Regional
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The bank accounts of two New Zealanders have been frozen as police probe an extraordinary international case of two alleged Samoan hitmen who confessed to murdering a Sydney gang boss.
Joseph Vaa, 27, admitted on Vietnamese television to gunning down suspected 'Coconut...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Samoa Police Commissioner has announced a strong police presence for this year's Independence celebrations, which began Friday.
The Samoa Observer reports acting Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga saying 400 officers will be deployed across all events.
He said...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Members of the Avele College Old Pupils Association (ACOPA) American Samoa Chapter are eagerly preparing to welcome alumni from near and far as they host the association’s bi‑yearly reunion, set to begin on 04 June 2026.
Avele College was founded in 1924 as a residential...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The U.S. agency responsible for overseeing deep-sea mining in federal waters is preparing to auction off seabed blocks within months — a step that could kick-start commercial-scale deep-sea mining and make the U.S. one of the first countries to allow it.
Deep-sea mining...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has issued an El Niño Watch, signaling the possibility of El Niño conditions developing in the near future. This watch indicates that both atmospheric and oceanic factors are aligning to support the emergence of this climate phenomenon...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa's government has distanced itself from a cryptocurrency scam after three senior ministers, including the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, were pictured with individuals promoting an alleged wealth creation entity.
Last month, Samoans...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The nation’s eight Regional Fishery Management Councils commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Council system this week during the Council Coordination Committee meeting in Homer, Alaska. The Council system was established by Congress through the Magnuson-Stevens...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $9.457 million in new Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) grant funding to address PFAS and emerging contaminants in American Samoa communities that need it most. This new...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Pacific Security College says a regional strategy is needed to combat the growing methamphetamine crisis in the region.
The Australia-based college has released a new report proposing a regional summit to address the crisis.
The Turning the Tide Together report says...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Highlighting a commitment to regional digital sovereignty, the Office of the Governor and the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) have concluded a three-day diplomatic mission to Samoa.
The delegation held intensive meetings with various Government...

![Joseph Vaa, 27, admitted gunning down "Coconut Cartel" ringleader Lorenzo Lemalu Tovia outside a restaurant on 21 May. Vaa's associate, Steve Tofa, 23, has confessed to being his accomplice in the shooting. [Photo: Screengrab / 7NEWS Sydney] Joseph Vaa and Steve Tofa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/vaa_and_tofa.jpg?itok=FxVTgXN6)
![The Samoan Police Commissioner has announced a strong police presence for this year's Independence celebrations, which began Friday. [Photo: Facebook / Samoa Police, Prisons & Corrections Services] SAMOA POLICE COMMISSIONER](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/police_comm_copy.jpg?itok=jEl6kQHZ)
![Members of the ACOPA Queensland Chapter, dressed in yellow shirts and green lavalava, present a $20,000 tala donation to representatives of the ACOPA Samoa Chapter in support of Avele College. [courtesy photo] Members of the ACOPA Queensland Chapter,](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/acopa_queensland.jpg?itok=67X8ROoo)
![A deep-sea starfish, Atheraster arandae, holds on to thin coral branches near the ocean floor in American Samoa. Image courtesy of NOAA Okeanos. [photo via Mongabay] A deep-sea starfish](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/deep-sea_starfish_.png?itok=8fCLPEt9)




![The Pacific Security College says a regional strategy is needed to combat the growing methamphetamine crisis in the region. [Photo: Supplied / NZ Customs] METH recovered by police](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/approximately_50_kgs_of_meth_png_copy.jpg?itok=f7Ze4pn1)
![A 3-day diplomatic mission to Samoa by the Office of the Governor and ASTCA was to formalize a shared digital future for the region. One of the various Samoa Government Ministries was the Police CCTV headquarters. [photo: ASG] Diplomatic mission in Samoa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_police_cctv_headquartes.jpg?itok=GwuXumS2)