‘No place for political violence in the U.S.’
Guam leaders today joined the nation in condemning the shooting at former president Donald Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania. “There is no room for violence in politics–no matter where you stand on the
United States
U.S Interior’s Assistant Secretary Cantor announces $372 million in Compact funding for Marshall Islands
The United States Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor has announced US$372 million in Compact of Free Association funding for the Republic of the
Budget cuts would be ‘devastating’ and ‘deadly’, say U.S. diplomats
Cuts to the U.S. State Department’s 2025 budget proposed by the House of Representatives would be “deadly” and “devastating” to American efforts to counter China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific region,
Opinion: Trump vs Biden: the aid dimension
Republican candidate Donald Trump is the favourite to win the US presidential election on 5 November over Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, according to recent forecasts by media outlets such as The Economist. The
U.S Marines’ transfer to Guam from Okinawa to start in December
The transfer of U.S Marine Corps troops stationed in Japan’s Okinawa to Guam will start in December, a Marines official said Sunday, the latest development in a long-agreed Japan-U.S forces realignment plan aimed
More than 1,000 invasive trees harvested to build village for the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture
The Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife worked with the Albizia Project to cut down more than 1,000 invasive trees — mostly albizia, macaranga, and gunpowder trees — that will be used to make 28 hale for
The complexities of undersea cables
While outside actors may see undersea cable infrastructure through a lens of geopolitical competition, political leaders in the Pacific Islands region are geared towards providing digital connectivity to the islands, an
The Shepards: Spreading kindness in Fiji and the world
Twenty-six years ago, Judy and Dennis Shepard’s son, Matthew, was killed in a hate crime. More than two decades later, they continue to share a message of kindness, most recently during a visit to Fiji. They are
President Whipps sued in the U.S courts for alleged violation of the Compact Treaty
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. was sued in Sherman, Texas, USA and was served the court summons earlier this month while campaigning in Texas. The lawsuit was filed by Christa NafstadToribiong, the current wife of
Palau hoping for more things to come
Palau may not have been able to bag everything it hoped for under the renegotiated terms of the Compact of Free Association, but at some point, a deal had to be closed and the nation had to settle for a compromise,
Google to spend $1billion on enhancing subsea internet infrastructure in the Pacific
Google will invest US$1 billion to improve digital connectivity between the U.S. and Japan through two new subsea cables, the Alphabet-owned firm said on Wednesday amid a visit by the Japanese prime minister to boost
‘Help’ written in palm fronds assists U.S. forces in rescuing Micronesians stranded on tiny island
The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard found and rescued three men Tuesday from a tiny atoll south of Guam, where they spent more than a week after they were left stranded. The men, all in their 40s, set sail from Polowat Atoll,
Marshall Islands launches public engagement on new Compact deal
While both Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have endorsed their new Compacts of Free Association with Washington, the Marshall Islands just launched its review process Thursday with the first of a
U.S., FSM begin exploring military training opportunities in Yap
Washington and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have reaffirmed their defence and security ties, toasting a fresh economic package under the newly signed Compact of Free Association that cemented the United
Opinion: Micronesia in the Headlines
The rise of China and its role in the region is driving U.S. “re-engagement” with the island Pacific. In the case of those Micronesian states who have Compacts of Free Association with the United States (COFA), the
U.S. passes deal to fund Pacific Islands pacts after delays
The U.S. Congress has passed legislation that will fund key U.S. agreements with Pacific Island nations, in an outcome that will spark relief across the Indo-Pacific after previous delays undermined efforts to counter
Bill to fund U.S. Government includes money to counter China in Pacific
U.S. congressional negotiators released a bill Sunday that would fund key parts of the government through the rest of the fiscal year, which began in October 2023. Among provisions in the appropriations package are
RMI President questions US commitment on COFA funding
Republic of Marshall Islands President, Hilda Heine, has questioned whether the Marshalls have reached a crossroads in its relationship with the United States. As Marshallese gathered to commemorate Nuclear Victims
U.S. cautions Pacific nations after Kiribati gets Chinese police
The United States on Feb 26 cautioned Pacific Island nations against receiving assistance from Chinese security forces after Reuters reported that Chinese police are working in the remote atoll nation of Kiribati.
Tackling nuclear legacies, 70 years after Bravo
On 1 March 1954, the US government exploded a thermonuclear weapon on Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, codenamed Bravo. The test had an explosive yield of nearly 15 megatons, a thousand times more powerful than the
Hawaii poised to slap tourists with $25 climate tax
Lawmakers in Hawaii are poised to approve a US$25 climate tax on tourists who visit the Aloha State in an effort to combat what they claim is an assault on the area’s natural resources. The state, which saw 9.5
China lures Palau with economic incentives to break ties with Taiwan
China has promised Palau economic benefits in exchange for the latter severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a letter the Palauan president wrote to an unnamed United States senator revealed. President Surangel Whipps
U.S. Senate fails to add Compact Funds to aid package
A last-minute bipartisan effort to add key funding aimed at countering China in the Pacific has failed in the U.S. Senate even as a US$95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan moved forward. A renewal of