggest creditor was China, which it owed about $US160 million.

This is more than its debts to the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and Japan combined.

Sili said he was confident Samoa could afford to pay off its loans.

The government has only borrowed to build infrastructure that will enhance the social economic well-being of the people and drive the economy's growth, he said.

The Prisons and Corrections Minister, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, announced the decision in a letter to the Prisons and Corrections Commissioner, Taitosaua Edward Winterstein, in which he also accused the commissioner of "not telling the truth".

The Samoa Observer reported that in the letter, dated 9 November, the minister accused Taitosaua of not informing him of the threat to prison security posed by notorious drug lord Tagaloasa Filipaina.

"I am extremely disappointed that you did not tell me the truth and you had embarrassed me in front of the Prime Minister.