Palau weighs $500 Foreign Worker Fee Amid Employer concerns and Labor shortages

KOROR, Palau — Palau’s plan to more than triple the annual fee for foreign worker permits from $150 to $500 is sparking concern among employers and retirees who depend on overseas labor. The increase, embedded in the FY 2026 budget bill, would...

US to rehabilitate postwar dock in Palau to boost military readiness in the region

By Pacific Island Times News Staff Peleliu—The U.S. Department of Defense proposes to rehabilitate an 80-year-old dock in Palau to enhance the U.S. military forces’ capabilities in the region. According to Joint Task Force Micronesia, the $12...

Construction Accelerated

PALAU — The new Palau Correctional Facility, located between Airai and Ngchesar states, is now expected to be completed by December 2025. Construction on the $4 million facility began in 2018 with local funding and later received supplemental...

4 new JICA volunteers arrived in Palau

On the 24th of July, 4 new JICA Volunteers arrived in Palau. The four volunteers are, Mr. SUZUKI Satoshi assigned to Belau Modekngei School for Science Education Kume Kokoro assigned to Palau Community Action Agency (PCAA) for Nutrition. KITAYAMA...

US Sides with Nauru on Deep-Sea Mining, Splitting Pacific Leaders

By: Bernadette Carreon NAURU – The United States has thrown its weight behind Nauru’s push to fast-track deep-sea mining, backing a Canadian partner’s bid despite warnings from other Pacific nations about risks to fragile ocean ecosystems. The...

Q&A: Palau pledges cleanup of abuse-riddled ship-flagging system

President Surangel Whipps speaks with Context about the challenges Palau faces in regulating ships that sail under its flag. NICE, France - The leader of the island nation of Palau, whose ship registration system has come under fire for allowing...

How shipping's flags of convenience endanger seafarers

What’s the context? Abuses are more likely on vessels that fly the flags of countries other than where the owners are based, rights groups find. A loophole in global maritime law enables shipowners to sidestep labor protections and safety rules by...

Palau High School reopens amid ongoing construction 

Palau’s Blue Economy Project showcases Progress in fisheries Development

The BOF-JICA Blue Economy Project held a seminar on August 7 to present the achievements of the Project, which aims to promote the sustainable development of Palau’s fisheries sector. The event brought together stakeholders, including fishing...

Dredging part of the Peleliu South Dock improvement project

Representatives of the Palau Government along with the U.S. Department of Defense hosted two public meetings in Peleliu and Koror states, August 12 and 14 respectively, to share information about the proposed Peleliu South Dock rehabilitation and...

56 Years of Service: Palau, U.S. Mark Civic Action Team Handover

By: Summer Kennard KOROR, Palau — Palau and the United States marked 56 years of partnership Friday during a Transfer of Authority ceremony at Ngarachamayong Cultural Center, as the outgoing Navy Civic Action Team (CAT) 133-32 formally handed over...

New Wine, Old Wineskins: Palau’s xall for a new Industry and a New Mindset

Dear Editor, In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus says, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined.” This powerful teaching is not just spiritual, it’s deeply...

Satellite and AI study finds most marine reserves free of industrial fishing, despite enforcement fears

“There is a catch-22 in ocean conservation,” said Dr. Jennifer Raynor. “The better fish recover inside protected areas, the more attractive they become to poachers.” That paradox drove Raynor and her colleagues to ask a hard question: Are marine...

Plastic pollution UN treaty talks collapse without agreement

This has exposed deep divisions between countries advocating bold action on plastic production and oil-producing states favoring a limited focus on waste. Efforts to forge a global treaty to combat plastic pollution ended on Friday without...

International Maritime Organization’s Zero Net Framework

Introduction On 11 April 2025, the International Maritime Organization (“IMO”) approved draft amendments to Annex VI (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (“MARPOL”). A...

Palau’s 10% tax reveals cracks between business and consumer realities

KOROR (Island Times/Pacnews) — More than two years after the Palau Goods and Services Tax or PGST took effect, citizens across different sectors are offering mixed reactions, revealing a growing divide between small business owners and retirees...

Palauan’s weigh impact of goods and Services Tax two years in

By: Laurel Marewibuel Koror, Palau — More than two years after the Palau Goods and Services Tax (PGST) took effect, citizens across different sectors are offering mixed reactions, revealing a growing divide between small business owners and...

Japanese officials Appeal to Palau for expansion of Fishing Zone

By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang KOROR, Palau (Aug. 3, 2025) — Representatives of Japan’s fishing industry, led by Okinawan tuna fleets, are urging Palau to expand its Domestic Fishing Zone from 20% to 50% of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone...

Palau Wrestling Team Grapples Their Way to Glory

From early struggles to podium triumphs, Palau’s wrestling champions share their journey of grit, sacrifice, and national pride. By: Faith Chen In an electrifying display of perseverance and talent, the Palau wrestling team brought home an...

 Beyond DemoCrazy: Why It’s Time to Abolish State Governments and Reimagine Local Leadership

Dear Editor, In Palau today, the ongoing power struggle between elected state leaders and traditional chiefs has become more than just a political inconvenience, it has become a costly distraction. Our courts are flooded with disputes about who...