Samoa

Apia Park has a capacity of about 8,000 but barely half of that turned up to witness the Blues 34-29 victory over the Reds last Friday.

Many fans vented on social media about the not-so-super prices, which started at 40 Tala for general admission and as much as 500 Tala - or $US200 - for a seat in the stands.

According to RNZI correspondent, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia to Samoans and those on low incomes that's a lot of money.

"If they drop it down to 20 Tala for the general admission to the game, I gather there will be a lot of people there," he said.

The Constitutional Amendment Act was passed unanimously by parliament last week.

The legislation had faced criticism but the Samoa Observer reports the Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff, has quashed any likelihood of the measure endangering freedom of religion in Samoa.

The paper quotes the attorney general saying the amendment did not amend, alter or change the rights of people to exercise their religious beliefs as they deem fit.

He says this individual right in the constitution remains untouched.

Delegates are also learning the latest science on the ozone layer.

And they will try to reach an agreement on a framework for co-operation between the two Samoas on the issuing of weather bulletins and disaster warnings.

RNZI reports this is the 15th year that the annual discussions between American Samoa and Samoa weather experts have been held.

The head of the Samoa Meteorological Service Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea said their work contributed to the quality of life of people in both countries.

Alexander Pohla, who scored twice against Australia, moves to the left wing to accommodate the return of Ricky Pauli Ene at full-back with Godinet Tinei given the number nine jersey.

Samoa takes on Wales in its last pool game of the World Rugby U 20 Championship in Tablisi, Georgia on Thursday (local time)

Wales coach Jason Strange has freshened up his starting line-up for the match that they must win – ideally with a bonus point to avoid relegation to the second-tier U20 Trophy next year.

The proposed agreement between the villages and government relates to the New Zealand Recognized Seasonal Employees (RSE)), Australia's Seasonal Workers Program, (SWP), Canterbury Initiative Trade Employment and Approval in Principal Scheme, (AIP) in New Zealand.

The MOU is for village leaders to play a leading role in mentoring and monitoring their representatives who will be employed under the Regional Seasonal Worker initiatives.

Funding was provided by UN One Youth Employment Programme.

The groups produce handicrafts with recycled objects and build furniture from used tires.

Other initiatives are obtaining skills in repairing sewing machines and other activities aimed at increasing number of youth in the production process.

Photo by UNDP Samoa 

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi and his Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupai have been reassured that installation work of the Tui-Samoa Cable investment will start in mid-September.

Savali News reports the assurances came from the Chairman of the Samoa Submarine Cable Pepe Christian Fruean at the completion of the 5 week undersea survey.

“The installation will start in September and end in mid-November, and by December 2017, it will be up for testing,” Pepe explained.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi informed the plenary session of the United Nations Oceans Conference in New York that one commitment includes Samoa’s Community-based Fisheries Management Programme.

The programme aims to ensure the long term sustainability of coastal fisheries resources for food security and livelihoods of coastal village communities through the empowerment of communities.

The organisations had approached the government for assistance for the development of their businesses.

A Cabinet statement said the Government established this assistance to enhance administrative support for private organisations.

The organisations are required to meet several criteria for selection.

One of them is that the organisation’s membership should at least be 15.

The organisations are also required to submit audited financial reports every financial year as well as submit business development plans to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour.

The court heard on the morning of Independence Day celebrations on June 1 last year, the victim who is a 20 year old tertiary student, got into a taxi after the march at Tuanaimato and asked the driver to drop her in town.

The young woman told the Court that there were no buses, so she jumped into a taxi at about 9am 

The taxi driver, Latana Fretton instead took the young woman to an isolated spot where he raped her.

He then proceeded to drop her in town where she had originally intended to go.