Author: TMC Palau

Polling is open in the Cook Islands where 11,000 registered voters will elect their leaders for the next four years.Voting stations open at 9am on Wednesday morning, Cook Islands time (7am Thursday NZT) and will close at 6pm.There are 24 constituencies, 10 on the main island of Rarotonga, and the other 14 spread across the Pa Enua, or outer islands.Thirteen seats are needed for a majority to form a government.A total of 63 candidates were confirmed for the 2026 general election, down from the 71 who contested the 2022 election. This year’s lineup includes 49 men and 14 women.With independents…

[Photo: FILE] Pharmacists are calling for tighter ownership requirements for wholesale companies importing controlled medicines. The proposal was raised during public consultations on the Medicinal Products Act, amid concerns that some wholesalers have pharmacists holding only a small percentage of shares. Private pharmacist Renshika Sen says some businesses operate with pharmacists as minor shareholders, raising questions over accountability and oversight in medicine importation. “What’s happening right now is you’ve got wholesale companies that are bringing in Schedule 4 or Schedule 8 medicines. But the pharmacist on their board or as a director only owns 5%, 10%.”Article continues after advertisement Sen…

In the final days of May, a Chinese research vessel ventured 74 kilometres into Palau’s waters and reportedly spent 14 hours moving slowly through the island nation’s maritime zone.With a bow built to push through a metre of Arctic sea ice, the 89-metre icebreaker, Ji Di, might have looked out of place in the warm waters of the North Pacific.The Ji Di was designed to push through polar sea ice. (U.S. Coast Guard Courtesy Photo)Exactly what it was doing remains unclear to Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr.”Their research vessels come into our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) uninvited and do whatever…

[Photo: FILE] Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has defended a traffic officer accused of overreach by Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate over a parking infringement. Tudravu says the officer was doing his job after identifying a traffic offence and taking the appropriate action. He says Usamate, like any other citizen, can challenge the decision in court if he wishes. Commissioner Tudravu is standing by the officer’s action, calling on anyone with complaints against the conduct of police officers to follow proper reporting channels.Article continues after advertisement The Opposition MP on his social media post accused police of overreach after receiving…

FijiA Fijian military commander is calling for stronger military ties with Australia after attending Exercise Pitch Black 26.Major General Jone Kalouniwai said closer cooperation would strengthen Fiji’s command-and-control capabilities, intelligence support, and participation in regional exercises.The call follows July’s Vuvale Union and Ocean of Peace Alliance agreements between Fiji and Australia.These treaties are commitments of integration in security, economies, and people between the two.TuvaluTuvalu’s Police Force has sent four officers to be part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.In a statement, the government said three officers departed Tuvalu last week.Prime Minister Feleti Teo acknowledged government concern for…

Koror (PALAU) – The Palau Women’s National Team will arrive in Guam for the FIBA Women’s Micronesian Cup carrying a quiet confidence and a deep sense of pride, led by one of the nation’s most promising young talents, Kierra Ketebengang.At just eighteen, she has already become one of Palau’s most internationally experienced players, shaped by a series of development opportunities that have broadened her game, her leadership, and her vision for what basketball can be for her country.For Kierra, pulling on the Palau jersey is more than a sporting moment. It is the culmination of years of work, sacrifice, and…

The United States Army Pacific will conduct Exercise Tenacious Archer from July 25 to August 2, 2026, in Koror, Palau. This annual exercise brings together military professionals to enhance combined readiness, share expertise, and build lasting relationships. Key events include a Community Day on July 24, the Opening Ceremony on July 25, and a series of live-fire exercises at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport from July 29 to July 31, 2026. These live-fire events will feature the MIM-104 Patriot Missile System, as well as MADIS, Stinger, and Alibi systems, engaging surrogate targets in a designated area over the ocean east of…

[Source: Reuters] The Taliban have barred an estimated 2.4 ‌million Afghan girls from secondary education since they regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said. The Taliban are preparing to mark the fifth anniversary of their return to power this week, as some nations expand ties with the government despite deepening ​human rights concerns among watchdogs. Afghanistan is the only country where girls and women are formally banned from secondary and higher ​education, UNESCO said in its statement. It “risks condemning Afghanistan to decades of lost potential, deepening poverty, ⁠and irreversible harm,” the…

Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona is a concert hall where architecture, sculpture, stained glass and mosaic are woven into a single theatrical setting for music. Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in the Catalan modernisme style and completed between 1905 and 1908, it became the headquarters of the Orfeó Català choral society and later gained UNESCO World Heritage status in the late twentieth century. Inside, the light?filled auditorium makes the experience of a performance inseparable from the building that surrounds it.A modernisme palace built for Orfeó CatalàPalau de la Musica Catalana stands in the historic Sant Pere area…

While the Vodafone Fijiana XV squad features several new and younger players, captain Kolora Lomani says team chemistry remains strong. Playing against a Tier One nation like South Africa, Lomani believes the bond between players will be crucial. She says the senior and new players have blended well over the past few weeks, building a strong connection as they prepare to take on the Springboks this weekend. With the Fijiana determined to stand their ground and prove their worth, Lomani says the team is ready for the challenge.Article continues after advertisement “The bond within the team has been really strong…