On arrival at Nitijela Thursday for a courtesy call with Speaker Kenneth Kedi soon after arriving in a US government jet, US Special Envoy for Compact negotiations Joseph Yun and his team were greeted Marshallese style with singing and leis in the Nitijela lobby, an island welcome for the visitors who were plied with handicrafts […]
GIFF JOHNSON Two senior US government officials are — or will be — in Majuro for high-level talks with RMI authorities this week. Wednesday’s first in-person JEMFAC meeting in three years is to be followed by one or more days of Compact negotiations late this week with the arrival Thursday of the chief US negotiator. […]
Watch out Marshall Islands, the Republic of China/Taiwan’s government will be sending 60 tons of rice in December. The development was announced by Taiwan Ambassador Steve Hsia in his remarks during Taiwan’s 111th anniversary dinner at the Marshall Islands Resort Tuesday. The night event featured uplifting entertainment, great food and a unique display of locally […]
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 […]
WILMER JOEL and HILARY HOSIA A new chapter is unfolding for Marshalls Energy Company (MEC) with the arrival of its fuel tanker Meram. The word “meram” means light in Marshallese. This fuel tanker alone can store 160,000 gallons of fuel and is capable of delivering to multiple islands. MEC hosted a christening ceremony for this […]
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 […]
HILARY HOSIA Leaders of the nation began their first Parliament meeting of the August session Monday with a moment of silence to honor the 14 Marshallese who passed away from Covid since the pandemic reached the shores of the RMI August 8. A few minutes into the session, Speaker Kenneth Kedi called for an off air […]
GIFF JOHNSON United States and Marshall Islands leaders said after completing the first round of talks last week that they hope to complete negotiations to renew provisions of an economic and security treaty by the end of this year or early next year. Washington sees extension of funding packages under compacts of free association with […]
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 […]