Author: TMC Palau
Palau’s President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. urged world leaders to strengthen, rather than scale back, global climate commitments after New Zealand announced a lower long-term methane reduction goal. The decision has drawn criticism from some Pacific leaders and climate advocates. Speaking during the COP30 climate talks in Belem, Brazil, Whipps said the change sends the wrong message at a time when small island nations are facing intensifying climate threats. “We all need to be working toward reducing emissions, not dropping targets,” he said, emphasizing the vulnerability of low-lying states. New Zealand recently reset its biogenic methane target to 14 to…
Delta Goodrem is flying the flag for Australia at the Eurovision final in Vienna. (AP PHOTO) Delta Goodrem has performed for Australia at the Eurovision final with a powerful ballad her fans hope could earn her the top prize in Austria. Goodrem was the eighth performer out of a total of 25 acts competing in the song contest at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on Saturday night (Sunday morning AEST), sandwiched between Ukraine and Serbia. The singer and former Neighbours star was accompanied by a harpist for her song, Eclipse. Goodrem was elevated into the air from the top of…
HONOLULU (Hawaii News Now/Pacnews) — In an exclusive interview with Hawaii News Now, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. talked about efforts to attract more U.S. investment in the region to balance increasing investment and influence by Chinese companies.Whipps was among the Pacific Island leaders attending the inaugural Pacific Agenda Summit with U.S. government officials and business executives at the East-West Centre last week.The two-day conference focused on “Investment, Security, and Shared Prosperity,” with a number of deals signed through the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, including a feasibility study to be led by local firm Architects Hawaii Limited into building…
[Source: Reuters] Tens of thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday in two separate protests – one against high levels of immigration and a perceived Islamic threat to British identity, and another in support of Palestinians. Police deployed 4,000 officers, including reinforcements from outside the capital, and pledged “the most assertive possible use of our powers” in what they called their biggest public order operation in years. By 1830 GMT, after both marches had ended, police said they had made 43 arrests for a range of offences and described both protests as “largely without significant incident”. They had…
KOROR, Palau – In a historic ceremony at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center in downtown Koror, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr., Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Col. Michael Cruz, adjutant general of the Guam National Guard, signed a declaration formalizing the nation’s newest state partnership between the U.S. Territory of Guam and the Republic of Palau. Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, senior enlisted advisor to the chief of National Guard Bureau; U.S. Ambassador Joel Ehrendreich; Palau Vice President J. Uduch S. Senior, and members of the Palau National Congress and Council of Chiefs witnessed the ceremony. Managed by…
[Source: BBC] A Canadian who sailed on the cruise ship MV Hondius which was hit by a hantavirus outbreak in April has tested positive for the disease, officials in the province of British Columbia say. The individual, one of four people isolating on Vancouver Island after leaving the ship, had developed mild symptoms. The province’s senior health officer said the four had not had any contact with the public since arriving in Canada. The case brings the total number of infections to 11, all among cruise passengers. Three people who travelled on the ship have died, with two confirmed to…
What inspired you to found the Ebiil Society? Seeing the need to provide meaningful Belauan ways for our children to reconnect with their land and oceans–their home. The Ebiil Society was founded to inspire their sense of gratitude and compassion towards their home and plant seeds of knowledge that returns responsibility towards what they care for. The Ebiil Society manages Ngerkeklau, where we worked together to remove invasive species. What is special about this place? What changes have you noticed in the environment? Ngerkeklau is an ancient village full of magical stories and ancient artifacts–not to mention the biodiversity…
[Photo: FILE] The push to officially declare Navua a town has been decades in the making, with discussions dating back more than 50 years. Speaking on the proposed township status for Navua, Minister for Local Government Maciu Nalumisa says the idea was first raised in 1973, but several planning and infrastructure challenges delayed the process over the years. The Minister says rapid population growth and increasing development in and around Navua have now strengthened the case for township status. The Minister notes that more people are moving into the area, while commercial activities within Navua’s central business district and nearby…
Issued by: on U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James F. Glynn, left, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, tours the Peleliu WWII Museum in Peleliu, Palau, Sept. 7, 2025. Glynn traveled to Palau to observe operations, engage with local officials and Marines, and better understand the islands’ infrastructure, historic sites and facilities as part of a broader mission to reinforce multinational partnerships that support security and stability across the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chloe Zimmerer) Date Taken: 09.07.2025 Date Posted: 09.16.2025…
[Photo: FILE] Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu says next week’s regional police conference on transnational crime will be a key opportunity for Pacific law enforcement leaders to strengthen cooperation in addressing shared security challenges across the region. The meeting, an initiative by the Fiji Police Commissioner and the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, is expected to bring together police chiefs from across the Pacific to improve coordination in tackling transnational crime and other emerging threats. The conference will be co-hosted by Fiji and Australia from Monday in Nadi Tudravu says the objective of the conference is to unify regional efforts by pooling…