News - Northern Mariana Islands

CAPITOL HILL, Saipan — More than $52 million in federal disaster assistance and loan offers have been committed to the Northern Mariana Islands following Super Typhoon Sinlaku, as recovery efforts increasingly transition from emergency response to rebuilding the Commonwealth's economy.

The Marianas Visitor’s Authority shared their conceptual vision for the expansion of the Japanese Lighthouse property in Navy Hill into a visitor and cultural experience center on June 29.

The Ocean Exploration Trust’s exploration vessel, Nautilus, departed Monday, June 29, to begin two back-to-back deep-sea research expeditions targeting unsurveyed waters east of the Mariana Trench.

A Guam delegation led by Jesse A. Lujan, majority leader of the 38th Guam Legislature and chairman of the Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Customs, Utilities, and Federal & Foreign Affairs, met with Philippine immigration officials to advance efforts to include the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program.

In good news for tourism in the Northern Mariana Islands, Hong Kong Airlines plans to resume its Hong Kong–Saipan service on July 12.

Philippine Airlines has pushed back the date of its resumption of flights after Typhoon Sinlaku.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation formally dismissed claims on Thursday regarding a viral social media video that purported to reveal the whereabouts of a local girl who vanished 15 years ago.

President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. escorted Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim of Taiwan to the Rock Islands, where she kayaked and swam on her first visit to Palau.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is reviewing a recent online video containing claims from a woman identifying herself as Faloma Luhk, one of two siblings who vanished from Saipan 15 years ago.

Vital FSM Petroleum Corp. welcomed the signing of Public Law No. 24-65 by President Wesley W. Simina on June 2 according to a June 4 release.