Regional

(TNC) — On Feb. 9-10, The Nature Conservancy Micronesia and Polynesia hosted the Kosrae Video Local Early Action Planning or VLEAP Toolkit Training, bringing together government agencies, municipal governments, youth groups, and community organizations across Kosrae.

(TNC) — Finance, administration, and operations professionals from conservation organizations across Micronesia gathered on Feb. 24-26 in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands, for the third in-person meeting of the Micronesia Finance Administration-Operation Network or MFAN.

HAGÅTÑA (Office of the Guam Governor) — Seeking to build on the recent, significant uptick in visitor arrival numbers, the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration has reached out to the government of South Korea for support in strengthening air connectivity between South Korea and Guam.

KOROR (Island Times/Pacnews) — In Palau’s pricey island economy, households grapple with soaring costs that threaten long-term food security, but community leaders like Chief of Agriculture Jodean Remengesau see a path forward through homegrown solutions and traditional wisdom.

KOROR (Island Times/Pacnews) — The Palau Visitors Authority reported that Palau closed 2025 with solid tourism gains and opened 2026 on an upward trend, welcoming 7,810 visitors in January — a 13% increase from the 6,902 recorded in January 2025.

KOROR (Island Times/Pacnews) — Palau Senate President Hokkons Baules has publicly rejected allegations referenced in a recent statement by the United States Department of State, saying he has never engaged in corruption, taken bribes or supported criminal activity involving Chinese nationals. 

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.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A major attack launched by Israel and the United States killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Donald Trump announced Saturday, confirming an assassination that he said gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back the country” but th…

An Israeli official said Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were both targeted but the result of the strikes was not clear. A source with knowledge of the matter had earlier told Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a secure …

“A short time ago the U.S. began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”