Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Tonga wins gold in Pacific Nations Cup women’s tennis final
Tonga’s women’s tennis doubles team defeated Fiji to claim gold at the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup in American Samoa. Leah Heimuli and Amelia Tatafu delivered a stunning performance in Pago Pago, overcoming Fiji’s Josephine Debalevu and Tarani Kamoe...

Team American Samoa thanks its major sponsors for their heartfelt support
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Team American Samoa faced off against several teams ranked in the top 10 in their inaugural appearance at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Women's Softball World Cup, entering the tournament ranked...

U.S. could begin seabed mining off the coast of American Samoa
There is still time to submit comments to the U.S. Department of the Interior on a proposal to authorize seabed mining in American Samoa’s 200-mile economic zone. Seabed mining is the extraction of mineral deposits from the ocean floor, primarily...

Disturbance at Asili church
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 22, 2025, a woman contacted the Leone Police Station (LPS) and reported an alleged disturbance caused by a youth who was highly intoxicated. Filipo Po’alaga, age 18, was apprehended and later charged with: Count...

Amata hails unfreezing of Education Funds for the 14 “frozen” projects
Washington, D.C. — [July 07, 2025] Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming a second favorable decision in recent days from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, granting American Samoa the ability to utilize much-needed federal education...

US seeking deep-sea miners interested in leasing American Samoa's seabed
The U.S. is soliciting interest from prospective companies to lease American Samoa's seabed for deep-sea mining, amid a petition launched by advocacy groups seeking to halt the plan. There are only a few days left for the public to comment on the...

Strengthening American Samoan’s health by reducing chronic diseases
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Territory of American Samoa has been selected as one of only five jurisdictions nationwide to participate in the National Governors Association’s (NGA) “Rx for a Healthier America” initiative. The program, launched...

Samoa makes first appearance at WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Team American Samoa made a significant mark in their inaugural appearance at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Women's Softball World Cup, entering the tournament ranked 64th among participating...

Coalition stands with American Samoa in opposing unilateral proposals for deep seabed mining
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Right to Democracy (RtD) and the America the Beautiful for All Coalition have united in support of American Samoa's right to protect its ocean and seabeds from destructive deep seabed mining. The organizations have...

Right to Democracy and the America the Beautiful for All Coalition Stand with American Samoa in Opposing Unilateral Proposals for Deep Seabed Mining
Right to Democracy and the America the Beautiful for All Coalition have united in support of American Samoa’s right to protect its ocean and seabed from destructive deep seabed mining. The organizations have drafted a petition to the Bureau of...

The Urgency is Artificial. My comment on the proposed permitting of deep-sea mining leases off American Samoa
Last month, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, who oversees seabed mineral mining within US water received an application from Impossible Metals to lease an area offshore of American Samoa for deep-sea mining trials. Unlike The Metals...

Team American Samoa departs for Pacific Mini Games
Half of the 59-member team that is representing American Samoa at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau departed the territory Monday night. The rest of the group leave Tuesday night. The mens and womens beach volleyball teams are already in Hawaii. On...

American Samoa sends 59-member team to Pacific Mini Games
American Samoa is sending a 59-member contingent to the Pacific Mini Games in Palau which begins June 29 and will last for two weeks. Secretary General of the American Samoa National Olympic Committee, Vaiala Ethan Lake, says the group comprises...

‘Immediate harm’: Education Department withholds $6.2B from schools
School districts will be forced to cancel after-school programming, services for English learners and professional development as a result of $6.2 billion in federal K-12 grant money that the U.S. Department of Education is withholding from states...

Greenpeace USA Slams U.S. Seabed Mining Plans off American Samoa
Greenpeace USA has expressed deep disappointment that the US Department of Interior is considering seabed mineral leasing near American Samoa. Greenpeace USA’s Deep Sea mining Campaign Lead Arlo Hemphill said in a statement, “This move disregards...

McDonald’s American Samoa awards $104,000 in scholarships
McDonald’s American Samoa Wednesday presented scholarships totaling $104,000 to four graduates of the American Samoa Community College and three high school graduates to pursue higher education. The scholarships were presented at a luncheon that...

Amata welcomes ARPA Funds Extension from U.S. Department of Education
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming the decision by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to extend American Samoa’s time limit for their use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) education funds. Congresswoman Uifa’atali...

The voting controversy over American Samoans in Alaska, in context
Tensions between the US government and a small group of people of American Samoan descent have broken out in Alaska in recent weeks, raising questions about the future of birthright citizenship in America. About ten months after Tupe Smith, a...
OP-ED: American Samoa must have its say in the EEZ
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A federal official recently confirmed that seabed mining near American Samoa would take place in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — waters beyond the 3-mile limit, under U.S. federal control. That may be what the law...

Finafinau represents American Samoa at United Nations Ocean Conference
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — From June 2– 13, 2025, the city of Nice, France, hosted the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), a global summit dedicated to the sustainable management and protection of the world’s oceans. Representing...