Unauthorized Chinese survey vessel found in Palau waters north of Kayangel
A Chinese survey vessel Da Yang Hao has been observed north of Kayangel State within Palau waters,…
Power rates to increase by 15 cents if subsidy of $1.5 million is not approved
Power rates will increase by 15 cents per kilowatt-hour starting January 1st, 2022 announced Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC). This rate will take effect if PPUC does not received the remaining amount of $1.5…
Palau second cable breaks ground today
The second submarine Cable Landing station breaks ground today at Ngardmau State according to information from Belau Submarine Cable Corporation (BSCC) CEO Robin Russell. The second cable connects a spur to the Echo Cable…
Minister Payne arrives in Palau
Australia’s Foreign Minister Marisa Payne said her visit to Palau is to advance” an open, resilient and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.” Payne will be here from Dec. 2 to 4 and in her speech, she said she…
Quarantine in Taiwan with “travel bubble”
Palauans flying to Taiwan will go through quarantine like every other traveler. This is despite the travel bubble arrangement between these two countries dubbed by Palau as the “Sterile Corridor”. Palauans who fly into…
Student stabbed in ongoing retaliatory fights
Upset parents of Mindzenty High School students showed up at Mindzenty High School on Wednesday this week to find out how problems with students have escalated to a point where a student was stabbed…
Japan Grants $404,828 to the PRCS for a New Warehouse and Training Center
On Thursday December 2, 2021, Ambassador of Japan Karasawa and Chairman of the Palau Red Cross Society Asanuma signed a grant contract for “The Project for Constructing the New Emergency Relief Supplies Storage Warehouse…
Japan’s Health Screening “KENSING” Ship Arrived in Palau to Prevent NCDs
On 30 November, 2021, Peace Winds Japan held the unveiling ceremony for the health screening KENSING ship at the Marine Law pier in Koror. The event was attended by H.E.Surangel S. Whipps Jr., President…
Kumangai Bakery donates to PCS
On November 16th, 2021, Palau Conservation Society (PCS) received a generous donation of $200 from Kumangai Bakery. Kumangai Bakery began from humble beginnings. Shortly after World War II, a Palauan couple by the names…
Taiwan Embassy donates UAS1,000 to the Friends of the PNMS to pursue sustainable development in Palau
On November 30, Ambassador Jessica C. Lee delivered a check of $1,000 to the Friends of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (FRIENDS), in support of its projects to pursue sustainable…
Loss of China events over Peng could go past ’22
By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer The suspension of all WTA tournaments in China because of concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai,…
Laos-China railway to launch as debt to Beijing mounts
By JOE McDONALD, SAM McNEIL and ELAINE KURTENBACH Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — Laos, a nation of 7 million people wedged between China,…
Young kids in Palau roll-up sleeves for first COVID shots
Over 50 young children received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines yesterday as Palau began its rollout of the Pfizer shots to children ages…
China Airlines announces 6 flights in December
China Airlines announced that it plans 6 flights to Palau this December after it canceled its November flights citing low tourists’ bookings. The…
Palauan in US military showcased his homeland
An Army Warrant Officer from the Republic of Palau is currently serving and deployed in Iraq. CW2 Jovani Y. Adachi, in support of the CENTCOM…
NEMO working on installation of emergency multi-hazard siren system
The National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) is working on replacing the early warnings siren with a multi-hazard siren system throughout the country. Waymine Towai, NEMO Executive…
Remengesau, Pacific elders support call to delay New Caledonia referendum
Former President Tommy Remengesau Jr. is among the Pacific leaders calling for the delay of the next referendum on self-determination in New Caledonia…
Election certifies new leaderships of Koror and Ngaraard states
Palau Election Commission (PEC) had certified the final results of the general state elections of Koror State and Ngaraard State, confirming the…
US to require vaccines for all border crossers in January
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will require essential, nonresident travelers…
BPS suspends police cadet for involvement in alleged assault
The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) confirmed that a police cadet was…
Twitter access restored in Palau
Those who use Twitter as a messenger of choice in Palau…
Global shares mixed amid inflation, oil price worries
TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were mixed Wednesday as worries about…
U.S faces pressure to do more to address its nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands
WASHINGTON (CIVIL BEAT) — Two Congress members are asking the U.S Department of Energy to provide more information about the effects of U.S nuclear waste in the Marshall Islands. The U.S conducted 67…
Pacific Elders urge French President to defer independence referendum
NOUME (PACIFIC ELDERS VOICE) — Pacific Elders’ Voice have urged the French President…
In remote Pacific islands, businesses look local to survive COVID
PORT VILA (ALJAZEERA) — Dressed for work in a torn T-shirt and a…
A Brain Overload: Dessociation
I’m sitting alone, drinking coffee looking far into distance when a memory raced…
Palau Archery will have its 2nd and final ranking round on Friday, 26
Palau Archery Association held the 1st ranking round of 36 arrows at the…
Palau NOC with NF’s membership hold Annual Meeting and elections of New Board
November 24, 2021- On Thursday, November 18th, the Palau NOC and members national sports federations held…
Social Security to run out of money in 2031, if no changes are made
Palau Social Security Administration, the largest retirement plan for the…
Flags at half-mast in honor of late High Chief Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons
Palau’s national flags are flown at half-mast today in Palau…
Idechong is TNC’s new Micronesia & Polynesia Chapter Executive Director
Noah Idechong is The Nature Conservancy’s Executive Director of its new Micronesia & Polynesia Chapter. Mr. Idechong has been the…
COVID vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 to start next week
Palau will begin to give the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine to children aged 5-11 starting on November 29, the Ministry of Health…
Palau passes government fiscal accountability law
President Surangel Whipps jr. signed into law, RPPL 11-13, the Palau government’s Fiscal Responsibility Act. The law is “codifying and…
Australia’s Foreign Minister Marisa Payne plans to visit Palau in Dec.
Australian officials said Australia’s Foreign Minister Marisa Payne is planning a visit in the Pacific including Palau this December, but…
New Study from PICRC and Stanford University Finds Heat Resistant Corals Widespread in Palau
A recently published scientific paper from the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) and the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford…
Social Factors and Health
On November 18, 2021, I watched the Palau “MOF 2021 Economic Symposium – Forging New Pathways” live via YouTube. I…
‘Reimaanlok’: The Future of Community-led Ocean Conservation in Marshall Islands
MAJURO (WORLD BANK) — Spanning more than two million square kilometres of the central Pacific Ocean, the Republic of…
British diplomat on climate: ‘This is existential’
The British High Commissioner to New Zealand says it’s not her place to single out specific countries which need…
Some Pacific nations won’t reach target vaccination rates until 2026: Lowy Institute research
Slow vaccine take-up among Pacific nations will dramatically hamper regional COVID-19 recovery efforts with some countries not expected to…
U.S lawmakers press White House on Compact talks
MAJURO (MARIANAS VARIETY) — United States congressional leaders have ramped up pressure on the White House to elevate focus…
Kiribati’s attempts to keep stranded Australian judge out of the country ruled unconstitutional
TARAWA (THE GUARDIAN) — A landmark judgment in the Pacific country of Kiribati has ruled the government’s actions in blocking an Australian, a judge on Kiribati’s high…
Fijian British Army soldier’s wife, 39, ‘dumped her newborn baby in woods
LONDON (THE SUN UK) — A British army soldier’s wife “carefully wrapped her newborn baby boy in a towel before dumping him in woodlands” after struggling with…
More Asian Countries Reopen Borders and Welcome Vaccinated Travelers
By: Jin Yu Young @ 2021 The New York Times As Asian countries are learning to live with the coronavirus — with the notable exception of China…
Who, and Where, Is Peng Shuai?
By: Raymond Zhong @ 2021 The New York Times A simple question has gripped the sports world and drawn the attention of the White House, United Nations…
Post-Tokyo 2020 subsidy payment for NOCs up less than two per cent from Rio 2016 level
TOKYO, 22 NOVEMBER 2021 (INSIDE THE GAMES)—-A post-Tokyo 2020 subsidy paid by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to National Olympic Committees (NOCs) has ended up little-changed from the equivalent subsidy paid after Rio 2016. It has been announced that the post-Tokyo “Participation in the Olympic Games” subsidy, part of a programme run by Olympic Solidarity,…
Cambodian aircraft departs leaving 21 illegal workers behind
The chartered Cambodian aircraft that brought 21 illegal Chinese workers from Macau to Palau on Tuesday, left yesterday without the illegal workers, according to information from Director of Border, Customs & Immigration John Tarkong Jr. The aircraft was permitted to depart as it was only chartered by an agent to bring the passengers, added Mr.…
US Marine Corps constructs firing range complex in Ngatpang State
The United States Marine Corps turned over this month a joint range complex to the Palau government located in Ngatpang State. According to a Nov…
Whipps says fisheries can be one key to economic growth
President Surangel Whipps Jr. said fisheries can be one of the drivers of economic growth in Palau amid the susceptibility of the tourism industry…
Whipps: China Airlines is poisoning Palau tourism market
President Surangel Whipps Jr. says that China Airlines is not taking Palau’s tourism market seriously and is “poisoning the market” by its inconsistent service. He said this in response to questions about…
The way forward, economic recovery path after COVID-19 pandemic
Pegging Palau’s economic recovery on the recovery of tourism as the way forward, a presentation by USA Graduate School Fiscal Economist Kevin O’Keef at the 2021 Economic Symposium showed an option that…
Family abuse cases driven by pandemic impacts
More of the reported family abuse cases in 2020 are driven by the impacts, especially economic impacts of the COVId-19 pandemic, reported Vice President and Minister of…
Taiwan delivers stimulus grant of $ 1,113,500
On Wednesday, November 17, Ambassador Jessica Lee of the ROC (Taiwan) presented two stimulus grant checks amounting to about 1.14 million US dollars to Minister of Finance…
Pacific security leaders focused on COVID-19 recovery
On 10 November leaders of the Pacific security agencies met virtually for Joint Heads of Pacific Security…
‘MPs most corrupt’
HONIARA (SOLOMON STAR) — Members of Parliament (MPs) are allegedly viewed as the most corrupt group in…
End of Phoenix Protected Area poses threat to migratory fish
TARAWA 1 (RNZ PACIFIC) — A marine scientist in Hawaii says the…
68 percent believe corruption a ‘big problem’ in Government
SUVA (FIJI TIMES) — Sixty-eight percent of people surveyed in Fiji believe…
US overdose deaths topped 100,000 in one year, officials say
By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer NEW YORK (AP) — An estimated…
NCAA women’s basketball tournament expands to 68 teams
By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer The NCAA women’s basketball tournament is expanding to 68 teams beginning…
PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH: First Study to Show Plumes from Ocean Mining would overlap with important international tuna fisheries
Pacific fisheries, including the US fishing fleet, would be at greatest risk in terms of overlap with…
ARE YOU THIRSTY?
Water, water, water everywhere, nor any a drop to drink! ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge (English Poet) The adaptations…
Peleliu Floor Leader questions police officer’s name on a ballot
Peleliu State Legislature Floor Leader Donald Haruo questioned Vice President and Minister of Justice J. Uduch Sengebau-Senior…
Stanford Professor Stephen Palumbi and PICRC Continue Study of Heat Tolerant Corals in Palau
A team of Stanford University researchers led by Professor Stephen Palumbi joined the Palau International Coral Reef…
Presidential Proclamation honors late chief Uongruios Paulus Wong
Presidential Proclamation No. 21-310 issued by President Surangel Whipps Jr., honors the passing of the late Uongruios…
Kiribati government to open its Phoenix Islands Marine Protected Area to commercial fishing
The Kiribati government is lifting the closure of the world’s largest marine protected area- the Phoenix Islands Protected…
2021 Economic Symposium-Forging New Pathways, set for Thursday
Ministry of Finance in partnership with Asian Development Bank (ADB) is hosting the 2021 Economic Symposium this Thursday, November 18th, at Ngarachamayong…
Regulations to implement Sex Offender Registry law under review
Office of the Attorney General has issued the draft regulations to implement Sex Offenders Registry law, under 17 PNC, Section 1703 (f). …
PPUC Welcomes New Hires
PPUC is excited to announce the recent hiring of four individuals, 3 females and 1 male, to the PPUC family. All four…
MHHS Division of Behavioral Health Receives Donation from Senate President
The Division of Behavioral Health under the Republic of Palau Ministry of Health & Human Services (MHHS) would like to recognize 11th…
Business license renewal for 2022 to start December 1st
Business licenses for 2022 and Tobacco licenses renewal are to begin on December 1, 2021, and end on December 31, 2021, according…
Delibch-e-Beab
Harsh reality is better than false hope. Do you ever feel like you’ll never change? Are you stuck in the grip of a negative emotion? Do…
Pacific battles for environmental integrity on the table at COP26
GLASGOW (SPREP) — As the Pacific emits less than 0.06% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, this means the Pacific may not be able to…
Boat of U.S Paralympian Angela Madsen found in Marshall Islands
MAJURO, 12 NOVEMBER 2021 (RNZ PACIFIC) — The boat used by American paralympian Angela Madsen on her ill-fated attempt in mid-2020 to paddle solo from California…
Bill to protect whistle-blowers’ from retaliation
SAIPAN (MARIANAS VARIETY) — Representative Leila Staffler has introduced legislation that would protect government employees from any retaliation as a result of “blowing the whistle” on…
DOI announces $95 million in Compact grants for FSM, Marshall Islands
SAIPAN (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — The bilateral Joint Economic Management Committee (JEMCO) has approved a total of $95 million in fiscal 2022…
The Crypto Capital of the World
By: David Segal and Ivan Nechepurenko @ 2021 The New York Times Company KYIV, Ukraine — A buccaneering 37-year-old educated in a British…
Bridges, Rozier help Hornets snap Warriors 7-game win streak
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Terry Rozier sought out Charlotte Hornets teammate Mason Plumlee, the team’s 7-foot center, after the game Sunday night game…
Australia beats New Zealand to claim Twenty20 World Cup
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Mitchell Marsh and David Warner plundered half centuries as Australia won its first Twenty20 cricket World Cup…
Sakuma leads Iskawa in Ngaraard 11th General Election
Unofficial results of Ngaraard State 11th General Election showed Sharp Sakuma in the lead for the Office of Governor with 271 votes and…
High chief Ibedul’s remains return home
Koror High Chief Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons’s remains arrived in Palau on Wednesday from Taiwan and was…
Turnover of two rescue boats
Turnover of the two Taiwan search and rescue boats christened Elideuid and Bisbusech took place on…
22.2% of adults in Palau are diabetic and 36% are pre-diabetic
Palau’s Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) “Hybrid” Survey shows that 22.2% of adults living in Palau have diabetes…
What is an “exempt corporation” and does it affect me?
What is an “exempt corporation”? And does it affect me? …
COP26 must light the fire – Palau President
2 November 2021, COP26, Glasgow – The Palauan legend of Uab…
‘Strong’ start to kids vaccine campaign, but challenges loom
WASHINGTON (AP) — The campaign to vaccinate elementary school age children in the U.S. is off to a strong…
1.5C limit is non-negotiable, PSIDS tells COP26
GLASGOW(PACNEWS) — Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Wednesday told the UN Climate Change talks in Glasgow the 1.5C…
Koror resident asks PEC to void voters that didn’t meet 180-days residency mandate
With Koror State’s 12th General Election taking place today, a Koror resident and former delegate,…
First community testing for COVID-19, all negative
The first community antigen testing for COVId-19 was held on November 3-5 at Ernguul Park/Global…
Whipps urges passage of a digital residency bill that promotes the use of cryptocurrency
President Surangel Whipps Jr. urged Palau Congress to consider the introduction of a digital residency…
Ibedul’s funeral set for the 23rd
The funeral for Paramount Chief Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons has been set for the 23rd of…
Palauan receives advanced degree from Sophia University
TOKYO – Ms. Elchung Gladys Hideyos of Palau was recently awarded aMaster’s Degree in Global Environmental Studies from Sophia University. She excelledduring her two years of study in…
Senate proposes investing COFA Funds in Global Transition investments
To align national priorities with national climate goals, Senate introduced Senate bill 11-53, to have COFA Trust Fund administration invest Section 211(f) Funds in climate transition investments, investments…
Palau entrepreneurs strengthen ethics and ease of doing business
KOROR (UNDP/UNODC) — Palau’s private sector entrepreneurs are reviewing their integrity commitments and strengthening internal business control mechanisms during a two-day Palau Chamber of Commerce (PCOC) workshop beginning…
Palau National Marine Sanctuary Celebrates Sixth Anniversary at Kokusai, Ngatpang
Last Thursday, October 28th, the Palau National Marine Sanctuary celebrated its 6th anniversary at Kokusai, Ngatpang, drawing over 200 attendees.…
Palau Investment Bank donates to PCS
Koror, Palau – On November 4, 2021, Palau Conservation Society (PCS) received a generous donation of $500 from Palau Investment…
Donut House donates to PCS
On November 1st, 2021, Palau Conservation Society (PCS) received a generous donation of $250 from Best Coffee and Donut House.…
Poignant Memories
A good friend of mine sent me a picture while visiting the gravesites of the Faithful Departed on All Souls’…
Australia’s commitment to coal is putting my country of Kiribati in danger
By Anote Tong TARAWA (THE GURDIAN) — When I came into office as president of Kiribati in 2003, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had released its third assessment report and, like my predecessors, I believed…
New Zealand aims to work more alongside Pacific nations
WELLINGTON, 08 NOVEMBER 2021 (RNZ PACIFIC) — The New Zealand Foreign Minister says the country’s new Pacific policy is about a partnered approach. Nanaia Mahuta’s focus on resilience is the follow up to the Pacific Reset set…
Images of Tuvalu minister giving COP26 statement in the ocean go viral on social media
BRISBANE, 08 NOVEMBER 2021 (SBS/REUTERS) — With hundreds of speakers on the running order, it’s going to take a lot to make your message stand out at the United Nations’ COP26 climate summit. So the Pacific nation…
NMI addressing travel bubble influx, says governor
SAIPAN, 08 NOVEMBER 2021 (MARIANAS VARIETY) — We have an issue, but it’s a good issue,” said Northern Marianas Gov. Ralph DLG Torres regarding the lack of hotel rooms…
U.S seizes 9.9kg of meth bound for Fiji
SUVA, 08 NOVEMBER 2021 (FIJI TIMES) — Close to 10 kilograms of methamphetamine bound for Fiji was seized in the United States, says the U.S Attorney’s Office. The drugs…
US lifts pandemic travel ban, opens doors to visitors
The U.S. lifted restrictions Monday on travel from a long list of countries including Mexico, Canada and most of Europe, allowing tourists to make long-delayed trips and family members…
Micronesian Games pushed back a year
MAJURO, 08 NOVEMBER 2021 (MARSHALL ISLANDS JOURNAL) — The every-four-year Micronesian Games have been postponed due to ongoing uncertainty about Covid and restricted travel in the region. The large…
Tahiti named host of 2027 Pacific Games
PAPEETE, 08 NOVEMBER 2021 (INSIDETHEGAMES) — Tahiti will host the Pacific Games for the third time having been awarded the 2027 event at the Pacific Games Council (PGC) General…
Paramount Chief Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons pass away in Taiwan
Paramount Chief Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons of Koror State passed away yesterday, at 1:55 pm Palau time while in hospital in Taiwan announced Bilung Gloria Salii, his sister and chief matriarch of Koror. Sirens blared ten (10) times last evening announcing his passing according to cultural tradition. The ten siren blares represent his 10 final breaths,…
Koror gears up for its 12th General Election on Tuesday
With its 12th General Election slated for next Tuesday, November 9th, candidates for both Office of Governor and Legislature are outbidding…
Whipps resorts to doomsday rhetoric in COP26 address to polluters
President Surangel Whipps Jr. said big emitters might as well drop a “bomb” in the Pacific as the refusal of big emitters…
Climate action: Remengesau, former leaders calls on Australia to show concern for Pacific
Former Pacific leaders expressed dismay over the “hollow” promise of Australia over climate actions that ignore the plight of its neighboring…
Court says Kanai liable to pay $1M promissory note, ruled in favor of Henry’s claims
Court finally resolved a decade-old contention ruling in favor of Jackson Henry’s claims against Besure Kanai on a real estate deal…
ROP asked to pay $75k to Kangich for damaged boats
Attorney for defendant Mr. Kalingo Kangich is asking the government to pay his client $75,000 as replacement costs for his two…
Filipino national charged with drug trafficking
A Filipino national has been charged with four (4) drug-related charges. The charges include two (2) counts of Trafficking A Controlled…
Sabres end 8-month stalemate by trading Jack Eichel to Vegas
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Jack Eichel era in Buffalo is over, with a nasty public…
EU delegation meets Taiwan president on first official trip
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The head of a European Parliament delegation on its first official visit…
“You might as well bomb us” Palau President tells World leaders at COP26
By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow GLASGOW (PACNEWS) — The inaction of world emitters to reach an…
Australia doubles support for climate action in developing countries
SUVA (AUSTRALIA HIGH COMMISSION) — Australia will further increase its climate financing commitment over the next…
No plan to bring Afghan evacuees to Guam
HAGATNA, 1 (GUAM DAILY POST) — Military officials in Guam have confirmed that they do not…
Forum politics fails to dampen regional efforts to fight climate change at COP26
By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow GLASGOW (PACNEWS) — Despite the fallout, between members of the Micronesian…
Shame and Contempt
You don’t grow up until someone is more important than you. ~Jordan Peterson I am a…
No child starts school day hungry as MOE starts breakfast program
The Ministry of Education started a school breakfast program this month in public schools aimed at ensuring that no child starts the school day hungry. Education Minister Dale Jenkins told Island Times that the program makes breakfast fully accessible to all public…
House bill dismantles EQPB, says obstructs economic development
House bill 11-27-2S, HD1 that passed its 3rd and final reading last Thursday, seeks to remove the Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB) and move its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment under the Executive Branch. The bill passed…
Former Pacific leaders call for rapid climate action
A group of former Pacific Island nation leaders that include former president Tommy Remengesau Jr. is calling for “urgent and rapid action to ensure that the global temperature does not exceed…
Marshall Islands: New Climate Study Visualises Confronting Risk of Projected Sea Level Rise
MAJURO (THE WORLD BANK) — Rising sea levels in the atoll nation of Marshall Islands are projected to endanger 40 percent of existing buildings in the capital, Majuro, with 96…
“World must act now to keep 1.5 degrees alive” says Forum SG
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says the world must act now to keep 1.5degrees alive”. Speaking to PACNEWS in Glasgow, Puna said Forum Island Countries (FICs) are calling for more…
South Pacific Cyclone Season starts today
The first day of November is also the first day of the South Pacific cyclone season. Last season taught humanitarian and emergency personnel that they need to be prepared to respond as early as possible. When severe tropical cyclone Yasa hit Fiji last December as a Category 5, it was the earliest in the season…
PPUC Signs Office Space Rental Agreement with Peleliu State
On Friday October 29, 2021, PPUC CEO Frank Kyota and Peleliu Governor Honorable Temmy Shmull signed a space rental agreement for PPUC office at the Peleliu State Office Building. The agreement is for 4…
Over 5,600 contract workers in Palau, construction workers top the list
5,682 non-resident workers from 45 different countries in 50 different types of occupations are in Palau according to the latest report released by the Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism & Development. Despite the…
System hacked: Pundari
PORT MORESBY, 29 OCTOBER 2021 (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea’s Finance Department is restoring the Government system after a purported hacker left its Integrated Financial Management System…
Mother and son stable at NRH after explosion in Honiara
HONIARA, 29 OCTOBER 2021 (SIBC NEWS ONLINE) — Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital (NRH) has confirmed the mother and his son who sustained injuries following a fatal explosion…
22
COVID-19’s global death toll tops 5 million in under 2 years
The global death toll from COVID-19 topped 5 million on Monday, less than two years into a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones with first-rate health care systems. Together, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Brazil — all upper-middle- or high-income countries — account for one-eighth of the…
Learning to Live With Mark Zuckerberg
By: Ben Smith @ 2021 The New York Times (The Media Equation) After Mark Zuckerberg announced, in a goofy video Thursday, that he was changing his company’s name to Meta and shifting its focus to the creation of a digital space called the Metaverse, he granted interviews to just four media outlets, including exactly zero…
No rush: Caution with Dak yields Cowboys win with backup QB
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys took their decision on Dak Prescott all the way up to the last hours before the game, ultimately opting for a dose of midseason caution with his strained…
Correa, Astros rally past Braves 9-5, cut WS deficit to 3-2
ATLANTA (AP) — Just in time, Carlos Correa and the Houston Astros broke out the bats. Because if they had waited any longer, this World Series would’ve been over. Staggered by Adam Duvall’s grand…
Ngardmau wins Leadership Cook-Off, 6th PNMS Anniversary highlight
Ngardmau State won the “Leadership Cook-Off” contest last night at the 6th Palau National Marine Sanctuary Anniversary held at Kokusai, Ngatpang October 28th. The cookoff contest pitted leaderships from the 8 participating states, governor,…
MOE finalizing plans to shift to year-round schooling
The Ministry of Education is finalizing plans to shift to year-round school next 2022-2023 school year, In an interview, Minister Dale Jenkins said in the year-round schooling, students start school in August, and will have several two- to three-week mini-breaks throughout the year. …
The Case of handicapped elderly abused in a video under investigation
A video of an elderly and handicapped woman being verbally and physically abused that was shared this week on social media is under investigation according to Vice President and Minister of Justice J. Uduch Sengebau-Senior. The video is being…
Encouraging women’s participation in public life
Global Cooperation & Training Framework(GCTF), a cooperation between the Republic of China-Taiwan, the United States of America and Japan with co-hosts from Canada, hosted an online conference on women empowerment, “Road to Parity: Women’s participation in public life”. The…
No interference from the tobacco industry on local policy development
2021 WHO FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) revealed that there was no tobacco industry…
Whipps pleas the world to take “radical action now” on climate crisis
President Sunangel Whipps Jr. appealed to the world leaders to take “radical actions” to combat the devastating…
Combating cybercrime in the postpandemic era:Taiwan can help
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged much of the globe. In mid-May 2021, the Republic…
Higher Food Prices Hit the Poor and Those Who Help Them
By: Nelson D. Schwartz and Coral Murphy Marcos @ 2021 The New York Times Company…
Boris Johnson says chances of Cop26 success are ‘touch and go’
LONDON 1 (THE GUARDIAN) — It is “touch and go” whether Britain…
EXPLAINER: Just what are ‘The Facebook Papers,’ anyway?
By The Associated Press The Facebook Papers project represents a unique collaboration…
U.S rep Katie Porter presses Biden team on Marshall Islands nuclear waste, gets few answers
WASHINGTON (LA TIMES) — For months, U.S refusal to accept responsibility for…
PM Marape welcomes Telstra’s announcement of Digicel takeover
PORT MORESBY (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape…
SSA puts 60 million in Climate Transition investments
Palau Social Security Administration changed its investment policy, moving 60 million of its equity to the Climate Transition investments which is defined as “long-term capital growth by investing in companies globally that either provide solutions to climate change or orientate their business models to a low-carbon economy”. “We updated our investment policy to reflect the…
Former diplomats call on Australia to commit to climate action
Seventy former diplomats including the former Australian ambassador to Palau have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister and senior cabinet ministers of Australia that its lack of commitment to stronger climate action by 2030 is concerning to its regional partners. The letter, which was made ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in…
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PNMS celebrates its 6th anniversary
Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) celebrates its 6th anniversary since it was first designated as a national sanctuary 6 years ago. The celebration event featuring “Leadership Cook-off” and other interactive activities will take place…
Annual Olchotel Belau Fair improved over 20 years
The 2021 Olechotel Belau Fair showed the significant improvements OBFs have had over the past 20 years since 2001. Held on Sunday at Kokusai, Ngatpang, the annual event aimed to showcase Palauan culture through…
Presidential DA issued with restrictions
President Surangel Whipps Jr. and his delegation departed to Glasgow, the UK on Monday, with a week stopover in the United States, and as per protocol issued a designation of authority in his absence.…
Australia stepping up commitment in getting Palau ready for disasters
The Australian government is also setting up its role in Palau to ensure the community is prepared when it comes to disasters, Ambassador Richelle Turner told reporters last…
Lottery bill proposed to fund ailing Pension Plan
As the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures. A bill proposing a national gambling activity, a Palau National Lottery, has been introduced as means to…
China and U.S must cooperate to stop Pacific Islands from sinking, urges Micronesia president
Climate change is more of a threat to the Indo-Pacific region than a great power war, the president of the Pacific’s Federated States of Micronesia has warned…
Pacific Leaders must put Australia on notice, AUKUS “highly problematic” for the region
Australia needs to be put on notice by Pacific Islands…
5kw solar system funded by Japan through UNDP in two remote schools in Sonsorol and Pulo Anna to benefit teachers and students
The installation of the first off grid 5kw solar system…
Exceeding All Expectations
Senior Airman Clarissa Mafnas Helps Account for JTF Troops Guam…
Eighty-four (84) in-bound Travelers test negative on day 1 of testing
Eighty-four (84) in-bound travelers who arrived on October 24, 2021…
Single Parenting and Culture
The other day I read a story about a homeless…
Third of Pacific islands unable to attend Cop26, sparking fears summit will be less ambitious
SYDNEY, 21 OCTOBER 2021 (THE GUARDIAN) —A third of Pacific small island states and territories do not plan to send any government figures to the COP26 summit in Glasgow due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. The lack of high-level representation of Pacific nations at the meeting has led to fears that the concerns of these countries,…
More than 7m doses of AstraZeneca unused in Australia amid fears they may be wasted
CANBERRA, 22 OCTOBER 2021 (THE GUARDIAN)—The number of unused doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine in Australia has ballooned above 7m as the federal government urges doctors and pharmacists to prevent…
Former PM Rabuka lauds appointment of Fiji’s new head of State
SUVA, 25 OCTOBER 2021 (FIJI TIMES) — Former prime minister and People’s Alliance Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka has lauded the appointment of the Tui Macuata as Fiji’s new President, saying…
A Rare Win in the Cat-and-Mouse Game of Ransomware
By: Nicole Perlroth @ 2021 The New York Times Company In a year rife with ransomware attacks, when cybercriminals have held the…
Singapore Will Require Vaccination or Daily Tests for Workplace Access Next Year
By: John Yoon @ 2021 The New York Times Company Although only 4% of the workforce in Singapore is unvaccinated for COVID-19,…
Facebook dithered in curbing divisive user content in India
NEW DELHI, India (AP) — Facebook in India has been selective in curbing hate speech, misinformation and inflammatory posts, particularly anti-Muslim content, according to leaked documents obtained by The Associated Press, even as its own employees cast doubt over the company’s motivations and interests. From research as recent as March of this year to company…
Lucky lumber: Rosario’s hot bat leads Braves to Series
ATLANTA (AP) — Eddie Rosario talked the other day about his lucky lumber, a 33 1/2-inch, 31-ounce Chandler Bat that started to heat up with a four-hit…
Stafford throws 3 TD passes, Rams edge Goff’s Lions 28-19
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Jared Goff was under immediate pressure from Aaron Donald when he dropped back late in a one-score game. He threw to the end…
A private video leaked by blackmailer demanding $20,000
A private personal video was hacked from a personal device in the US and was leaked by an unknown blackmailer…
OBF and UN Day celebrations this Sunday
Celebration of the annual Olchotel Belau Fair (OBF) and United Nations Day will be held together on Sunday, October 24,…
WIOA reports remaining funds and 2nd chance
There are $2.368 million remaining to be disbursed to the WIOA recipients that have been filing reports and receiving PUA and FPUC assistance up to September 4, 2021, reported the new Executive Director of WIOA Ta’o Ngirmeriil. Of the 1,200 recipients of pandemic assistance, 140 have received their final payments while 1,060 continue to receive…
Members of the Peleliu legislature forfeit pay for non-attendance
Seven (7) members of the 13th Peleliu Legislature have lost their $500 monthly honorariums since March due to “lack of attendance” at Legislature sessions or doing other work of the legislature. In a letter dated October 12 to Peleliu legislators Charles Rekemel, Joel Okada, Edberg Mabel, Umedip Ridep, Cordino Soalablai, Florah Tewid, and Billy Rekemel,…
August see highest increase in visitors since pandemic was declared
In August, Palau saw 1,163 arrivals, the highest number of arrivals since Palau closed its borders in March of 2020 due to the pandemic. In August 2020, Palau received a total of 30 people and these were essential workers that were brought in through charter flights. With the increase in the number of vaccinations and…
PPLA law may violate Constitution says legal opinion
The law that created PPLA is “likely invalid because it seems to violate the Palauan Constitution due to an over robust insulation of the PPLA members from the President’s control,” states Senate Legal Counsel in an opinion requested by the Senate. Senate earlier this October approved two presidential appointments to the PPLA Board to replace…
Red Ribbon and White Ribbons months declared
Presidential Proclamation 21-308 declares October 23 to January as Red Ribbons and White Ribbons…
Taiwan Ambassador Jessica C. Lee presents credentials
to His Excellency Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., President of the Republic of Palau On…
Ongoing Australian support for laboratory testing of medicines
20 October 2021- Ambassador Turner and Director Sherilynn Madraisau signed an agreement last month…
Sing, Fly, Soar- Like a bird!
Belau National Museum Education Campaign on the Northern Peleliu Lkes During the 2020 migratory…
ADB welcomes new corporations act to boost business in Palau
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has welcomed the passing of a…
𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐞𝐥 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐮: 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐦 ; 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐮 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲
𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵: 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘶𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘶 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 Koror, Palau – On…
PICRC and MOE to Implement new school programs
The Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) is partnering with the Ministry of Education to launch a new…
Knicks withstand Brown’s 46, outlast Celtics 138-134 in 2 OT
By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks never could contain Jaylen Brown…
Braves blast 4 HRs, beat Dodgers 9-2 for 3-1 lead in NLCS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Eddie Rosario homered twice in his second four-hit game of the NL Championship Series…
What is ‘net zero’ and why does it matter?
A growing number of countries, cities and companies are aiming for ‘net zero’ emissions to meet climate goals…
Status? Not Really
We do not need to know the beginning of a child’s story to change the ending. ~Fi Newood…
Millions of people were evacuated during disasters last year – another rising cost of climate change
By Jane McAdam AO, Scientia Professor and Director of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW SYDNEY…
IAEA chief: AUKUS could set precedent for pursuit of nuclear submarines
WASHINGTON (THE GUARDIAN) —The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog has said other states could follow Australia’s example…
Slow vax rates could see Solomons’ borders closed until 2023
HONIARA (RNZ PACIFIC) —-Poor uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine in Solomon Islands could see the country’s borders remaining closed until 2023. Poor uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine in Solomon Islands could see the country’s borders remaining closed until 2023. This was the warning from prime minister Manasseh Sogavare this week as he reiterated the government’s…
Britain’s Conservatives Resist Calls for Renewed COVID Restrictions
By: Stephen Castle @ 2021 The New York Times Company Despite high and rising coronavirus case numbers, the…
Gates Foundation Pledges $120M to Help Get COVID Pills Quickly to Poor Countries
By: Stephanie Nolen @2021 The New York Times Company The first easy-to-use COVID-19 treatment could be available in…
Hawaii Will Reopen to Vaccinated Visitors in November.
By: Isabella Grullón Paz @ 2020 The New York Times Company Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday that…
Colin Powell has died of COVID-19 complications, family says
WASHIINGTON (AP) — Colin Powell, former Joint Chiefs chairman and secretary of state, has died from COVID-19 complications, his family said Monday. In an…
Council of Chiefs forbids online gambling again!
Rubekul Belau (Council of Chiefs) once again opposes the proposal to establish online gaming in Palau, reiterating in its 4th letter to Olbiil ra…
Positive cases cleared, 2 more no-show for Day 5 testing
Ministry of Health reports that the 3 identified positive COVID-19 and the 33 close contacts have been cleared after their Day 10 test results came in negative yesterday. They have been cleared of all quarantine, isolation, and testing requirements. MHHS also reported that 42 out of the 44 inbound travelers who came on the October…
Right communication critical to disaster preparedness
How to get the right and timely information to as many people as possible in plain and easy language to understand is key to communicating in the face of disaster, an important lesson conveyed to roomful of reporters this past week as members of the media learn how to better communicate in the face of…
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46 candidates vie for 17 seats in Koror State Legislature
Forty-six (46) candidates have filed their petitions to run for the 17 seats…
PPUC explains multiple power outages
The Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) explained multiple power outages this weekend starting…
MAFE implements measures promoting sustainable food production.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE) is implementing several measures across the ministry…
Top Stories
Report cites room for improvement in Palau to reject tobacco industry interference in public health measures
Koror, Palau – October 18, 2021 – A civil society report finds there is room for improvement to prevent tobacco industry interference in health. The report is a result of Palau’s first participation in an international survey reviewing tobacco industry interference in measures protecting public health. It will be officially released on Wednesday, 20 October,…
Protestors disrupt flame lighting for Beijing Winter Games
ANCIENT OLYMPIA. Greece (AP) — Three activists protesting human rights abuses in China broke into the archaeological site where the flame lighting ceremony for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics was being held Monday and ran toward the Temple of Hera holding a banner that read “No genocide games.” The protesters climbed over a fence to…
Late-night magic: Braves beat Dodgers 5-4, lead NLCS 2-0
ATLANTA (AP) — More late-night magic has the Atlanta Braves just two wins away from the World Series. Eddie Rosario delivered Atlanta’s second straight walk-off hit in the ninth inning, giving the Braves a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday and a commanding 2-0 lead in the NL Championship Series. Rosario’s fourth…
Uchimura, 5 new Olympic champs headline gymnastics worlds
TOKYO (AP) — Kohei Uchimura will be aiming for a measure of redemption when the world championships begin in his hometown this week in what could be a competition finale for one of the greatest male gymnasts of all time. Stung by the disappointment of not qualifying for the horizontal bar final at the Tokyo…
8
Former governor to pay over half-million in fines
Former governor of Ngiwal State, Ellender Ngirameketii was sentenced yesterday after having been convicted…
Employment program under CROSS Act extended to next year
CROSS Act has been extended under the FY 2022 Unified Budget Act and is…
OEK honors outgoing Taiwan Ambassador Chow
In a not-too-common practice, OEK (Olbiil Era Kelulau-Palau Congress) passed a joint resolution honoring…
WIOA Investigation still ongoing
Island Times team (Part 3- investigative article on the US pandemic assistance to Palau…
Okada pled guilty to drug possession, to serve 5-years jail time
Sayuri Okada, a defendant in a drug trafficking case, accepted a guilty plea for…
Cops shot tires of suspect vehicle in drug bust
A young man, Jonathan Finay, was arrested allegedly for drug trafficking after a police…
Ambassador Chow: Palau and Taiwan’s ties is one of the best in the Pacific
Palau and Taiwan’s diplomatic relation is one of the “best examples” of strong ties among allies…
Koror legislator candidate pulls out of the race due to job conflict
Koror State Legislator Vierra Toribiong who had also filed his petition to run again…
ADB raises 2019–2030 climate finance ambition to $100B
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (13 October 2021) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today announced it…
Taiwan Embassy donates US$ 1,000 to Palau’s Thunder Chiefs Club
On October 12, Ambassador Wallace Chow of the Embassy of the Republic of China…
Amid U.S.-China Chill, Harvard Moves Top Language Program to Taiwan
By: Amy Qin, @ 2021 The New York Times TAIPEI,…
WHO Advisory Group Will Study Pandemic’s Origins
By: Benjamin Mueller @ 2021 The New York Times The…
Palau and Cook Islands lead the World on COVID-19 Vaccinations
SUVA (IFRC)—The small Pacific country of Palau has more than…
All deaths in PNG unvaccinated: Health Minister Wong
PORT MORESB (THE NATIONAL) —The 252 people reported to have…
Japan to dissolve parliament, setting stage for general election
TOKYO 1(REUTERS)—-Japan will dissolve its parliament on Thursday, setting the…
World
Finance Ministers hold key to COP26 success: UN Secretary-General
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (UN NEWS CENTRE) —The COP26 climate change conference must be “a turning point” if countries are to limit global temperature rise in line with the Paris Agreement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday. Addressing members of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, he highlighted their critical role as the conference…
Multiculturalism & Intercultural Communication
I read an article in Island Times dated February 12, 2019 titled “Former President, lawmaker support Bilung’s imposition of fines versus individuals in explicit videos” I reflect back to the simpler days and the teachings of my mother. I am an interracial child adopted out at age two months and raised in a single parent…
Oldies but goodies: The Lakers may be ones to catch in West
It may be a roster like none other. The Los Angeles Lakers have four of the NBA’s top seven active scorers. The top three leading active rebounders. Three of the top four active leaders in assists. Three of the top five in blocks. Three of the top five in wins. Four of the top six…
Playoff series for the ages as Dodgers, Giants go to Game 5
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Everybody expected a playoff series for the ages between the century-old rival Dodgers and Giants, and now they’ve got it. Anything less than a winner-take-all Game 5 would have been a baseball travesty, leaving the sport short-changed on the October stage. It’s the 107-win, NL West champion Giants vs. the defending…
Extreme rain conditions wreak havoc island-wide
Extreme rain conditions over the past weekend wreaked havoc across the island causing eight (8) landslides on both west and east coasts of Babeldaob and road failures in three (3) different sites, one (1) in Airai and two (2) in Ngermid. Reports also of more soil displacement are still coming in according to Director Brian…
Merck asks US FDA to authorize promising anti-COVID pill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker Merck asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its pill against COVID-19 in what would add an entirely new and easy-to-use weapon to the world’s arsenal against the pandemic. If cleared by the Food and Drug Administration — a decision that could come in a matter of weeks — it would be…
3 more COVID-19 positive cases identified
Three (3) more travel-related COVID-19 positive cases have been identified after sixty-four (64) inbound travelers from October 3, 2021, United Airlines flight from Guam received their Day 5 testing. According to the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MHHS) report, the tests conducted with PCR GeneXpert and Abbot ID confirmed the results to be positive…
Palau’s unemployment benefits during the pandemic marred with allegations of fraud as accused still waits for formal charges – Part 2
Island Times team (2-part investigative article on the US pandemic assistance to Palau under the WIOA program) But while the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) has kept most Palauans afloat during the pandemic, the office and the people who used to run it has been facing accusations of fraud which according to the ongoing investigation could…
Tourism recovery depends on “our acceptance”
Work to revive Palau’s tourism industry is mainly dependent on the Palauan people’s acceptance and internal assurance that comes from knowing that they are protected as claimed by Minister Ngirai Tmetuchel of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism, & Development (MRCTD). “Marketing is easy. The major issue is with us, it’s an internal issue. We need everyone,…
US grant for contact tracing system will also “clean” telecommunications network
The grant received by Palau to develop a contact tracing system will also “clean” the country’s mobile network. “We want a clean network and most importantly a network we can trust,” President Surangel Whipps Jr. said in his press conference last week. President Whipps again reiterated that the island nation will be removing Huawei technology…
Billboard
Task Force Koa Moana 21 Removes Ordnance from Peleliu
KOROR, Republic of Palau. – (Oct. 9, 2021) With its calming waters slowly climbing and descending the warm sands of the island, Peleliu in the Republic of Palau, could be considered the ideal tropical paradise. Its white sands, blue waters and dense vegetation cover the remnants of a war long past, but not forgotten with…
PAWS Mobile Spay/Neuter Sterilization Clinic a Success
The Palau Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) partnered with San Diego Spay/Neuter veterinarian, Dr. Terry Paik, and sterilization clinic specialist, Marie Chenery, to take the new PAWS mobile spay/neuter clinic to some of the Babeldaob states in Palau, in addition to working at the PAWS Topside clinic in Koror. This successful partnership was held between Sept…
JICA Volunteer Program resumed in Palau
On October 10, 3 JICA Volunteers arrived in Palau after a year and half suspension of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) Program due to the worldwide pandemic. 3 JOCVs, Mr. Ippei Mukobara, Mr. Yohei Sonoo and Mr. Akira Owada, will work for promotion of tourism at Palau Visitors Authority (PVA), math and PE education…
Trade costs on the rise in Asia and the Pacific, but cuts in red tape could help bend the trend
The high cost of trade in Asia and the Pacific continues to rise, but ongoing efforts to facilitate commerce will help keep goods flowing throughout the region, according to a new report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Economies in the…
Nominate a UOG graduate for the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Awards until Oct. 15
The University of Guam Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, in partnership with the UOG Alumni Association, is accepting nominations for the 2021 UOG Distinguished Alumni Awards until the new extended deadline of 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15. Any individual who graduated from UOG earlier than 2008 is eligible to be nominated. Nominations may…
CIP Facilitates Sandimen Township Delegation Trip to Palau for Sister City MOUs Signing
The signing of MOUs on sister city relations took place on September 30th in the Republic of Palau, one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, between Sandimen Township of Pingtung County, the Angaur State and Ngchesar State of Palau. Secretary-General Akiku．Haisum of the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP), Taiwan Ambassador Wallace Chow to the Republic of Palau…
Bank of Guam® Streamlines Saipan Operations to Garapan Branch
Expanding focus on digital banking solutions October 01, 2021, Hågatna, GU.: After almost 10 years of serving Saipan’s southern region, Bank of Guam announced today that they will be officially closing their Chalan Piao location on December 31, 2021, streamlining operations under its Garapan branch. Since the beginning of 2021, the Bank has embarked on…
Japan and Palau signed $2.3M Grant Aid Contract for MRI Machine and Incinerator
On September 28th, 2021, His Excellency KARASAWA Akira, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Palau, and His Excellency Surangel Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau exchanged notes on the Japan’s Grant Aid “The Economic and Social Development Programme” for Palau. Honorable Gustav Aitaro, Minister of State and Directors of Ministry of Health…
Bank of Guam® Wins 2 Top Honors in National Brand Competition
Stop COVID, Spread LOVE best in crisis communications and social media campaign September 28, 2021, Hågatna, GU.: Bank of Guam announced today that their campaign Stop COVID, Spread LOVE has been awarded two (2) 2021 Brand Slam Awards for best crisis communications and social media campaign from the American Bankers Association (ABA). The 2021 ABA…
“Training Palau’s Police Force – Lauching of the 27th
Basic Police Academy”
September 24, 2021 – This coming Monday, September 27, 2027, marks the beginning of the 27th Basic Police Academy under the direction of the Ministry of Justice, which features a fifteen (15) week course covering all basic and core law enforcement principles and practices to ensure the new recruits going through the training come away…
Opinion
Journalists who ‘speak truth to power’ recognised with Nobel Peace Prize
NEW YORK (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Two campaigning journalists were awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres said was recognition that a free press is “essential for peace, justice, sustainable development and human rights – and the cornerstone for building fair and impartial institutions”. From the Philippines, Maria Ressa, Chief…
6 ways to take care of your mental health and well-being this World Mental Health Day
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on people’s mental health. People from all walks of life have experienced stress throughout the pandemic – from frontline workers who are overwhelmed with work, young people who can’t go to school, family members who are separated from each other, those impacted by COVID-19 infection or loss of…
Decade of climate breakdown saw 14 percent of coral reefs vanish
NEW YOR (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Between 2009 and 2018, the continuous rise in sea temperature cost the world 14 percent of its coral reefs – that’s more than the size of Australia’s reefs combined – a UN-backed report revealed on Tuesday. In the Sixth Status of Corals of the World: 2020 Report, experts from the…
Seven climate action highlights to remember before COP26
NEW YORK (UN NEWS CENTRE) —A September to remember, a pivotal month for climate action commitments. From the United Nations General Assembly week to the final pre-COP meeting, last month was an important time to build momentum before the decisive UN Climate Conference COP26 in early November. UN News has put together a list of…
China’s declining Pacific aid presence
SYDNEY (THE INTERPRETER) —In November 2018 Port Moresby was a sea of red in the build up to the APEC leader’s summit. Chinese flags covered every road of Papua New Guinea’s capital while “China aid” was emblazoned – literally – on every traffic light. With China’s President tacking an official two-day state visit on to…
UN SG’s António Guterres remarks at virtual meeting with Pacific Islands Forum Leaders
NEW YORK, 24 SEPTEMBER 2021 (UN)—Thank you for the opportunity to once again address the Pacific Islands Forum. Your nations are confronting a dual crisis of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Both threaten Pacific lives and livelihoods. If we follow the current path, the consequences of climate disruption for the prosperity, the well-being and…
The Silent Majority
by Alonzo ‘Al’ Kahalic alkahalic6801@gmail.com Dear Editor, I am writing to your good paper to introduce myself and the many topics I would like to share with your readers. My name is Alonzo Kahalic, Al for short and in my over 50 years of roaming and rambling around our great island of Palau I have…
Belonging
Those who have a great sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect. ~Brene Brown Most of my growing years I never felt belonging to a place, a home, or a people. Merle Haggard’s song, “I’m the running kind…” seemed to have been written for me. I had to force myself to…
Undersea internet cables connect Pacific islands to the world. But geopolitical tension is tugging at the wires
By Amanda H A Watson, Research Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University CANBERRA (THE CONVERSATION) —If you’ve ever emailed a resort in Fiji or Vanuatu about that long-awaited holiday, it’s likely your email travelled through an undersea internet cable. Such cables carry much of the internet traffic around the globe, in conjunction with…
Pacific Media Unity Against Corruption
PINA Media chief executive officers (CEOs) and owners met in a virtual one and half day conference hosted by the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) on 15-16 September at the Tavanipupu Island Resort. The September 2021 summit is the second convening of Pacific Media CEOs and Owners after the inaugural conference in Auckland, New…
Youth’s impassioned plea to Pacific leaders
HONIARA/APIA (SPREP)—Gladys Habu of Solomon Islands Friday delivered a plea for hope to Pacific leaders who had gathered for the Environment Ministers’ High-Level talanoa, which was held on the curtails of the 30th SPREP Meeting of Officials this week. Habu is a former Miss Solomon Islands, and is a passionate climate change activist, who in…
COVID-19 Delta variant still ‘most concerning’, say WHO experts
GENEVA (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Even with the emergence of the new Mu COVID-19 variant, the Delta strain remains the top concern globally, appearing to “outcompete” others, senior officials with the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday. “I think the Delta variant for me is the one that’s most concerning because of the increased transmissibility,”…
OCO 21st Annual Meeting – Transnational crimes require regional collaboration
SUVA 1 (OCO SECRETARIAT) —Despite border closures and reduced air and sea travel because of COVID-19, Customs administrations in the region say threats in the Pacific remain high from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing fleets – as well as threats from illegal movements of people, drugs and weapons, which are often facilitated by trusted insiders. …
Pacific News
‘Crisis unfolding’ as Papua New Guinea hospitals hit by worst Covid wave yet
PORT MORESBY, 11 OCTOBER 2021 (THE GUARDIAN)—Hospitals in Papua New Guinea are being pushed to the brink and morgues are overflowing, as…
UN declares access to a clean environment a human right
GENEVA, 11 OCTOBER 2021 (REUTERS)—The UN Human Rights Council on Friday recognised access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental…
ONOC President celebrates Tokyo 2020 achievements at General Assembly
The Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) held a General Assembly online Saturday, highlighting successes from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and celebrating the…
FSM vessel rescues two I-Kiribati fishermen in Marshalls EEZ
PONPHEI, 11 OCTOBER 2021 (MARIANAS VARIETY) — The Queen Elizabeth 959 — a domestic fishing vessel of the Federated States of Micronesia…
Samoan connections unearthed in Pandora Papers leak
APIA (ABC PACIFIC BEAT) —-The global Pandora Papers leak has shed light on the links between an Australian accountant who set up…
New Pacific Tuna brand aims to net funds for climate resilience projects
MAJURO (BUSINESS GREEN) –The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the U.S environmental organisation the Nature Conservancy have announced a new…
COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to decline : WHO
GENEVA, (UN NEWS CENTRE)—The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths has continued to decline globally, with 3.1 million new cases and just…
We made a terrible mistake buying Maseratis vehicles, says PNG Finance Minister
PORT MORESBY, 01 OCTOBER 2021 (POST COURIER)—The Papua New Guinea Government has admitted that the purchase of the controversial Maseratis vehicles for…
Banking leak opens Pandora’s box of offshore accounts
By Neil Chenoweth SYDNEY, 04 OCTOBER 2021 (AUSTRALIA FINANCIAL REVIEW) —More than 400 Australians have been named in a massive leak of…
World News
Pandora papers: Samoa defends its offshore industry, points to ‘key levers’ in bigger countries
APIA, 11 OCTOBER 2021 (THE GUARDIAN) —-The financial regulator of Samoa, a Pacific nation implicated in the Pandora papers as a tax…
Evidence of lost lands beneath Pacific
SUNSHINE COAST, 11 OCTOBER 2021 (AAP)—There is “good evidence” of once-inhabited lands lying beneath the Pacific ocean as geology aligns with Islander…
Australia to shift all offshore processing of Migrants to Island Nation of Nauru
By: Isabella Kwai @ 2021 The New York Times Company Australia said Wednesday that it would stop processing asylum-seekers at offshore detention…
Why Wall Street Cheers China, Despite Growing Business Unease
By: Li Yuan @ 2021 The New York Times Company (The New New World) This year has been unsettling for Chinese business.…
In a Surge of Military Flights, China Tests and Warns Taiwan
By: Chris Buckley and Amy Qin c.2021 The New York Times Company Record-breaking numbers of Chinese military planes probed the airspace near…
New Zealand admits it can no longer get rid of coronavirus
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s government acknowledged Monday what most other countries did long ago: It can no longer completely…
Ex-US Rep. Todd Akin, sunk by ‘legitimate rape’ remark, dies
Former U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, a conservative Missouri Republican whose comment that women’s bodies have a way of avoiding pregnancies in cases…
Sports
García, Grandal star as White Sox beat Astros 12-6 in ALDS
CHICAGO (AP) — Two big swings by pint-sized Leury García. A rule-testing run by Yasmani Grandal. Solid relief work from Liam Hendriks…
Herbert’s 398 yards, Ekeler 3 TDs lead Chargers over Browns
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers showed early in the season they can rally to win close…
Tyson Fury beats Deontay Wilder in all-time classic to retain WBC heavyweight title
LAS VEGAS, 11 OCTOBER 2021 (THE GUARDIAN)—Tyson Fury consolidated his place at the summit of boxing on Saturday night when he knocked…
What will the 76ers do with Simmons? Philly guard wants out
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The rift between the Philadelphia 76ers and their star guard was shattered beyond repair. There was no turning back,…
Tom Brady beats Patriots in New England return, 19-17
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Brady brought two decades of touchdown passes, victories and championships to New England. He returned and reminded…
Dodgers slam 4 HRs in 8th for 11-9 comeback win over Padres
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers still have a heartbeat in the NL West race, and it was throbbing late in the…
Yankees sweep, beat Red Sox 6-3 to take AL wild-card lead
BOSTON (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone watched two of his Gold Glove fielders drop easy popups to hand the Red Sox…
Utah’s Lowe killed in shooting less than a year after Jordan
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah sophomore cornerback Aaron Lowe died in a shooting at house party early Sunday, less than a…