Naina Rao
News DirectorNaina Rao serves as Isla Public Media's first News Director. She's extensively produced for National Public Radio's Morning Edition, Culture Desk, and 1A.
Naina has hosted Morning Edition locally for Wyoming's NPR member station and reported on issues related to health, environment, arts, and culture for several media outlets including Reckon, AfroLA, Great Lakes Echo, Buffalo News, The Detroit News, and Feet in 2 Worlds, to name a few. Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, Naina is fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and Melayu. She's working on her Hindi, enjoys watching Bollywood, and loves to stay active.
She's a Transom alum and a former Asian American Journalists Association's VOICES mentor.
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In the second part of this series, KPRG sat down with Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. to discuss how and why negotiations for the Compact of Free Association (COFA) agreements took longer than anticipated. The president explained that the delays were needed for Palauans to receive what they deserved. -
In an exclusive interview with KPRG, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. outlines a high-end tourism model that protects the country's environment, how increased militarization can co-exist with Palau's ongoing conservation efforts, and whether the presence of nuclear-powered vessels poses a risk to them. -
At the 9th Our Ocean Conference (OOC), the Republic of Nauru's Climate Change Minister, outlined an ambitious plan to relocate the majority of the nation's population from vulnerable coastal areas to higher ground. -
On April 10, Muslims all over the world celebrated Eid Al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. But for the small Muslim community in Guam, restricted access to halal foods makes celebrating a lot harder. -
A worsening drought is spreading across the Micronesian region. -
In March, the U.S. government announced an investment of $8.48 million to help build a new hospital in Chuuk state. The funding will be obtained with the assistance of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) grant. -
Arielle Taitano Lowe’s poetic journey began in her teens, as she grappled with the duality of her identity. She's part white and CHamoru, and delves more into this experience in her debut book, Ocean Mother. -
Cope North, a multinational military exercise held throughout February 2024 in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, concluded on Feb. 22. -
Renewal measures for Compacts of Free Association states have been omitted from the Senate's latest budget proposal. -
A new team from the Guam National Guard is taking over to secure anti-ballistic missile defense systems designed to protect Guam from incoming missile threats.
