Pacific groups welcome call to ban deep sea mining

The Pacific Blue Line collective has welcomed the call by France for a ban on deep sea mining, a call that Pacific civil society groups and movements have been pushing for since 2012. French President Emmanuel Macron

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New Australia-Palau Connector flight to start December

A new flight connecting Australia to Palau will start this December 13, 2022, announced the Australian government.  The flight dubbed “Australia-Palau Connector” is a flight route between Brisbane, Port Moresby,

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Pacific Islands increasingly used as crime transit point, experts say 

The Pacific islands are increasingly being used as a transit point for transnational crime, including drug trafficking and money laundering, experts say. Criminal organisations from Asia and the Americas are exploiting

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Palau: More flights announced, Taiwan to assist tourism promotions

More flights to Palau are coming this November, with United Airlines (UA) adding two more flights a week, revealed Peter Polloi, Director General of Civil Aviation at Palau National Aviation Administration. UA’s

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Biden Administration vows to renew Compacts with Palau, FSM and RMI

The Biden administration has committed to renewing the Compacts of Free Association, with Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.   The promise of renewal of the partnership agreements from the United

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Palau’s 2023 Budget law passed

Palau budget FY 2023 was signed into law on September 22 at the Ngerulmud Capital rotunda after a brief signing ceremony. Senate and House of Delegates worked round the clock to get it ironed out in time for President

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Palau to launch stablecoin in October

Setting a digital currency trend in the region, Palau is slated to launch a dry run of its stablecoin in October, according to Kaleb Udui Jr., the country’s finance minister. “Initially, we are starting a very small

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Washington and Australia should focus on climate change, says Pacific leaders

Washington should accept Pacific Island priorities for the region, making climate change – not superpower competition – the most urgent security task, the region’s leaders said in Hawaii, ahead of a

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Crypto ‘an unstable financial asset’ says UNCTAD

Cryptocurrency is an “unstable financial asset that can bring social risks and costs”, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned in three policy briefs on Wednesday. UNCTAD said their benefits to

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Palau’s microplastic crisis, study shows

A new study conducted by marine scientists found plastic waste has polluted islands, reefs and beaches of the island nation of Palau. Researchers from the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) and the Center

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Palau’s new tax law to cause ‘substantial impact’: Kyota

The Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) has expressed concerns on the country’s new tax law on goods and services. PPUC says the Palau Goods and Services Tax (PGST), going into effect on January 1, 2023,

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Palau Congress paves way for Blue Prosperity funding

Members of the Olbiil Era Keluau Monday adopted amendments to the supplemental budget to pave way for the Blue Prosperity funding assistance, while Palau Congress gave approval to the marine spatial planning. The new

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