Author: TMC Palau

[Source: Fiji Rugby/ Facebook] The Fiji Rakavi Football Union Limited (FRFU) has imposed strong disciplinary sanctions following the abuse of a match official during a Vodafone Vanua Championship match between Tavua Rugby Union and Rewa Rugby Union. A Judicial Committee hearing, chaired by a World Rugby Judicial Officer, was held on June 16, 2026, where evidence including match reports, video footage, and witness statements was reviewed. The Judicial Officer found that two Tavua Rugby Union players breached World Rugby Regulation 17, Law 9.28, relating to misconduct towards a match official. The offences included verbal abuse, repeated disrespect of the authority…

Summary Three Indian seafarers were killed in a US strike on an oil tanker carrying Iranian oil on Wednesday. The deaths have sparked public fury in India, with Modi under pressure from some unions. India summoned Washington’s Chargé d’Affaires while Modi is expected to meet Trump at the sidelines of the G7 leaders’ summit next week. AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor. The deaths of three Indian seafarers in a US strike on a commercial oil tanker has prompted public fury in India, and added new friction to an already strained phase between New Delhi and Washington. On…

[PHOTO: SUPPLIED] A much higher and tougher level of competition is expected for this year’s BiC Fiji FACT tournament, as most players rejoin their districts as professional players. A handful of players spent the past six months representing Fiji’s first professional football club at the OFC Pro League competition, playing against some of the best clubs in the region. Fiji Football head of media Avikash Chand says this year’s tournament will be a very different one, featuring the largest number of professional players in Fiji FACT history. Members of the Bula FC, along with a few players who represented other…

From the air, Rock Islands Palau looks almost unreal: hundreds of jungle-topped limestone domes floating in electric-blue water, ringed by pale sand and coral reefs that seem painted rather than natural. Known locally as the Rock Islands, this labyrinth of islets and hidden lagoons fans out south of Koror, Palau’s main town, forming one of the most photogenic seascapes on Earth and a bucket-list destination for divers, kayakers, and ocean lovers. By the AD HOC NEWS Nature & Travel Desk — covers seascapes, national parks, and World Heritage destinations worldwide with practical context for American travelers and nature-focused readers. Rock…

The Ministry further says it will continue to assess operational needs as the force responds to evolving security challenges. [Photo: FIJI POLICE FACEBOOK] The Ministry of Policing has confirmed that there is no plans to routinely arm police officers with firearms, despite growing concerns over their safety during operations. This follows recent incidents in which officers were attacked and assaulted while carrying out law enforcement duties. Permanent Secretary of Policing, Berenado Daveta said the current legislation already allows officers to carry firearms, when necessary, but the present security environment does not warrant routine arming. “For police to be armed? Yeah,…

FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali says the lack of elected local leadership has weakened accountability and prevented communities from properly managing local issues. [Photo: FWCC FACEBOOK]] The Fiji Women’s Crisis Center says the absence of local government elections for nearly two decades is contributing to worsening municipal services and community problems. FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali says the lack of elected local leadership has weakened accountability and prevented communities from properly managing local issues. She adds that local government systems are meant to directly look after communities, but the continued delay in elections has left municipalities struggling to function effectively. Ali says…

Immanuel says research is helping Fiji develop local alternatives to imported products and improve resilience. [Photo: FIJI GOVERNMENT FACEBOOK]] Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel says Fiji’s ability to withstand global shocks will depend heavily on the research and innovation taking place at Koronivia Research Station. Speaking at the Non-Sugar Sector Research Open Day, Immanuel says while Fiji cannot control international conflicts or global carbon emissions, it can strengthen its own response through science and agricultural research. “We cannot control those global conflicts, nor can we stop the external carbon emissions overnight. But we can control our domestic response. And that response…

Vosarogo emphasized that any transition must be managed carefully to avoid undermining investor confidence. [Photo: FILE] The Ministry of Lands is currently reviewing 17 parcels of land referred by the iTaukei Land Trust Board for possible reversion to native ownership. Minister Filimoni Vosarogo says they are now assessing each parcel individually due to the varying land uses and tenure arrangements involved. Vosarogo says some of the properties are partially occupied, others vacant while several are already under lease agreements. He says the process requires careful consideration, including consultation, with existing leaseholders and discussions on the future of those leases should…

The registration for Australia’s “incredibly popular” Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) ballot will open for applications on 1 July, the Australian Department of Home Affairs announced on Wednesday.However, Vanuatu, which has been part of the ballot for the past two years, has been left off the list of eligible countries for the 2026-2027 ballot.The PEV offers permanent residence in Australia for up to 3000 Pacific Islanders from a set of 11 countries, which includes Timor-Leste.It comes as Australia struggles to get Vanuatu to sign the Nakamal Agreement, which would commit the two countries to a security arrangement for ten years, with…

[Source: BBC News] Daveigh Chase, the horror actress who crawled out of a telly in The Ring and who voiced Lilo in Disney’s animated Lilo & Stitch, has died aged 35. Chase, who also starred in the cable drama Big Love, died from sepsis following a bout with meningitis in a Los Angeles hospital, her longtime manager John Ryan Jr confirmed to BBC News on Wednesday. Ryan said that Chase had been admitted to hospital for malnourishment before her death. The former child star began acting at 4 years old, booking her first Hollywood job when she was 7, but…