Australia, NZ ministers visiting Pacific neighbours this week
It has been another big week for high level visits from Australia and New Zealand into the region, with PNG, Nauru, Marshall Islands and Cook Islands all receiving ministerial-level visits. Australia’s deputy Prime
PNG to share vessel tracking data in new partnership
In a new partnership with Global Fishing Watch, Papua New Guinea has committed to sharing vessel tracking data from its Fishing Industry Association on the organisation’s public map. Through this agreement, PNG is
Opinion: High-stakes drama in Marshall Islands or just another day at the office?
A word of free advice: if you’re going to try to bribe legislators to create a special zone to attract at best suspicious investment, don’t do it as an officer of a non-governmental organisation you formed in the
Marshall Islands to receive UN support over nuclear legacy
The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution Friday aimed at assisting the Marshall Islands in its efforts to secure justice for people suffering from the impact of the United States’ former nuclear testing
Biden Administration vows to renew Compacts with Palau, FSM and RMI
The Biden administration has committed to renewing the Compacts of Free Association, with Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. The promise of renewal of the partnership agreements from the United
Major powers question Marshall Islands nuclear legacy bid
Nuclear powers have criticised an effort led by the Marshall Islands at the United Nations to seek help on dealing with the consequences of nuclear testing, sources following the talks involving countries including the
Marshall Islands takes U.S nuclear legacy to Human Rights Council
Health and environmental problems linger on decades after the United States detonated 67 nuclear bombs in the Marshall Islands. It will be the second environment-related initiative that the small island country
Nauru Airlines to resume north Pacific service
Nauru Airlines is expected this month to resume air service linking Brisbane with islands in the central and north Pacific halted two-and-a-half-years ago due to COVID border closures. Nauru Airlines was the successful
Marshall Islands halt talks with U.S. over nuclear testing legacy
The Marshall Islands halted key negotiations with the U.S. on Friday over ongoing grievances relating to nuclear testing dating back 70 years on the atolls. Discussions planned for this weekend to renew the terms of the
‘Black eye’ for Marshall Islands: Hilda on alleged bribery scandal
The arrest and extradition to the United States last week of two naturalised Marshallese citizens indicted by the Justice Department for allegedly bribing multiple elected leaders is “a big black eye for the
U.S. extradites naturalised Marshallese citizens in alleged bribery scheme
The United States Justice Department unsealed an indictment Saturday against two naturalised Marshall Islands citizens accused of bribing numerous high-level elected and other officials in the Marshall Islands to gain
Marshall Islands praised for ‘unprecedented’ COVID response
United States-based medical doctors praised the Marshall Islands for an “unprecedented” response to its first COVID outbreak, as the positive case numbers declined dramatically this week after a record-setting first
RMI face public health emergency: WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the COVID outbreak in the Marshall Islands a Public Health Emergency. A total of 1,391 new cases of the virus were recorded in the latest 24-hour reporting period. Six
Crypto ‘an unstable financial asset’ says UNCTAD
Cryptocurrency is an “unstable financial asset that can bring social risks and costs”, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned in three policy briefs on Wednesday. UNCTAD said their benefits to
Marshall Islands sees first COVID-19 spread
The Marshall Islands lost its COVID-free status Monday when tests confirmed six positive cases in the capital, the first known community transmission since the pandemic started in early 2020. It was not immediately
Marshall Islands celebrates new Iroojlaplap
Thousands of Marshall Islanders gathered on Ebeye Island last week for the first coronation ceremony of a paramount chief in half a century. The gala coronation for Iroojlaplap or paramount chief Michael Kabua featured
COVID-free Marshall Islands prepares to rejoin the world
The Marshall Islands will remove it’s managed quarantine system after October 1st. The Marshall Islands is one of only a handful of nations left in the world that is COVID free and has remained so due to strict
Legal jostling over Marshall Islands’ Forum status derailing unity efforts
Marshall Islands President David Kabua will not be in Suva for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting this week because members of his own government have “derailed” an effort to reverse the country’s
U.S., Marshalls aim for Compact wrap-up by year end
United States and Marshall Islands leaders say they hope to complete negotiations to renew provisions of an economic and security treaty by the end of this year. They completed the first round of talks last week.
U.S-Marshalls resume long-stalled talks
Nearly three years after the first in-person preliminary discussions were held between the United States and the Marshall Islands for a third funding agreement in the Compact of Free Association treaty, negotiations
We have no choice but to fight for our future
“The threat of nuclear weapons is an existential crisis and we feel the weight that this places on us for our future,” says Bedi Racule. “It can be really hard to face these things, but we have no choice but to
Marshalls-U.S to hold first in-person Compact negotiation
U.S President Biden’s special envoy for Compact negotiations, Ambassador Joseph Yun, is expected to head a team of Americans who will visit the Marshall Islands next week for the first in-person negotiating session
COVID-free Pacific island nations to open borders
Two of the last four remaining COVID-free nations in the world are preparing to open their borders. The Federated States of Micronesia has announced its plan to open its borders without quarantine beginning August