- A coronavirus-free tropical island nestled in the northern Pacific may seem the perfect place to ride out a pandemic -- but residents on Palau say life right now is far from idyllic.

The Pacific nation of Palau becomes the first country to ban 'reef toxic' sunscreen, in an effort to prevent one threat of environmental damage to the reef ecosystem.

- Palau's pioneering ban on "reef-toxic" sunscreens took effect Wednesday as the tiny Pacific island nation introduced strict environmental measures that also include one of the world's largest marine sanctuaries.

- Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu warned Pacific island nations Thursday against "empty promises" of financial aid from China, as the Solomon Islands considers switching diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.

- Palau has called on Australia to do more to tackle climate change, saying the Pacific's "big brother" has an obligation to act on an issue that threatens the existence of its small island neighbours.

- The tiny Pacific island nation of Palau will ban "reef-toxic" sunscreens from 2020 in what it claims is a world-first initiative to stop chemical pollution killing its famed corals.

- Palau's president has asked the United States and Japan to help its tourism industry after Beijing reportedly barred Chinese citizens from visiting the tiny Pacific island due to its diplomatic links with Taiwan.

- The fugitive DHL heir Larry Hillbroom Jr has been arrested and jailed in Palau after two days on the run, the Pacific island nation's attorney general said Saturday.

- Visitors to the tiny Pacific nation of Palau are being made to sign a promise to respect the environment, in an innovative move that authorities hope will curb ecological damage caused by booming numbers of tourists.

- The United States has announced plans to install radar systems in Palau, a move that will increase its monitoring ability in the western Pacific region recently rocked by threats from North Korea.

Taiji - Responding to pressure from conservationists, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has suspended its Japanese member because it is involved in the controversial dolphin hunts that take place each year in Taiji.

- Pacific island leaders will renew calls for meaningful action on climate change at a regional summit opening in Palau on Tuesday, amid fears rising seas will swamp their low-lying nations.

Islamabad - Nawaz Sharif claims to have revoked a secret agreement between the US and Pakistan authorizing the US to carry out drone strikes in Pakistani tribal areas.

While cleaning it, a Brazilian fisherman had his speargun go off and he wound up shooting himself in the head. The spear went into his head in his left eye cavity and lodged into his brain, where it remained 10 hours.

Al Qaeda has released a new video showing 70-year-old U.S. citizen Warren Weinstein, taken hostage, begging President Obama to yield to the demands of his captors to save his life.

The top ten fattest nations in the world for the year 2010 have been released. Think the United States or Canada, known for their numerous fast food restaurants, are number one? Nauru, a tiny South Pacific island, topped the list.

The tiny Pacific nation of Palau has created the world's first shark sanctuary. Palau's President, Johnson Toribiong made the announcement during Friday's session of the UN General Assembly.

Palau, a tiny island nation in South Pacific, has agreed to accept 17 Chinese Uighur Muslim prisoners held at Guantánamo Bay. In exchange, the U.S. will give $200 million in aid to the island nation.

Small island developing nations contribute least to climate change but are under imminent threat of inundation due to rising sea levels.