Author: TMC Palau

PALAU will decide by referendum whether to allow deportees from the United States to settle in the tiny North Pacific state. The Senate blocked a deal agreed between President Surangel Whipps and his US counterpart Donald Trump to resettle 75 deportees in exchange for medical and infrastructure support. The issue will now proceed to a national referendum. Supporters said the legislation changes were necessary to prevent the deal from taking effect without adequate legal and humanitarian protections in place. Radio New Zealand reports that the Palau National Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau) sat for three days to pass a bill to…

Dialogue Fiji has condemned the recommendation to remove the corporal punishment ban from the Education Bill 2025. The Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights proposed deleting Clause 73, arguing that the protection already exists in the Constitution. Dialogue Fiji Executive Director Nilesh Lal called this reasoning “fundamentally flawed,” noting that constitutional rights must be operationalised through specific legislation to be enforceable. “To argue a protection should be removed simply because it exists in the Constitution reflects a serious misunderstanding of how human rights are implemented.”Article continues after advertisement He warned that deleting the clause creates ambiguity and signals…

Emmanuelle Haïm, founder of the Le Concert d’Astrée ensemble and its conductor since 2000, returns for a third year in a row to BCN Clàssics, this time for a performance of Georg Friedrich Handel’s Messiah. Internationally recognised for her elegant, precise interpretations of the Baroque repertoire, Haïm has taken Le Concert d’Astrée to the world’s most prestigious auditoriums and festivals, consolidating a career that stands as a model of historically informed performance. The Messiah is one of the most important works in the Baroque repertoire and one of the most famous oratorios in the history of music. Its combination of…

Overview: Environmental groups in the Cook Islands are raising alarm over a major deep-sea mining merger involving American Ocean Minerals Corporation and Odyssey Marine Exploration, warning it signals growing foreign control over Pacific ocean resources. Critics describe the deal as an “industrial colonial takeover,” intensifying debate over sovereignty, environmental risks, and the future of seabed mining. RAROTONGA, 24 APRIL 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) —Cook Islands environmental groups have slammed the recent merger of an American minerals investment company with Odyssey, calling it “an industrial colonial takeover of our ocean”.  American Ocean Minerals Corporation (AOMC) recently announced its merger with Odyssey,…

A total of 11 records have been broken at the 2026 Coca-Cola Games, with standout performances across both track and field events. The oldest record to fall was in the Girls Junior Long Jump, where Veniana Ranadi leapt 5.57 metres to surpass the long-standing mark of 5.30 metres set by Loata Turagavuli in 1981 — a record that had stood for 45 years. In the Boys Intermediate Discus Throw, Setareki Dawai set a new record of 49.89 metres, beating Josua Serukilagi’s 49.35 metres set in 2015. Sylvia Tagivetaua also made her mark in the Girls Junior 1500 metres, clocking 5…

Search teams from the U.S. military are looking for a 60- foot Indonesian flagged fishing vessel adrift with eight crewmembers about 172 miles north of Palau, according to a release from the U.S. Coast Guard.On Tuesday, Sector Guam Command Center watchstanders received a report from the Japanese coast guard stating the Japanese fishing vessel Kinsei Maru No.3 rescued a mariner on a motorboat north of Palau.More: Two rescued off Ritidian Point by Coast Guard, GFD, U.S. NavyMore: Report: PCBs, other chemical contaminants still found in Cocos Lagoon waters, fishThe mariner said his boat, the Hallelujar, was adrift for approximately 10…

As concerns over drug use and related health risks continue to rise across the country, an organisation supporting vulnerable children, veterans, and athletes used the Coca-Cola Games platform to raise awareness on mental health and emotional well-being. Hope Counselling Pte Ltd was present at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva throughout the three-day event, engaging with young people and promoting the importance of seeking support, particularly during high-pressure environments. The initiative aligns with increased efforts by government and law enforcement agencies to educate youth on the dangers of substance abuse, with a focus on prevention and community-based support. Established in…

Capt. Jonathan Furlong, a U.S. Army diver based in Hawaii, has deployed all around the Pacific and Asia. But no country or mission he’s been to has been like his current assignment in Palau, where’s he’s been deployed for the last six months as a member of the Army’s Civic Action Team. “It’s really cool just going out to project sites, or doing community events and recognizing people you know, and having conversations and building actual relationships and friendships with them,” he said in a video call from the island nation. “That’s just something I haven’t experienced in other places…

Concerns are being raised that harassment, bullying, and discrimination in workplaces are going largely unreported, as many employees fear retaliation if they speak up. While delivering the end-of-week statement, Independent Member Rinesh Sharma says silence is allowing misconduct to continue, as victims often endure abuse to avoid losing their jobs or facing backlash. He adds that there are growing calls for safer and confidential reporting systems that protect workers who come forward with complaints. Without trusted reporting channels and strict protection measures, workplace abuse will remain underreported and unresolved, weakening efforts to build safe and fair working environments.Article continues after…

Overview: Pacific leaders and ministers will convene in Port Moresby from May 4–8 for the Sixth Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers Meeting (PRETMM), a key forum shaping the region’s approach to energy security, transport connectivity, and climate resilience. As island nations grapple with rising fuel costs and infrastructure challenges, the summit is expected to set priorities that will directly influence development pathways across the Blue Pacific. By Ngeldei Tulop PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Pacific leaders, ministers, development partners will gather in Port Moresby from May 4th-8th for the Sixth Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers Meeting (PRETMM),…