Seabed Mining Showdown: American Samoa Gov. Nikolau Pula says the territory will keep saying “no” to Trump’s critical-mineral seabed push, arguing governors control only territorial waters while the federal government could override in the EEZ; meanwhile, community leaders and Greenpeace activists confronted NOAA’s Okeanos Explorer in Pago Pago Harbor over fears mapping and radon tests could feed deep-sea mining plans. Congressional Roadblock: Guam Delegate James Moylan’s bid to block seabed mining from FAST-41 expedited permitting failed in the House Rules Committee, even with support from Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen of American Samoa. Pacific Security: Pacific Islands Forum leaders urged China to give advance notice for ICBM tests after a July launch reportedly passed over islands without adequate warning. Courts & Voting Rights: Alaska’s appeals court tossed a felony voter-misconduct indictment against Whittier resident Tupe Smith, an American Samoan, saying prosecutors used the wrong legal standard and misled grand jurors—raising stakes for similar cases. Local Governance & Oversight: The House Retirement Committee grilled ASG over unpaid ARPA interest investments and the growing debt to the Retirement Fund, with lawmakers demanding full accounting. Health Watch: Hawaiʻi DOH reported dengue virus detected in Hilo wastewater, with no active cases tracked; dengue is a known risk across parts of the Pacific, including American Samoa. Community & Education: ASCC named Ti’alemasunu Dr. Mikaele Etuale as its new president effective Sept. 8, and ASCC students were arrested after a campus fight.