Author: TMC Palau

A tropical cyclone alert is now in force for the Cook Islands.The Cook Islands Meteorological Service (CIMS) said tropical depression TD01F is moving south towards the Southern Cook Islands.It said the system is expected to strengthen and may develop into a category 1 tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours.At 8am local time, TD01F was located approximately about 352 km north of the ow lying coral atoll, Suwarrow.The system currently has sustained winds of around 46 km/h near its centre. It is moving southwards and is expected to turn south-southeastwards.On its current forecast track, the system is expected to pass…

Some Papua New Guinea parliamentarians are calling for tougher laws against violent criminals who they say should be categorised as “terrorists”.It comes as PNG police released details of a counter-terrorism operation in Southern Highlands province, in which they seized a cache of high-powered weapons and military-grade explosives.Various districts in PNG have been experiencing a surge in activity by criminal groups, according to MPs during discussion this week in parliament.Oro governor Gary Juffa said that in his province, criminal organisations have been engaging in “brutal, violent crimes, killings, injury to innocent people and disruption of especially health and education services”.”These criminal…

The traditional paramount chief of Lau province in Fiji says immunity clauses sheltering past coup leaders cannot be a stand-alone discussion.Ratu Tevita Mara said Fijians should also confront the economic disparity, and the drug and HIV crisis in iTaukei communities, as the public consultation phase of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill begins this week.He warned that conditions behind the nation’s past upheavals remain unaddressed and the immunity cover protecting past coup leaders from prosecution cannot be addressed in isolation.The Fiji Supreme Court, in an advisory opinion in August, said that immunity provisions in the 2013 Constitution cannot be changed.Ratu Tevita said…

In our previous post, we revealed that in the Pacific Engagement Visa’s (PEV) first two years 4,006 visas have been issued. How have they been distributed across countries? As intended, PNG has been the big winner with 44% of the visas issued, followed by Fiji and Timor-Leste with 13% each. So, it is clear who the winners are in absolute terms. It is the larger countries. What about in relative terms — that is, relative to PEV quotas? The final quotas for the first two years, and the preliminary quota for the current year, are presented below. In both of…

Emily and Charles Looker (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Te Ata, Ngāti Mutunga) – who perform as Aro – won the APRA Maioha award, which recognises contemporary te reo Māori waiata. Their winning song ‘Puna Ora’ was one of two of their works that made the shortlist. Source link

Oct 16, 2026 – 5.00amStep on board and step out of your shoes – barefoot is the rule for all on this floating luxury resort, and there’s no better feeling to kick off a holiday.The Four Seasons Explorer cruises perpetually around the Micronesian rock islands of Palau, a bright white beacon among the dreamy lagoon blues and rainforest greens. It anchors in the most impossibly picturesque places and operates at least three snorkelling and diving expeditions a day, in between land tours and seriously good onboard dining.Loading… Source link

Nuclear power is safe and should be considered as an alternative energy source, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands leader says.David Apatang believes that the safety record of nuclear-powered US Navy submarines and aircraft carriers is proof that nuclear technology should be explored to replace the territory’s ageing diesel-powered generators and reduce electricity costs.”I know that whenever you mention something like nuclear, everybody starts panicking, but it’s safe,” Apatang told reporters during a press conference.He said the US military’s use of nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers demonstrates the technology’s reliability.”There’s no record that there’s an accident about nuclear issues since…

All eight Pacific Island teams competing at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup have named their line-ups for the first round of matches this upcoming weekend.Toa Samoa will be the first island team in action Friday, meeting France in Sydney, while Fetu Samoa kick off the women’s competition against Australia later on Friday night.Matches on Saturday will see the Papua New Guinea Kumuls take on Lebanon and the PNG Orchids face France, with both games hosted in Port Moresby.Tonga will battle England in Perth late Saturday night, with Fiji and the Cook Islands clashing on Sunday, while Fiji Bulikula meet…

Pacific households facing bleak economic reality in NZPeople running foodbanks in South Auckland say poverty is deepening among the Pacific community, and the high demand they are seeing is the just tip of the iceberg.Persistent high rents and basic living costs, plus nagging debt, continue to leave Pasifika families facing tough decisions on whether to pay bills or feed their children.As New Zealand gets ready to head to the polls, and the cost of living looms as the biggest issue for voters, the government has been touting its stewardship of the economy and signs of recovery.But it is a different…

The Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL), the trademark owners of the Mate Ma’a Tonga (MMT) brand, has clarified it is not acting as a barrier to the country’s much-loved men’s national rugby team from using the name.It comes after the Tonga Rugby League 13 (TRL 13) said that Tonga would not be using the MMT name at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup due to differences between the TNRL and the International Rugby League-recognised national federation in the kingdom.In a statement to RNZ Pacific on Thursday, the TNRL board of directors said claims by the TRL 13 chairman and Tonga’s…