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Satellite imagery revealed that the United States is constructing a new military facility in the Pacific, possibly preparing an alternative landing site for its airforce should the military bases on Guam become inoperable. Land-clearing activity has been spotted at Tinian International Airport in the Northern Mariana Islands, based on satellite images obtained by The War Zone on June 15. An annotated satellite image showing the full scope of planned construction as part of the Tinian Divert Airfield project. USAF Past satellite imagery from the Planet Lab suggests that construction work at the site started in May. This appears to correspond...

Spectacular black-and-white photographs showing American military campaigns in the Pacific island of Guam have emerged as North Korea threatens to annihilate the territory with nuclear missiles. The images show US Marines in action during the 1944 battle to retrieve Guam, which was occupied by Japan in 1941. Soldiers can be seen bandaged-up on stretchers after the savage fighting that left about 20,000 people killed on both sides, while American ships and high-ranking personnel are also photographed. Guam is thought to have first been settled in about 2,000BC but wasn't discovered by Europeans until Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived on the...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Puerto Rico's federally appointed financial oversight board said on Wednesday it will investigate the U.S. commonwealth's debt "and its relationship to the fiscal crisis" which has left it with $72 billion in debt and a 45-percent poverty rate. The board, a creation of the 2016 federal Puerto Rico rescue law known as PROMESA, said in a statement that the investigation will review the fiscal crisis, examine the debt and how it was issued, including disclosure and selling practices. "The Oversight Board considers this investigation an integral part of its mission to restore fiscal balance and economic...

Where America’s Day BeginsTumon–While the rest of the country debates President Trump’s Twitter use, health care reform, tax reform, border security, the war on terrorism, and the 2018 midterms, it’s easy for some stories to fall by the wayside.The 2016 election was dominated by many issues, but trade was a key factor that helped push Donald Trump over the top. The main villain was China. Yet, trade isn’t the only arena where we’re going to do battle with this Asian economic powerhouse.In the Pacific, China is spreading dollars, subsidizing building projects across Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia. The...

The NMI Retirement Fund, through its administrator Richard A. Villagomez, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday afternoon. --SNIP-- The lawyer said the Fund's payment of benefits to beneficiaries and operating expenses have averaged approximately $77.9 million per year in the last three years. In contrast, he said, during those same years, the Fund's funding-consisting of employee contributions, returns on investments, and employer contributions-has averaged approximately $30.9 million per year. “As a result of such continuous underfunding, which necessitated withdrawing from its portfolio to cover funding shortfalls, the value of the [Fund's] assets has fallen from $353,475,412 in 2009 to its...

SAIPAN, Northern Marianas – A volcanic eruption near the Pacific's Northern Mariana Islands shot clouds of ash and vapor nearly eight miles into the sky, federal scientists said. The eruption occurred early Saturday and appeared to come from an underwater volcano off Sarigan, a sparsely inhabited island about 100 miles north of the U.S. commonwealth's main island of Saipan. The Northern Marianas are about 3,800 miles southwest of Hawaii. USGS volcanologist Game McGimsey said Sunday that scientists are still trying to pinpoint the source but evidence is pointing to an underwater mountain. "People on the island (Sarigan) heard a loud...

As it turns out, there is a GOP gubernatorial nominee in 2009 who thinks Gov. Palin is an asset. Not in Virginia, not New Jersey - but let's not forget that the Northern Mariana Islands are also electing a Governor this year. And guess who's picture is front and center on the website of GOP nominee Heinz Sablan Hofschneider? I'll give you a hint, it's not Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Tim Pawlenty, or Newt Gingrich. I might also add that two of the last three governors in the Northern Marianas were Republicans (and the current Governor is an ex-Republican who...

A robotic submarine is undergoing final preparations to dive to the deepest-known part of the oceans. If successful, Nereus will be the first autonomous vehicle to visit the 11,000m (36,089ft) Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean. Only two other vehicles have ever visited the spot before, both of them human operated. The $5m submarine will make the attempt in late May or early June after a series of increasingly deep dives. “ From 6,500m to 11,000m metres Nereus has the field pretty much to itself ” Ian Rouse National Oceanography Centre "Instead of jumping directly into the deep end of...

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands — The U.S. credit crisis has extended far out into the Pacific territories. Sixty percent of homeowners under a 10-year-old government-backed loan program in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are in default on their loans, The Marianas Variety newspaper reported, citing the Marianas Public Housing Trust and the Marianas Housing Corp. Lawmakers say many homeowners could be forced to move into smaller homes or move out of the territory because they cannot make loan payments. The loans were issued under a $10 million program set up in 1998. Republican Sen. Paul A. Manglona...

Congress is trying again to exert more control over the Northern Marianas, this time minus the interference of jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who for years dissuaded lawmakers from tinkering with the troubled Pacific islands. Legislation that could clear the House in December would apply federal immigration and labor rules to the U.S. Commonwealth of The Northern Mariana Islands, which in the past three decades of local control has been tainted with charges of sweatshop and human trafficking abuses. The bill is opposed by commonwealth Gov. Benigno Fitial, who says it ignores recent improvements in labor standards and could cripple attempts...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel...

The U.S. military will be conducting bombing exercises on Farallon de Mendinilla Island at the height of celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Battles of Saipan and Tinian. The bombing exercises would be conducted 24 hours daily from June 15 to 18, according to a public advisory released by the Emergency Management Office. On June 21, the military would also conduct an aerial survey of FDM from 8am to 12pm, the EMO said. The EMO advised fishermen, commercial pilots and tour operators to stay away from the training site during the duration of the military exercises. "The general locations...