Author: TMC Palau

Fewer than 1000 people in Aotearoa identify as Rotuman. Photo: Dom Thomas The Rotuman language is the first Pacific language to be celebrated in Aotearoa this week as part of the Ministry of Pacific Peoples (MPP) Language Weeks series. A Rotuman community leader and chairperson of the Hata Collective (Rotuma Language Week NZ Rotuma Leaders Forum), Jioji Vai said the week plays a vital role in helping to preserve and pass on the language. “Being Rotuman is more than just an ethnicity. I hope each person finds a renewed sense of purpose – that no matter your level of language…

The Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, has urged military personnel to remain calm, disciplined, and law-abiding amid what he described as “unfolding events” facing the country. Speaking during the Force Service in Suva yesterday, Major General Kalouniwai acknowledged that the military is operating in an increasingly challenging environment, but stressed that personnel must continue to exercise restraint and accountability. “These challenges are not easy, and the choices we face are difficult, but we must hold ourselves accountable for our actions.” While he did not specify the developments he was referring to, the…

Regulatory frameworks for deep-sea mining (DSM) treat the ocean as a space to be measured, governed and economically valued. DSM proponents claim that this form of mining avoids many of the negative impacts associated with terrestrial extraction (such as displacement or land use changes), working from an assumption that deep seas are largely inert or empty spaces. What such frameworks, and proponents’ views, fail to accommodate is an ocean that is already inhabited. Not merely by ecosystems, but in many Indigenous contexts by ancestors, by spirits and by God, and thus by moral obligations that predate any regulatory regime. This…

On the lush tropical island country of Palau, where carved storyboards are cherished heirlooms passed down through generations, a sacred story unfolded not on wood but through the quiet redemption of a man’s life coming full circle.Tobias Kuchad lives in the state of Ngaraard in the island country of Palau. | Church News graphic Found in the western Pacific Ocean, the country of Palau consists of over 300 coral and volcanic islands and nearly 22,000 people. Palau has one branch, the Koror Branch, and 421 Latter-day Saints.An aerial view of Koror, Palau, where the Church’s only branch in the country…

Supplied: PBS The first passengers evacuated from a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak near Spain’s Canary Islands have arrived in Madrid. Fourteen Spanish nationals were flown from Tenerife and placed in mandatory quarantine at a military hospital. French nationals were also taken to Paris, while other countries, including the UK, are arranging flights for their citizens. Health workers wearing protective hazmat suits disinfected passengers before departure.Article continues after advertisement Three people have died in the outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, including two confirmed to have had hantavirus. Source link

Palau Ship Registry The government of the republic of Palau has reinstated Panos Kirnidis to head its ship registry, six weeks after taking the flag under state control after the US slapped sanctions on the private company operating the flag. The government insisted that the revamped open register would have tighter oversight, clearer accountability, and closer alignment with international maritime standards. Palau has a poor showing in the just-published annual flag state performance table from the International Chamber of Shipping. Palau has just shy of 5m gt on its books, with its flagged fleet having an average age of 27.7…

A 38-year-old man from Olosara in Sigatoka is believed to be Fiji’s latest road fatality victim following a serious accident along Queens Road in Nayawa, Sigatoka. Police say the victim was driving when he allegedly lost control of his vehicle, causing it to veer onto the opposite lane and collide with a minivan carrying fifteen passengers. The driver was rushed to Sigatoka Hospital, where medical officials later confirmed his death. Two passengers who were travelling in the minivan remain admitted at Lautoka Hospital, while the remaining victims were treated and discharged.Article continues after advertisement The national road death toll now…

Victory in the Palau Blaugrana for the Barça basketball team as they dispatched San Pablo Burgos 91-76 in the ACB league thanks to an excellent first half performance. Punter, Núñez and Fall all played their part in the win for Xavi Pascual’s team.  Barça began brightly with an 11-6 lead over San Pablo after just 4 minutes. Willy Hernangómez lifted the lead with to 16 points at 29-13 before the visitors pulled it back at 29-15 at the end of the first quarter.  Núñez and Fall key The visitors cut back the deficit at the start of the second quarter…

Fiji, Palau and Tuvalu look set to host world leaders and climate change ministers in the lead-up to COP31 in a bid to encourage larger countries to accelerate cuts to emissions.Both Fiji and Palau had offered to host the “pre-COP” meetings secured for the Pacific under a complicated deal struck last year that saw hosting rights for the main climate summit go to Türkiye while giving Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen a key position in global climate negotiations.Australia and Pacific Islands nations have declared they want to use the opportunity to publicise the Pacific’s existential battle with climate change.But negotiations…

Professor Justus Notholt teaches a physics lesson at the Catholic High School on the island of Yap, captivating the entire room.© Brandon Patris University of Bremen physics professor Justus Notholt travels to Palau for research — and taught at a high school while there. Research / University & Society 05.2026 / Christina Selzer / Katie Lorenz University of Bremen physics professor Justus Notholt has made six visits to Palau, an island nation 1,000 km east of the Philippines. It is home to an atmospheric measuring station established ten years ago by the University of Bremen and the Alfred Wegener Institute as part…