Samoa

Massey University staff run the annual trips to the main island of Upolu as a special topic for students, and set up travelling surgical clinics to offer free neutering when a dog is registered.

This year, the first team of staff arrived in July, and the clinics will wrap up in September.  

The July group neutered 200 dogs, Massey veterinary resident Malcolm Jack said, so 600 dogs could be operated on this year. 

"If you do that every year, it makes a difference." 

Official figures show an increase of 21.2% for the month, with a whopping 11,206 visitors (up from 9,243 in 2015) clearing customs at the Treasured Islands.

All markets and purpose of travel recorded solid increases with Holiday and VFR segments, which make up 69% of total arrivals, recording net growth of 16.9% and 13.9% respectively.

And he has called on the authorities responsible to take appropriate action.This would also ensure the safety of the travelling public in buses.

He made the comment in light of four near fatal accidents involving buses in Samoa in the last week.

“This is what the LTA (Land Transport Authority) should be doing, don’t pass a person just because they can drive, make sure they understand how to drive and how the gears work in a bus,” he said.

"Eradications are expensive, but once complete, you don't have to worry about that pest species as long as you prevent new introductions," said Mr Richard Griffiths from the agency Island Conservation.

There have been more than 500 successful eradications around the world, some described at the PILN2016 conference last week.

Charge Audiologist Tamanna Khurana spent three days in Apia, Samoa at the end of July, seeing 180 people in the short amount of time.

"Every day there were lines of people waiting outside. Some of them had woken up really early in the morning, some had even travelled from another island," she said.

Six New Zealanders went over to help Samoans with hearing tests, fitting hearing aids and performing ear suctions.

However, the report revealed warning signals for macroeconomic and poverty trends.

The report has analysed the living standards of people in Samoa from the 2008 to the 2013/2014 Household Income and Expenditure survey.

The report said public works and public employment programmes have proved effective safety nets in response to shocks and contributed to poverty reduction.

RNZ reports on the other hand, most of the recipients of the income support were existing workers and those mainly from Apia.

Police spokesperson Su’a Le Mamea Tiumalu says the suspect was brought into custody for questioning and released.

“The alleged money loss happened within a month. There are multiple suspects however, the main suspect is one of the senior employees at the bank,” said Su’a.

”The suspect will stand trial on August 22, but will be signing in to the central police station every Friday,” he added.

Su’a says police believe there are other suspects.

The bank had reported the missing money to Police.

The project is delivered by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM).

“There’s a longstanding relationship between MCDEM and Samoa’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO). The $750,000 package announced tonight will support this ongoing partnership and further strengthen Samoa’s disaster risk management programme,” says Ms Kaye.

Ms Kaye made the announcement at a reception in Apia last night, attended by guests including Ministers, officials, business leaders and representatives of humanitarian assistance agencies.

Government Statistician Muagututi’a Reupena described ‘relative poverty’ as when there isn’t much wealth but you still attain the amount that you need for everyday survival.

“It is unlike the poverty we see in the world outside of our island where people just have completely nothing, no home, no food, no clothes even,” said Muagututia.

According to Muagututia, beggars and people living on the streets in Apia are in a state of “poverty by choice.”

Ioane topped Group B ahead of El Savador’s Julio Salamanca Pindea who came in second place with an overall score of 275 kg lifting 120 kilos in snatch and 155 in clean and jerk.

Julio Cesar Gonzalez of Chile finished third with an overall score of 266 kg lifting 120 kilos in snatch and 146 in clean and jerk.

Ioane was placed eight overall in the 62kg category

Photo: File