Regional
![[Undercover News]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/bumble%20bee%20cans.jpg?itok=vfkft8Ld "[Undercover News]")
Undercover News reported this week that prosecutors in the tuna price-fixing case say fining Bumble Bee Foods more than $25 million would "jeopardize" the firm's future and suggested giving the company a $111m reduction in penalty from what federal guidelines otherwise suggest.
The firm will have...
![Congresswoman Amata with witnesses Tofoitaufa Sandra King Young, head of the local Medicaid office and Faumuina Taufete’e John Faumuina, CEO of LBJ Medical Center at an oversight hearing of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Natives. Its focus: the status of the LBJ hospital. [Courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/LBJ%20Hearing%202.jpg?itok=AXcXRl0n "Congresswoman Amata with witnesses Tofoitaufa Sandra King Young, head of the local Medicaid office and Faumuina Taufete’e John Faumuina, CEO of LBJ Medical Center at an oversight hearing of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Natives. Its focus: the status of the LBJ hospital. [Courtesy photo]")
AMATA ANNOUNCES CMS CHANGES TO MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY —
Washington, D.C. — Tuesday, July 25, 2017 — Congresswoman Aumua Amata is pleased to announce that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has changed the eligibility levels of Medicaid qualification in American Samoa from 200% of...
![Fiji Airways’ Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Andre Viljoen (left) and Polynesian Airlines Chief Executive Seiuli Tupuivao Alvin Tuala signing the MOU in Apia, on Monday (Samoa Time) to jointly pursue a range of commercial opportunities and partnerships. [Courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Poly%20signs.jpg?itok=nDiAiecN "Fiji Airways’ Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Andre Viljoen (left) and Polynesian Airlines Chief Executive Seiuli Tupuivao Alvin Tuala signing the MOU in Apia, on Monday (Samoa Time) to jointly pursue a range of commercial opportunities and partnerships. [Courtesy photo]")
Samoa’s new international airline, Samoa Airways and Fiji Airways on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly pursue a range of commercial opportunities and partnerships.
Under the proposed partnership, Fiji Airways will provide initial support to Samoa Airways to help launch its...
![Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi [SN file photo]]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoaPM_13.jpg?itok=Jw-sFF6Y "Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi [SN file photo]]")
The Samoa Government has taken on board suggestions for a Water Power top-up initiative identical to the Cash Power top-up for electricity.
The suggestion was made by Taimi ma le Palemia weekly television program host Toleafoa Pili Afamasaga Asiata and it has tickled Prime Minister Tuilaepa...
![Captain Charles Moore (left) and a crew member collect plastic from the South Pacific gyre. [Photo: Supplied/ Algalita Marine Research]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_garbage%20patch_6467%20copy.jpg?itok=7OhwHsBD "Captain Charles Moore (left) and a crew member collect plastic from the South Pacific gyre. [Photo: Supplied/ Algalita Marine Research]")
A marine conservation who has just returned from an expedition to survey a massive 'garbage patch' in the South Pacific ocean says it's completely devoid of marine life.
Captain Charles Moore, who led the mission around Easter Island and Robinson Crusoe Island, said the South Pacific gyre is at...
![Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama addressing climate change talks consultations in Bonn, May 2017 [Photo: Supplied]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fijiPM%20copy.jpg?itok=Fz3EmPBi "Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama addressing climate change talks consultations in Bonn, May 2017 [Photo: Supplied]")
An Australian think tank says the withdrawal of the US Trump administration from the Paris Accord presents an opportunity for the Pacific to look to China.
The director of research at The Australian Institute, Rod Campbell said China is getting more serious about climate change.
Mr Campbell said he...
![E-Life Wild Turmeric made in Samoa [photo from website]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tumeric.jpg?itok=tYjomZ4B "E-Life Wild Turmeric made in Samoa [photo from website]")
Nine Pacific Island food and beverage companies from five countries will showcase and sell their wares of packaged foods and drinks at the Auckland Food Show this week.
Among the products that will be on show will be a range of biscuits, snack foods, artesian water (in biodegradable bottles),...
![[screenshot from Observer video]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Screen%20Shot%202017-07-22%20at%203.20.58%20AM.jpg?itok=ayJ_BwWm "[screenshot from Observer video]")
A new chapter in the history of Samoa started Friday at Tuana’imato.
It began with the changing of the guard in terms of the Head of State when His Highness Tuia’ana Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II took his oath as the new Head of State. By his side was the Masiofo, Her Highness Fa’...
![Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi was awarded a silver medal in archery in the 2007 Pacific Games. [SN file photo]]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoaPM_12.jpg?itok=uWfF0gxP "Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi was awarded a silver medal in archery in the 2007 Pacific Games. [SN file photo]]")
SAMOA GOVERNMENT GEARS UP FOR 2-SAMOA TALKS
Samoa will host the 2017 Inter-island Samoa talks in Apia with American Samoa in early October.
Originally the talk was planned for early next month but American Samoa has communicated to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi requesting...
![The drone found at the Department of Corrections prison facility on Friday 14 July. [Photo/The Guam Daily Post via DOC]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_Drone_final.jpg?itok=IsKg-Cjc "The drone found at the Department of Corrections prison facility on Friday 14 July. [Photo/The Guam Daily Post via DOC]")
The Guam Department of Corrections is investigating whether drones have been used to smuggle contraband into prisons after one was found at its main facility.
The Guam Daily Post reported the discovery was the latest in a string of 26 cases that the department was investigating involving the...