PACIFIC NEWS BRIEFS
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Chanting under the midday sun and holding signs that read 'No Kings in America' and 'In Solidarity with Los Angeles,' more than a dozen residents and visitors gathered in northern Guam on Saturday to join a national day of protest opposing what organizers describe as...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The US military's updated proposal to expand troop training in the Northern Mariana Islands is again drawing close scrutiny from environmentalists, cultural advocates, and local residents concerned about its long-term impact on Tinian's ecosystem.
But the Marine Corps...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two police officers, a senior manager at the Fiji customs office and a foreign national are among seven people who have been charged so far with allegedly attempting to smuggle four kilograms of methamphetamine into the country.
Border officials seized the drugs, which...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — After two days of travel, Hokulea and Hikianalia are now docked in Hilo.
The voyaging canoes were welcomed by the community and hula halau near the Grand Naniloa Hotel.
They set sail from Oahu early Monday morning and stopped in Kawaihae, 35 miles north of Kailua-Kona....
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS) wants the country to repeal its criminal libel laws.
This comes after the association's president, a veteran Samoan journalist Lagi Keresoma, was charged by police under the law on Sunday.
Keresoma, a senior journalist for...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — UN Women has appointed Ms. Alison Davidian as the new Representative for its Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO), which supports 14 Pacific Island countries in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Ms. Davidian brings extensive experience in international...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The MV Lady Samoa III suffered no serious damage that would affect its operation after the inter-island ferry hit the Mulifanua Wharf while berthing on Monday afternoon.
The ship had just sailed in from Savaii and was berthing when it hit the wharf.
Samoa Shipping...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — U.S. Congress, U.S. State Department, and U.S. Army members joined the German War Graves Commission, the Japanese American Veterans Association, local German mayors, leaders, and community members May 2, 2025, for a ceremony to honor the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Criminal Investigations Department has taken over the investigation of the case that surfaced over the weekend, where a missing teenager was found gagged and tied, and now Samoa Observer is reporting that a suspect has been identified.
Deputy Commissioner Papalii...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Sister Susana Vaifale of the Missionaries of Faith has lived in Rome for more than ten years and worked at the Vatican's St Peter's parish office.
She told Pacific Waves that when she met the Pope in 2022 for an "ad limina" visit with the bishops from Papua New Guinea...

![Demonstrators in Dededo, Guam, holding signs with various messages during the 2025 No King's rally. [photo: RNZ Pacific / Naina Rao] Demonstrators in Dededo, Guam](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/guam_demonstrators.jpeg?itok=dmunCh73)
![Conservation groups fear that expanded training activities — such as ground maneuvers, construction of targets, and aircraft landing in CNMI — could degrade nesting grounds for the endangered Tinian monarch bird and lead to further population decline. [Photo: WikiCommons] Tinian monarch bird](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tinian_monarrch_native_bird.jpg?itok=XWxCeeMn)
![Fiji Police Commissioner Tudravu told fijivillage.com that they are considering a new structure as well as re-advertising positions within the bureau. [Photo: Screenshot /Fiji Police Force] Fiji Police Commissioner Tudravu](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fiji_police_commissioner_copy.jpg?itok=JsBxksk2)
![Captain Kalani Kahalioumi said that sailing conditions were perfect, and the crew is filled with young and old, “which was a training experience for both sides.” [screen shot from video] Captain Kalani Kahalioumi](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/captain_kalani_kahalioumi_.png?itok=XbdQlHTI)
![Lagi Keresoma, the first female president of the Journalist Association of Samoa, is facing one count of defamation, over a news article she wrote. [photo: Facebook] Lagi Keresoma](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lagi_keresoma.jpeg?itok=nq1I0Jjd)
![Deputy Representative Eri Taniguchi, UNW Fiji MCO Rep Alison Davidian and UN Fiji Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener after Rep Davidian was recently appointed to head the MCO which supports advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. [courtesy photo] Deputy Representative Eri Taniguchi, UNW Fiji MCO Rep Alison Davidian and UN Fiji Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/un_fiji_mco_deputy_rep_others.jpg?itok=jKREkrSB)
![The Lady Samoa III docked at the Mulifanua Wharf. [photo: flicker] The Lady Samoa III](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lady_samoa_iii.jpg?itok=oSx3AoFw)
![U.S. Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Ellen Germain, U.S. Consulate Munich Consul General Dr. James Miller, U.S. Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Adam T. Ropelewski, and Command Sgt. Maj. Randy A. Rivera stand in front of a memorial on May 2, 2025, at a ceremony outside Waakirchen, Germany, for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of prisoners on the Nazi death march from the Dachau concentration camp. The event, presented by the German War Graves Commission, placed a plaque honoring the Soldiers of the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, at the time part of 7th U.S. Army, who along with units of the 4th Infantry Division liberated thousands of prisoners near this location on May 2, 1945. [Photo by Maj. Jonathon Lewis] Amata and others](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amata_others_dvids_.jpeg?itok=4wcMtdCw)
![Tonga Ministry of Health personnel work to prevent the spread of dengue fever, after an alert was issued in February. [photo: via RNZ] SPRAYING TO PREVENT DENGUE FEVER](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tonga_spray_jpg_copy.jpg?itok=HCq0PkgQ)
![Leung Wai siblings in St Peter's Basilica were among the thousands paying their final respects to Pope Francis. [Photo: Leung Wai family] Leung Wai siblings in St Peter's Basilica](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/leung_wai_siblings_at_st_peters.jpg?itok=CuATWX8A)