2 Christ Is All (Hebrews 2:9-18) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Hebrews
2 The Only Way to Heaven (Matthew 7:13-27) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Matthew
2 Man’s Greatest Need, God’s Greatest Gift (Mark 2:1-12) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 07 May 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Mark
2 The Sin God Never Forgives (Mark 3:20-35) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Mark
2 Christian Deconstruction, Part 2 (John 6:60-71) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article John
2 Sowing the Gospel and Sleeping Well (Mark 4:1-32) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 11 Jun 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Mark
2 Jesus’ View of Scripture (Matthew 5:17-20) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Matthew
2 Divine Barriers to Superficial Seekers (Mark 10:17-22) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Mark
2 Heaven on Earth, Part 2 (Selected Scriptures) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article
2 Hearers and Doers (James 1:19-25) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article James
2 Characteristics of a Faithful Shepherd, Part 2 (1 Corinthians 4) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article 1 Corinthians
2 A Vision of Christ’s Work in His Church (Revelation 1:9-20) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Revelation
2 The Lord’s Indictment of Unfaithful Churches (Revelation 2-3) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Revelation
2 Heavenly Worship, Part 2 (Revelation 4:5-8) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 26 Nov 2023 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Revelation
2 The Coming of a False Peace (Revelation 6:1-2) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Revelation
2 Scared to Death (Revelation 6:12-17) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Revelation
2 Mercy in the Midst of Wrath (Revelation 6:12-17) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Revelation
2 Forsaking Christ (Mark 14:43-52) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Mark
2 The Father Buries His Son (Mark 15:42-47) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Mark
2 Unleashing Hell on Earth (Revelation 9:1-12) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Revelation
2 The Coming Demonic Invasion (Revelation 9:12-21) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Revelation
2 Future Witnesses and God’s Faithfulness (Revelation 11:1-2) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 07 Jul 2024 00:00:00 Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.Click the icon below to listen. Full Article Revelation
2 12 bodies recovered from Cameroon landslides By www.voanews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 Nov 2024 20:25:51 -0500 Yaounde, Cameroon — Workers have recovered 12 bodies following landslides that engulfed a road in the west of Cameroon, a regional official said Saturday, adding there is no hope of finding survivors. State television CRTV reported the comments by the governor of Ouest region, Augustine Awa Fonka. "In our opinion, there is no longer any possibility of finding survivors," he told the station. Only 12 bodies had been recovered from the site of the disaster, the last of them on Saturday morning, he said. Dozens more people are still missing, and the search for bodies is still continuing, he added. Two landslides hit the Dschang cliff road Tuesday — the second as emergency workers were using heavy machinery to try to clear the road. Vehicles hit included three coaches with around 20 seats each, five six-seater vehicles, and several motorbikes said Awa Fonka in an earlier statement. Cameroon's roads are notoriously dangerous, with almost 3,000 deaths each year in accidents, or more than 10 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization, published in 2023. In early September, a tractor-trailer carrying passengers plunged off a cliff road into a ravine near the town of Dschang, killing eight people and injuring 62 others, including eight children. Full Article Africa
2 The East-West Center’s Regional Role in 2022 By www.eastwestcenter.org Published On :: Thu, 03 Feb 2022 17:43:03 +0000 The East-West Center’s Regional Role in 2022 The East-West Center’s Regional Role in 2022 ferrard Thu, 02/03/2022 - 07:43 Feb 3, 2022 Feb 3, 2022 Web Article Home EWC Feeds Recent online articles and analysis that have been published on the East-West Center website. Explore search All Programs All Regions All Topics Release Date Filters Reset filters Web Article Home EWC Feeds Recent online articles and analysis that have been published on the East-West Center website. Explore search All Programs All Regions All Topics Release Date Filters Reset filters Full Article
2 Keiki Day 2024 By www.eastwestcenter.org Published On :: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 20:40:54 +0000 Keiki Day 2024 Keiki Day 2024 fairfieb Fri, 04/05/2024 - 10:40 Apr 8, 2024 Apr 8, 2024 Education & Exchange Education & Exchange Web Article Home EWC Feeds Recent online articles and analysis that have been published on the East-West Center website. Explore search All Programs All Regions All Topics Release Date Filters Reset filters Web Article Home EWC Feeds Recent online articles and analysis that have been published on the East-West Center website. Explore search All Programs All Regions All Topics Release Date Filters Reset filters Full Article
2 EFCC arraigns man for N72m fraud By punchng.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:41:56 +0000 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a man identified as Heart Chidozie Obum before the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, presided over by Justice Ramon Oshodi, on five counts of forgery, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N72m. PUNCH Metro learnt on Tuesday that Obum allegedly Read More Full Article Metro Plus
2 Total external trade rose to N6.9tn in Q2 – Shettima By punchng.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:42:33 +0000 Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that trade facilitation programmes implemented by the current administration increased the country’s trade balance to N6.5tn in the second quarter of 2024. He said efforts to maximise economic opportunities ensured that exports to other countries accounted for 60.89 per cent, or equivalent to N19.42tn of total trade, representing a Read More Full Article Business & Economy
2 Imperative of credible, peaceful 2024 Ondo governorship election By punchng.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 03:25:39 +0000 In compliance with Section 28 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a Notice of Election at least 360 days before the poll, the Commission on September 26, 2023, issued that notice for both Edo and Ondo States. While the Edo governorship election was held on September Read More Full Article Columns
2 FG forms cooperatives for 250 artisanal miners to curb illegal mining By punchng.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 05:23:53 +0000 The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has formalised the activities of 250 small and artisanal miners into cooperatives as part of efforts to help artisanal miners transition away from illegal mining. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this on Tuesday at a briefing to announce the 9th edition Read More Full Article News
2 Longing for the Word (1 Peter 2:1–9) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 PST Open your Bibles to 1 Peter, chapter 2; 1 Peter, chapter 2. I trust this will be a helpful, instructive, and practical portion of Scripture for our edi Full Article
2 Final Justice: The Return of Christ, Part 2 (Revelation 19:11-16) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 PST It has been pretty obvious to me over the last number of months that the church of Jesus Christ, at least as far as I can discern on a public level, has beco Full Article
2 We Will Not Bow, Part 2 (Selected Scriptures) By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 PST The following sermon transcript does not match the video version of the sermon—it matches only the audio version. Here's a brief exp Full Article
2 Planning for Pandemics: Learning from the 2004–05 Avian Influenza Outbreak in Vietnam By www.eastwestcenter.org Published On :: Fri, 25 Sep 2020 05:36:42 +0000 Planning for Pandemics: Learning from the 2004–05 Avian Influenza Outbreak in Vietnam Planning for Pandemics: Learning from the 2004–05 Avian Influenza Outbreak in Vietnam Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/24/2020 - 19:36 Sep 25, 2020 Sep 25, 2020 Public Health Public Health Vietnam Vietnam East-West Wire Tagline News, Commentary, and Analysis Home EWC Feeds East-West Wire The East-West Wire is a news, commentary, and analysis service provided by the East-West Center in Honolulu. Any part or all of the Wire content may be used by media with attribution to the East-West Center or the person quoted. To receive East-West Center Wire media releases via email, subscribe here. For links to all East-West Center media programs, fellowships and services, see www.eastwestcenter.org/journalists. Explore search All Programs All Regions All Topics Release Date Filters Reset filters East-West Wire Tagline News, Commentary, and Analysis Home EWC Feeds East-West Wire The East-West Wire is a news, commentary, and analysis service provided by the East-West Center in Honolulu. Any part or all of the Wire content may be used by media with attribution to the East-West Center or the person quoted. To receive East-West Center Wire media releases via email, subscribe here. For links to all East-West Center media programs, fellowships and services, see www.eastwestcenter.org/journalists. Explore search All Programs All Regions All Topics Release Date Filters Reset filters Full Article
2 Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders Issues Summit Communiqué By www.eastwestcenter.org Published On :: Fri, 11 Jun 2021 07:59:52 +0000 Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders Issues Summit Communiqué Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders Issues Summit Communiqué ferrard Thu, 06/10/2021 - 21:59 Jun 10, 2021 Jun 10, 2021 Governance Governance Politics & International Relations Politics & International Relations Pacific Pacific East-West Wire Tagline News, Commentary, and Analysis Home EWC Feeds East-West Wire The East-West Wire is a news, commentary, and analysis service provided by the East-West Center in Honolulu. Any part or all of the Wire content may be used by media with attribution to the East-West Center or the person quoted. To receive East-West Center Wire media releases via email, subscribe here. For links to all East-West Center media programs, fellowships and services, see www.eastwestcenter.org/journalists. Explore search All Programs All Regions All Topics Release Date Filters Reset filters East-West Wire Tagline News, Commentary, and Analysis Home EWC Feeds East-West Wire The East-West Wire is a news, commentary, and analysis service provided by the East-West Center in Honolulu. Any part or all of the Wire content may be used by media with attribution to the East-West Center or the person quoted. To receive East-West Center Wire media releases via email, subscribe here. For links to all East-West Center media programs, fellowships and services, see www.eastwestcenter.org/journalists. Explore search All Programs All Regions All Topics Release Date Filters Reset filters Full Article
2 Kwagga Smith can be breakdown menace against Scotland as Springboks lose Ruan Nortjé By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Thu, 07 Nov 2024 20:23:33 GMT Full Article
2 Unemployment rate improves to 32.1% but more still needs to done, economists caution By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 03:28:45 GMT Full Article
2 Soldier with Yemen's exiled government opens fire, killing 2 Saudi troops By www.voanews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 02:57:07 -0500 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A soldier for Yemen's exiled government opened fire on Saudi troops as they exercised in eastern Yemen, killing two of them and wounding another in a rare insider attack during the kingdom's nearly decadelong war there, officials said Saturday. The assault in eastern Hadramawt province comes as a yearslong cease-fire between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels largely has held despite the militants' ongoing attacks against shipping in the Red Sea corridor. While the Houthis did not claim the attack, at least one Houthi official praised it as being "the beginning and an indication of a harsh future awaiting the invaders." Meanwhile, U.S. warplanes carried out new strikes targeting Houthi positions that lasted into early Sunday morning, the American military said. The strikes come after the militants likely shot down yet-another American reconnaissance drone over the country. The attack on the Saudi troops took place Friday night in Seiyun, a city some 500 kilometers east of Sanaa. As troops worked out at a Saudi-led base there, the soldier opened fire, killing an officer and a noncommissioned officer, the state-run Saudi Press Agency said, citing a military statement. "The Joint Forces Command underscores that this 'Lone Wolf' cowardly attack does not represent the honorable members of the Yemeni Ministry of Defense," the statement added. The dead and the other wounded Saudi solider have been brought back to the kingdom, it added. Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of Yemen's successionist Southern Transitional Council, identified the soldier who carried out the attack as belonging to the First Military Region, which is based out of Seiyun. Police in the area published pictures of the soldier, saying there was a 30-million-Yemeni-rial reward for information leading to the soldier's arrest. That's worth around $15,000 on the black market. Authorities offered no motive for the attack. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the militant group's Yemen branch, long has operated around Hadramawt. However, the group did not immediately claim the attack. A recent United Nations expert report has said that the al-Qaida group and the Houthis have begun to "coordinate operations directly with each other." The Houthis meanwhile did not claim the attack either. However, Houthi official Hamid Rizq praised the attack in a message on the social platform X, claiming it came from "the feeling of oppression" over Saudi troops being stationed in the area. "The heroic operation is the beginning and an indication of a harsh future awaiting the invaders," Rizq wrote. Yemen has been mired in a decadelong war since the Houthis swept into Sanaa from their northern strongholds in September 2014. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war on behalf of Yemen's exiled government in 2015. The war further internationalized, with Iran backing the Houthis with weapons and support that cemented the conflict into a yearslong stalemate. The war has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more. A cease-fire that expired in October 2022 largely has held in the time since, however, even as the Houthis have seized on the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Israel's invasion of Lebanon. On Saturday night, Houthi-run media reported U.S. airstrikes targeting areas around Sanaa. The airstrikes continued into Sunday morning and also included sites in Amran province just outside of the capital, the Houthis said. The rebels offered no immediate damage assessment from the strikes. The U.S. military later told The Associated Press on Sunday it conducted airstrikes "on numerous Iran-backed Houthi weapons storage facilities within Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen." It described the sites as housing advanced conventional weapons used to target military and civilian ships in the Red Sea corridor but offered no other immediate details. The U.S. military has targeted radar stations, military bases and drone and missile launch sites since beginning its ongoing airstrike campaign against the Houthis in January. Full Article Middle East
2 Gqeberha mom arrested for hiring hitmen to kill son for R2m life insurance By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 09:19:58 GMT Full Article
2 SA will not run out of water by 2030 says Mahlobo By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 06:19:35 GMT Full Article
2 Over 971 Nigerians abducted in October 2024 – Report By dailypost.ng Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 05:16:37 +0000 No fewer than 971 Nigerians were abducted across the country in October 2024, DAILY POST learnt. The revelation is coming amid the emergence of a new terror group, ‘Lakurawa’ in the northwestern part of the country. The data is contained in the ‘October 2024 Nigeria Security Report’ by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, BSIL, a […] Over 971 Nigerians abducted in October 2024 – Report Full Article News Top Headlines kidnap nigerians
2 Earthshot Prize 2024: Celebrating young innovators driving global environmental solutions in Cape Town By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Fri, 08 Nov 2024 18:00:29 GMT Full Article
2 PICS: Counterfeit goods valued at R2million seized, 24 Pakistani nationals arrested, in latest Fordsburg raid By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 07:53:43 GMT Full Article
2 Woman in court after she allegedly attacked and murdered 82-year-old gogo By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 04:43:47 GMT Full Article
2 COP29 opens after Donald Trump win with call for cooperation By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 08:52:25 GMT Full Article
2 Woman, 20, arrested after body of newborn found in dustbin at a student residence in East London By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 09:03:14 GMT Full Article
2 This is where the two R42.5 million Powerball Plus jackpot winners bought their tickets from By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:45:54 GMT Full Article
2 ‘He is my brother’: Shivambu opens up about 20 year brotherhood with Ndlozi despite political differences By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 07:11:00 GMT Full Article
2 Pay back the money: Fraudster ordered to pay R2,5 million to SARS, a fine of R300,000 or go to jail By www.iol.co.za Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 13:49:53 GMT Full Article
2 Australian gold company confirms arrest of CEO, 2 executives in Mali By www.voanews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 17:31:05 -0500 Dakar, Senagal — The CEO and two executives of Australian gold mine Resolute in Mali have been arrested while in Bamako to discuss ongoing disputes with authorities, the company confirmed Sunday. CEO Terence Holohan and his two colleagues "were in Bamako to discuss with mining and tax authorities the company's business practices in Mali generally and to make progress on ongoing claims against Resolute, which continues to claim they are unfounded," Resolute said in a statement posted on its website. "Unexpectedly, the three employees were arrested after the end of these meetings on Friday," she reported. The three executives were taken the same day to the unit specializing in the fight against corruption and economic and financial delinquency — and were placed in police custody in a case of alleged forgery and damage to public property, AFP learned Saturday from a judicial and industrial source. Four employees of the Canadian company Barrick Gold, also in dispute with the Malian authorities, were detained for several days at the end of September, then released. Foreign mining companies are subject to increased pressure from the junta that came to power by force in 2020 and pays particular attention to the juicy revenues of the mining industry. "Resolute is working to reach an agreement with the Malian government that secures the long-term future of the Syama gold mine; at the same time its top priority remains the safety and well-being of its employees," the company said. The executives benefit from the support of the embassies and consulates of the United Kingdom and other countries present in Mali, she said. Resolute holds 80% of the shares in the subsidiary that owns the Syama mine, with the remaining 20% in the hands of the Malian state, according to the company's website. The Malian authorities have made the fight against corruption and the restoration of national sovereignty over natural resources their mantras. Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world, faces jihadis and a multidimensional crisis, and is also one of the leading gold producers in Africa. Gold contributes to a quarter of the national budget and three quarters of export revenues. The increased pressure on foreign companies coincided with the junta's strategic pivot toward Russia. Full Article Africa East Asia
2 Palau’s president secures 2nd term amid attempt to navigate US-China competition By www.voanews.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:15:32 -0500 Taipei, Taiwan — Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr. has secured another term in office after defeating former President Tommy Remengesau Jr. in its Nov. 5 election that was closely monitored. Palau sits on the front line of competition for geopolitical influence between the United States and China in the Pacific Ocean. Analysts say the outcome shows more Palauan voters support Whipps’ policy agenda, which includes tax reforms and deeper engagement with the United States. “It seems Palau’s closer relationship with the United States under Whipps Jr.’s leadership makes sense for the majority of Palauans,” said Henryk Szadziewski, an expert on Pacific affairs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. While election authorities still haven’t finished counting absentee ballots, Whipps has won the vote with one of the biggest margins in Palau’s electoral history, 57.5%. Remengesau, who is Whipps’ brother-in-law, took 41.3%. Whipps thanked supporters for allowing him to continue “building on the progress” that his administration has achieved over the last four years. “Your decision to grant me a second term as president is a responsibility I hold with the utmost respect,” he said in a statement shared with VOA on Monday. The president can only have two consecutive four-year terms and must step down after that, but he can run again after a four-year gap in between. Remengesau has served a total of four terms already. Separately, the spokesperson for Palau’s election commission told Radio New Zealand the following day that it was “highly unlikely” that Whipps would lose the election. Meanwhile, in a concession speech broadcast by a local radio station, the Palau Wave Productions, on November 7, Remengesau said the election is finished and the Palauan people have “spoken through a peaceful and free election.” Palau has a population of around 20,000 people and is situated around 890 kilometers (550 miles) east of the Philippines. It is one of three Pacific Island countries that receive significant economic support from the U.S. under agreements known as the Compacts of Free Association, or COFA. Under the accords, the U.S. provides economic aid worth billions of dollars, while Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia give the U.S. exclusive military access to their land, water and airspace, as well as the right to deny China access to their ports and territorial waters. In September, U.S. lawmakers passed funding for key provisions in COFA for Palau. The U.S. military is also helping to repair a runway on a World War II-era Japanese airfield on the island of Peleliu and installing two radar systems on Palau. Experts say they expect Palau to keep deepening ties with the U.S. during Whipps’ second term and relevant efforts will likely include increasing the frequency of U.S. military visits and enhancing connectivity with Palau. “There’s going to be a much stronger U.S. presence in terms of military visits, joint actions to combat transnational crime and illegal fishing, and boost transport and digital connectivity,” Meg Keen, a senior fellow at the Lowy Institute in Australia, told VOA by phone. During his first term, Whipps repeatedly said “presence is deterrence,” referring to the increased U.S. military presence in Palau, and characterized the Pacific island country as “part of the U.S. homeland” when it comes to security. In an interview with VOA last month, Whipps said U.S. protection plays a key role in safeguarding Palau’s territorial integrity. “Since Palau is small, having the protection of the United States is important because we see what’s happening now in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China,” he said during an interview at his office in Koror, Palau. Since 2023, the Chinese and Philippine coast guards have repeatedly confronted each other at several disputed shoals that both sides claim to be their territories. While Beijing views almost the entire South China Sea as its territorial water, a 2016 ruling by an international arbitration court found that most Chinese claims in the South China Sea were invalid. Beijing refuses to abide by the ruling. While many Palauans support the Whipps administration’s efforts to deepen security ties with the U.S., some political observers say some Palauans are still concerned about the negative impacts associated with the increased U.S. military presence across the Pacific island country. “Some Palauan people hold this apprehensiveness about the implication of increased U.S. military presence in Palau because they rarely saw U.S. soldiers in military uniforms in the past,” Kambes Kesolei, editor of one of Palau’s main newspapers, Tia Belau, told VOA by phone. “Some Palauans wonder what they can do to prevent Palau from becoming over-militarized,” he added. In addition to deepening ties with the U.S., some analysts say Palau will maintain its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which could lead to “increased coercive pressure” from China. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly vowed to reunite with the island, by force if necessary. “I expect ties between Palau and Taiwan to remain robust but increasing coercive pressure from the People’s Republic of China, [PRC,] may increase risks for Palau, which will need strong support from the U.S. and like-minded partners to maintain resiliency against PRC coercion,” Parker Novak, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told VOA in a written response. Whipps has accused China of weaponizing tourism against Palau and posing a wide range of threats to the Pacific island country’s national security, including cyberattacks and illegal incursion of Palau’s territorial water by Chinese vessels. “In 2015 and 2016, tourism numbers from China went through the roof, which helped Palau’s economy grow 30%, but since Palau never switched diplomatic recognition [from Taiwan] to China, that number just basically collapsed in the following years,” Whipps told VOA. In response to questions about Whipps’ claim that China has pressured Palau to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular press conference on November 4 that only a small number of countries, including Palau, still maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. “China urges these countries to fulfill their obligations under international law, stand on the right side of history, and make right decisions that truly serve their fundamental and long-term interests at an early date,” she said. While Whipps is likely to remain critical of China’s attempt to coerce Palau, Keen in Australia said the Palauan president is not going to completely “shut the door for China.” “He is very much wary of how China has used land and tourism to build pressure, but if the investment is in the national interests of Palau, he is willing to consider,” she told VOA. Full Article East Asia