Samoa

The ground breaking ceremony signified the start of construction of the PCCC funded by the Government of Japan through grant aid to the Government of Samoa. The PCCC will be the regional centre of excellence for climate change information, research and innovation.

"The construction of the Pacific Climate Change Centre is now open!" said the Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi at the special event.

It is planned that construction of the Pacific Climate Change Centre will end in July, 2019.

The inquiry will also recommend options for the proposed new structure after consultation.

The government's move to appoint a commission of inquiry comes after the nurses association met with the Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, to discuss the controversial proposal.

The newly elected president of the nurses association, Solialofi Papalii, said the proposed management structure is unacceptable to current senior nurses.

She said nurses must be represented at the management level.

Lawyer, Tuisa Tasi Patea, was chastised for his work as defence lawyer for recently-convicted Romanian fraudster, Catalin Raazvan, the Samoa Observer reports.

Raazvan was found guilty on dozens of charges related to his use of counterfeit cards to steal money from Bank South Pacific automated teller machines (ATM) in Samoa.

But the district court judge, Alalatoa Rosella Papali'i, took issue with the way the lawyer, who is a former Member of Parliament, presented evidence.

The Chinese funded project to modernise Faleolo airport is expected to have cost $US54 million.

The arrival and departure terminals were increased in size from 5500 square metres to 12,000 and designed to cater for up to 600,000 passengers a year.

Other phases of the project will include the introduction of aero bridges and dedicated power centres.

Tuilaepa said the upgrade befitted that of a modern international airport and would mean more business space from which tourism-related services could be provided, improving the experience for travellers.

The ceremony will take place at the headquarters of Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in Vailima.

The Pacific islands region is on track to have its own Climate Change Centre based at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme in Samoa with groundbreaking scheduled for Friday.

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the centre would play a critical role in enhancing the awareness of the complexities of climate change, its impacts, threats and opportunities such as building capacity and resilience.

The 22-year-old tore his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligaments during his final lift on the Gold Coast, but still came away with a silver medal.

Since undergoing surgery, Lui had been staying with family in Brisbane while he began his recovery.

Samoa Weightlifting Federation head coach Jerry Wallwork said so far it was going well.

"He went through an operation (and now) he's getting his rehab with all the proper professionals: a physiotherapist and a surgeon, so we're very happy" he said.

The bank said it had come to its attention that there were still a large number of people wanting to remit or transfer money out of Samoa to invest in the Onecoin cryptocurrency, despite warnings by CBS that there was a very high risk that the promotion was a pyramid scheme.

Under national regulations, people cannot transfer money out of Samoa without the approval of the CBS.

Using this law, the bank decided to block all approvals for any transactions relating to the Onecoin cryptocurrency.

Gold medallists Feagaiga Stowers and Sanele Mao received over $US7,000 each, while silver medallists Don Opeloge, Lauititi Lui and Ato Plodzicki Faoagali were awarded $US1,500 each for their efforts.

It marked a change in government policy after Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi previously said only gold medal winners were deserving of financial rewards.

Weightlifting coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork, who also picked up $US4,000 after his team returned home with four medals, said it was welcome recognition for the athletes.

The duo, Tuipulotu Talatoka and Salaseini Serukeitoga, left Fiji in April and September last year to work as housemaid and nanny for a Samoan lawyer and businessman.

Last Friday, stop departure notices were issued against them after their employer lodged a formal police complaint, alleging the women had walked off with some valuable items from his house.

He also said they had taken the items while fleeing in the early hours during the Easter weekend this year.

The matter was reported in the Samoan Observer.

Lopaoo said Samoa had achieved remarkable results in negotiations with their American Samoan counterparts which would lead to the resumption of exports to the territory.

He said his Ministry had been dealing with the matter alongside staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa also met with Governor Lolo Moliga during her Flag Day visit.

Governor Lolo then wrote to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi encouraging Samoa to lift the ban.