Author: TMC Palau
We arrived in Aseki in the dark and rain. The road had already turned to mud. The climb from Lae had taken the full day, but the new road into Kaintiba still lay ahead. Connect PNG can bring roads to communities that have never had vehicle access before. This stretch will become the highway linking Lae, and with it the Highlands, to Port Moresby. Here, at the inner edge of Anga country, what that would mean on the ground was uncertain. Could this road carry services — medicine, textbooks, law — into places outsiders rarely see and few travel through?…
Current pricing pressures are not unique to Fiji but reflect broader international trends. [Photo: FILE] Sugarcane Growers Council Chief Executive Vimal Dutt is warning farmers that abandoning their farms means abandoning the industry. Dutt states that such a move can have serious consequences. His comments come as farmers express frustration over falling returns and rising production costs. The farmers have raised concerns over the announced forecast cane price, arguing it is insufficient to cover rising harvesting and delivery costs. However, Dutt says farmers’ grievances have been acknowledged and addressed through formal industry channels.Article continues after advertisement He stresses that following…
The proposed memorandum of understanding calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports. The United States and Iran signalled on Friday that an agreement to end their war was close, with a senior U.S. administration official saying both sides had agreed on a text and that Washington expects to sign an initial deal in the coming days. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said changes were still possible, but the tentative agreement showed his country had emerged stronger from the conflict. “Iran is the winner of the war with the U.S.,” he said…
Overview: A major shift in Tokelau’s relationship with New Zealand could have far-reaching economic and political consequences for the small Pacific territory. Newly revealed documents indicate Wellington has moved to reclaim control over Tokelau’s fisheries management, a decision that could strip the territory of millions in annual revenue and reignite debate over its future self-governance aspirations. WELLINGTON/NUKUNONU, 11 JUNE 2026 (PACIFIC NEWSROOM) — The New Zealand Government has quietly killed off Tokelau’s bid for increasing autonomy, minutes of a crucial regional fishing body reveal. They show that while Tokelau was earning about US$8 million per year — roughly 46 percent…
The Ministry stresses that the investigation will not seek to apportion blame or liability. [Photo: FILE] The Ministry of Civil Aviation has appointed Captain Norman Walding to lead the investigation into the incident involving a Robinson R44 helicopter. The incident occurred on Thursday in the Boat Club area in Wailoaloa, Nadi. Preliminary information obtained from the Nadi Air Traffic Control Tower logbook indicates that the aircraft, which was operating a flight from Nadi to Denarau, was observed descending toward the Boat Club vicinity. A distress call was subsequently transmitted, prompting the immediate activation of emergency response procedures.Article continues after advertisement…
Source: Reuters Four British pro-Palestinian activists were sentenced to a total of more than 20 years over a 2024 raid on a factory operated by Israeli defence firm Elbit which caused more than £1 million of damage, with the judge giving longer terms after determining there was a “terrorism connection.” Charlotte Head, 30, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Zainab Rajwani, 21, were members of the banned group Palestine Action, which organised the assault on the Elbit Systems UK facility in Bristol, southwest England, two years ago. They were convicted of criminal damage at Woolwich Crown Court in…
[Source: FIFA World Cup/ Facebook] Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina have played out a 1–1 draw in their Group B clash at the FIFA World Cup, with both sides sharing the points at Toronto Stadium. Bosnia and Herzegovina took the lead in the first half through Jovo Lukic, who scored in the 21st minute to put the visitors ahead. Canada pushed hard for an equaliser and were rewarded late in the second half when substitute Cyle Larin found the net in the 78th minute to level the match. Despite chances at both ends in the closing stages, neither side was…
Overview: A new regional partnership aims to strengthen investigative and anti-corruption journalism across the Pacific. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) have launched a program that will provide training, grants and resources to journalists, reinforcing the media’s role in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance throughout the region. SUVA, 11 JUNE 2026(UNODC/PINA)—The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) signed a partnership agreement on 10 June 2026, launching a new regional initiative to strengthen anti-corruption journalism and promote transparency across the Pacific,…
On Ulong Island in Palau, scientists have documented signs that seabirds are returning, nutrients are once again moving from land into the surrounding ocean, and nearby coral reefs are already showing positive changes. What makes the findings remarkable is the timing. These changes appeared just one year after invasive rats were removed from the island. For years, conservation experts believed that benefits from island restoration might take many years to reach nearby marine ecosystems. The new results suggest the process can begin much sooner.Rats disrupted island ecosystemsInvasive rats have caused serious ecological damage on islands around the world.…
Singh says the delayed start of the Lautoka Mill has already impacted operations. [Photo: FILE] Fiji Sugar Corporation Ltd Chief Executive Bhan Pratap Singh, is calling for all three sugar mills to commence operations next week as scheduled, stressing the importance of meeting both local and export market demands. Singh says the delayed start of the Lautoka Mill has already impacted operations, and any further postponement could create significant challenges for the industry. He warns that sugar stocks are rapidly declining and supplies for the local market could be exhausted by the end of this month if milling operations do…