Author: TMC Palau

Cook Islands youth at this year’s Te Maeva Nui, the Cook Islands’ annual Constitution Day celebration, delivered a strong message that they are determined to keep their culture alive.The week-long cultural celebration, held from 25 July to 4 August, was filled with song and dance, local kai, arts and crafts – which left the air buzzing with excitement and filled with te tangi o te ka’ara, the sound and rhythm of the drums.Organisers said a highlight of this year’s festival, which marked the country’s 61th year of self-governance, was seeing young people step up to lead performing teams.Vaka Takitumu’s Ohiva…

The Pacific has a communications problem that extends well beyond social media. The region covers almost one-third of the Earth’s surface, with small populations scattered across vast distances. Individually, Pacific Island countries have limited global economic and political influence. For these countries, reliable communications are both critical and difficult to control. At both ends of the system through which information travels, Pacific countries are increasingly dependent on infrastructure and technology controlled elsewhere. Under the ocean, submarine cables carry almost all international digital traffic. At the other end, global technology companies increasingly determine what information people see — through social media…

Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister says he expects the issue of West Papua will be discussed at the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting in Palau.This comes as the issue of human rights abuses and conflict in Indonesian-ruled Papua region, often known internationally as West Papua, appeared to have slipped off the regional agenda.After the PIF foreign ministers met in Suva earlier this month, there was no mention of West Papua in the meeting’s outcome statement.Most of the talk was about regional security arrangements and the region’s response, or lack thereof, to a recent Chinese nuclear-capable interballistic missile test…

Access remains the biggest challenge for humanitarian workers in the Pacific Islands region, but humanitarians are not targeted as they are in other parts of the world, according to World Vision.Access biggest challenge for humanitarian workers in PacificTo mark World Humanitarian Day, World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian and development organisation, is highlighting the unprecedented risks faced by global humanitarian workers in recent times.There has been a threefold increase in deaths of humanitarian workers over the past three years, with over 1000 deaths – mainly in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan.World Vision said in such parts of the world, humanitarians and…

Communities across Guadalcanal, Makira and Central Islands provinces in the Solomon Islands are expected to benefit from a new climate adaptation initiative that will strengthen freshwater security.The ‘Protecting Freshwater Resources for Increased Climate Resilience in the Pacific Islands (PacFresH2O)’ programme will also improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services, and build resilience to the growing impacts of climate change.The programme was launched in Honiara by GIZ Pacific, and implemented in partnership with the Solomon Islands government, the Pacific Community (SPC) and the non-government organisation, Live & Learn, last week.The five-year regional programme – backed by the German government – supports…

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says he will appeal against a High Court decision quashing the report of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the appointment of a former head of the country’s anti-corruption agency.The months-long inquiry, which cost the taxpayer around FJ$2 million (NZ$1.5m), has become a major political issue for Rabuka’s coalition government.The COI, headed by Australian judge Justice David Ashton-Lewis, began on 31 October 2024 and was originally due to conclude on 31 January 2025, but continued until 1 May 2025.Acting on the inquiry’s recommendations, Rabuka advised the country’s president that the then-commissioner of the Fiji Independent…

The Palau Media Council participated in a three-day hands-on training with ABC International Development (ABC ID) in preparation for the upcoming 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ and Related Meetings (PIFLM) 2026, which Palau will host from August 31 to September 3, 2026. The training provided practical experience and strengthened the skills and readiness of local media professionals ahead of one of the region’s most significant diplomatic gatherings. As Palau prepares to welcome Pacific leaders, delegates, media professionals, and guests from across the region, the Palau Media Council continues to work toward ensuring strong, professional, and comprehensive media coverage of PIF…

A former Fiji Secondary Schools’ and Under-20 captain believes the current schools’ rugby competition needs to be revamped so it can become a true breeding ground for players who can compete against the best in the world.Andrew Durutalo, who is director of rugby operations at the Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC Rugby), says the current schools’ rugby system needs to be reviewed for the purpose of developing players who can then continue up the development pathway into the national teams.Durutalo started his playing career at the prominent Suva Grammar School in Fiji’s capital, and played in the Deans Trophy competition,…

The governor of Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands Province says his province is unprepared to deal with the severe impacts of the El Niño weather event being experienced across the country.During an El Niño event, warmer ocean waters affect rainfall and wind patterns, often bringing drier-than-usual conditions and a higher risk of drought to the western Pacific.Western Highlands governor Wai Rapa is warning that the PNG government does not have the finances or the resources to manage the situation.Rapa told the Post-Courier there has been no communication from the national government.He said the current dry season is “on another scale”…

In this photo released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, spokesperson for the ministry Lin Jian addresses members of the media during a regular news briefing in Beijing, China, on July 15, 2026.BEIJING – The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday dismissed Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr.’s allegations about China’s recent test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, saying they are groundless, ill-intentioned and not worth commenting.The Chinese side has stated its position on the test launch, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular news briefing. Source link