President Barack Obama moved one step closer to shutting down the U.S. military prison. The Republic of Palau has agreed to take the Uighurs, a minority group of Chinese Muslims, from Guantanamo Bay. The Pentagon found these detainees weren't "enemy combatants," and a U.S. federal judge ruled they should be set free, but instead they've been stuck in political limbo. (NPR describes their plight here.)
Now they may have a pretty good place for a fresh start. Palau president Johnson Toribiong calls offering up his place a "humanitarian gesture"--although $200 million in U.S. aid doesn't hurt. Those familiar with the archipelago nation (including faithful viewers of "Survivor") might call this more a dream escape of a lifetime, given its vacation reputation. The announcement drove many online to figure out "where is palau," "palau map," and "palau wiki"—maybe for a temporary resettlement of their own. Below, a quick once-over on paradise.
Palau's a dive The CIA Factbook describes Palau as "slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C." Five hundred miles east of the Philippines, the nation's better known for what lies beneath: The island consistently ties with the Galapagos and Yap as the best scuba-diving joint in the Pacific, according to Scuba Diving magazine readers. Its own tourist pitch heralds its "whitest beaches," gardens of corals," even "'sting-less' jellyfish." The Guardian describes "rolling hills, coconut plantations and lush tropical jungle," plus those jellyfish lakes.
Palau's friendship with the U.S.The $200 million in aid isn't as much as a bribe, but just another dollar in the support that America has given the archipelago nation. In the past few centuries, Palau had been under the rule of Spain, Germany, and Japan. After World War II, it hooked up with the U.S., which helped Palau's bid to independence in 1994. But, the U.S. has to watch over its defense for 50 years. (Palauans can also serve in the U.S. military.)
Palau random facts Courtesy of the Guardian and Bloomberg: The culture operates under a matrilineal society, adult literacy rate is 92%, unemployment rate's 4.2%, the traditional dish is fruit bat soup, and Palau's one of 23 countries with diplomatic ties to Taiwan...rather than China. Now, a few words from its national anthem:
Palau is coming forth with strength and power By her old ways abides still every hour One country, safe, secure, one government Under the glowing float soft light stands.
Now they may have a pretty good place for a fresh start. Palau president Johnson Toribiong calls offering up his place a "humanitarian gesture"--although $200 million in U.S. aid doesn't hurt. Those familiar with the archipelago nation (including faithful viewers of "Survivor") might call this more a dream escape of a lifetime, given its vacation reputation. The announcement drove many online to figure out "where is palau," "palau map," and "palau wiki"—maybe for a temporary resettlement of their own. Below, a quick once-over on paradise.
Palau's a dive The CIA Factbook describes Palau as "slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C." Five hundred miles east of the Philippines, the nation's better known for what lies beneath: The island consistently ties with the Galapagos and Yap as the best scuba-diving joint in the Pacific, according to Scuba Diving magazine readers. Its own tourist pitch heralds its "whitest beaches," gardens of corals," even "'sting-less' jellyfish." The Guardian describes "rolling hills, coconut plantations and lush tropical jungle," plus those jellyfish lakes.
Palau's friendship with the U.S.The $200 million in aid isn't as much as a bribe, but just another dollar in the support that America has given the archipelago nation. In the past few centuries, Palau had been under the rule of Spain, Germany, and Japan. After World War II, it hooked up with the U.S., which helped Palau's bid to independence in 1994. But, the U.S. has to watch over its defense for 50 years. (Palauans can also serve in the U.S. military.)
Palau random facts Courtesy of the Guardian and Bloomberg: The culture operates under a matrilineal society, adult literacy rate is 92%, unemployment rate's 4.2%, the traditional dish is fruit bat soup, and Palau's one of 23 countries with diplomatic ties to Taiwan...rather than China. Now, a few words from its national anthem:
Palau is coming forth with strength and power By her old ways abides still every hour One country, safe, secure, one government Under the glowing float soft light stands.
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