Author: TMC Palau

West Papuan groups push for UN actionWest Papuan civil society organisations have called on Indonesia to allow access to their region for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and to open up genuine, inclusive dialogue.Claims of persistent human rights abuses continue as violent conflict has deepened in the rugged interior of the Indonesian-controlled Papua region in recent months, causing an increasing number of Internally Displaced People (IDPs).In recent weeks, numerous Pacific countries have echoed the 2019 call by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) for Indonesia to allow the UN rights office to visit Papua to assess claims of…

The head of World Rugby will meet Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa (La’auli) Leuatea Schmidt in Apia to try and resolve the ongoing governance issue in Samoan rugby.La’auli told parliament on Tuesday that he was set to meet World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson.World Rugby confirmed to RNZ Pacific on Thursday that the meeting is set to take place this week.A spokesperson said they are hoping to resolve the split that has led to two rugby unions claiming the right to manage the game in Samoa.”We are meeting with the government,” the World Rugby spokesperson said. “We remain focused on working towards…

A Fijian deputy prime minister says the Pacific identifies with Israel in ways many would not understand.Viliame Gavoka, who is also the tourism minister in Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s coalition government, was responding to a Facebook post about Israel being accepted into the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) as a development partner.The PIF, which is backed by Australia and New Zealand as its founding members, is the region’s principal political decision-making institution.”The entire Pacific Islands identify with Israel in ways many would not understand,” Gavoka wrote a comment.”It’s biblical and ageless and real.”Are we going to upset some people? Perhaps…but we…

Signs of the deep emotional scars from Bougainville’s history have surfaced in Papua New Guinea’s parliament as it debates whether to approve independence for the autonomous region.The national parliament has the final say on whether to ratify the result of Bougainville’s 2019 non-binding referendum in which 97.7 percent of people voted for independence.Every member of parliament is being given a chance to speak in the debate on whether to give Bougainville independence. After debate this week, it will resume in November, before an eventual vote on ratification.Since the referendum result was finally tabled in parliament in August, MPs have been…

It’s impossible to talk about Íñigo Quintero without mentioning the phenomenon that was “Si no estás,” a song that climbed to number one on Spotify’s global chart after taking TikTok by storm, racking up more than 1.5 billion streams. On November 6, the singer-songwriter from A Coruña will perform at the Palau Alameda in Valencia to present his debut album: tickets are now on sale. From Virality to *El Sitio de Siempre* Far from letting himself be swept away by the momentum of quick and fleeting success, Íñigo Quintero decided to take refuge at the piano and lay the groundwork…

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat has voiced serious concern over claims of a “second republic” by a group in the small northern province of Torba.The government has found itself in a position where it has been forced to issue an official warning.A statement from his office refers to reports emanating from Torba’s Gaua Island – which sits roughly 120 kilometres north-east of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu’s largest island – of a group claiming to represent a so-called “second republic” and raising a new flag.Vanuatu is made up of six provinces and has a population of about 300,000. Torba, which has a…

In Nikko Bay just off Koror, massive dome-shaped Einstein corals – sometimes called brain corals for their intricate, maze-like patterns – have adapted to the area’s low-light, high-acidic conditions. Marine biologists who study them gain valuable insights into coral survival in future ocean conditions, making them as scientifically significant as they are visually striking. With Paddling Palau, pick the brains of experience guides in Nikko Bay on a full-day snorkelling tour, or trade fins for a paddle and glide by kayak through the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, where every turn unveils towering limestone cliffs, hidden marine caves,…

The leader of an island nation of 18,000 people answered Chinese threats over Taiwan with a courage many larger governments seem to have misplaced. by Massimo Introvigne President Surangel Whipps Jr. Credits. In the arithmetic of geopolitics, Palau looks like a rounding error. Its population of about 18,000 would fit inside a mid-sized football stadium, with seats left over for the visiting fans. Its president, Surangel Whipps Jr., has nonetheless displayed the kind of backbone that governments of countries with tens of millions of citizens, large armies, and seats at every important table often keep locked in a drawer. For…

Pacific Island countries have responded keenly to a proposal by Malaysia for a procurement pool for access to some essential medicines.The proposal was one of several put forward by member countries at the 77th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in Manilla.A statement from the WHO said Malaysia’s proposal for a pooled procurement pilot would start with a few essential medicines for countries who “share clear needs”.It was one of several proposals by WHO countries in the broader Asia-Pacific region aimed at improving access to safe and affordable health products, especially basic medicines…

Round two of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) will determine which Pacific Island teams will stay in the race for a top-two finishes in both the men’s and women’s competitions.In the women’s competition, the clash between the Papua New Guinea Orchids and Fiji Bulikula in Port Moresby on Saturday will determine which team keeps its hopes alive in Pool B.The PNG Orchids had a big 58-4 win over France in round one at home, while the Fiji Bulikula lost 12-18 to the Kiwi Ferns.If the Orchids win, then they should be in the running for a top-two finish,…