Author: TMC Palau

Wildfires worsened overnight on Lou Island in Papua New Guinea, with local authorities saying at least half of the islands forests are gone.The fires, which have been ongoing island-wide since early last week, broke through ridgelines towards Rei village overnight, spreading fast and wide through to the morning.Local government official David Putulan said with drought conditions and warm winds, and locals lacking the proper equipment, they are fighting a losing battle.”It’s practically impossible to put on the fire by our efforts,” he said.”We need higher level intervention, like choppers and other types of technology – it’s already an impossible situation.”It…

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat has shut down claims that he could be facing a leadership challenge through a no-confidence vote at the next parliamentary sitting in two weeks’ time.Local media reported last week, citing politicians speaking on the condition of anonymity, that a move was being planned behind the scenes to oust Napat.However, Napat told the state boradcaster VBTC on Mnoday that his coalition still commands that majority and assured Ni-Vanautu people of government stability.Vanuatu’s opposition leader Ishmael Kalsakau has also told RNZ Pacific that “there is no motion” planned against the prime minister.According to the Vanuatu Daily Post,…

Qantas has announced a huge sale to eight island destinations, including Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Norfolk Island, and New Caledonia.Tickets start at $579, with 180,000 discounted seats available from today for just a week.Cam Wallace, Qantas International’s CEO, said the Pacific has always been a “favourite escape” for Australians.Qantas has announced it has discounted 180,000 seats to eight Pacific Island destinations from today. (Getty)”From a winter break on Norfolk Island and a week in Fiji to diving in Palau and Vanuatu, there’s something here for every kind of island getaway, whether it’s a couples’ escape, a family holiday or a trip…

The PNG Chiefs have welcomed a New Zealand High Court decision declining New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) bid for an interim injunction over the franchise’s name.NZR is trying to prevent the newly formed PNG rugby league franchise using the ‘Chiefs’ moniker as the team prepares to enter its inaugural NRL season in 2028.PNG Chiefs’ CEO Lorna McPherson welcomed the court’s decision and said they look forward to the launch of their inaugural logo and supporter jersey in Port Moresby on Wednesday.A spokesperson for the PNG Chiefs said no further comment would be provided as the matter remains before the court.The spokesperson…

I left it too long but finally made it back to Lesotho. Sadly, most of my Basotho colleagues had passed on, but District Rural Water Supply was still operating, as were most of the gravity water supply systems that I helped build. So too was the volunteer agency that I first went with, which had morphed into a local non-government organisation called Skillshare Lesotho. It used to be a long day’s drive on a rough gravel road around the mountains, but now there was a sealed highway from Maseru, straight over the top. After five hours of tight curves and…

The category 2 cyclone is forecast to pass over Aitutaki on Sunday local time, tracking over Mauke and Mangaia.The Cook Islands Meterological Service (CIMS) said this morning that storm force winds of 54 to 76 knots (100 to 141 kmh) were likely, as well as rain – heavy at times with thunderstorms – and moderate to damaging heavy swells.There is also a risk of coastal inundation, especially during high tides.It said winds of between 78 and 113 kilometres an hour were blowing on Aitutaki as of 8am Sunday local time. Relatively minor winds of 57kmh were recorded on Rarotonga.Aitutaki mayor…

In this bulletin: 1. PALAU — ‘Our choice, not yours’: Palau President stares down China over Taiwan threats2. UN — IPCC suspends climate talks as key decisions remain unresolved3. PACIFIC — Pacific civil society calls for IPCC climate reports by 20284. FIJI — Constitution Bill contains ‘unbelievable’ errors, says UniFiji Vice-Chancellor5. AUST — ‘Right path’: Diverting Pasifika youth away from jail6. PNG — PNG Opposition leader Nomane issues blacklisting warning7. PACNEWS BIZ — Operation KURUKURU: FFA wraps largest surveillance operation of 20268. PACNEWS BIZ — World Bank targets 800 million jobs gap as young people enter workforce9. PACNEWS BIZ —…

A former editor of Samoa’s only independent daily newspaper has characterised Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa (La’auli) Leuatea Schmidt as a “dictator” under whose leadership the “law has been compromised”.Shalveen Chand, who led the Samoa Observer as its editorial chief, has accused La’auli of a “lack of accountability and transparency”, “intimidation” of journalists and “nepotism” since coming to power.”La’auli … made a promising start when he was elected prime minister in September 2025,” Chand wrote in an op-ed for the Cook Islands News, where he now works as a senior journalist.”In his first press conference, he made a promise to be…

The Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) says all players and officials competing at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) have been paid for their pool game commitments.FNRL executive chairman Rajesh Singh confirmed to RNZ Pacific that every one of the Fiji Bati and Fiji Bulikula players and officials were paid before the teams left for Australia last week.He said the FNRL is now debt-free, after the organisation cleared its outstanding debt.Singh said the pre-tournament payment of allowances and clearing of debts were two positive achievements for the FNRL following financial restructures in the past six months.”We’ve cleared our debts,…

Aitutaki’s primary port has been partially destroyed as Tropical Cyclone Wati sweeps through the Southern Cook Islands.Mayor Nick Henry said the new Arutanga Harbour and Marina causeway, which has seen more than $7 million in investment for strengtheniing and upgrades, was found underwater in the last few hours.”A lot of the work that we’ve done there in the last couple of years, we’ll have to see how much of that is still in tact,” Henry told RNZ Pacific.”I think we’ll have to re-dredge, we’ll probably find half the causeway has gone back into the basin again.”Henry said that the funding…