Author: TMC Palau

[Photo: FILE] Fiji is seeking to secure its fuel supply chain against global market volatility and geopolitical tensions. Foreign Affairs Minister Sakiasi Ditoka met with Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt in Australia to discuss emergency contingency planning and diversified supply lines. As a small island developing state heavily reliant on imported fuel, Fiji is highly vulnerable to global disruptions. Ditoka adds that price spikes directly impact the country’s cost of living, tourism, aviation, shipping, and electricity generation.Article continues after advertisement While Fiji is pursuing renewable energy goals, the discussions highlighted that conventional fuels will remain critical to maintaining Pacific economic…

The manager of the tanker Settebello has accused the U.S. Navy of causing the deaths of three Indian seafarers and challenged key elements of the U.S. military’s justification for the strike, setting up a direct dispute over whether warnings were issued and whether the vessel was involved in transporting Iranian oil. In a public statement released Thursday, Dubai-based IOS Marine FZE, manager of the Palau-flagged tanker, called for a full international investigation into the June 9 incident in the Gulf of Oman that resulted in the first confirmed seafarer fatalities linked to enforcement of Washington’s blockade of Iran. “Three innocent lives have…

The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) has called on ASEAN Member States to support the Republic of Palau, which this week made history by submitting the world’s first formal notification to the United Nations (UN) requesting that nicotine – the toxic and highly addictive drug found in cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches – be placed under  international drug control (see www.nicotinereview.org). Nicotine is also known to cause cardiovascular disease, promote cancer, and harm the developing adolescent brain with long-term cognitive and behavioral consequences. “We may be a small nation, but the scale of a problem has…

NSW Police divers and marine assets were deployed in the search for the young girl. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) Police are investigating all possible leads after a father and his young daughter died in a busy city waterway. The pair had taken a rented boat out on Parramatta River near Concord in Sydney’s inner west on Saturday when the body of the man in his 40s was found floating in the water just before midday. His seven-year-old daughter had also gone missing overboard before specialist police divers recovered her body hours later. Burwood police superintendent Christine McDonald says investigations into the…

[File Photo] The National Archives of Fiji says the absence of a local institution dedicated to training archivists remains one of the sector’s key challenges. Director Timoci Balenaivalu highlighted the issue during International Archives Day celebrations, saying the institution is relying heavily on internal training and overseas opportunities to build the next generation of records management professionals. Balenaivalu emphasized that the Archives is currently focused on strengthening staff capacity while continuing its work to preserve Fiji’s documentary heritage. “And as you also know, archives, the profession, we don’t have the institution that trains them locally. So, most of the people…

[Source: AP] Taylor Swift became the youngest woman ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night at age 36. “It was instinctual. No one taught me how to do it,” she said of songwriting through a raspy voice she attributed to screaming along to the night’s performances and Wednesday night’s historic NBA game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. She told the room about her family uprooting their lives to move her from Pennsylvania to Nashville, Tennessee, as a tween. “I will never be able to express my gratitude,” the singer-songwriter said while holding…

[Source: Fiji Football Association/Facebook] Suva FC has received a major boost ahead of the BiC Fiji FACT 2026 after securing Glamada as its major sponsor for the prestigious tournament in Labasa. The sponsorship ramps up preparations for one of Fiji’s biggest football competitions. Suva FC president Nitin Singh says the partnership comes at an important time as the team looks to make a strong impression at the tournament. “Today is a special day for the Suva Football Club family as we officially welcome Glamada as our major sponsor for the upcoming BiC Fiji FACT 2026 in Labasa.”Article continues after advertisement…

SANTA RITA, Guam — Partners from the Freely Associated States of Micronesia, the U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, and Australian Maritime Security Advisers under the Pacific Maritime Security Program, concluded Operation Irensia 2026 June 7, completing a 13-day multilateral maritime security exercise and law enforcement training program that brought together patrol boat crews from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands at Apra Harbor. “Operation Irensia reflects what genuine partnership looks like in the Pacific. The crews who trained alongside us this week returned home with sharper skills and stronger…

[File Photo] The proposed Public Health Amendment Bill 2026 could become a cause of concern for families in villages and informal settlements who struggle to afford proper wastewater systems. Standing Committee on Social Affairs member Viam Pillay warns that enforcing penalties without providing support could create tension between households with adequate sanitation and those living in settlements. He says improving public health standards should not come at the cost of dividing vulnerable communities already facing hardship. “The bill in its current form, if it is passed with the penalties in place, can be a huge social issue in the communities…

[File Photo] The Ministry of Policing has confirmed that the independent investigation into the death of Jone Vakarisi is nearing completion, while investigations into the death of Sakiasi Radravu remain ongoing. The Ministry says that these investigations must be allowed to proceed thoroughly, independently, and without prejudice. It stresses that the Police Force remains firmly committed to human rights, the rule of law, and the principle that no one is above the law. It adds that the Force does not condone corruption, abuse of power, or misconduct.Article continues after advertisement Allegations against police officers are treated seriously and acted upon…