Author: TMC Palau

The Fijian Elections Office has not received any instruction to halt preparations for the upcoming Municipal Elections despite comments by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka that the government is reconsidering whether the polls should proceed in September. Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa says the Elections Office began preparations earlier this year after Cabinet endorsement and instructions from the Electoral Commission. Mataiciwa says, as of now, no further directive has been issued to the Elections Office regarding any changes to the planned Municipal Elections. She says the same process will apply moving forward, and stakeholders will be informed once any official instruction…

[Source:Olympics] Neymar has been named in Brazil’s squad for next month’s World Cup, manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday, handing the ​forward a chance to return to international soccer’s biggest stage after an injury-disrupted cycle. The 34-year-old, Brazil’s ‌all-time leading scorer, comes back following a prolonged absence due to a series of injuries that kept him out for much of the qualifying campaign, as the five-time champions pursue a record-extending sixth title. As dozens of journalists gathered at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Tomorrow for ​a ceremony featuring music acts and celebrity guests, all eyes were on Ancelotti’s decision on…

source: AAP Disney has cut parts from its orchestra and replaced them with synthesised keyboard technology, leaving local musicians out of a job. Musicians are disappearing from Australia’s biggest stage shows as technology usurps their roles. The world’s highest grossing musical returned to Sydney in April with a smaller orchestra after Disney cut all four string parts from the 2026 season of The Lion King. The string section has been replaced by KeyComp, a program developed in Germany which allows a single keyboard player to replicate entire sections of an orchestra by using a synthesiser.Article continues after advertisement This has…

A young hawksbill turtle now nicknamed Kurt was rescued and released in to the ocean in Tahiti. Photo: Screengrab / Polynésie La Première A young hawksbill turtle, now nicknamed ‘Kurt’, was released into the ocean last week on French Polynesia’s main island of Tahiti. During the release ceremony, the turtle was allowed to rejoin her environment, after she was rescued a few weeks earlier, thanks to a young fisherman named Kurt Wong Sang. “I was fishing and then I saw this turtle was not moving, she looked very weak. So I tried to pick her up”, the 21-year-old man told…

Solomon Islands’ new Prime Minister, Matthew Cooper Wale, has promised the country that “change is coming”. He was elected prime minister on 15 May 2026 following a vote of no confidence in his predecessor, Jeremiah Manele. Wale could make for a good prime minister. He is smart and visionary, and a seasoned politician who has been a member of parliament for nearly two decades. He served as Leader of the Opposition for seven years, held a ministerial portfolio in a previous government, and chaired the Solomon Islands Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee. He understands how government systems work. However, Wale faces…

[Photo: FILE] The Consumer Council of Fiji is calling for stronger enforcement powers and legislative reforms to address persistent non-compliance issues. Chief Executive, Seema Shandil, says the organization primarily ensures compliance through market surveillance, warning letters, mediation, public awareness campaigns and referrals to regulatory agencies. However, the Council does not possess direct authority to prosecute offenders or issue fines. “We have no direct power to fine or prosecute, so whilst we do our market surveillances, what we do is we try to identify issues. When issues are identified, we issue warning letters, and we go back to do follow-up surveillances.”Article…

[Photo: FIJI GOVERNMENT/ FACEBOOK] Canada has reaffirmed its support for Fiji’s hosting of Pre-COP31 following talks between Environment and Climate Change Minister Lynda Tabuya and Canada’s first resident High Commissioner to Fiji, Jennifer Lalonde. Discussions focused on climate finance, oceans, adaptation, loss and damage, and keeping the 1.5-degree target alive ahead of global climate negotiations later this year. Tabuya welcomed Canada’s support for Pre-COP31, including stakeholder participation and policy engagement, while highlighting the Pacific’s ongoing challenges in accessing climate finance for relocation and resilience projects. High Commissioner Lalonde confirmed Canada’s commitment to climate action in the Pacific through support for…

[Photo: MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS/ FACEBOOK] Public Works, Transport and Met Services Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau has reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to strengthening development ties with New Zealand following a courtesy visit by its High Commissioner to Fiji, Greg Andrews. The meeting focused on infrastructure, energy, and public sector cooperation. The Minister outlined the broad responsibilities of his ministry, including oversight of the Water Authority of Fiji, Fiji Roads Authority, Land Transport Authority and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, as well as developments in the energy and meteorological sectors. Tuisawau highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen and modernise the Public Works…

The U.S. Army Civic Action Team 84-07 in the Republic of Palau is helping the local population by teaching valuable skills sets and with them, bringing greater opportunity. Palau consists of a remote group of small islands in Micronesia. While the islands are unmistakably beautiful, isolation and distance from the rest of the world often leaves its population with few options for economic mobility. The CAT consists of Army, Navy and Air Force engineers who perform six-month rotational deployments to Palau to support the local community with engineering projects. Originally a strictly Navy effort, CATs have been present in Palau since 1970. The…

[Photo: FILE] The Consumer Council of Fiji says consumers are increasingly feeling the impact of the global fuel crisis through rising grocery costs and reduced supermarket discounts. The Council yesterday released findings from a multi-week market surveillance exercise, revealing that many households are facing what it describes as a form of hidden inflation. According to the Council, while shelf prices may appear stable, retailers are gradually reducing promotional discounts that previously helped consumers save money on everyday items. The investigation, carried out between late March and early May this year, tracked prices across several supermarket chains nationwide.Article continues after advertisement…