Wesley Simina of Chuuk State is the new president of the Federated States of Micronesia. He was elected by the FSM Congress at its first meeting last week following the national election in March. Joining him in the executive branch is Vice President Aren Palik of Kosrae, who continues on from a term started two […]
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 […]
GIFF JOHNSON With the border opening looming, there is more talk in the community about the arrival of Covid in RMI. There are more questions than answers: Are we ready, will there be lockdowns, will schools be closed? Neighboring FSM opened its borders officially Monday this week — but Covid slipped into Pohnpei and Kosrae […]
KAREN EARNSHAW The first group of people to be repatriated to the Federated States of Micronesia since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in Pohnpei from Guam on May 13 and 14.Forty-two FSM citizens were on board the two humanitarian flights conducted by the US Coast Guard and funded by the US government. The […]
Following the hotly contested Pacific Islands Forum election for a new Secretary General last week — in which Micronesia’s candidate Ambassador Gerald Zackios lost — the Marshall Islands and its four neighboring nations have thumbed their collective noses at the Forum, saying they are all pulling out of the premier regional body. The move, approved […]
GIFF JOHNSON The big news coming from several hours of meetings on Pohnpei Monday between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Hilda Heine and leaders of the FSM and Palau is Pompeo’s announcement that negotiations to extend Compact funding agreements have begun. The post-2023 period, when US grant funding for RMI and FSM […]
President Hilda Heine traveled to Pohnpei this past Saturday to attend inauguration festivities for new FSM President David Panuelo earlier this week. Heine met with Panuelo Saturday after arrival. The discussion between President Panuelo and President Heine was brief, but covered several topics: the outcomes of the recent Micronesian Islands Forum, activities for the Joint […]
