World Bank opens new regional office in FSM
The World Bank has officially opened a permanent office in Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, following several years of an expanding presence and portfolio across the North Pacific. The new regional hub
Marshalls air cargo crisis: search is on for alternative
The Marshall Islands government has been forced into making alternative air delivery options for everything from mail and medicines to fresh tuna and equipment for essential public services due to the mounting air cargo
Big picture vision conversations missing in the Pacific
Big picture conversations about the future of the Pacific islands should be happening, but they are not, said one of the region’s foremost commentators in an interview published this week in the Marshall Islands
Micronesian Games delayed due to issues with facilities
The Micronesian Games Council said it’s delaying the 10th Micronesian Games in Majuro, Marshall Islands due to the unreadiness of the host islands’ sports facilities. It’s the second time the Games
Compact impact aid expiring this year but discussion remains in the air
Washington has completed its negotiations with the freely associated states, pledging the renewal of U.S. economic provisions under the Compacts of Free Association. Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the
American legal expert: Marshall Islands voters must approve Compact
In what amounts to a bombshell legal opinion, one of the top American constitutional law experts who also was the legal advisor to the Marshall Islands constitutional convention that wrote the nation’s constitution in
Micronesian nations join UN’s demand for Russia to leave Ukraine
Micronesian nations have joined the international community in demanding Russia’s immediate retreat from Ukraine, one year after Moscow’s invasion which resulted in a protracted war that left tens of
Pacific Island leaders expect Biden visit in near future
The leaders of five Pacific island nations said on Tuesday that U.S. President Joe Biden would soon visit their region for a leaders’ summit, in what experts said would be a significant move in U.S. efforts to push
Micronesian fishing boat sinks off Majuro
Twenty-two fishermen and one fisheries observer narrowly escaped with only the clothes they were wearing when a purse seine vessel sank off the coast of the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro Atoll Friday morning.
Palau President Whipps to join Micronesian Presidents this month
President Surangel Whipps Jr is meeting other four Micronesian Presidents on 13-17 February for the first face-to-face Micronesian Presidents Summit meeting since the one held in Palau in 2020 where the Mekreos
Pacific proposal calls for high price on shipping emissions
Pacific nations this week have lodged new submissions at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), calling for a high price on GHG emissions. According to the Micronesian Centre for Sustainable Transport (MCST),
Parties to the Nauru Agreement set to open new HQ in Majuro
The capital of the Marshall Islands, Majuro, will host the first in-person annual meeting of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) since 2019 when the powerful fisheries organisation convenes on Monday. To coincide
Marshall Islands sees tuna rebound
Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA) records show that tuna transshipment in Majuro rebounded following the disastrous first year of Covid in 2020 when transshipment plummeted by 60 percent compared to
Marshall Islands could receive billions in U.S. assistance
U.S. negotiators have agreed to drastically increase funding for the Marshall Islands as part of ongoing efforts to renegotiate for a third time the terms of a decades-old treaty between the two nations. The talks are
U.S. nears new cooperation deals with Pacific Island nations
The Biden administration is nearing deals with two Pacific Island nations to extend ties that are considered critical to maintaining balance in the U.S-China rivalry for influence in a region where the Chinese are
Pacific People 2022: Women At The Helm
The three key Pacific Islands fisheries organisations head into 2023 with competent, charismatic women at the helm. Rhea Moss-Christian of the Republic of the Marshall Islands now heads the Western and Central Pacific
U.S. aims for ‘top line’ deal on aid to three Pacific nations
The United States hopes to reach agreement on “top line” numbers for assistance to three Pacific Island countries by the year end, a State Department official told Reuters on Thursday, part of negotiations
Marstella Jack is PIANGO’s New Board Chair
The Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisation (PIANGO) convened its Council after it was delayed from 2019 due to COVID-19 threats. Twenty of the 24-member country representatives of PIANGO network
Pacific Media Institute to host communications and democracy summit in Majuro
The Marshall Islands’ capital, Majuro, will host a first-of-its-kind Pacific summit on communications and democracy next February. Conference organiser, the Pacific Media Institute (PMI), states the summit will
COP27: Tuvalu leads call to phase out fossil fuels
Tuvalu has become the first country to use United Nations climate talks to demand an international fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, which would phase out the use of coal, oil, and gas. The small Pacific island
Marshall Islands confirms membership in the Pacific Islands Forum
The Marshall Islands ended two years of being at the centre of controversy over the possible break up of the Pacific’s premier regional organisation when its parliament adopted resolutions reaffirming its membership
Saved from the Unknown
One in four women with cervical cancer live in what the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines as the ‘Western Pacific Region’, a collection of Asia and Pacific Island states and territories. An estimated 145,700
Pacific nuclear legacy overshadows U.S. talks in Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands officials say they are ready to resume talks with the United States this week on renewing a long-standing economic and security deal, provided Washington addresses grievances stemming from the testing