Author: TMC Palau

[Source: Reuters] Rescuers worked through the night to save hundreds of Venezuelans trapped in rubble and find thousands ​more missing after two of the biggest earthquakes in Latin America’s modern history smashed areas in and around the capital Caracas. The government said 235 dead had been taken to ‌medical centers but did not give a total casualty estimate from the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors that struck about 160 km (100 miles) west of Caracas on Wednesday. A website created to track missing people and shared by opposition leaders from the politically polarized nation listed more than 49,600 people as…

[Photo: FILE] Opposition Member of Parliament Premila Kumar has criticized the 2026-2027 National Budget, describing it as irresponsible and questioning the government’s decision to increase borrowing while revenue declines. Kumar says the government’s debt is expected to rise by $1 billion, while revenue has dropped by $127 million and expenditure has increased compared to the previous financial year. She argues that during challenging economic times, the government should focus on reducing spending before taking on more debt. “My reaction to that is, in fact, it’s a totally irresponsible budget. The debt has increased by $1 billion, revenue has gone down…

The prime ministers of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea held talks on Friday in Port Moresby where they signed a Framework Agreement on Development and Economic Cooperation.It was Matthew Wale’s first official visit to neighbouring PNG since he became Solomon Islands prime minister last month.His counterpart James Marape said the two countries have many business ties, but he’d like to see them increase.”We also agreed that we will look at a concept of free trade that is specially tailored in between Solomon Islands and PNG, and extended to Vanuatu and Fiji, and possibly to the other Pacific Islands family,”…

United Airlines will newly start operation between Narita and Koror (Palau) from October 29!Koror is the central city of the Republic of Palau and is well known as one of the world’s premier diving destinations. Its unique natural landscapes, such as crystal-clear waters, colorful coral reefs, and “Jellyfish Lake —home to non-stinging jellyfish rarely found anywhere else in the world—attract travelers from around the world.Moreover, it offers abundant leisure activities in which visitors can immerse themselves in nature and relaxation, such as mud pack experiences at Milky Way and spectacular cruises among the Rock Islands, giving visitors opportunities to enjoy…

[Photo: File] Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has reaffirmed his support for the new budget announced earlier today, despite growing criticism from the public. The 2026–2027 National Budget has been labelled irresponsible by some members of the Opposition and critics, particularly over the increase in the country’s debt by $1 billion. While referencing the Finance Minister’s statement, Rabuka said the budget is a responsible one that ensures a sustainable future for the country. “And sustainability is relevant because he’s talking about the difficult time that we’re going through and even while we’re going through that difficult time we are looking forward…

Overview: A routine traffic stop in Koror has led to drug possession charges against a local woman after officers spotted suspected methamphetamine paraphernalia in plain view — the latest arrest under Palau’s newly strengthened drug enforcement law. By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang Koror, Palau — A Palauan woman has been charged with drug possession after a late-night traffic stop led officers to discover suspected methamphetamine paraphernalia inside her vehicle. Denitha Tarkong was charged with possession of less than one gram of a controlled substance following a stop that occurred between 11 p.m. and midnight on Aug. 13, 2025, according to a…

[Photo: Supplied] The Government is moving ahead with an approximately $1.5 billion redevelopment of Suva Port. This will be a major transformational project aimed at expanding port capacity, improving operational efficiency, and positioning Fiji as a stronger regional trans-shipment hub in the Pacific. Speaking on the initiative, Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel says the project will be implemented over five years and is expected to support economic growth beyond five percent. “To lift our growth to over 5%, we need to invest in a modern port facility that not only serves to register the logistic requirements, but serves as a…

Overview: Palau invented giant clam farming in the 1970s — then watched the rest of the Pacific build industries from the technology while its own languished. Now, a two-year project funded by New Zealand’s Manaaki Fund and driven by the Palau Aquaculture Alliance is trying to change that. With a new community hatchery producing 25,000 seedlings a year, business training for 90 farmers across six states, and a market framework taking shape, the pieces are finally coming together. But passing critical CITES legislation and sustaining momentum beyond donor funding remain the next big tests. This is the story of a…

Campaigning in New Caledonia officially closes on Friday midnight, local time, two days ahead of election day on Sunday 28 June.The poll will renew the members of New Caledonia’s three provincial assemblies (North, South and the Loyalty Islands).In the following days and well into July, the poll will then determine, on a proportional representation basis, the makeup of New Caledonia territorial Congress and based on that, the makeup of New Caledonia future “collegial” government and its president.Over the past two weeks, campaigning has been intense from running party lists (a total of 23), both on social networks and during political…

[Photo: FILE] Fiji is set to undergo one of the largest infrastructure transformations in its history, with Energy Fiji Limited progressing a $2 billion investment program to accelerate the country’s renewable energy transition. Announced in the 2026–2027 National Budget, the program includes two new hydropower schemes delivering 50 megawatts of baseload power, alongside 165 megawatts of solar generation with battery storage. The investment also covers major grid upgrades, transmission redundancy, and replacement of aging infrastructure. Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel said energy security is now a prerequisite for growth and development, especially after the global fuel crisis underscored Fiji’s vulnerability to…