Author: TMC Palau

[Photo: BOSE VAVATAGA] The Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has opposed the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) proposal for an $8.00 living hourly wage, saying it could place further pressure on businesses already facing economic challenges. NCCI President Lawrence Kumar says the Chamber fully supports the position of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation, warning that wage demands must reflect current economic conditions. He says pushing for a new wage system at a time when businesses and government are under strain is not in good faith. Kumar points out that Fiji’s minimum wage has increased significantly in recent years,…

Bedtime stories can have an impact on children’s imaginations. For many young people, hearing tales of fictitious characters like “Peter Pan” or “Jack and the Beanstalk” can create the desire to experience Peter’s or Jack’s extraordinary adventures. For one boy from Ngaraard, Palau, bedtime stories were not about fighting pirates or giants. This boy was told stories of combat and the U.S. Marines at the Battle of Peleliu during World War II. That boy was Milton Donatus, and the stories his grandmother told him as a child spawned a lifelong dream to become a U.S. Marine. “Every time my grandmother…

[Photo: FILE] New Zealand Rugby has ruled out any changes to its strict All Blacks eligibility policy, confirming Richie Mo’unga will remain unavailable for selection until after he completes the upcoming NPC season. Mo’unga, who is returning to New Zealand on an 18-month deal with Canterbury and the Crusaders ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, will miss the All Blacks’ July Nations Championship campaign and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against South Africa under current rules. NZR CEO Steve Lancaster says the organisation remains committed to selecting only players based in New Zealand, despite growing concerns over top talent…

Celebrating the life of Edith Palau Holland Passed away on Edith Palau Holland, 79, passed away Saturday, February 5, 2022 at St. Joseph’s Hospital after a long illness.  She was born October 14 1942 in Englewood, New Jersey to the late Andrew Gustay Palau and Margaret Whittington Palau.  Edith was a Registered Nurse for over 50 years, working in several different states, to include Connecticut and New York.  She was of the Catholic faith.  She loved cats, and cared for many, one that lived for over 20 years.   She is survived by her husband, John F. Holland of Port Wentworth,…

New Caledonia’s freighter MV Karaka. Photo: Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Vanuatu Despite a trade-related controversy that erupted last week between the governments of Vanuatu and New Caledonia, the French territory’s freight vessel MV Karaka began a new service to Port Vila and Luganville. Last week, New Caledonia’s territorial government announced it had suspended all trade cooperation with Vanuatu after Port Vila hosted the leader of New Caledonia’s pro-independence FLNKS group – a move seen as a lack of respect by the government in Nouméa. It followed with France’s top diplomat in Port Vila, Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer, making multiple Facebook…

Source: Reuters A passenger of a cruise ship that was struck by an outbreak of hantavirus has shown symptoms of the disease while being repatriated to France, the country’s prime minister has said. Sebastian Lecornu said the French national developed symptoms while on a chartered flight from Tenerife to Paris, and so all five evacuated from the MV Hondius had been “immediately placed in strict isolation until further notice”. The French citizens are among more than 90 tourists to be ferried home from the Dutch vessel on Sunday, which anchored off the Canary Islands before dawn. Three passengers have died…

UK Statement at Palau’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Thank you Mr President and a warm welcome to the delegation of Palau.The United Kingdom welcomes Palau’s efforts to strengthen its anti-trafficking legal framework, including updating its Anti-Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking Act. We also commend Palau’s progress in updating its Family Protection Act to improve access to services and address gender-based violence.We encourage Palau’s continued engagement with the UK and other international partners to support the effective establishment of a national human rights institution and ratification of CEDAW.We recommend that Palau: Updates relevant legislation to…

FCEF Chief Executive Edward Bernard. [Photo: FILE] The Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation says the Fiji Trades Union Congress’s call for an $8 an hour national living wage must be evidenced and balanced against unique challenges such as low productivity, widening skills gaps, high youth unemployment and rising cost of freight and production inputs. FCEF Chief Executive Edward Bernard says demanding for a new wages system in an economic climate where businesses and even the Government is trying to survive and continue to employ workers, is not good faith on the part of FTUC. He says the World Bank has…

Palacio Sant Jordi. May 10, 2026 [The photograph accompanying this review was provided by promoter Live Nation, who did not specify which concert on the tour it corresponds to. Eric Clapton is not accrediting press photographers on this tour] The welcome ovation was quite eloquent: there was a desire for Eric Clapton, who had not performed in Barcelona for 22 years. And on Sunday, in a sold-out Palau Sant Jordi, the 81-year-old British guitarist did what is best expected of a legend: he respected the legacy with solvency and elegance, cooking the blues slowly but with energy. He made it…

The Fiji Trades Union Congress launched its $8 an hour national living wage campaign at its 51st Biennial Delegates Conference over the weekend. The FTUC also announced constitutional changes to its National Executive Board and says it has now achieved 50 per cent of women representation in the Board. It said previously, the Board consisted of one woman and seven male executives. The amendments have made it possible for six women to take up executive positions, which include – two additional vice presidents, one additional assistant national secretary and one assistant national treasurer. The FTUC says other changes made include…