STEM Push: UNESCO has kicked off a new high-level STEM institute in Shanghai, aiming to boost inclusive, equitable science and tech education from early childhood through adulthood—covering curriculum, teacher training, lifelong learning, and policy support. Local Health Access: In the Pacific, cardiothoracic surgeon Sanjeev Khulbey says open-heart surgery is starting to happen locally in Fiji, easing the pressure on families who previously had to fund overseas treatment. Press Freedom Spotlight: Samoa’s media community marked World Press Freedom Day with UNESCO’s Pacific representative, pointing to a drop in press freedom rankings and the growing challenge of political and legal pressure. Samoa Digital Finance: Samoa upgraded its Tax Invoice Monitoring System and launched “Samoa Payments” to help businesses accept online credit card payments—both moves aimed at tightening compliance and widening digital access. Education & Climate: A new Samoa research project will track how heat and humidity affect children’s health and learning in classrooms. Academic Win: Arieta Fa’aulu earned a Master’s in Tropical Plant Pathology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.