Author: TMC Palau
Cash set aside to host the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Meeting (PIFLM) in New Zealand next year may fall short of what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) expected it to cost.RNZ Pacific has received a document from MFAT under the Official Information Act (OIA) that puts potential operating costs at $30 million over two years, as of March.Budget 2026 set aside $20m over that time to host PIFLM.An MFAT spokesperson said that due to “subsequent work to clarify expectations and scope, and to tighten cost estimates”, they now expected the budget to cover it.When asked specifically how…
Religious scholars signing an appeal requesting an end to Chairman Lee’s detention. Concerns Raised at European Academy of Religion’s International Conference Held in Rome—Strong Appeals Over Violation of International Law. European scholars of religion are making strong appeals to the South Korean government to release Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old Chairman of Shincheonji Church, who remains in detention. Chairman Lee was detained on 24 June on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act and was indicted on 30 June. The Joint Police–Prosecution Investigation Headquarters alleges that, between July 2021 and January 2024, he directed the mass registration of approximately…
Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu in action against South Africa last weekend. Managing fatigue will be a key focus for Scotland ahead of Sunday’s Nations Championship encounter against the Flying Fijians. Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu says the team has endured a demanding travel schedule in recent weeks, having played matches in Argentina and South Africa before heading to face Fiji. Despite the challenges, Tuipulotu believes recovery and preparation will be crucial as Scotland braces for another physical Test match. “I think we just need to travel well. It’s been a lot of travel over the past couple of weeks. We need…
Stock images of artificial intelligence apps. [Photo Credit: AAP Image/Jono Searle] A landmark move to regulate Australia’s AI uptake from the prime minister’s department would just create more bureaucracy, the opposition says. Anthony Albanese plans to take a leading role managing the nation’s approach to the artificial intelligence revolution, declaring an end to the government’s current case-by-case approach. In a speech on Wednesday, Mr Albanese will compare AI’s impact on society to that of commercial air travel 100 years ago, promising to establish an AI office within his department after months of pressure from the tech industry and advocates concerned…
Vanuatu will escalate a decades-long dispute with France over two uninhabited islands to international arbitrators.Vanuatu says independence incomplete without disputed islandsPacific WavesTalks between the two countries left everything to be desired on June 30th, with neither country budging on its claim of sovereignty.The Matthew and Hunter Islands have been controlled by France for decades, even after Vanuatu became independent. But Vanuatu says it will never truly be independent without its Umaenupne and Umaeneag islands, sacred to the Aneityum people.This impasse became the undoing of “intense” and “heated” talks, as Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Koanapo told reporters on Friday, two weeks…
Tom Cruise is almost unrecognisable in the trailer for his new film Digger. [Photo Credit: AAP Photo] The trailer for Tom Cruise’s latest film sees him transform into “the most powerful man in the world”. Cruise, 64, is starring in Digger, a satirical black comedy directed by Alejandro G Inarritu, who directed Birdman and The Revenant. A brief synopsis for the film has teased: “The most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s saviour before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.” The trailer kicks off with a voiceover of Cruise’s character Digger…
The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía’s 2026–2027 season features a programme that is sure to delight opera lovers.From Verdi to Mozart, via Adams, Wagner and Bizet, the stage of this Valencian venue is set to become a home for opera, featuring major productions, world-class conductors and international vocalists.You can expect to cry, be moved, and leave the theatre with goosebumps.Here are the must-see events!17 and 18 September 2026 — “Estètica i massacre” by Carles PratA contemporary production that reflects on the contradictions of today’s society, blending the beauty of art with the harshness of reality in a striking staging.29 September…
olice tape at a crime scene where a building was destroyed in a suspected fire bombing last night in Richmond, Melbourne. [Photo Credit: AAP Image/James Ross] A man has died in an early morning shooting, prompting a homicide investigation. Emergency services were called to North Rocks Rd, Carlingford, in Sydney’s northwest shortly after 7am on Wednesday, following reports of a shooting. Officers from The Hills Police Area Command found the man, aged in his 30s, with significant injuries inside a car. He was unable to be revived and died at the scene.Article continues after advertisement He is yet to be…
The end of coach Didier Deschamps’ Midas-like reign turned into a Tantalus torment as France suffered a comprehensive World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain, but Les Bleus’ recent heartbreaks will not tarnish an unprecedented legacy. France lost the 2022 World Cup final to Argentina and have now fallen to Spain in three straight major semi-finals, at Euro 2024, the Nations League and Tuesday’s 2-0 World Cup defeat. Yet Deschamps, who took charge in 2012 with French football still scarred by their mutiny and humiliation at the World Cup in South Africa two years earlier, will be remembered above all as…
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has announced a cabinet reshuffle, which sees him personally take up the important Correctional Services portfolio.The former Correctional Services minister Joe Kuli is one of several MPs who are now leaving the cabinet, along with the only female cabinet member, Kessy Sawang, who Marape sayid was leaving for health reasons.New faces in the executiveA statement on the reshuffle from the prime minister’s office gave the following details:Kessy Sawang (Rai Coast)Sekie Agisa (South Fly)Joe Kuli (Anglimp-South Waghi)Lucas Dawa Dekena (Gumine)Timothy Masiu (South Bougainville)Simon Kilepa (Lufa)Robert Naguri (Bogia) – Minister for Information and Communications TechnologyJohn…