Samoa

The Observer reports La'auli was joined by other officials of the Nonu juice company including his wife, Heather and business associates, Apulu Lance Polu and Tuitui Aiolupo in relation to alleged criminal activity.

Another defendant, Martin Schwalger, did not appear as he was running late.

Judge Fepulea'i Roma Ameperosa ordered the defendants to hand over their passports and travel documents as part of their bail conditions.

A lawyer from the Attorney General's Office told the Court the charges had yet to be finalised and he requested an adjournment.

This is the first SPREP Meeting to be held under the new SPREP Strategic Plan 2017 – 2026, and the last annual meeting as the SPREP Meeting transitions to a biannual event.

SPREP's key focus areas in the decade to come are Climate Change Resilience, Ecosystem and Biodiversity Protection, Waste Management and Pollution Control and Environmental Monitoring and Governance, with Resilience and our Ocean as overarching themes. These are extensions of the work done in the Pacific region with SPREP Members since its birth.

The Observer reported that Indonesia restated its commitment to playing an active role in regional development during the recent Pacific Islands Forum summit in Apia.

The Director for Technical Cooperation for Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Syarif Alatas, said the active role was part of his country's effort to contribute to world peace and prosperity.

He said renewed technical assistance was being made available to Samoa, which recently entered a trade relationship with Indonesia.

The Meeting brings together Members of the governing council of SPREP to discuss strategic issues and to approve the 2018-19 work plan for the organisation.

It comes a week after the Pacific island leaders gathered in Samoa and committed to fast tracking the development of policies to ban the use of single-use plastic bags, plastic and Styrofoam, comes another Pacific regional event upholding sustainability.

Pacific Islanders are increasingly speaking out over their concern about reports of human rights abuses in Indonesia's Papua region, and the cause of West Papuan self-determination aspirations.

A protest supporting West Papua's independence was staged during the summit outside the Forum's venue in Samoa's capital Apia, which upset Jakarta.

The 2017 awardees raise the number of SAO Staff undertaking Masters Studies to 13 in 2017 from 6 in 2016.

The Post-Graduate and Masters Initiative started in 2016 as part of the professionalization drive of the Controller and Auditor General inspired and motivated by the professionalization program of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institution (INTOSAI) and Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institution (PASAI).

Over the past week media reports have said the Ministry was urging the Government to legalise abortion and gay marriage.

RNZI reports this prompted public outrage and a statement from Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi that he would never allow what he calls "heathenistic practices".

However, the Director of Health Leausa Toleafoa Dr Take Naseri says the media has misquoted and taken out of context the national policy paper.

Leausa says the ministry did not advocate making abortion legal, as it is illegal and the ministry is compliant to the law.

A protest in support of West Papua's independence movement was held outside the venue of the Pacific Island Forum Leaders summit in Samoa's capital last week.

Subsequently, Indonesia's Ambassador to New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga, Tantowi Yahya, condemned the protest in a heated press conference.

"In our perspective, talking about West Papua in this conference is not the place because from the beginning there is no agenda as such," said the ambassador who was attending the summit as part of a large Indonesian delegation.

Lakhan made the comment after signing the host agreement with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in Apia yesterday.

“When we got the bids, Samoa ticked all the boxes and came up with flying colors,” he said.

“Samoa met all the criterias from government backing and support to the availability of international sports facilities and two experts on the ground to facilitate, manage and deliver the level of competitions. By far, I am very confident that Samoa will deliver.”

The forests are under increasing threats from climate change to unsustainable land use and coastal erosion.

The Ministry of Natural Resources' Moafanua Tolusina Pouli said a variety of trees were grown as seedlings into tree saplings in a number of nurseries for planting.

He said his team at the forestry division was working closely with community groups and landowners and other departments to plant trees in different venues nationwide.