Author: TMC Palau

The bond between the Pacific and the whare ariki o Te Wherowhero (the house of chief Te Wherowhero) continues to grow stronger ahead of reigning Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po’s second koroneihana (coronation) celebrations, a Kiingitanga spokesperson says.Pacific traditional leaders to gather at Maori koroneihanaAriki (chiefs) from across the Pacific will congregate onto Tūrangawaewae Marae (the official headquarters of the Kiingitanga)later this week, embodying an age-old connection, through whakapapa (genealogy), reo (language) and culture.Kiingitanga spokesperson Rahui Papa said the ancient connections between the Kiingitanga movement (Māori King movement) and the great houses of the…

Palau’s booming tourism recovery is giving its direct air link with Australia a major boost.The Palau Paradise Express will now operate until at least November 2027, with Qantas adding a second weekly Brisbane-Koror flight from December to meet rising demand.The service has carried more than 15,400 passengers since it launched in 2024, helping Australian visitor numbers to Palau surge by 68 per cent in the first seven months of this year.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the extension during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Koror after meeting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr on Tuesday.“Palau is a close friend…

The Australian Government, in agreement with Qantas, will extend the Palau Paradise Express direct air service between Brisbane and Koror through to 30 November 2027, in response to strong passenger growth.Qantas will also increase flights to twice weekly during Palau’s peak season, starting this December.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement following a meeting with his Palauan counterpart, President Surangel Whipps Jr., while in Koror, Palau for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting.This will provide additional flexibility for travellers, give more Australians the chance to visit one of the Pacific’s premier destinations and strengthen Palau’s economy through tourism and…

SYDNEY – China said it had serious concerns about Taiwan’s presence at the annual Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, warning of “consequences” after the democratically ruled island attended the group’s opening ceremony on Monday. China views Taiwan as its own territory, and China-Taiwan tensions have featured prominently at the meeting, which was intended to demonstrate regional unity. “There will always be consequences,” Qian Bo, China’s special envoy for Pacific island affairs, said of Taiwan attending the event. “It’s not a threat,” he said without specifying what the consequences would be. “This is objected to by all, so this should not have…

Vanuatu is trying to bring a decades-old dispute with France over two uninhabited islands before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ top court said on Tuesday.The ICJ, also known as the World Court, will not immediately accept the case because France has not agreed to so-called compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ over its disputes with other states. Vanuatu’s claim has been sent to Paris to see whether France agrees to let the court take it on, the ICJ said.”No action will be taken in the proceedings unless and until France consents to the Court’s jurisdiction in the…

The Prime Minister has refused to criticise China’s threatening behaviour towards Australia’s Pacific neighbours as the region’s leaders gather in Palau for annual talks which this year include official observers from Taiwan.Beijing has warned there will be “consequences” for Taiwan’s presence at this year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting after the democratic island’s foreign minister appeared at the event’s opening ceremony overnight.China’s Pacific envoy Qian Bo said his nation had “serious concerns” about the space being given to the nation which it claims as its own territory, although he insisted Beijing had the “understanding and support” of most Pacific countries.Sign…

Afghanistan’s restrictions on girls’ secondary and higher education are the immediate barrier to women’s education. But even if these restrictions are eventually removed, access will also depend on attitudes within households and communities. In a new study published in Review of Development Economics, we look at the demand side of women’s education, which has been less prominent in discussions on this issue. We argue that the demand side is as important as the supply side. Our study adds a household political-economy perspective on women’s education in Afghanistan. Social norms and household bargaining will influence whether restored rights can be exercised…

The island nation of Palau is preparing to host the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting for the third time in more than five decades. Leaders from 18 member countries will convene in Koror to discuss the region’s priorities.  For the Palau Media Council (representing journalists, broadcasters and media workers), PIF prompted a training opportunity for covering a major event. ABC International Development (ABCID) delivered skills development to the Palau Media Council as part of the Regional Media Support Fund (RMSF) supported by the Australian Government. Training focused on reporting skills for major events coverage, as well as etiquette in covering…

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Country United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People’s Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People’s Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic…

The prime minister is brushing off threats to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)’s authority, talking up his confidence in turning the grouping into a centralising force for the region.Christopher Luxon denies the forum’s clout is weakened by five leaders’ absence; by its inability to reach consensus on condemning China’s recent ballistic missile test; or by a series of recent bilateral deals between Australia and Pacific neighbours.He said a deal with the United States to build a port in the Cook Islands is not sending a message to Beijing, and is optimistic the forum could emulate and pair up with the…