Congressmen angry that Bikini islanders’ nuclear trust fund may have been ‘squandered’
Following widespread media coverage of the collapse of what was a more than US$70 million trust fund for Bikini islanders displaced by American nuclear weapons testing, the United States Congress has demanded answers
Marshall Islands Compact held up by nuclear legacy
The lack of agreement on the nuclear legacy issues holds up the Marshall Islands’ Compact Review negotiations with the United States, according to Marshall Islands Speaker Kenneth Kedi during the Marshall Islands
PNG Marape details Defence pact with U.S.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape defended in Parliament last week that the PNG and the U.S. Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) will help develop and maintain several agreed facilities in Port Moresby, Lae
U.S. military granted unimpeded access to key PNG defence facilities in new security agreement
The United States military has been given “unimpeded access” to key PNG defence facilities, including the joint PNG-Australia Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island, as part of a sweeping Defence Cooperation
Amata, Kilili named co-chairs of bipartisan task force combatting Chinese government influence in Indo-Pacific
U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa and U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the CNMI have been named co-chairs of a bipartisan task force officially announced Wednesday at the U.S.
Japan, Australia, U.S to fund undersea cable connection in Micronesia to counter China’s influence
Japan announced Tuesday that it joined the United States and Australia in signing a US$95 million undersea cable project that will connect East Micronesia island nations to improve networks in the Indo-Pacific region
American Idol: First Pacific winner pays tribute to dad and heritage
Hawai’ian student Iam Tongi has dedicated his historic win at the American Idol to his late father and the Pacific whānau. Tongi, 18, became the first Pasifika to win the international show after performing his
Palau and U.S. formally sign Compact Review Agreement
Palau and the United States formally signed the Compact Review Agreement in Papua New Guinea this week, witnessed by President Surangel Whipps Jr and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Palau Chief Compact
Blinken: U.S. aware of Pacific needs
The United States is aware of the needs of its development partners in the Pacific and will set up embassies in all island nations, says secretary of state Antony Blinken. “Work is being done to ensure that the U.S.
Second Compact Review Agreement created fundamental change in Palau/U.S. relationship: Farrow
The second Compact Review Agreement initialed last week by Palau Chief Compact Negotiator Kaleb Udui Jr and U.S. Special Envoy Joseph Yun is the “most significant since the first Compact relationship” with the
Why Climate should be the beating heart of the U.S. strategy in the Pacific
U.S President Joe Biden has postponed his visit to Australia, where he was to join the 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit, which brings together leaders from Australia, the United States, India, and Japan for talks on building
U.S. president Biden scraps planned visit to Australia, PNG to focus on debt limit talks
U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday he’s curtailing his upcoming trip to the Indo-Pacific, scrapping what was to be a historic stop in Papua New Guinea as well as a visit to Australia for a gathering with fellow
U.S. and Micronesia agree to renew strategic pact, U.S. envoy says
The U.S. and the Federated States of Micronesia have agreed to renew a key strategic pact, U.S. presidential envoy Joseph Yun said, adding he hopes for similar progress with Palau, as the U.S. shores up support among
U.S. President Biden to sign defence pact in PNG, with eyes on China
U.S. President Joe Biden will sign defence and surveillance agreements with Papua New Guinea, the island nation’s foreign minister said, on a visit that renews the strategic importance of the nation where
U.S. opens Embassy in Tonga in new pushback against China in Pacific
The United States has opened a new Embassy in Tonga, the State Department said on Wednesday, part of efforts to step up the U.S. diplomatic presence in the Pacific region to counter China. The United States
Guam to compete with other states for Compact impact funds
The distribution of migrants from the freely associated states has shifted since 2003, with more than half of the total number now spread out across the mainland U.S., the Department of the Interior said in a bid to
U.S. set to open new embassy in Tonga this month
The United States is on track to open a new embassy in Tonga this month, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday, part of efforts to step up its diplomatic presence in the Pacific region to counter China.
PNG hopes to sign defence agreement during Biden visit
Papua New Guinea hopes to sign a defense cooperation agreement with the United States during President Joe Biden’s stop over in the Pacific island nation this month. Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape
Biden to visit PNG on May 22, says PM Marape
United States President Joe Biden will visit Papua New Guinea on 22 May, says Prime Minister James Marape. Biden will have a meeting with Marape during his three-hour stop-over in Port Moresby. Marape did not say what
Palau anticipates Compact to be signed next month
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr unveiled some of the details of the new economic package under the renegotiated provisions of the nation’s Compact of Free Association with Washington. Palau stands to receive
U.S. President Joe Biden to visit PNG on his way to Australia
Planning is underway for United States President Joe Biden to make a historic visit to Papua New Guinea on his way to Australia next month as the U.S. continues to ramp up its diplomatic push in the Pacific. PNG and
U.S pledges US$1billion to Green Climate Fund
The U.S will provide US$1 billion to the UN’s flagship climate fund – its first such contribution in six years. Joe Biden made the commitment as he hosted a virtual meeting of world leaders last Thursday to spur
Biden backs plan to restore benefits for COFA migrants
U.S. President Joe Biden has endorsed legislation sponsored by Hawaii’s congressional delegation to restore access to federal benefits for tens of thousands of Micronesian migrants living in the U.S. legally under the
