GIFF JOHNSON Much was written and said about last week’s US Pacific Islands Summit in Washington, DC, which was the first time a US president hosted a large group of Pacific heads of state at the White House. It generated multiple wire service stories and widespread media coverage around the globe, reporting on Washington’s effort […]
Special Presidential Envoy Joseph Yun paid a courtesy visit to President David Kabua at the RMI Embassy in Washington, DC Monday this week. Yun heads the US Compact negotiation team. President Kabua welcomed and thanked Yun for the time to meet in person as they were unable to meet in person earlier due to Covid-19. […]
WILMER JOEL Taiwan Ambassador Jeffery Hsaio and his wife Jasmine were showered with gifts and serenaded at their farewell party last Saturday at the Marshall Islands Resort poolside. Ambassador Hsaio holds the record for the most visits to neighboring islands made by an ambassador to RMI, according to both the ambassador and Minister of Natural […]
GIFF JOHNSON The United States Justice Department unsealed an indictment September 2 in New York City against two naturalized Marshall Islands citizens that alleges they bribed numerous high-level elected and other officials in the Marshall Islands to gain government support for establishing a controversial semi-autonomous zone for foreign investment activities. Cary Yan and Gina Zhou […]
GIFF JOHNSON This is how the Marshall Islands went from being one of a handful of places in the world to still be Covid-free two-and-a-half-years into the pandemic to joining the rest of the world August 8.Majuro hospital authorities discovered the first “cluster” of Covid positive cases Monday afternoon. Parents brought their 17 and nine […]
GIFF JOHNSON Thousands of Marshall Islanders converged on Ebeye Island last week for the first coronation ceremony of a paramount chief in half a century. The gala coronation for Iroojlaplap (paramount chief) Michael LaMañiñi Kabua featured dozens of islanders wearing traditional headdress and finely woven mat clothing unique to the Marshall Islands, spear carrying warriors […]
HILARY HOSIA Various notification sounds went off simultaneously on multiple devices last Thursday as residents of Ennibur Island (Third Island) in Kwajalein were connected to the Internet for the first time. Such was the scene at the College of Marshall Islands’ Distance Learning Center on Third Island at the end of last week as people […]
GIFF JOHNSON Nearly three years after the first in-person preliminary discussions were held between the US and the Marshall Islands for a third funding agreement in the Compact, negotiations resumed again this week with a two-day meeting at Kwajalein. The negotiations stalled after these first discussions were held in Pohnpei between President Trump’s Secretary of […]
In the midst of a major shift in Cabinet members the past week and countless hours preparing for the Compact negotiations in Kwajalein in the coming days, President David Kabua ensured his message for the graduating class of 2022 was received throughout Marshall Islands. President Kabua personally delivered the message during the College of Marshall […]
Three of the four newly appointed Cabinet ministers were sworn in during a ceremony at the ICC Tuesday morning. Chief Justice of the High Court Carl Ingram with Clerk of Courts Ingrid Kabua officiated at the swearing in. This followed a blessing and then brief remarks from President David Kabua. The President described the Cabinet […]
