Government ministries are meeting with the incoming administration at Maota o Samoa, Vaitele. The Samoa Observer remains barred, with security reinforcing the ban on photos and videos — even from outside the compound. Video: Junior S Ami / Samoa Observer | Samoa Observer

Rubbish has piled up in Toamua-Uta, near the Vaitele-Fou back road. Old nappies, food scraps, plastic bottles, car tyres, old clothes, and black rubbish bags filled with grass and leaf cuttings are stinking up the neighbourhood. Video: Junior S. Ami / Samoa Observer. | Samoa Observer

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has declared his support for Israel. He reflected on his own journey of visiting the country and being baptised in the River Jordan. | Samoa Observer

83K views · 246 shares | After performing the Manu Samoa challenge at last night's welcoming reception, the Manu Samoa made their way to Iwaki, Fukushima today, where they are being hosted as honoured guests of the city and have begun a weeklong training camp. https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/49108 | Samoa Observer | Facebook

The Minister for Health, Valasi Tafito Selesele, criticised the Samoa Observer for using the term "severe" in its coverage of the new hospital hours, despite the word appearing in the Ministry’s own press release. When the Observer pointed this out, the Minister responded, "I don’t believe that." However, the Ministry’s Chief Executive Officer, Aiono Alec Ekeroma, immediately clarified that the wording did originate from an official ministry notice. He explained that it had not been approved, as