By Journal on May 18, 2023
Aren Palik, David Panuelo, Federated States of Micronesia, FSM, Nikkei Asia, Pohnpei, Taiwan, Wesley Simina, Yosiwo George
News

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 […]
By Journal on August 11, 2022
AMI, Arrives, BA.5, CDC, Cody Jack, Covid, David Kabua, Frank Underwood, FSM, Giff Johnson, Jack Niedenthal, MOHHS, Northern Islands High School on Wotje., PaxLovid, Red Code, Wilmer Joel, World Health Organization
News Archive

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 […]
By Journal on August 4, 2022
Arrak quarantine, Barwa Jacklick, Carson Sigrah, Chewy Lin, College of the Marshall Islands, Covid, David Panuelo, FSM, Giff Johnson, Kino Kabua, Kosrae, Majuro Minions, Nolau Lutunatabua, Pohnpei, RMI National Disaster Committee, Ten deaths
News Archive

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 […]
By Journal on June 16, 2022
Compact of Free Association, Covid, David Kabua, Donald Trump, FSM, Hilda Hiene, Jessica Dambruch, Joe Biden, Joseph Yun, Keone Nakoa, Kitlang kabua, Mike Pompeo, Palau, Pohnpei, Roxanne Cabral, US Army, US Marine Crops
News Archive

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 […]
By Journal on May 26, 2022
Arkansas, Compact negotiations, David Panuelo., FSM, Joe Biden, Joseph Yun, Karen Stewart, Kenneth Kedi, Keone Nakoa, Langirik Mote, Nitijela, Roxanne Cabral, Surangel Whipps, Washington
News Archive

GIFF JOHNSON “On a scale of one-to-10, with 10 being the best, I put my visit to Washington at 9.5,” said Speaker Kenneth Kedi in an interview with the Journal Wednesday this week. The Speaker was in Arkansas at mid-week, following a packed agenda in Washington, DC over several days last week with meetings with […]
By Journal on March 10, 2022
CMAC, CNMI, Dolores debrum Kattil, Emman Kabua -Tibon, Eve Burns, Florence Edwards, FSM, Guam, Iva Reimers-Roberto, John Silk, Micronesia Challenge, MIMRA, Moriana Phillip, Palau, PAN, Reimaanlok
News Archive

EVE BURNS Marshall Islands Marine Resource Authority launched its Protected Area Network (PAN) office last week at International Conference Center. The PAN program vision is for a sustainable and resilient Marshall Islands where natural and cultural resources are effectively managed and conserved for future generations. Their mission to secure and enable mobilization of resources in […]
By Journal on January 27, 2022
Betio, Buota, Federated States of Micronesia, FSM, Jack Niedenthal, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, South Tarawa, Taneti Maamau, Tia Belau
News Archive

Due to the rapidly evolving Covid spread in many Pacific island countries as a result of the omicron variant, the FSM government announced this week it was in the “public health interest to delay the forthcoming repatriation flights to the States of Pohnpei and Chuuk, and to cancel until further notice the repatriation flights to […]
By Journal on November 25, 2021
American Legion Post 22, FSM, Giff Johnson, Health Benefit, Joe Biden, Kalani Kanek, Military, Palau, RMI, US Compact, US House of Representatives of HR3730, US Veterans Administration
News Archive

GIFF JOHNSON Veterans from the Marshall Islands and the other freely associated states, all nations aligned with the US through Compacts, must travel at great personal expense to take advantage of health benefits they earned by their service in the US military. The practical impact of this situation is that most Marshallese veterans are completely […]
By Journal on September 9, 2021
Beauleen Carl-Borswick, Chuuk road, FSM, Joses Gallen, Pacific International Inc., Thomas Tarpley, World Bank
News Archive

GIFF JOHNSON Pacific International Inc. received a mediation award in its construction dispute with the FSM government over US government-funded road work it did in Chuuk state from 2009-2013. But the FSM refused to pay the mediation award of an initial $2 million on a total $6 million award. More recently, PII received a $9.5 […]
By Journal on May 14, 2020
Air Marshall Islands, Drauna Waqasokolala, FSM, Giff Johnson
News Archive

GIFF JOHNSON RMI government authorities are making special arrangements for Guam-based couriers to bring an overdue delivery of cash for local banks and, separately, for a handful of Marshallese stranded in Pohnpei to return to Majuro. Although planning has progressed, it is unclear if either of these initiatives will happen, based on: • The reluctance […]