Samoa

The National University of Samoa has signed an agreement with the Samoa Submarine Cable Company Limited to enhance the NUS digital infrastructure, network capacity, and ICT resilience in its mission to advance excellence, particularly in STEM disciplines

Samoa Immigration upgraded its capacity with the official handover of a newly upgraded Border Management System and advanced equipment from the International Organization for Migration, through the support of the Government of Japan

FAST party will retain power as election results confirm its victory; but Samoa will have a new PM: Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, following incumbent PM resignation from FAST party leader earlier this year

Pre-polling stations have been opened for the elderly and the members of the disabled community, making sure they can exercise their right to vote ahead of the general election scheduled for tomorrow 29 August

The Samoa Law Society is calling for electoral rights to be upheld to ensure a free and fair election; in view of upcoming Samoa’s general election on 29 August it reminded that “Universal voting rights are the cornerstone of a democratic country"

The second death of a child due to dengue fever has led authorities to extend school closures: all Early Childhood Education programs and Primary School classes for years 1 to 7 will be suspended until 25 July in a number of districts

The Samoa United Party, led by caretaker Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata‘afa, officially launched its election manifesto, confirming 26 candidates for the upcoming general election

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, leader of Human Rights Protection Party, has defended his party’s proposal to cut the 15% Value Added Goods and Services Tax as a direct response to the nation’s worsening cost of living

Bee Educated, an initiative by the Samoa Agricultural Organisation funded by the Global Environment Facility through the UNDP, has trained over 100 new beekeepers since 2022 and distributed 2.000 hives across both islands of Upolu and Savai'i

50 families from Levi Saleimoa have been given three months to vacate land they have occupied in the past years after the Lands and Titles Court rejected a leave to appeal a previous decision; the case shows a growing trend in small pacific island nations

Power outages and power rationing in several districts of Upolu prompted the hiring of generators to power drilling operations, ensuring the continuity of water supply in the affected areas

Cervical cancer, which is currently the sixth most common form of cancer in Samoa, is the object of attention of the ministry, working on a new vaccination programme