Author: TMC Palau
Issued by: on KOROR, Republic of Palau – U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Josh Lasky, commander, Joint Task Force-Micronesia, meets with Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr. and National Security Coordinator Jennifer Anson in Koror State in the Republic of Palau, May 18, 2026. During the meeting, the leaders discussed ongoing efforts of the U.S. to maintain the defense and security of Palau under Title 3 of the Compact of Free Association, and opportunities for partnership in the future. Lasky serves as the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Senior Military Officer for the Republic of…
[Photo: FILE] The government has not been able to confirm how many rural families have been lifted out of poverty since taking office. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in his written response to Parliament stated that no updated national poverty figures are currently available to measure the impact. Responding to Opposition MP Vijay Nath, Rabuka said any attempt to provide a precise number would be premature, as Fiji is still relying on the 2019–2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey. He told Parliament it would be methodologically unsound to quantify rural poverty reduction without verified data from the ongoing survey cycle.Article continues…
Far from the usual Pacific cruise routes, Rock Islands Palau near Koror turns a simple boat ride into a maze of jade-green limestone, secret lagoons, and WWII relics that feels unlike anywhere else in Micronesia. As the boat leaves Koror and the jungle-clad limestone towers of the Rock Islands Palau rise out of glass-clear water, the rest of the world drops away. The Rock Islands (the local name widely used across Palau) are not a single island at all, but an otherworldly seascape of hundreds of mushroom-shaped islets, hidden lagoons, and coral shallows that glow in impossible shades of blue.…
Fiji Football president Rajesh Patel has issued a stern warning to members of the Extra Bula FC squad who have declined a national team call-up for a four-day tour of Vanuatu. Patel said one of the key reasons behind the formation of Bula FC, Fiji’s first professional football club, is to develop players and create a pathway for them to represent the nation on the international stage. He stressed that refusing a national call-up could carry serious consequences, with players potentially facing restrictions on representing Bula FC, the national team, or even their respective districts. Patel revealed that several Bula…
[Photo: FILE] Tobacco-related diseases are killing about 1,200 people in Fiji every year, with health officials warning the habit is also pushing more young people towards harder drug use. The concern was raised during the World No Tobacco Day commemoration in Vunivutu Village, Macuata, where Tobacco Control Enforcement Unit Manager Malelili Nakulanikoro highlighted the rising impact on young people and communities. According to the health official, there is a widespread misconception that tobacco is a safer alternative to cigarettes. “We had conducted an analysis to find out the level of nicotine and tar in cigarettes and also in suki. And…
[Photo: FILE] Outsourcing elective surgeries to private facilities has helped reduce the backlog at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital during ongoing renovations. Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu highlighted this in Parliament while updating the house on the status of operating theatres and broader upgrades at CWM Hospital. Dr Lalabalavu says four of the hospital’s eight operating theatres are currently operational, while the remaining four are under renovation. “The major work left to be carried out is the medical gas piping work by Oceania Gas and we will need to work on the wall outlets.”Article continues after advertisement Dr Lalabalavu admitted…
[Photo: FILE] School levies will not be used to block student enrolment under the new Education Bill 2025, says Education Minister Aseri Radrodro. He clarified concerns that allowing schools to impose levies could place financial pressure on parents and open the door to possible abuse by some school managements. However, Radrodro stressed that any school wishing to impose a levy must first obtain approval from the Permanent Secretary for Education. Thus, Opposition MP Premila Kumar reiterated that children from low-income families should not be burdened with school levies.Article continues after advertisement “Children who come from low-income homes should be exempt…
[Photo: FIJI RUGBY/ FACEBOOK] The Fiji Airways Men’s 7s team thumped New Zealand 40-nil in the Valladolid 7s quarterfinal in Spain this morning. They will play Australia in the semifinal at 8:44pm tonight in the first semifinal. It was a clinical display against a new-look New Zealand outfit, with Fiji dominating the match. George Bose scored a double while Tomasi Stark, Terio Veilawa, Akuila Dranivotua and Nacani Boginisoko scored a try each.Article continues after advertisement The national side was leading 12-nil at the break. Fiji bounced back from their 14-12 loss to hosts Spain in the final pool match this…
Overview: Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat has confirmed that Vanuatu will move forward with signing two major strategic cooperation agreements — the Nakamal Agreement with Australia and the Namele Agreement with China — after months of negotiations and debate over sovereignty concerns. The government says both deals are focused on cooperation and development, not security pacts, as Port Vila seeks to balance ties with global partners while protecting national interests. PORT VILA, 22 MAY 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) —-Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat has confirmed the government will sign the landmark Nakamal Agreement with Australia, as well as the Namele…
[Source: Reuters] A U.S. immigration agent was arrested in Texas on Friday, nearly two weeks after a Minnesota prosecutor took the unusual step of charging him with assaulting a Venezuelan man in a non-fatal shooting in Minneapolis this year. Christian Castro, an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime for shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg on January 14, at the height of President Donald Trump’s aggressive and hotly protested deportation surge in Minnesota. It is extremely rare for state prosecutors to charge federal law…