Author: TMC Palau

By: L.N. Reklai NGERULMUD, Palau (October 5, 2026) In an unexpected move Monday, the Palau House of Delegates overturned its leadership, replacing Delegate Gibson Kanai of Ngaraard as speaker with Delegate Mario Gulibert of Angaur. Gulibert, who had served as vice speaker, was appointed speaker under House Resolution 12-12-7S. Delegate Timothy Sinsak of Ngarchelong became […]The post House Leadership Overturned; Gulibert Named New Speaker appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang NGERULMUD, Palau (Oct. 5, 2026) — Senators moved to address public concerns Monday over a letter from Senate Clerk Reagan Sidoi asking the court to consider a deferred sentence or rehabilitation opportunity for longtime Senate employee Wiseman Kumaichi, who was convicted in an illegal drug case. During the October 5th Senate […]The post Senators respond to public concern over Senate drug case letter appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

Pacific women want their voices heard at the centre of global climate discussions, especially as leaders gather in Fiji for Pre-COP31.A new research report says women are often excluded from decision-making circles and it is contributing to gendered impacts of climate change across the region.The research centres the expertise of activists, advocates, practitioners, and grassroots leaders working on the frontlines of gender justice, climate, and water in the Pacific, according to the study.For Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) executive director Nalini Singh, issues including water security, menstrual health and women’s leadership need greater attention.Singh, who is one of the co-authors…

By L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau — The Palau Supreme Court has deferred acceptance of a government employee’s guilty plea for possessing methamphetamine, choosing five years of intensive drug treatment and supervision instead of immediately entering a judgment of guilt — a decision drawing public attention as Palau strengthens its policies against illegal drugs. Justice Salii’s […]The post Court defers guilty plea in government employee meth case, orders five years of treatment appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

Fiji’s opposition is accusing the country’s prime minister of political “strangulation” ahead of an upcoming election.It comes after Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka pre-emptively announced a date for Fiji’s first-ever national referendum on the island nation’s constitution reform process on Monday – just two days after his coalition pushed through a major bill on its second reading to change the 2013 Constitution.Parliamentary opposition leader Inia Seruiratu said that, by announcing a date for the referendum, Rabuka was “putting the cart before the horse”.Seruiratu described the move as “premature”, as the Fijian parliament had not completed debating the Constitution (Amendment) Bill.”The bill…

Capacity crowd at the fourth round of this year’s Oceania Football Confederation Professional League (OFC Pro League) has seen the 2027 final moved to Honiara.This year’s inaugural OFC Pro League final was held at Eden Park in Auckland, which closed off major parts of the grandstand and the retail area because of low crowd turnout.In a statement on Tuesday, OFC confirmed the Solomon Islands would host the final of the 2027 OFC Pro League season.”It follows on from scenes that saw Honiara’s National Stadium packed with passionate fans during its successful hosting of circuit series four of the inaugural season…

Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have named their men’s squads for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.While the three teams look strong on paper, with star players included, the omission of some key players stood out when all three teams were announced.The Fiji Bati squad announced on Tuesday does not include star forwards Tui Kamikamica, who has since retired after suffering a stroke four months ago, and Viliame Kikau, who is out because of an ankle injury.Fullback Jahream Bula is out also due to post-season shoulder surgery.Samoa will miss tough forward Payne Haas because of injury, along with Simi Sasagi, who…

The Vanuatu women’s football team won the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup title in Suva on Saturday, in honour of the victims of the MV Matui tragedy.Vanuatu defeated Papua New Guinea 6-4 on penalty kicks.Prior to the final team captain Jesta Toka told the Vanuatu Daily Post that reaching the final came at a difficult time for the country, especially her home island of Ambae.She said families were mourning loved ones lost in the MV Matui ferry disaster last month, while also dealing with volcanic ashfall.Thirty-nine people died when the Vanuatu based inter-island vessel sank in the waters between Espiritu Santo…

In June 2025, the PNG government removed tax from ten basic food items (rice, flour, tinned fish, tinned meat, chicken, noodles, biscuits, cooking oil, tea and coffee), with the aim of easing cost-of-living pressures on poorer households. To date, this policy has cost PNG almost half a billion kina in foregone revenue. In a new World Bank Working Paper we traced who benefited from this tax cut. Of every kina the government gave up, only about eight toea (there are 100 toea in a kina) reached the poorest 20% of households. Stores and wholesalers kept 36 toea. The richest 40%…

Saipan and Tinian have been given the all-clear as Typhoon Choi-wan moves away from the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), but authorities are warning that dangerous weather and sea conditions could linger.Governor David Apatang declared the all-clear effective 8am Sunday after consultations with the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office and the National Weather Service in Guam.Pagan, Agrihan, and Alamagan in the sparsely populated Northern Islands, however, remain under Typhoon Condition I and a typhoon warning.Typhoon Condition I means damaging winds of 74 miles per hour or more are imminent or occurring within 12 hours.Sustained tropical storm-force winds are no…