Palau tourism rebounds, aims for Pre-Pandemic levels by year’s end
Palau’s tourism industry is experiencing a significant comeback, with visitor arrivals steadily increasing throughout 2023 and into 2024. Total arrivals in 2023 surpassed 42,000, reaching nearly 45 percent of
Reversing the tide of colonial anthropology
Doctor Tarisi Vunidilo has emerged as a leading voice in the growing movement across the Pacific in recent years to repatriate Pacific treasures, as well as human remains from museums across Europe and other parts of
Micronesia: Prolonged drought now impacting food and water across region
Extreme droughts in the Western Pacific region are expected to persist over the next three months. Parts of the Marshall Islands, Guam, Palau, Mariana Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are now
Disappointed with solar option, Whipps eyes nuclear energy for Palau
While setting a goal to have 100 percent renewable capacity by 2032, Palau must embrace nuclear energy to supplement the country’s existing power sources, President Surangel Whipps Jr. said. “If there are
Palau scrambles after cyberattack cripples financial systems
Palau’s financial management system was crippled last week after a cyberattack, forcing the Ministry of Finance to temporarily revert to manual payroll processing. This marked the first major cyberattack and the
Palau receives Ancestral remains in repatriation ceremony
In a ceremony on 25 March the University of Göttingen and the State Ethnographic Collections of Saxony in Germany repatriated human remains of 10 individuals to Palau. The remains originated from the Hamburg South
Palau Development Bank pushes for deposit-taking license to fill funding gap
The National Development Bank of Palau (NDBP) is seeking to expand its role in the island nation’s financial system by offering deposit services and potentially issuing savings bonds. This move aims to address a
“Palauans First” Campaign reboots: President Whipps seeks second term
In a rally echoing his “Palauans First” campaign slogan, President Surangel Whipps Jr officially launched his re-election bid on 11 February, becoming the first candidate to declare for the November 2024 general
China lures Palau with economic incentives to break ties with Taiwan
China has promised Palau economic benefits in exchange for the latter severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a letter the Palauan president wrote to an unnamed United States senator revealed. President Surangel Whipps
U.S. Senate fails to add Compact Funds to aid package
A last-minute bipartisan effort to add key funding aimed at countering China in the Pacific has failed in the U.S. Senate even as a US$95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan moved forward. A renewal of
Micronesian leaders warn ‘competitive political actors’ exploiting delays in U.S. funding
Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, which occupy a militarily strategic expanse of the western Pacific, have warned that delays to U.S. financial assistance have created opportunities for “competitive
U.S. will resume Peace Corps programme in Palau
The United States will resume a long-suspended Peace Corps programme in the North Pacific island of Palau as the Biden administration continues moves to counter growing Chinese influence in the region. The Peace Corps
Palau ratifies UN Ocean Treaty
Palau on Monday became the first nation to officially ratify the UN Ocean Treaty. “As the first country to officially ratify the UN Ocean Treaty, Palau has jumped into the lead in the race to ratification,” said
Deportation of Palauans from the U.S. hits record high in 2023
Nine Palauan citizens were deported from the United States in 2023, marking the highest number of deportees Palau has received in a single year. This significant increase, compared to the usual two or less deportees per
AOSIS Ministers express serious concerns over COP28 Global Stocktake draft text
The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Chairs Minister, Cedric Schuster of Samoa, Monday voiced deep worries regarding the process and content of the document in reaction to the COP28 Presidency’s draft text on
Palau, Tonga, Fiji call for concrete actions at COP28 to combat climate crisis
Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr. Friday delivered a powerful message emphasising the urgent need for global unity and concrete actions to combat the climate crisis. Addressing the distinguished audience,
Palau’s Climate Change negotiator Matsutaro emphasise ambition and urgency at COP28
Palau’s climate change negotiator and Chair of Pacific Small Island Developing States(PSIDS), Xavier Matsutaro has emphasised the critical need for ambition and urgency at COP28, underscoring the pivotal role of
Nauru Airlines new Island Hopper service connecting Palau to Australia
Nauru Airlines, the national airline of Nauru, announced the launch of its new Island Hopper Service connecting Palau to Brisbane, Australia. The inaugural flight will depart Brisbane on Thursday, 30 November 2023, and
Alii Palau Airline’s inaugural flight opens a new gateway to Palau
After several delays, the Alii Palau Airline’s first flight to Palau became a reality Thursday last week. At 6:40 AM on Thanksgiving Day, 23 November 2023, Drukair, a Royal Bhutan Airline, chartered by Alii Palau
Palau senate expresses disapproval of Japan’s plan to release treated radioactive water
The Senate of the Republic of Palau has passed a joint resolution expressing disapproval of Japan’s decision to release over a million tons of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the
PIFLM: Nauru President walks out of meeting, Micronesia will continue to support Waqa
Nauru’s President David Adeang and his delegation walked out of the Pacific Islands Forum plenary meeting Wednesday as questions are raised about the appointment of former President Baron Waqa to take over in 2024
Alii Palau Airlines signs contract with Bhutan carrier Drukair
Drukair, a Bhutanese carrier, has signed a contract agreement with Alii Palau Airlines to commence a Singapore to Palau flight. Alii Palau Airlines is a new company which set to provide direct flights from Singapore to
Youth at the heart of building resilience
Advocating for the availability of financial aid from the government has become one of the key strategies for Pacific youth working towards community resilience. Sotiana Sorovakatini of the Bua Urban Youth Group said
