Regional
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Fiji's non-resident ambassador has presented his letters of credence to Pope Leo, marking the assumption of his role as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Fiji to the Holy See.
Ambassador Jovilisi Suveinakama conveyed the greetings of the president, prime...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Fresh from banning the country's only daily newspaper, Samoa's government is now developing rules for all media outlets, that could include background checks on journalists.
A draft media protocol obtained by the Samoa Observer requires questions for the Prime Minister's...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Veteran journalist and JAWS member Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia has raised concerns over the contents of a leaked 19-page draft of the Samoa government’s proposed media protocol, saying several measures could undermine press freedom in Samoa, as Samoa News reported in...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Government of American Samoa (ASG) starting this week is celebrating the Christmas spirit within the community, with two public celebrations and one for ASG leadership, a Cabinet Christmas dinner.
Cabinet members are expected to attend, and if unable to attend to...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — (December 5, 2025 with last update: December 8, 2025) As a key partner, UNESCO supports this important gathering of more than 200 historians, artists, curators, educators, students, community leaders, and policymakers from across the region—reinforcing the Organization’s...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — StarKist Samoa canneries’ initiative to build two new housing facilities to provide accommodations for Samoa’s guests workers working at the cannery is applauded and highly commended by Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt.
StarKist Samoa, is...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A leaked 19-page Government Media Protocol obtained and verified by the Samoa Observer outlines sweeping new restrictions on how journalists may question the country’s leaders.
The document begins with a requirement that all media submit their questions a full day before...
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is commemorating National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day for this year’s 83rd anniversary, and released the following statement:
“This year, December 7th is once again on Sunday. While there was war in much of the world, it was a peaceful and lovely...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An award winning Tongan short film could possibly be up for an Oscar nomination. 'Lea Tupu'anga/Mother Tongue' premiered last year and has been shown at 20 international film festivals around the world.
Out of 17,000 films submitted to the prestigious Sundance Film...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa's Prime Minister had an achilles tendon operation during his two-month absence in Aotearoa, according to the Samoan High Commission.
The country's High Commissioner to New Zealand Afamasaga Fa'amatalaupu Toleafoa said that he flew from Wellington to Auckland to...

![Ambassador Jovilisi Suveinakama conveyed the greetings of the president, prime minister and people of Fiji to the Pope and the Roman Curia when he presented his letters of credence to Pope Leo. [courtesy photo] Ambassador Jovilisi Suveinakama with Pope Leo](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fiji_ambassador_with_the_pope_.jpg?itok=2ScEcchW)

![Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia. [Photo: Junior S. Ami via Samoa Observer] Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/autagavaia_tipi_autagavaia_.jpeg?itok=1HxbJzhj)
![The CCJS Fagatogo Youth during their Christmas Program in 2011. [SN file photo] CCJS Fagatogo Youth](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/ccjs_fagatogo_youth_-_christmas_program_dec_18_2011.jpg?itok=I87IQ6Gx)
![Artwork presented at the Tafesilafa‘i Exhibition. [photo: ©UNESCO] Tafesilafa‘i Exhibition](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/2121.jpg?itok=9Ry1ggiU)



![Lea Tupu'anga Mother Tongue's writer and lead actor Luciane Buchanan (second from left) and director Vea Mafile'o (far right) [Photo: Vea Mafile’o] Lea Tupu'anga, Luciane Buchanan and others](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/7733_n_jpg_copy.jpg?itok=HfrIYGqy)
![La'aulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Schmidt [Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii] SAMOA PM](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_pm_schmidt.jpeg?itok=f6vDD9qH)