Palau has flags for its sixteen states.
State | Flag | Description |
---|---|---|
Aimeliik | The five stars represent the five hamlets of Aimeliik. The green stripe represents Aimeliik's rainforest, the black stripe represents the fact that it was not conquered and the blue represents Aimeliik's large fishing area. [1] | |
Airai | The blue background represents the ocean and the white circle represents peace. The six stars stand for the six hamlets of Airai and the six fish for the six chiefs. In the centre is a ti plant. [2] | |
Angaur | The four stripes stand for the four hamlets of Angaur. In the center is a kelau flower. [3] | |
Hatohobei | The stars represent the three islands that make up the state. The clam shell represents Romohparuh, the first person on Hatohobei, who claimed ownership of the island by burying a clam shell. [4] | |
Kayangel | The flag is blue with a yellow triangle. It features an oar and two hibiscus vines. [5] | |
Koror | bai on top of ten stones. | A dark blue field with a crescent moon, seven stars and a|
Melekeok | The sun indicates that Melekeok is facing the east where the sun rises. The six sun rays represent the six hamlets of Melekeok. [6] The bird, the 'Paluan money bird' or Bai-ra-Irrai [7] (a Far Eastern curlew [8] ), is holding Palauan money known as chelbucheb. [9] | |
Ngaraard | The star's five points represent the five hamlets of Ngaraard. [10] Earlier versions of the flag had a blue background instead of purple. [11] | |
Ngarchelong | The flag has eight stars representing the eight municipalities of Ngarchelong. Previous versions of the flag had seven stars. The flag has seven stripes representing the seven original municipalities. [12] | |
Ngardmau | The three stars represent the three hamlets of Ngardmau. Inside the circle is a picture of Ngerdmau Waterfall and Mount Ngerchelchuus. On top of the cirlcle is a kedam. [13] | |
Ngatpang | The flag consists of vines on a white background encircling a lamp made of clay. The three strands that hold the lamp represent the three hamlets of Ngatpang. [14] | |
Ngchesar | The green background represents the jungle and the six stars represent the six hamlets of Ngchesar. In the center is the state's spirit god ochaio. [15] | |
Ngeremlengui | The map in the center is the territory of Ngeremlengui. The linked chains represent the hamlets of Ngeremlengui. [16] | |
Ngiwal | The four stars represent the four hamlets of Ngiwal. The picture represents the abundance of sea food. [17] | |
Peleliu | The flag features the native bird belochel. The blue represents the ocean and the five stars represent the five hamlets of Peleliu. [18] | |
Sonsorol | The blue background represents the Pacific Ocean and the four stars represent the four islands that make up Sonsorol. The boat represents the finding of the islands by the people's ancestors. [19] |
Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island country in the Micronesia subregion of Oceania in the western Pacific. The republic consists of approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caroline Islands with parts of the Federated States of Micronesia. It has a total area of 466 square kilometers (180 sq mi), making it one of the smallest countries in the world. The most populous island is Koror, home to the country's most populous city of the same name. The capital Ngerulmud is located on the largest island of Babeldaob, in Melekeok State. Palau shares maritime boundaries with international waters to the north, the Federated States of Micronesia to the east, Indonesia to the south, and the Philippines to the northwest.
Palau gained its independence October 1, 1994, with the entry into force of the Compact of Free Association with the United States. Palau was the last Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands territories to gain its independence. Under the Compact, the U.S. remains responsible for Palau's defense for 50 years.
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between countries and territories of Oceania, including formation of a trade bloc and regional peacekeeping operations. It was founded in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum (SPF), and changed its name in 1999 to "Pacific Islands Forum", so as to be more inclusive of the Forum's Oceania-spanning membership of both north and south Pacific island countries, including Australia. It is a United Nations General Assembly observer.
Palau has a bicameral legislature, the Palau National Congress, consisting of the House of Delegates and the Senate of Palau, which both sit at the capitol complex in Ngerulmud, Melekeok State. The House of Delegates has 16 members, each serving four-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The Senate has 13 members, also serving four-year terms in multi-seat constituencies. In the last elections, held in 2020, only non-partisans were elected; no political parties exist.
Ngaraard is the eighth state of the Republic of Palau, and was originally named Kerradel.
The House of Delegates of Palau is the lower house of the Palau National Congress, Palau's bicameral legislature. The Senate of Palau is the upper house. The House of Delegates has 16 members, each serving four-year terms in single-seat constituencies. Each state represents one constituency. No political parties exist. The last election was held on 3 November 2020.
The following is an alphabetical list of topics related to the Republic of Palau.
Antonio Bells is a Palauan politician who served as the Vice President of Palau and Minister of Justice between 17 January 2013 and 19 January 2017.
Surangel S. Whipps Jr. is a Palauan businessman and politician, who has served as the president of Palau since 2021. He served as senator from 2008 to 2016. He is from Ngatpang state, Republic of Palau. Whipps assumed office as the President of Palau on 21 January 2021.
Diplomatic relations between India and Palau were established in 1995. The Embassy of India in Manila, Philippines, is concurrently accredited to Palau.
The Ministry of Education is a government agency of Palau, headquartered in Koror City.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Palau is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have reached Palau on 31 May 2021. As of August 2021, Palau has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world with approximately 84% of its population fully vaccinated.
The following lists events that happened during 2020 in the Republic of Nauru.
Ibedul Yutaka Miller Gibbons was a Palauan activist. He was the high chief of Koror and the Chairman of the Council of Chiefs.
The flag of Koror was approved on 10 July 1997 by Ibedul Gibbons and was officially adopted on 25 July 1997.
Elbuchel Sadang is a Palauan politician and former Minister of Finance of Palau.
Kaleb Udui Jr. is a Palauan civil servant and politician, and current Minister of Finance of Palau since February 2021.
Kaleb Udui was a Palauan politician and attorney who was the first President of the Senate of Palau.
Emais Roberts is a Palauan politician and physician who has served as Governor of Peleliu since 2022. He previously served as Minister of Health of Palau from 2017 to 2021.