Author: TMC Palau

Photo: RNZ New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has rejected an expert’s suggestion that it “misplaced” hundreds of millions in aid funding. Budget 2026 set out $1.2 billion in foreign aid spending this fiscal year, around $116m more than last year. It also front-loaded $110 million for the next three years, exclusively for the Indo-Pacific. But the budget estimates showed that MFAT spent $162 million less on foreign aid in 2024-25 financial year than it had set out in previous years. Development expert Terence Wood, a fellow at the Australian National University, who scrutinises NZ aid, said…

ABC International Development Director of Engagement and Programs Aaron Kearney Speaking at the Pacific Media Partnership Conference 2026 in Port Moresby. Rising operational costs and rapid digital disruption are placing significant pressure on Pacific broadcasters as global platforms continue to reshape how audiences access and consume news and entertainment. Speaking at the Pacific Media Partnership Conference 2026 in Port Moresby, ABC International Development Director of Engagement and Programs Aaron Kearney says the industry is now facing challenges driven largely by external forces, including algorithm changes, big tech dominance, fragmented audiences and artificial intelligence. He says broadcasters can no longer afford…

A one-year-old child has died following a motor vehicle accident along the Nadi back road, renewing calls for greater road safety and child protection. Police say the child was one of two passengers in a vehicle driven by a 39-year-old man when it veered off the road and landed in a drain on the morning of 2 May 2026. The child was rushed to Nadi Hospital, where medical officials confirmed the death. Initial findings suggest driver fatigue may have contributed to the crash, although investigations are ongoing and the driver is expected to be questioned.Article continues after advertisement Authorities are…

Prime Minister Rabuka speaking at the Cakaudrove Provincial Council Meeting today. Despite the economic and social challenges facing the country, the people of Cakaudrove have been commended for their resilience and continued commitment to development. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka made the remarks while opening the Cakaudrove Provincial Council meeting in Korotasere, saying the progress achieved in many rural communities reflects the strength of collective action and community leadership. Rabuka says rural development cannot be achieved by government alone, but requires the support and participation of communities, traditional leaders, and the vanua. “I’ve seen a lot of progress in most villages…

Papua New Guinea’s national women’s cricket team. Photo: Cricket PNG Papua New Guinea’s national women’s cricket team, the Lewas, are the country’s ‘Team of the Year’. Cricket PNG said the award was presented at the 2026 SP Sports Awards in Port Moresby on Saturday, recognising the team’s “outstanding and historic 2025 season”. “The prestigious award acknowledges the Lewas’ remarkable achievements over the past year, which saw the national women’s team establish itself as one of the leading emerging team in international women’s cricket,” Cricket PNG said. “The PNG Lewas dominated international regional competition by winning the 2025 ICC Women’s T20…

Diabetes Fiji Executive Director Kini Marawa Diabetes Fiji is calling for dedicated government funding, warning that diabetes remains the country’s leading cause of death. The organization’s Executive Director, Kini Marawa, says the fight against diabetes is not merely a health issue but a national development, economic, and social justice crisis that requires urgent action and greater state investment. Speaking ahead of the 2026-27 National Budget announcement, Marawa called on the Government to strengthen diabetes services nationwide by allocating at least $1 million directly to Diabetes Fiji. He emphasizes that every person diagnosed deserves access to quality healthcare, life-saving medication, education,…

[File Photo] The 2025 National HIV statistics reveal that men accounted for 66 percent of the cases, women made up nearly 40 percent, and transgender individuals represented less than one percent. The report also highlights that the epidemic continues to heavily affect the iTaukei population, making up 94 percent of all cases, while Fijians of Indian descent accounted for five percent, and other ethnic groups less than one percent. Last year, there were 2,016 newly registered cases, marking the highest annual number since HIV surveillance began in the country. There were 117 HIV-related deaths, and alarmingly, 85 percent of those…

By Esme Yeh / Staff reporter The non-motorized canoe Alingano Maisu sailed more than 10,000km from Palau to Pingtung County’s Dapeng Bay (大鵬灣) and is to sail into the Port of Kaohsiung tomorrow.This is the second time that Maisu, a canoe guided solely by celestial navigation, landed in Taiwan, following a visit in May last year.Hunter School founder Sakinu Ahronglong and member Cudjuy Isumalji, indigenous people of Paiwan, were among the 13 crew members aboard Maisu. Photo courtesy of Paichi Shein They were led by captain and celestial navigator Sesario Sewralur.A crew member said the canoe encountered a storm that…

[Source: AP] K-pop band BTS, Benson Boone, Cardi B, Lainey Wilson, Major Lazer, Muse, Snoop Dogg and Zara Larsson are among the performers this fall at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. It will be broadcast live. The lineup for the event, which will take place Sept. 18-19 at the T-Mobile Arena, also includes Weezer, Goo Goo Dolls and Kenny Chesney. More artists will be announced at a later date. Ryan Seacrest will once again host, and fans can hear it all on iHeartMedia radio stations or watch it streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. The general public can…

PNG’s MPs have been debating whether to ratify Bougainville’s vote for independence Photo: RNZ / Russell Palmer The Autonomous Bougainville Government has hit back at a Papua New Guinea MP’s attack on it during debate about the autonomous PNG region’s political future status. The PNG parliament has begun debating whether to ratify Bougainville’s overwhelming vote for independence, as a bipartisan committee on Bougainville Affairs tabled its report on public consultations over the outcome of the region’s landmark referendum. The non-binding referendum held in Bougainville in 2019 saw a resounding 97.7 percent of people vote in favour of independence – but…