Samoa

Other project funding is managed by the different sectors responsible.

This well-coordinated approach at the national level is also sought at the regional level.

"We call upon a well-coordinated regional approach, particularly with the regional projects that have founded positive development approach to work in partnership with Samoa at this stage," said Peseta Noumea Simi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and trade of Samoa.

A team of 55, including surgeons, anesthetists, technical and support staff, is now returning after offering heart surgery to people in need.

The General Manger of Samoa's National Health Services Palanitina Tupuimatagi Toelupe said Samoa had limited resources and lacked the medical expertise for such operations.

She said patients were selected depending on how long they had been on the waiting list.

The series of meetings from 8-11 May 2017 will engage key stakeholders from national government, development partners, regional technical agencies, and representatives of civil society including the private sector.

A Climate Finance Forum tomorrow (9 May) will set out the current approach Samoa is taking with respect to climate change finance in Samoa. It will also bring together key stakeholders from the various government ministries, civil society and the private sector.

The teams will clash as part of a Pacific rugby double header, called the 'Pasifika Challenge', at Eden Park with Tonga playing Wales in the curtain raiser.

Alama Ieremia said the Auckland test was a welcome addition to their calendar.

"It's great that we've got a chance to play the All Blacks again and this is great for our build-up as well, going into the June-July internationals, which are very important World Cup qualification games for Manu Samoa," he said.

The Category 1 cyclone is forecast to move towards Fiji at about 7km/h.

It is expected to move west, past Tonga's northernmost islands.

RNZI reports the new storm in the Pacific comes as Cyclone Donna, now Category 3, arrives in New Caledonia, with wind gusts up to 230km/h.

The Fiji Met Service said Ella was intensifying and was forecast to be Category 2 by Thursday.

It was expected to make landfall on Vanua Levu in Fiji late on Thursday evening or early Friday morning.

A drought in 2016 on the island of Savaii reduced the cocoa harvest, forcing producers to raise their prices.

RNZI reports a manager of the Va'ai Koko Samoa plantation, Kolone Va'ai, said the firm's export products need to meet stringent quality controls.

He said a collective approach would better address demand and quality issues.

"We've taken steps to forming an association, especially on this part of the island, called the Tuasau Koko Association," he said.

The final match of the Pacific Test triple-header was, on paper, the hardest game to predict, but England's precision proved too much for a Samoan side that had its moments, but ultimately couldn't match it for 80 minutes with their northern rivals.

RNZI reports the prime minister criticised Mr Trump for his decision to resume off-shore drilling for oil and gas exploration which had been stopped by his predecessor.

Speaking at a UN-sponsored work shop, Tuilaepa says people in the US are resisting the change.

"Some greedy narrow-minded leaders in the modern world who do not see beyond the tip of their noses - Mr Trump has already signed an order resuming offshore drilling and that is extremely dangerous for the environment,”Tuilaepa said.

In a winner takes all final round robin match at the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, Samoa were put into bat and slumped to one run for two wickets after losing both openers in the first three overs.

Captain Regina Lili'I (32 off 45 balls) and Lelia Bourne (19 off 22 balls) stabilised the innings with a 43-run partnership before a mini-collapse saw Samoa lose three wickets in five balls.

From there the Samoans scraped through to post 79 for 9 from their 20 overs.

Currently the local price of a small cocoa block on the streets is selling for up to 15 Samoan tala or close to US$6 according to a report on RNZI.

Whittakers spokesperson Matt Whittaker, said last year's drought has impacted on supply.

But he said while they have enough at the moment, the company is not heavily promoting their koko Samoa product right now.