Author: TMC Palau
Former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister for Finance Biman Prasad. [Photo: FILE] Former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad says the decision to postpone the long-awaited municipal elections until after the next general election is a sensible move, given the global crisis and concerns surrounding ward boundaries and election readiness. The National Federation Party leader says while some critics are trying to politicize the issue, people need to understand that Fiji is facing the impact of an escalating global crisis triggered by the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Professor Prasad says…
Exile is silent, but its pain lives on in the dreams of Afghan children. The noise of factories in Pakistan has come to supplant the ringing of school bells in the refugee settlements. Empty notebooks sit around waiting to be used in what is becoming a more distant future. For thousands of Afghan children, education is now a luxury — something they may wish to have but won’t receive. In August 2021, my family left Kabul when the Taliban came back to power and we had to leave our home and all that was familiar to us. I was then…
The 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in session in New York. 21 May 2026. Photo: Screengrab / UN Web TV A United Nations resolution endorsing a landmark ruling on climate change by the world’s highest court passed overwhelmingly at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly on Thursday (New Zealand time). In July 2025, the International Court of Justice delivered a unanimous advisory opinion that countries have a legal obligation to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and can be held liable for breaching their obligations. Vanuatu’s government, which proposed the resolution, said in a statement that the…
[Source: File] Swire Shipping Fijian Drua co-captain Frank Lomani will miss tomorrow’s crucial Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Western Force due to injury. Questions were raised after Lomani was left out of the matchday squad despite impressing in last week’s performance, but head coach Glen Jackson clarified that the halfback had not been dropped. Jackson revealed Lomani suffered a significant hamstring injury during one of his chases in last week’s match. “He’s got a 10 centimetre hamstring tear.”Article continues after advertisement The Drua coach says the injury is expected to sideline the co-captain for at least…
The Fijian Drua are currently ninth in the competition. Photo: Facebook / Fijian Drua Pride, more than anything else, is what the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika will be playing for in Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific Round 14 matches. Out of contention for a top-six finish in the competition, both the Pasifika clubs need to win for their fans, families and stakeholders. The Fijian Drua are currently ninth, while Moana Pasifika are languishing at the bottom of the competition’s points table. This weekend, the North Harbour-based side will host the Queensland Reds in Albany, while Fijians face the Western Force…
source: reuters The United States arrested Adys Lastres Morera, the sister of the executive president of GAESA, a sprawling conglomerate of military-run businesses, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday. Morera, who entered the United States as a lawful permanent resident in 2023, is now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending removal proceedings, according to separate statement from ICE. Morera’s presence poses a threat to the United States and undermines American foreign policy interests, the statement said. Cuba’s leadership rarely talks publicly about GAESA, which stands for Grupo de Administración Empresarial – or ‘business administration…
Overview: Palau is expanding its eco-tourism offerings through a new partnership linking Airai, Aimeliik and Ngchesar with national tourism and cultural agencies to develop interconnected historic hiking trails across Babeldaob. New initiative aims to boost sustainable tourism while protecting cultural landmarks in Palau KOROR, Palau (May 21, 2026) — The Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development signed a memorandum of understanding May 8 with the state governments of Airai, Aimeliik and Ngchesar, along with the Palau Visitors Authority, to develop and maintain interconnected hiking trails across Babeldaob, including sections of the historic Rael Kedam trail system. The agreement,…
source: reuters Celebrities including Rami Malek, Eva Longoria and Lizzo gathered on the grounds of the immaculate Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on Thursday evening for the amfAR Gala to raise money for HIV/AIDS research. Oscar winner Geena Davis returned to the event after nearly three decades to host this year’s gala on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival in the French Riviera village of Antibes. In addition to Lizzo, singer-songwriters Robbie Williams and Zara Larsson provided the entertainment for the black-tie crowd in between auction rounds at the event, where the least expensive supporter ticket runs to 17,500 euros ($20,336.75).…
Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt Photo: Supplied / Samoa Government Samoa’s opposition party secretary has appealed Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt’s acquittal on corruption charges following a twisted conspiracy case. In March, the District Court in Apia cleared Laauli of criminal charges stemming from a probe into an unsolved, fatal hit and run in 2021, involving Tuuau Faasavalu, a university student. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) secretary and MP for Faleata 3 electoral constituency, was a complainant and prosecution witness during the trial, which gripped the nation. The prime minister’s political nemesis, former long-time prime minister,…
Overview: Pacific leaders and police chiefs gathered in Fiji this week for the region’s first Transnational Crime Summit, warning that Pacific islands, including Palau, are increasingly vulnerable to international drug trafficking and organized crime networks. Palau officials join Pacific ministers, police chiefs in push for stronger regional response to drug trafficking and organized crime ahead of Pacific Islands Forum in Palau By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau (May 21, 2026) — Pacific leaders, police commissioners and justice officials gathered this week in Fiji for the region’s first ministerial-level Transnational Crime Summit, warning that Pacific island nations, including Palau, are increasingly being…