Did you get this on the news in Australia?!!?

Well, we now have a new leadership of the FSM - exciting stuff. Here is the press release, no photos of the key players as yet.
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Mori new FSM President

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services): May 11, 2007 - Immanuel (Manny) Mori has been selected today as the Seventh President of the Federated States of Micronesia, he is from the State of Chuuk. The FSM's new Vice President is Alik L. Alik from the State of Kosrae.

Selection of the National Government Leadership came during the Opening Session of the new 15th FSM Congress in Palikir. The Leadership of the Legislative Branch is as follows:

Speaker - Isaac V. Figir (Yap)
Vice Speaker - Resio S. Moses (Pohnpei)
Floor Leaders - Joe N. Suka (Chuuk)

The chairmanship of the Congressional committees are:

Judiciary & Governmental Operations - Senator Peter Sitan
Ways & Means - Senator Dohsis Halbert
External Affairs - Senator Paliknoa K. Welly
Resources & Development - Senator Dion G. Neth
Health, Education and Social Affairs - Senator Joseph J. Urusemal
Transportation, Communications & Infrastructure - Senator Moses A. Nelson.
Following the selection of the National Government Leadership, the new Congress went into recess until Tuesday - May 15, 2007.
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This is the Congress chamber, all dressed up and waiting for the first session of the Fifteenth Congress



In my 'uniform' for the opening session. I couldn't manage to take a full length picture of myself, but I don't think the world is ready for that anyway.



This a mwar mwar - a traditional headband. This one is made of ylang ylang leaves, but they can be made of ylang ylang flowers (my favourite, turns out they are for royalty), other tropical flowers, leaves, plastic and on very rare occasions, as Ben discovered, wool.



We went to a function to celebrate the new session in Friday night, and all guests received mwar mwars. My likeness to the Statue of Liberty was duly noted. Ben scored with a 60's flower power mwar mwar, which will not only last, but get through Australian customs!!



Awww... isn't he cute?!



This is Chip, who is a lawyer at Congress with me, relaxing on our balcony before our dinner party on Saturday night. This picture is for Chips's wife back in America - Hi Tucki!



-Jo