Author: TMC Palau

On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm congratulations to the people of Palau as you celebrate your national day. Palau remains one of the United States’ most trusted partners in the Pacific.  Our partnership, rooted in mutual respect and trust, has grown significantly stronger the past year. We continue to work together to advance regional security and economic growth that benefit all Pacific nations.  On this special day, the United States reaffirms its commitment, underpinned by the Compact of Free Association, to strengthening our partnership with Palau and supporting its continued leadership in advancing peace and…

A Daly Cherry-Evans field goal proves the difference as the Sydney Roosters beat the Newcastle Knights 19-18 in the NRL grand final.The Roosters dictated for most of the night, but Newcastle led 12-0 on the back of two first-half tries against the run of play, including a spectacular 95-metre effort by Kalyn Ponga.Mark Nawaqanitawase, whose bat-back led directly to Ponga’s try, got the Roosters on the board just before half-time and Billy Smith muscled his way over shortly after the break.Desperate scrambling defence kept the Knights level until Nawaqanitawase scored his second after a lucky ricochet off the upright, and…

In the ancestral oral tradition of Kiribati, survival at sea has never been passive. Gilbertese tradition honours Nei Nimanoa, the voyager goddess and guardian ancestress of te tia borau (navigators). The voyaging tradition she guards calls for decisive action on unpredictable waters: reading the deep swells, adjusting the outrigger and bailing water from the canoe before the hull is swallowed. When the ocean crests over the gunwales, the crew balances the craft and acts immediately to save everyone aboard. Today, across the low-lying atolls of Kiribati, the ocean is cresting over the land. A very strong El Niño, declared across…

Fiji’s prime minister has called on global leaders coming to the country to see and listen to the people on the climate frontlines as the pre-COP31 meeting is gets underway on Monday.Sitiveni Rabuka addressed an interfaith church service on Sunday ahead of the meeting this week.He said climate finance must reach the communities that need it – “not someday, but now, and as an act of justice, not charity”.While Australia and the Pacific’s joint bid to host COP31, the United Nations annual climate summit, lost out to Türkiye, it was agreed the Pacific would host the pre-COP meeting.A leaders’ event…

Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona hosts the London Philharmonic Orchestra on 26 October 2026, bringing Edward Gardner, Julia Fischer and a programme of Casals, Brahms and Sibelius to the concert hall. The building, also known as a major Modernista landmark, places a British orchestra inside one of Barcelona’s defining cultural spaces.London Philharmonic comes to Palau on 26 OctoberThe concert begins at 8pm on Monday 26 October 2026 in the Concert Hall. Fundació Orfeó Català-Palau de la Música organises the event as part of the Palau 100 cycle, according to the venue’s event details for 26 October.Gardner conducts the…

A University of Wisconsin-River Falls faculty member has discovered a previously unknown species of orchid found only on an island in the western Pacific. Assistant Professor of Biology Benjamin Crain is the lead author of research published in August in the journal, Harvard Papers in Botany, describing the species Agrostophyllum lkou.Crain found the rare orchid on Babeldaob Island in the Republic of Palau, located in the Caroline Islands north of New Guinea.The discovery came through years of fieldwork, examination of historical botanical records and collaboration with orchid specialists.For Crain, a conservation biologist and ecologist, the investigation began with an encounter…

Typhoon Choi-wan continued to disrupt life across the Northern Mariana Islands, bringing strong winds, intermittent power outages, dangerous seas, and the threat of flash flooding.On Saipan, pedestrians were seen struggling to walk against powerful wind gusts, while some businesses remained closed because of the bad weather.The island also experienced intermittent power outages, while neighbouring Tinian suffered an island-wide power outage on Friday.The Northern Marianas College and Public School System remained closed Friday as hazardous weather continued.Saipan Mayor’s Office crews were, meanwhile, clearing sand and debris washed from beaches onto coastal roads by rough seas.The Department of Public Works also reminded…

New Zealand Rugby’s Chiefs franchise is seeking an amicable solution in its dispute with Papua New Guinea’s new rugby league franchise of the same name, but it’s not clear that the NRL wants to compromise.NZR recently wrote to Australia’s National Rugby League, urging it to reconsider the name of the fledgling PNG Chiefs franchise as it clashes with the long established Super Rugby Pacific Chiefs.The Chiefs rugby franchise has held the trademark in Australia for its name and logo since 1998. IP Australia has knocked back attempts by the NRL to register the trademark because of what it identified as…

Fiji now joins Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea as the only Pacific nations with a formal needle and syringe programme.Following the passing of the Bill by parliament on Thursday, Fiji’s Health Ministry described it as a “monumental milestone” in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”To be clear: this does not legalise illicit drugs,” the Ministry said in a Facebook post.”It legalises compassion. It builds a protective bridge of healthcare to the most vulnerable among us.”The Health Ministry said the legislation was grounded in human rights, confidentiality, and freedom from discrimination.”It allows our frontline health heroes, pharmacies, and peer outreach workers…

By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau — “The character development from the change of environment is what brings us here today,” said Four Seasons receptionist Dilreng Dee-Light Patrick, reflecting a common experience shared by four young Palauans who trained overseas and returned home with new skills, confidence and a broader view of what Palau’s tourism industry […]The post Four Young Palauans Bring New Confidence, Skills Home From Four Seasons Training  appeared first on Island Times News. Source link