Deep-Sea Mining Push: The U.S. Marine Minerals Administration has published a proposed leasing notice for seabed mineral activity off American Samoa, setting up a potential Nov. 19, 2026 lease sale and auctioning about 33 million acres of ocean area, with terms that include efforts to hire Samoans, use local businesses, and rely on the Port of Pago Pago—moves that have drawn strong opposition from the territory and environmental groups. Critical Minerals Supply Chain: A new IEA warning flags major economic risk from concentrated processing and export controls, underscoring why Washington is accelerating offshore critical-minerals plans. Local Governance: At the opening of the 39th Legislature’s fourth regular session, Governor Pulaalii extended an “olive branch” to the Fono after earlier budget tensions, while outlining efforts to stabilize finances and align spending with expected revenues. Public Safety: Police charged a man after an alleged July 4 machete threat at a Pago Pago business, and separately charged two men for alleged gunfire during the Independence Day celebration near Lions Park. Consumer/Finance Watch: Regulators across the Pacific and U.S. have warned American Samoa residents about BG Wealth Sharing LTD and its DSJ Exchange crypto platform, alleging an unregistered scheme promising unusually high returns. Time & Travel: The U.S. House advanced the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent, while SpaceX updated Starlink roaming rules that now treat American Samoa as part of a shared North American home region for roaming.