Author: TMC Palau

New Caledonia’s President Milakulo Tukumuli on Monday outlined the urgent issues facing the French Pacific territory.In a special address at New Caledonia’s Congress, Tukumuli, who was elected president of the collegial multi-party government on 31 July following provincial elections, said he gave his government six months to tackle the most pressing issues facing New Caledonia.After this, he said his government would start to focus on other issues.He said there the most immediate urgencies included necessary efforts to salvage the French territory’s pension and health insurance schemes, currently facing a short-term risk of total collapse.He added, if nothing is done, over…

Questions are swirling over how a boat carrying Anglican Church delegates, including New Zealanders, capsized in stormy waters in Tonga.Last Friday, Anglican members from New Zealand and throughout Polynesia wrapped up their annual general synod in Nuku’alofa.A group decided to go whale-watching, chartering two boats and setting off from Nuku’alofa shores in the early afternoon, before one capsized and sank as it attempted to turn around.Sources have told RNZ Pacific that the 13 passengers on board ended up stuck in the water for nearly half an hour, many without lifejackets, waiting for the other boat to pick them up. A…

By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang KOROR, Palau (August 24, 2026)— Justice Minister Jennifer Olegeriil acknowledged that the case involving alleged theft from 19 Palau Housing Authority applicants faced an “unnecessary delay” before it was filed by the Office of the Attorney General last week. The case, assigned to an assistant attorney general, involves former PHA employee […]The post PHA Theft Case Delayed More Than a Year; President Calls for Review of AAG Private Practice  appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang KOROR, Palau (August 24, 2026) – President Surangel Whipps Jr. is defending the decision to relocate Belau National Hospital to Ngesibang, Airai, amid questions about the site-selection process and whether the decision requires congressional approval. Whipps said the current hospital site in Koror covers approximately 55,000 square meters—more than 13 acres. […]The post President Defends Airai Site for New National Hospital appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau (Aug. 24, 2026) — More than 2,000 people are expected to arrive in Palau for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, as the country prepares to host Pacific leaders, government officials, security personnel, media and development partners next week. President Surangel Whipps Jr. said during a presidential press conference […]The post Palau Expects More Than 2,000 Attendees for 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

The Northern Mariana Islands’ (CNMI) public school system is struggling to retain teachers as a worsening budget crunch forces it to leave vacancies unfilled and educators look elsewhere for more secure employment.The Public School System (PSS) has lost 137 employees since January, including 47 teachers, and did not replace the departed teachers before schools reopened. The PSS, instead, shifted existing teachers between campuses and reassigned central office personnel to schools to fill critical positions.The staffing problem has been brought into sharper focus by educator Tatiana Hunter-Talalemotu, who returned to the CNMI after earning a master’s degree but is now preparing…

The number of registered voters in Fiji has increased by more than 132,000 people since the country’s first election in 2014.Latest figures released by the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) on Tuesday show registered voters stood at 723,771 as of 30 June 2026.The latest total is the highest voter registration figure recorded in the country’s three election cycles since 2014.Of those registered voters, 362,438 are men and 361,333 are women.More than four out of every five registered voters are in the Central and Western divisions, which together account for 583,310 voters.The figure represents an increase of about 22 percent since the…

Maori Pomeroy Farrell, a 17-year-old little-known aquatic diver, has put Fiji on the global map at the World Junior Diving Championships in Croatia.Maori, who has links to Dama village in Bua and Levuka Vakaviti in Ovalau, claimed a bronze medal at in the Boys’ 3-metre springboard event, finished third with a total score of 490.50 points, to claim a bronze medal at the event.It is the first-ever medal won by Fiji at an aquatic world meet.Germany’s Finn Awe won gold with 560.60 points, while Matvei Pomoshnikov of Russia took silver with 542.00 points.World Aquatics said in a short post on…

There will be no changes to Samoa’s current international rugby schedule as discussions on the future management of the game in Samoa continues.World Rugby confirmed has confirmed that the Manusima, Samoa’s national women’s rugby team, and the Manu Samoa, would continue to have uninterrupted internationals for the meantime.A spokesman from the sport’s global governing body said that was what they can confirm, without divulging any other information about current discussions.”You’ll appreciate that we are not going to comment on the specifics of live discussions, but we all remain firmly focused on reaching a positive outcome for all parties,” the World…

Papua New Guinea’s Central Province is feeling the brunt of prolonged drought caused by the El Nino weather phase.Central and the National Capital District which is located within it, is extremely dry, its communities struggling with damaged crops and water sources in short supply.Port Moresby communities meanwhile have been experiencing frequent water outages due to malfunctioning of the city’s water infrastructure.There’ also been at least one bad bout of frost, which has worsened the crop damage.The ongoing weather disruptions have prompted the Central Province government to conduct an assessment of the scale of the province’s food and water security problems.The…