The Central Bank of Samoa Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins
Positive September quarter for Samoa's economy
Samoa's September quarter has been recorded as the first quarter of positive economic growth since the discovery of Covid-19 community cases within the country in March 2022.
This is according to the Samoa Bureau of Statistics.
Economic activity, as measured by Gross Domestic Product or GDP, increased by 4.7 per cent in the September 2022 quarter, recording total GDP in real terms of $501.2 million tala.
Taxes and subsidies recorded for this period was the main contributor to total GDP growth; it went up by 23.5 per cent.
Employment numbers in the September 2022 quarter decreased by zero-point-2 per cent on a year-on-year basis, making it the twelfth consecutive quarter of negative growth since December 2019.
But wages and salaries went up 0.4 percent.
CNMI projects receive funding from US
Nearly $US27 million has been earmarked for community projects in the Northern Marianas under the spending bill recently signed into law by US President Joe Biden.
The 14 projects, aimed to improve the quality of life on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, have been awarded $US26.8 million.
Several organisations will receive funding, including the Commonwealth Department of Public Works, the Office of Transit Authority, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, and Northern Marianas College.
$US4.5 million is set to be used for 187 bus stop shelters; almost $US4.2 million for parking at Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation; $US4 million for Saipan route 36 fixes, and $US3 million for covered bus parking.
There is also $US2 million each for Saipan route 302, Tinian Route 205, and Rota route 10.
The Joeten-Kiyu Public Library's solar power system is set to receive $US1.2 million.
Other projects include library furniture upgrades, bus transfer stations, and water analysis of Rota and Tinian.
The 2023 funding is a substantial increase over the $US4.5 million the Marianas received in 2022.
Voters in Tokelau will know the identities of candidates next week
Tokelau voters will get to know who their election candidates are by January 16.
This gives them just over a week until the Tokelau national election on January 26.
Voting registration has been open since December 20 and closes on January 12.
Fijiana head coach steps down
The Fiji Rugby Union has confirmed the Fijiana head coach Senirusi Seruvakula has decided to step down from his position.
Seruvakula also coached the Fijiana Drua in women's Super Rugby.
Senirusi Seruvakula Photo: Facebook/Fiji Rugby
Under his guidance, the Fijiana Drua won the Super W Championship in its inaugural year in Australia.
The Fijiana 15s won the Oceania Championship and finished ninth overall at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The Chairman of Fiji Rugby said Inoke Male and Mike Legge, both assistant coaches for the Fijiana Drua last season, are looking after the team now until a new head coach is appointed.
The position of the Fijiana and Fijiana Drua head coach will be advertised.
SPC announces second round of Pacific grant recipients
The Pacific Community or SPC has announced the second round of Pacific grant scheme recipients.
Around $US409,000 will be dispersed for seven cultural and creative projects in Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Projects include Papua New Guinea Highlands Adventures aiming to establish a training programme for cultural producers and creative practitioners; and Film Fiji focusing on a Producers Accelerator programme and a Script Development programme.
Save Papua New Guinea was awarded a large grant for its project Revitalizing Bilas, which aims to empower youth in traditional arts and cultural resilience throughout rural and remote areas of Papua New Guinea.
Diplomatic missions in Australia collect funds for Tonga
Tongan Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Halaevalu Mata'aho Tuku'aho handed nearly $US500,000 in funding to the prime minister.
The funds were raised in response to calls for assistance following the January 15, 2022, volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga.
Organisations in Tonga and Australia, including diplomatic missions in Canberra, contributed.
Her highness is Tonga's High Commissioner to Australia
The Tongan Prime Minister's office said the presentation of the donors' funds was most timely as the first anniversary of the volcanic eruption and tsunami would be marked next week.