Samoa
Pacific Person of the Year: Fiame Naomi Mata’afa’s long line of firsts
Fiame Naomi Mata’afa needed no coaxing as to who should be credited for preventing her island nation from descending into chaos the moment Samoa’s Court of Appeal ruled that her Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi
COP26 Pacific voices, young and old, call for action at climate talks
COP26 Pacific voices: On one hand, the index finger is raised. On the other, five digits are displayed. One point five. 1.5 to stay alive. In the midst of the pandemic, Pacific islanders, young and old, are campaigning
“You don’t need my pain or tears to know that we’re in a crisis”: Fruen
The COP26 climate conference is underway in Glasgow. Here are highlights from the opening day. Young Samoan climate change activist Brianna Fruen made a powerful statement on the opening day of the COP26 climate
Countdown to COP26: Pacific Notes
“We face the most difficult questions — which islands to preserve, what happens when our people are forced to move against their will, how will we preserve our culture?” Marshall Islands President David Kabua
American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa, Vanuatu remain on EU tax blacklist
Six Pacific Islands are on the EU tax blacklist, remaining listed an “non-cooperative”. They are American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa and Vanuatu. The European Union blacklist was set up in 2017 to
Pacific island leaders at the UN General Assembly call for solidarity on COVID-19 and climate change
Pacific Island leaders at the UN General Assembly on Saturday underlined the need for global solidarity, commitment and action to tackle COVID-19 and climate change, two crises which threaten sustainable development.
World Rugby welcomes Pacific teams to Super Pacific Rugby 2022
The Super Pacific Rugby format for 2022 has been confirmed with Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua making up an exciting 12-team line-up. The decision was made following a detailed financial, performance and commercial
Tuilaepa rallies in vain
The political car rally that took place in Apia led by former Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Lupesoliai Malielegaoi on July 30 was reminiscent of the rallies staged by supporters of former President Donald
Tuilaepa rallies in vain
The political car rally that took place in Apia led by former Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Lupesoliai Malielegaoi on July 30 was reminiscent of the rallies staged by supporters of former President Donald
Fiame prevails: “It’s a new day”
By Samantha Magick “Can I offer my deepest gratitude to you, the people of Samoa, and in particular acknowledge the dignity with which you have waited with patience and forbearance, peacefully and respectfully, for
A note from the editor
After more than two months and infinite patience on the part of voters, Samoa finally has a new Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa. We’re yet to see what Fiame’s ascendancy will mean for regional
Samoa Court of Appeal meets tomorrow
Samoa’s Court of Appeal has set this Friday 16 July for the substantive hearing of the case that could well be the final decider of Samoa’s ongoing political crisis and unresolved election reports Samoa Global
PUNA, Commonwealth speak on Samoa
As Samoa’s political impasse drags on, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says he’s confident “all parties will work together to convene parliament as soon as possible, in respect of the democratic
Olympic travel a big challenge for some Pacific Island teams
Famous athletes in sports like tennis and golf heading to the Tokyo Olympics will probably arrive in Japan at the front of the plane. It’s a style to which the athletes of the Pacific Islands are unaccustomed.
OPINION: Scrambling for work – the RSE Scheme
As part of Pacific Cooperation Foundation’s (PCF) Pacific Voices series, FotuoSamoa Jackson shares her views on the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme and asks the New Zealand Government to take more
Coca Cola Fiji moves to buy Fiji brewer outright
Coca Cola Fiji Limited (CCEP Fiji) has moved to buy brewer Paradise Beverages Fiji outright. This follows CCEP Fiji’s acquisition of 57,323 (equivalent to 0.55%) ordinary shares in PBF from Platinum Insurance
FAST swearing-in unlawful but Parliament must sit: Samoa Supreme court
The Samoa Supreme Court has declared the swearing in of the Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party on the lawns outside Parliament was unconstitutional but has also ordered Parliament to convene within seven days
Samoa HRPP seat declared void; election overturned
A Human Rights Protection Party(HRPP) Associate Minister has had his election in the seat of Sagaga No. 2 declared void by the Samoa Supreme Court following a legal challenge, triggering a by-election. This means
Samoan weightlifter Iuniarra Sipaia through to Olympics
Samoan weightlifter Iuniarra Sipaia has confirmed her spot in the Tokyo Olympics next month and says she is honored to be representing the country. Sipaia told the Samoa Observer in an interview on Tuesday that she felt
Hearing on Samoa swearing-in to start next week
A hearing on an application brought by the Samoa Attorney General to stop the ad-hoc swearing-in of a new Government from taking legal effect after the disputed election, will begin next Monday. The Fa’atuatua ile
USP Council Ethics committee to look at leadership allegations
The University of the South Pacific Council has agreed that allegations levelled against Pro-Chancellor Winston Thompson and the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, Mahmood Khan, be referred to an Ethics Committee.
Samoa on tenterhooks
By Monica Miller Almost two months after voters in Samoa went to the polls to elect a new Parliament , the 51 men and women whom voters picked in the 9 April general elections had still not been sworn in at the time of