Samoa

RNZI reports the first election petition was filed by the former MP of Alataua i Sisifo constituency, Lafaitele Patrick Leiataualesa, who was defeated in this month's general election.

Lafaitele alleged that money and food were given by Aliimalemanu to influence voters before the election.

Both parties were candidates for the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, which won 47 of parliament's 50 seats.

A date for the case to be mentioned in court has not yet been set because the deadline for election petitions to be filed is next week.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Network Ten scouted the Pacific Islands for possible locations before settling on idyllic Samoa.

A series of fights involving pupils from Avele and Saint Joseph Colleges and the Don Bosco vocational training school, as well as other clashes between students from Faleata College and Church College of Samoa, led to multiple students arrests.

RNZI reports the principals of Avele, Saint Joseph's and Don Bosco have met with the Education Ministry and police to discuss a way forward.

Last week, students from Avele College, St Joseph's College, and Don Bosco Vocational Training School were involved in a violent brawl outside the main bus station in the capital, Apia. In a separate incident, students from Faleata College and the Church College of Samoa were also caught fighting.

Students from two other colleges were also involved in the violence and several students arrested.

It is understood the principals from the schools involved are today meeting with the education ministry and the police to find a way forward.

The brawl involved students from Avele, Saint Joseph, and Faleata colleges.

The training was conducted by members of a group called Internews which include international writers all over the world.

"This training is mainly to polish your roles in reporting climate change, so that when you go back to your office you’re refreshed in reporting climate change issues," said programme coordinator Cherelle Jackson.

There have been many challenges facing journalists not only in Samoa but also in the Pacific in reporting climate change.

Creative and cultural producers are the creative source behind the invention of new songs, performances, fashion designs, crafted products and arts in Samoa and throughout the Pacific.

It netted dried sea cucumber of the highest grade with an estimated market value as high as US$360,000 or just under $1million Samoan tala (SAT$920,000). A Chinese man caught in the raid has been charged with breaching Samoa’s Fisheries Act 1988.

Under the current standing orders a political party must have eight MPs in order to be recognized.

With the Tautua party only securing three of the 50 seats in the general election, party members had called on the new government to consider lowering that number.