Author: TMC Palau
[Photo Credit: Reuters] A man accused of committing one of Australia’s worst mass shootings, at Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach last December, has been charged with 19 additional offences. Police say the attack that killed 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration was inspired by Islamic State. They initially charged Naveed Akram with 59 offences in the days following the shooting, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder and a terror offence. Akram’s lawyer, Leonie Gittani, told a court in Sydney on Wednesday that 19 additional charges had been filed, according to reports in local media.Article…
Issued by: on KOROR, Republic of Palau – U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Josh Lasky, commander, Joint Task Force-Micronesia, meets with U.S. Navy Sailors from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1 and U.S. Marines from the U.S Marine Corps Engineer Detachment in Koror State in the Republic of Palau, May 16. During his meetings with the teams, Lasky received updates about current military activities, operations, and responsibilities in the country.Lasky serves as the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Senior Military Officer for the Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands,…
[Photo Credit: AAP] Sienna Miller is engaged. The Factory Girl actress and partner Oli Green welcomed their second child earlier in 2026 and now it has been revealed they are getting married. The 44-year-old star – who also has daughter Marlowe, 13, with former partner Tom Sturridge, and a two-year-old daughter with Green – stepped out in Spain last week sporting a huge diamond ring on her engagement finger and E! News confirmed the sparkler is an engagement ring. The couple are largely private about their lives, keeping their kids out of the public eye, and it only emerged Miller…
Papua New Guinea ‘s national parliament in Waigani. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades Papua New Guinea’s parliament has set a higher than expected threshold for the vote on ratification of Bougainville’s independence. The national parliament has adopted the Sessional Order which will allow it to formally consider the result of the 2019 referendum in Bougainville in which 97.7 percent of people voted for independence. PNG’s parliament has the final say on whether to ratify this non-binding result, but the Speaker of Parliament has controversially set a high threshold for the vote on ratification, prompting an accusation about a lack of…
On the afternoon of June 8 local time (afternoon of the same day Taipei time), Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao visited a farm operated by the Taiwan Technical Mission in the Republic of Palau. In remarks, Vice President Hsiao stated that the technical mission has long been dedicated to collaboration in agriculture, aquaculture, education, and information technology, helping to promote the development of Palau’s industries and deepen the two countries’ friendship. She said that by continuing to leverage professional technical cooperation, both sides can help to address development needs in Palau and work together to promote sustainable development. Upon her arrival,…
[Source: Supplied] Watching Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel growing up inspired Simione Tamanisau to become a goalkeeper, a choice that has led to a career spanning nearly three decades. Now a former national rep and current Labasa custodian, Tamanisau remains deeply connected to the game as the FIFA World Cup gets underway. He continues to support Brazil and Argentina, teams he has followed since his youth. “The way Schmeichel commanded himself on the field, and especially off the field, really motivated me to try and become good in the position I played.”Article continues after advertisement The veteran keeper says the…
Taipei, June 10 (CNA) China has been “weaponizing” tourism in Palau by restricting travel by Chinese tourists, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said Wednesday, and she urged Taiwanese to visit the tropical island country.”Palau has in recent years been affected by China weaponizing tourism as a means of coercion,” Hsiao, who was visiting Palau, one of Taiwan’s three Pacific allies, said while speaking with the media on the last day of her visit.The number of Chinese tourists to Palau has often fluctuated dramatically according to controls placed by Beijing, she said.Palau’s own tourism statistics bear that out, hitting a high…
[Photo: FILE] Strong public support for major constitutional reform, particularly changes to Fiji’s electoral system has emerged during nationwide consultations. Constitution Review Committee Chairperson Sevuloni Valenitabua says submissions from across the country have consistently called for changes to the current voting system. He says many people want a return to the multi-constituency model used before the 2013 Constitution, replacing the current single national constituency arrangement. “We all know that now we have one national constituency, but all over Fiji, the places where we have visited, all over Fiji we have heard that there needs to be a change, that we…
China has been “weaponizing” tourism in Palau by restricting travel by Chinese tourists, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said today, and she urged Taiwanese to visit the tropical island nation.”Palau has in recent years been affected by China weaponizing tourism as a means of coercion,” Hsiao said while speaking with reporters on the last day of her visit to the diplomatic ally. Photo: CNA The number of Chinese tourists to Palau has often fluctuated dramatically according to controls placed by Beijing, she said. Palau’s own tourism statistics bear that out, hitting a high of 91,095 visitors from China in 2015,…
State of the Economy Dialogue 2026 Panelists [Photo: Litia Cava] The increase in ministerial positions and related costs, including salaries, vehicles, support staff, travel and administration is tightening pressure on Fiji’s public finances. This, according to former Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. He said the combined effect of these expenses was significantly tightening the national budget. “When you have an entire political party, the largest political party, having every single member of its parliament being made ministers and assistant ministers, you tend to worry. The other two coalition partners, maybe you can agree, because that was what was needed to entice…