Author: TMC Palau

This article builds on a previous Devpolicy Blog piece written by Edwin Venu Pedro and Jess Marinaccio, government employees engaged in Tuvalu’s Digital Nation project. They highlighted growing frustration with media portrayals of the Digital Nation as “a cry for help” and reframed the project as one promoting hope. We offer a complementary, outside-in perspective. While critiquing international media, we recognise that the Government of Tuvalu has, at times, played into media framings of the “sinking nation”. Nonetheless, the way in which the Digital Nation is being implemented signals a government recalibrating towards hopeful governance. Consistent with hope theory, the…

Applications for the permanent residency visa opened on Wednesday.Vanuatu had previously been excluded from the “incredibly popular” permanent residency visa, which is available only to Pacific Island nationals.A Vanuatu special envoy, Glen Craig, hit out at the decision, saying the timing was hard to ignore.”It is difficult to read the removal as anything other than leverage: a signal that access to opportunity for ni-Vanuatu depends on agreement to terms set elsewhere,” he wrote.RNZ Pacific asked Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) whether Vanuatu had been deliberately excluded from the visa.DFAT replied that Australia remained committed to finalising the…

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have already tied the knot, according to the New York Post. [Photo Credit: AAP News] Pop music megastar Taylor Swift and National Football League player Travis Kelce are married, the New York Post’s Page ‌Six report, citing multiple unnamed sources amid preparations for an expected celebration at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The couple, both 36, exchanged vows in front of a “tiny group of loved ones,” the outlet said. The New York Post ‌did not say when or where the nuptials took place, though it noted Swift’s private jet recently spent time in Nashville,…

[File Photo] A home semifinal for the McDonald’s Fijian Drua Women could provide a major boost for the growth of women’s rugby in Fiji and across the Pacific. Rugby Australia General Manager of Women’s Rugby Jilly Collins says hosting a Super Rugby Women’s semifinal in Fiji would be a significant moment for the local community, giving fans the chance to watch elite women’s rugby on home soil. Collins says bringing top-level competition to Fiji would help raise the profile of both women’s rugby and the Drua women’s team, while creating visible role models for the next generation of players. She…

The stories of Pacific women who helped shape Porirua have been brought into the spotlight in a new exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pacific Allied (Women’s) Council Inspires Faith In Ideals Concerning All. Incorporated (P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A. Inc.)Marama Malama: Te Manava Moana Women at Pataka Art and Museum honours generations of women whose leadership, advocacy and service have impacted Pacific communities across New Zealand.Photographed by Nu’ugalo Jacinta Mauga, the exhibition features portraits of local Pasifika community leaders, alongside stories recounting the legacies they have each built for future generations.The showcase is timed with Matariki – guided by the remembrance star Pohutukawa:…

A professor says a new drug creates possibilities for anti-inflammatory therapies. [Photo Credit: PR IMAGE PHOTO] Researchers have unlocked a breakthrough that could transform motor neurone disease from an acute terminal illness into a manageable chronic condition. Awareness of the crippling disease has grown in Australia due to AFL legend Neale Daniher’s trailblazing FightMND foundation and the tragic recent diagnosis of 30-year-old NRL star Jai Arrow. Their devastating battles have united the public and sporting codes, driving unprecedented awareness and research funding to fight the disease. Now, a new drug known as R8Y is on track for testing in patients…

During the 2025 Beyond the Blue: Palau Mapping series of expeditions, NOAA Ocean Exploration is working closely with the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) — the organization tasked with the administration of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS), as well as the coordination of related research, outreach, and education activities. In addition to increasing mapping coverage of unexplored areas of the sanctuary, this summer’s expeditions presented a unique and meaningful opportunity to build local capacity in deep-sea science and exploration. Partnering to train Palauan students and early career researchers, NOAA Ocean Exploration and PICRC are working together to prepare…

[Photo: FILE] A man who allegedly raped two women and abducted a person under 18 last month has been released on bail by the Lautoka High Court. Sahil Thomas Valentine, who is charged with two counts of rape and one count of abducting a girl under the age of 18, was granted bail on strict conditions earlier today. It is alleged that the incident happened in Nadi between the 18th and the 19th of this month. It is alleged that he took the teenager from the lawful care of her mother with the intention of having unlawful sexual relations with…

Overview: Marine scientists have confirmed a crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak in Koror’s Ngederrak Conservation Area, prompting calls from officials and reef experts for urgent monitoring and community action to protect one of Palau’s most vital coral ecosystems. By: Laurel Marewibuel Koror, Palau — Marine scientists have identified an outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish in Koror’s Ngederrak Conservation Area, raising concerns among local officials and community members about potential damage to the state’s coral reefs. Professor Peter Mumby of The University of Queensland, who has been monitoring reefs in Ngederrak for several years, delivered the assessment at a recent presentation hosted by the…

Construction of a new $3.4 million Commissioner’s Northern Warehouse in Labasa. [Photo: FILE] Disaster response in the Northern Division is set for a major upgrade with the construction of a new $3.4 million Commissioner’s Northern Warehouse in Labasa, replacing a flood-prone facility that delayed relief efforts during past emergencies. The new warehouse will improve preparedness, protect critical supplies, and strengthen coordination to ensure faster assistance reaches communities. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Minister for Rural Development and Disaster Management Mosese Bulitavu said the project was driven by lessons learned from Tropical Cyclones Yasa and Ana, when flooding at the current…