Author: TMC Palau

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) yesterday encouraged more Taiwanese tourists to visit Palau, one of Taiwan’s three Pacific allies, after snorkeling with President Surangel Whipps Jr during her first visit to a diplomatic ally as vice president.Hsiao, who arrived in Palau on Saturday on a direct flight from Taiwan, joined Whipps on a boat trip Sunday morning to Big Drop Off, a renowned snorkeling and diving site off Ngemelis Island in the southern part of Palau’s Rock Islands.Hsiao said Palau and Taiwan are both island nations with warm and friendly people, adding that visiting Palau offers a particularly relaxing experience.…

Taipei/Koror, June 7 (CNA) Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) on Sunday encouraged more Taiwanese tourists to visit Palau, one of Taiwan’s three Pacific allies, after snorkeling with President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. during her first visit to a diplomatic ally as vice president.Hsiao, who arrived in Palau on Saturday on a direct flight from Taiwan, joined Whipps on a boat trip Sunday morning to Big Drop Off, a renowned snorkeling and diving site off Ngemelis Island in the southern part of Palau’s Rock Islands.Hsiao said Palau and Taiwan are both island nations with warm and friendly people, adding that visiting…

[Source: AP] It’s been nearly 30 years since Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens wrote the music and lyrics for the musical “Ragtime,” an American epic tracking the intertwining lives of three families in New York at the turn of the 20th century. Staged at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, the musical is in its third run on Broadway — and earned 11 Tony nominations, including for best revival. It’s resonating the most with audiences this time, they said. “Three is the charm,” Ahrens said. “When we originally did it on Broadway, which was 1998, I think a lot of people,…

The Barça roller hockey team will have to play a fifth game if they want to make it to the OK Liga play-off final, as Ricard Ares’s side lost at Les Comes in the fourth game of the series against Igualada. The final fixture is at the Palau Blaugrana next week. This was a very tough and high-octane contest and the blaugranes went ahead in the second half when Sergi Llorca scored. However Biel Llanes and Marc Carol quickly scored to turn it back in Igualada’s favour to tie the play-off series 2-2. Goals hard to come by No score…

[Supplied] The GX Foundation and Fiji National University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in public health and youth development. The agreement was signed during an official visit to Fiji by GX Foundation Chairman Leung Chun-ying and Chief Executive Officer Professor Emily Chan. Under the partnership, GX Foundation and FNU will collaborate on professional knowledge exchange, workshops, training programmes, academic seminars and joint research initiatives. The agreement is expected to create new opportunities for students and help develop future talent for Fiji’s public health sector.Article continues after advertisement Speaking at the signing ceremony, Leung said the…

[ Source: PRF/ Facebook ] More than 1,200 people gathered in Nadi yesterday to support environmental protection and ocean conservation. The Pacific Recycling Foundation’s Fourth Annual Roadside Campaign turned a section of Queens Road into a platform for environmental advocacy under the theme “Stand in Solidarity to Protect Our Environment.” Held to mark World Environment Day and World Oceans Day, the campaign brought together students, teachers, recyclers, community groups, businesses, government agencies and environmental advocates. Participants from 21 schools, organisations and community groups stood roadside for an hour, raising awareness about waste management, environmental protection and the need for collective…

[Supplied] National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says the party will contest the next general election on its own and aims to become the leading force in government after the polls. He made the comments at the NFP Working Committee meeting in Ra yesterday. Prasad says the party has grown stronger since its last meeting in the province in 2017, when it was in opposition. He says elections are won through strong policies and engagement with people on the ground, not through misinformation on social media.Article continues after advertisement Prasad revealed that the party’s management board has resolved not…

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says he has formally requested an increase in the cane delivery payment from $42 to $45 per tonne to provide greater support to sugarcane farmers facing rising costs. Speaking at the NFP Working Committee meeting in Ra, Prasad revealed that he wrote to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and the Minister for Sugar on June 1 seeking an additional top-up of $10.56 per tonne for cane delivery payments. Prasad says the government had already increased the delivery payment by $7.56 per tonne to bring it to $42 per tonne, but further assistance is needed…

Twelve police officers are under investigation following the death of Sakiasi Osea Radravu. The Fiji Police Force says an internal investigation will continue into the conduct of the officers involved in a raid linked to an alleged burglary case, citing failures to adhere to established processes and procedures. Police confirmed that a post-mortem examination conducted on Saturday found Mr Radravu’s death was linked to a pre-existing medical condition. Immediate family members were present for the formal identification process and were briefed on the findings following the examination.Article continues after advertisement Investigations have confirmed that Mr Radravu was taken to Valelevu…

[Source: AP] Taylor Swift’s new song for the Disney and Pixar’s forthcoming “Toy Story 5” film is here. On Saturday, Swift released “I Knew It, I Knew You,” a bit of a return to country music for the performer who first made a name for herself in the Nashville music scene before taking over the world. Here’s everything you need to know about “I Knew It, I Knew You.” Swift doesn’t sing with a familiar twang on “I Knew It, I Knew You,” but no matter — the song features some elements inextricable from the country genre: Live instrumentation, plucky…