As Tinian becomes key to US defense, locals face housing and environmental strains
The Northern Mariana Islands’ Tinian is becoming increasingly more involved in the United States’ Pacific military strategy. One year ago, China tested ICBM warheads in the region for the first time since 1980. In response, the US government recognized the need to...
Guam Governor strengthens economic and tourism ties with Taiwan during first official visit
Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero (D) of Guam embarked on her inaugural official visit to Taiwan from May 25 to May 31, 2025. During this visit, she met with President Lai Ching-te to reinforce the longstanding partnership between Guam and Taiwan and to explore...
Google Trends in the US territories: May 2025
Welcome back to our monthly series examining the top Google Trends in Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Trends data is an unbiased sample of Google search data. It’s anonymized (no one is personally...
#TBT: May 29, 2025
Oscar López Rivera is an activist who was a member and suspected leader of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional Puertorriqueña, a clandestine paramilitary organization devoted to Puerto Rican independence. Arrested on May 29, 1981, he was tried for his...
González-Colón announces new nominees for Secretary of State and Justice in Puerto Rico
Governor Jenniffer González-Colón (NPP, R) has announced new nominations for Secretary of State and Secretary of Justice in Puerto Rico following the withdrawal of three failed appointments since January. Rosachely Rivera Santana, current mayor of Gurabo, has been...
Trump administration sees deep-sea mining opportunity near American Samoa
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has found an opportunity in deep-sea mineral mining near the coast of American Samoa. After the signing of an executive order allowing the United States to take steps toward commercially mining the seafloor, the critical...
NOAA predicts above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, raising concerns for Atlantic territories
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2025, with 13 to 19 named storms, including 6 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 5 major hurricanes. The outlook, released ahead of the season's June 1 start,...
#TBT: May 22, 2025
On May 22, 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union published this piece on how United States citizenship is not extended to American Samoa residents, and their position in the then-pending case of Fitisemanu v. United States, favoring birthright US citizenship for...
Northern Mariana Islands and Guam territorial delegates push for stronger support for veterans and caregivers
Two delegates representing United States territories have introduced new legislation aimed at improving support for veterans and military families. The bills—introduced by Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R) of the Northern Mariana Islands and Delegate James Moylan (R)...
American Samoa Government defends reopening of fishing grounds
The recent decision by President Donald Trump (R) to reopen portions of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) to commercial fishing has drawn renewed attention to American Samoa’s tuna industry, a key sector of the territory’s economy. While the...
