History
Towards the end of the 1880s Germany annexed Nauru to their Marshall Islands colony.

Valuable deposits of phosphate were mined from 1906 by a consortium of German and British companies.

At the beginning of the First World War, Nauru was occupied by Australian forces.

Following the War, Nauru was administered under a League of Nations Mandate given to Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

During the Second World War, Nauru was occupied by the Japanese (1942 and 1945).

In 1947 Nauru became a UN Trust Territory under the administration of Australia.

Nauru gained independence in 1968 and joined the [British] Commonwealth in 1969.

Economy
After a century of mining, Nauru's phosphate supplies are almost exhausted.

A number of the people are engaged in subsistence fishing.

Revenue is earned from phosphate mining and coconut products.

In 2003 Nauru decided to close the offshore banking industry as a result of money-laundering allegations. (2011)

Arts
Phosphate mining has had a great impact on the culture of the people of Nauru.

A cultural history is being produced by the Department of Education. Naurans are providing details of their history and culture for future generations.

Sport
Australian Rules football is the most popular sport in Nauru. Volleyball is also played.

Water sports include snorkelling, diving and big game fishing.

Holidays
Easter and Christmas are celebrated.

Other holidays are Independence Day - 31 January (1968), and Constitution Day - 17 May.

Angam Day is on 26 October. On this day people remember the return of large numbers of the population to the island. (During the Second World War, the Japanese sent the islanders to Truk, or Chuuk, Island now part of the Federated States of Micronesia).

News
News from Nauru is available from Newslink.

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