Palau

“If we fail to protect our oceans, we are failing to preserve our people, our culture, our identity,” according to Mia Kami, a Tongan storyteller and songwriter. Kami delivered this compelling message via word and song at last week’s One...

At the closing of the Our Ocean conference in Palau the co-hosts announced that 410 commitments were made by various, countries, civil society, and industry valued at $US16.35 billion. The two-day conference was held in the Pacific region for the...

The Our Ocean Conference opens in Palau this week and more than 500 delegates from upwards of 80 countries are expected to attend. The Republic of Palau and the United States are co-hosting the conference, which is seen as a key...

Palau President Tommy Remengesau has confirmed his country will host an in-person meeting among the leaders of Kiribati, Nauru, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. Mr Remengesau said while details of the planned Micronesian Presidents' Summit were still being ironed out, the leaders were aiming to meet in October.

Coming up to the elections in Palau in November there is a rising tide of criticism over the marine protected area that's previously been considered a great national achievement. The Palau National Marine Sanctuary has been celebrated as one of the world's most ambitious ocean conservation initiatives. Known in Palau as a bul, it was designed to protect Palau's inshore fish stocks and to help ensure the sustainability of tuna in the Pacific.

The US Secretary of Defense is scheduled to visit Palau for five hours on Friday, with President Tommy Remengesau Junior calling it a historic visit from a high level official of the country's closest ally. In a press conference, President Remengesau said there were a range of issues that could be discussed during Mark Esper's visit.

Palau is reportedly planning to open up for tourism next month, initially with just Taiwan. Despite remaining Covid-19 free, Palau's tourism industry - its primary source of revenue - has come to a standstill. Currently there are two chartered flights a month that carry essential workers and medical patients between Taiwan and Palau.

Palau's Permanent Mission to the UN says the government of Cuba has offered to dispatch a medical brigade to assist the republic in building defenses against Covid-19. The deployment of medical personnel from Cuba would be made "when commercial travel to Palau becomes possible again." Cuba was planning to send two doctors, three nurses and a team supervisor to Palau.