“You might as well bomb us” Palau President tells World leaders at COP26
(PACNEWS) The inaction of world emitters to reach an agreement on the rapid reductions of fossil fuels has annoyed Pacific island nations on the front lines of climate change. Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr,
American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa, Vanuatu remain on EU tax blacklist
Six Pacific Islands are on the EU tax blacklist, remaining listed an “non-cooperative”. They are American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa and Vanuatu. The European Union blacklist was set up in 2017 to
Tourists trickle into Micronesia
By Bernadette Carreon Palau’s cautious return to tourism this year is being closely watched by its neighbours as it has had to respond to fluctuating case numbers in its tourism source markets. Palau slowly reopened
Palau Customs Director calls for stricter border controls
The Director of Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, John Tarkong Jr last week recommended that Palau’s president stop issuing waivers of entry permits to persons, vessels and aircraft coming into the country.
CDC expert says Palau has beaten COVID
A career epidemiology field officer for U.S affiliated Pacific Islands with U.S Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr W Thane Hancock said Palau is one of the first countries to have beaten COVID.
Oil exploration talks revived in Palau
By Bernadette H. Carreon Proponents behind the efforts to drill exploratory oil and gas wells in one of Palau’s outlying states are reviving the plan, optimistic that the administration of President Surangel Whipps
Palau travel bubble hits a snag
By Bernadette H. Carreon The travel bubble between Taiwan and Palau is in danger of popping following low interest from Taiwanese tourists to take a holiday from a year of COVID-19 border restrictions.
Palau travel bubble hits a snag
The travel bubble between Taiwan and Palau is in danger of popping following low interest from Taiwanese tourists to take a holiday from a year of COVID-19 border restrictions. In an effort to revitalise
Palau welcomes tourists, Cook Is still waiting
Quarantine free trouble has begun between Palau and Taiwan with the arrival of Palau’s first inbound tourism flight since March last year. Palau’s President, Surangel Whipps, Jr. returned to Palau from Taiwan on
Palau’s new President takes a strong stance vs China
China has emerged as one of the key players in the Pacific region and at the changing of the guard of Palau’s leadership in January, new President, Surangel Whipps Jr. was expected to concentrate on the pandemic
Pacific People 2020: Palau’s health frontliners
It is almost the end of 2020 and Palau has remained one of the handful of countries globally which have not registered a single case since the coronavirus outbreak was designated a pandemic in March. For
Remember me for nation building: Remengesau
Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. has earned plaudits at home and abroad. Known for his world-renowned environmental initiatives, including the famed Palau National Marine Sanctuary, the outgoing leader also passed
Palau to choose leader to inherit COVID-19 woes
The outcome of this November’s election will be crucial to Palau’s response to the economic crisis, as whoever will win the polls will be confronted by the impacts of COVID-19 well beyond 2020. At the
Palau’s heralded marine sanctuary faces reassessment from next leaders
Palau’s National Marine Sanctuary— which is hailed as the tiny nation’s much celebrated signature policy—may face review from President Tommy Remengesau Jr’s successor. More than five years
Coronavirus travel restrictions: a Pacific wrap
There have been no cases of coronavirus reported in the Pacific Islands region, although Australia and New Zealand have reported cases, and in the case of Australia, one death. However the Pacific region has responded
Coronavirus: a Pacific wrap-up
An outbreak of a new coronavirus has killed at least 106 people in China, and has spread to some of the Pacific’s close neighbours, including Australia (with five cases) and Malaysia (with four). The United States,
Fish with a story
Sandwiched between the Philippines and the Federated States of Micronesia, rising from the deep blue Pacific Ocean, sit the 200 or so limestone and volcanic islands that make up the idyllic paradise
Growth masks Palau’s flaws
ADB highlights setback in policy enforcement. TOURISM continues to be Palau’s bread and butter and a contributed to its economic growth for the past two years but a recent private sector assessment by the Asian
David stands against Goliath; Palau’s single patrol boat defends the region
IN the far west of the northern Pacific, a single patrol boat stands against the waves of Distant Water Fishing Nation vessels which threaten the region’s fish stocks. Outnumbered and outgunned, the President
Drought fears grip Palau; Islands extend state of emergency
A PROLONGED drought blamed on the El Nino weather system has dropped water levels to an even critical threshold at the remaining reservoir that the National Emergency Committee (NEC) fears that without rain the
Safe no more
ON Oct. 11, Palau was shocked after a 37-year old government employee was found dead on the street in the capital of Koror. Kenneth Koshiba was shot with a gas-powered air rifle. This kind of violence is not a usual
Palau – where size doesn’t matter
Not counting the 400 or so volcano-uplifted little limestone islands that make up the spectacular Rock Islands, Palau is small. With a population of 21,000 living in the islands’ 16 states, the island republic