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A federal judge on Friday decided that a lawsuit that challenges the military’s training plans for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands should not be entirely dismissed, as requested by the military. But Chief Judge Ramona Manglona agreed with the military’s argument that one of the issues raised by opponents should be dismissed  - specifically, the argument that the military failed to properly examine the possibility of training somewhere else.

Treasurer Charles Abel says significant progress is being made towards restoring discipline and containing costs as the Government reaches the halfway mark of its 100-day 25-point plan. Abel told The National that the main area being reviewed was Government salaries, with a reconciliation and audit process on it underway.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General says the Pacific and other regions could benefit from greater collaboration in response to natural disasters. According to Patricia Scotland, there is a new phenomenon where multiple regions of the world are being hit by natural disasters simultaneously. Speaking in Washington where a Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting is underway, she said there's a need to get "smarter" and more systematic in response to disasters.

Due to the many concerns from members of the House Agriculture, Marine & Wildlife and Forestry Committee, on the issues of Federal regulations that affect fisheries in American Samoa, the director of the Department of Marine Wildlife Resource, Va’amua Henry Sesepasara, asked House members to make sure they voice all questions and frustrations to members of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (WPFMC) when their annual conference convenes next week.