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Palau

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Palau. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Ngerulmud

Head of State

President Surangel Whipps Jr.

Head of Government

President Surangel Whipps Jr.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump meet at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump shows no regret over deaths of 3 Indian sailors in Iran war strike by US

In their first bilateral meeting in 16 months, US president only goes as far as calling commercial vessel operations ‘a rough profession’.

18 Jun 2026 - 4:02AMvideocam

Asean

Aid and diplomacy: US Navy’s renewed bid for Southeast Asian influence

17 Jun 2026 - 5:21PM

India

Indians grieve and demand action after US strike kills sailors

13 Jun 2026 - 7:38AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

India summons US diplomat again in rare display of anger over sailors’ killings

US military says the tanker ignored repeated warnings before being disabled for violating the Iran blockade.

12 Jun 2026 - 10:58PMvideocam

India

3 Indian sailors dead after US attacks commercial vessel off Oman

New Delhi summoned a top US diplomat after the strike on MT Settebello to lodge ‘a strong protest’.

11 Jun 2026 - 9:52PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Israel and Iran hold fire after exchange, but warn of escalation if provoked

Middle East foes lift immediate safety restrictions while actively preparing for the next wave of retaliation.

9 Jun 2026 - 3:47PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Rising seas: Japan makes pitch to Pacific nations caught in US-China rivalry

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi tells summit that Tokyo is committed to helping regional partners strengthen ‘autonomy and resilience’.

3 Jun 2026 - 3:00PM

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (centre) poses with representatives from the region during the opening of the Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

United States

US imposes fresh sanctions on Iranian exchange house, 19 ships from shadow fleet

The Treasury’s move came after Iran ‌said its latest peace proposal to the US involved ending hostilities on all fronts.

19 May 2026 - 11:37PM

Indonesia

‘I started crying’: Indonesian captain’s wife in agony over pirate attack

Captain Ashari Samadikun had sent a chilling warning to his wife before his fuel tanker was hijacked by pirates last month.

6 May 2026 - 7:49PMvideocam

Japan

Fears of ecological crisis as Okinawa’s wildlife falls prey to poachers

Conservationists urge stronger protections to deter the growing illegal trade and overseas demand for Okinawa’s endemic species.

2 Nov 2025 - 11:52AM

Ryukyu leaf turtles are legally protected and are only found on the main island of Okinawa and two smaller islands. Photo KFBG

Pacific nations

Pacific Islands leaders call for ‘ocean of peace’ but face rough seas at summit

The Pacific Islands Forum has been clouded by allegations that host Solomon Islands did not invite Taiwan to please its close backer.

10 Sep 2025 - 5:18PM

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa receives a gift from a Solomon Islander during the opening ceremony on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Environment

Deadline looms as nations remain divided on global plastic pollution treaty

A coalition of oil-producing states remains at odds with an ‘ambitious’ group that wants radical action written into a treaty.

11 Aug 2025 - 1:45PM

Israel-Gaza war

My Take | Taiwan donation vow to Israeli settlement is cynical and foolish

Fulfilling the pledge would be a violation of international law, as Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank is universally recognised as illegal.

23 Jul 2025 - 9:00PM

Pacific nations

Most Pacific island women don’t work. The World Bank wants to change that

Outdated laws and social norms keep 57 per cent of working-age women across the Pacific out of the labour force, the bank says.

17 Jun 2025 - 12:03PM

A stallholder displays her wares to tourists at a market on Rarotonga in the Pacific nation of the Cook Islands earlier this month. Photo: AFP

US-China trade war

My Take | The United States, not China, turns out to be the real bogeyman

The significance of Trump’s tariffs is that they have destroyed the credibility of America on which its global alliances have long depended.

6 Apr 2025 - 9:00PM

A screen showing stock prices at the end of the trading day on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on April 4, 2025. World financial markets are continuing to react to reciprocal tariffs that US President Donald Trump implemented. Photo: EPA-EFE

United States

My Take | Donald Trump’s tariff madness targets not only allies but animals

Penguins, seals and seabirds have not been spared in America’s global trade war, likewise territories with significant US or allied military assets.

4 Apr 2025 - 9:00PM

Asia travel

Diving aside, Pacific paradise Palau wants you to visit for its culture

The island nation and diving paradise is pushing its cultural heritage, with village tours and handicraft workshops.

24 Feb 2025 - 1:47PM

Taiwan

Why the ‘Out of Taiwan’ language theory is a cross-strait battleground

Mainland Chinese academics are countering the hypothesis that the island was the ancestral homeland of the Austronesian peoples.

12 Feb 2025 - 7:08PMvideocam

The Austronesians are a group of ethnic communities spread across a vast region of the world – including Taiwan. Photo: Shutterstock

Pacific nations

Palau seeks US missile system citing ‘direct threat’ from China ICBM test

President Whipps said he and incoming US leader Trump are ‘very much in agreement’ regarding the Pacific island nation’s security.

14 Nov 2024 - 12:30PMvideocam

Asia travel

How the rangers of Palau’s Helen Reef keep the poachers at bay

Helen Reef, in Palau, has its own dedicated guard force, deterring poachers and protecting its incredible variety of life.

21 Oct 2024 - 5:15PM

US-China relations

As No 2 US envoy ends Pacific tour, Beijing scores a diplomatic win on Taiwan

After Beijing envoy demands ‘correction’, Pacific Islands Forum scraps Taiwan reference from its annual summit’s final communique.

1 Sep 2024 - 12:39AMvideocam

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell (left) attends a ceremony in Port Vila, Vanuatu, on Thursday to repatriate sacred human relics seized in New York by the FBI in 2016. Campbell also attended the opening of America’s new embassy in the Pacific nation. Photo: Reuters

Profile

Environmentalist Doug Woodring on connecting people to solve problems

A self-styled ‘translator between communities’, the founder of Ocean Recovery Alliance talks about being the first among his friends to visit Asia and why his background in business is pivotal to his plastic-reduction efforts

30 Jul 2024 - 3:06PM

Hong Kong-based Doug Woodring has an NGO Ocean Recovery Alliance, that works around the region, connecting people to solve environmental problems

Japan

Japan talks with Pacific islands focus on climate, security issues take back seat

Among the areas of concern highlighted by Pacific island nations was Japan’s release of treated radioactive water.

20 Jul 2024 - 1:45PMvideocam

Japan

As China’s sway over Pacific islands grows, will Japan counter by aiding Palau?

Analysts think Tokyo will answer the island nation’s appeal for help monitoring Chinese vessels, as it has done so with others in the region.

17 Jul 2024 - 3:38PMvideocam

Hong Kong society

Explainer | What to know about overseas hikes after Hongkonger dies on Japan’s Mount Fuji

After death of civil servant, 58, the Post answers key questions about some popular destinations and what precautions to take.

11 Jul 2024 - 8:52AMvideocam

Hikers at the newly built gate at Mount Fuji’s “5th station”, which leads to the popular Yoshida Trail. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

Russia upgraded to ‘high-income country’ as war-driven economy grows

The country’s GDP grew 3.6 per cent last year amid demand for military goods and services.

3 Jul 2024 - 2:45PMvideocam

People pose in front of a US tank captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, displayed at a war memorial complex in western Moscow on June 27. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Video shows Houthis attack cargo ship with sea drone seemingly disguised as a fishing boat

New footage circulating on social media appears to show the moments leading up to last week’s attack on the M/V Tutor in the Red Sea.

18 Jun 2024 - 4:57PM

Israel-Gaza war

My Take | International court prosecutor rises to historic occasion

In applying for arrest warrants for top leaders of Israel and Hamas, Karim Khan of the International Criminal Court has stood up for global justice and international law against the manipulated so-called rules-based order.

21 May 2024 - 9:00PM

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Palau

Trump shows no regret over deaths of 3 Indian sailors in Iran war strike by US

In their first bilateral meeting in 16 months, US president only goes as far as calling commercial vessel operations ‘a rough profession’.

Aid and diplomacy: US Navy’s renewed bid for Southeast Asian influence

Indians grieve and demand action after US strike kills sailors

India summons US diplomat again in rare display of anger over sailors’ killings

US military says the tanker ignored repeated warnings before being disabled for violating the Iran blockade.

3 Indian sailors dead after US attacks commercial vessel off Oman

New Delhi summoned a top US diplomat after the strike on MT Settebello to lodge ‘a strong protest’.

Israel and Iran hold fire after exchange, but warn of escalation if provoked

Middle East foes lift immediate safety restrictions while actively preparing for the next wave of retaliation.

Rising seas: Japan makes pitch to Pacific nations caught in US-China rivalry

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi tells summit that Tokyo is committed to helping regional partners strengthen ‘autonomy and resilience’.

US imposes fresh sanctions on Iranian exchange house, 19 ships from shadow fleet

The Treasury’s move came after Iran ‌said its latest peace proposal to the US involved ending hostilities on all fronts.

‘I started crying’: Indonesian captain’s wife in agony over pirate attack

Captain Ashari Samadikun had sent a chilling warning to his wife before his fuel tanker was hijacked by pirates last month.

Fears of ecological crisis as Okinawa’s wildlife falls prey to poachers

Conservationists urge stronger protections to deter the growing illegal trade and overseas demand for Okinawa’s endemic species.

Pacific Islands leaders call for ‘ocean of peace’ but face rough seas at summit

The Pacific Islands Forum has been clouded by allegations that host Solomon Islands did not invite Taiwan to please its close backer.

Deadline looms as nations remain divided on global plastic pollution treaty

A coalition of oil-producing states remains at odds with an ‘ambitious’ group that wants radical action written into a treaty.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | Taiwan donation vow to Israeli settlement is cynical and foolish

Fulfilling the pledge would be a violation of international law, as Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank is universally recognised as illegal.

Most Pacific island women don’t work. The World Bank wants to change that

Outdated laws and social norms keep 57 per cent of working-age women across the Pacific out of the labour force, the bank says.

My Take | The United States, not China, turns out to be the real bogeyman

The significance of Trump’s tariffs is that they have destroyed the credibility of America on which its global alliances have long depended.

My Take | Donald Trump’s tariff madness targets not only allies but animals

Penguins, seals and seabirds have not been spared in America’s global trade war, likewise territories with significant US or allied military assets.

Diving aside, Pacific paradise Palau wants you to visit for its culture

The island nation and diving paradise is pushing its cultural heritage, with village tours and handicraft workshops.

Why the ‘Out of Taiwan’ language theory is a cross-strait battleground

Mainland Chinese academics are countering the hypothesis that the island was the ancestral homeland of the Austronesian peoples.

Palau seeks US missile system citing ‘direct threat’ from China ICBM test

President Whipps said he and incoming US leader Trump are ‘very much in agreement’ regarding the Pacific island nation’s security.

How the rangers of Palau’s Helen Reef keep the poachers at bay

Helen Reef, in Palau, has its own dedicated guard force, deterring poachers and protecting its incredible variety of life.

As No 2 US envoy ends Pacific tour, Beijing scores a diplomatic win on Taiwan

After Beijing envoy demands ‘correction’, Pacific Islands Forum scraps Taiwan reference from its annual summit’s final communique.

Environmentalist Doug Woodring on connecting people to solve problems

A self-styled ‘translator between communities’, the founder of Ocean Recovery Alliance talks about being the first among his friends to visit Asia and why his background in business is pivotal to his plastic-reduction efforts

Japan talks with Pacific islands focus on climate, security issues take back seat

Among the areas of concern highlighted by Pacific island nations was Japan’s release of treated radioactive water.

As China’s sway over Pacific islands grows, will Japan counter by aiding Palau?

Analysts think Tokyo will answer the island nation’s appeal for help monitoring Chinese vessels, as it has done so with others in the region.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Explainer | What to know about overseas hikes after Hongkonger dies on Japan’s Mount Fuji

After death of civil servant, 58, the Post answers key questions about some popular destinations and what precautions to take.

Russia upgraded to ‘high-income country’ as war-driven economy grows

The country’s GDP grew 3.6 per cent last year amid demand for military goods and services.

Video shows Houthis attack cargo ship with sea drone seemingly disguised as a fishing boat

New footage circulating on social media appears to show the moments leading up to last week’s attack on the M/V Tutor in the Red Sea.

My Take | International court prosecutor rises to historic occasion

In applying for arrest warrants for top leaders of Israel and Hamas, Karim Khan of the International Criminal Court has stood up for global justice and international law against the manipulated so-called rules-based order.

My Take | Taiwan donation vow to Israeli settlement is cynical and foolish

Explainer | What to know about overseas hikes after Hongkonger dies on Japan’s Mount Fuji