Author: TMC Palau

The tournament director at the first-ever Oceania Women’s Handball Championship believes Fiji, Cook Islands and Kiribati are on the right path in the sport.David Ireland, who is also president of New Zealand Handball, made the comments following the Fijians’ performance at the event, which concluded on Monday.Fiji finished fifth after defeating the Cook Islands 17-15 in the play-off, with the team playing in their first international event.They also beat Kiribati 37-16 in their last pool game, after having lost 41-10 to Tahiti (3rd place) and 49-8 to Australia (eventual winners) in their other two pool matches.Cook Islands lost 24-9 to…

Koror, Palau – US military plans to rebuild the main port in a pristine Pacific archipelago have stirred painful memories of World War II and have locals concerned about being caught in a potential superpower conflict.Palau will become the US military’s top overseas location for construction in 2027 as a crumbling wharf built by Japan in World War II is expanded to berth US Navy ships and the harbour is dredged deeper in a US$500 million (S$637 million) project.Haunted by their past, Palauans have asked Washington how they will be protected if war breaks out again in a country with…

Tuvalu’s Foreign Affairs Minister Paulson Panapa has met with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te this week.Taiwan’s Presidential Office released a translation of his remarks in which he said Taiwan and Tuvalu were “like brothers”.”This Saturday will mark the 47th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Tuvalu,” he said.”At present, Taiwan is implementing pioneer projects on outer islands like Vaitupu focusing on milkfish aquaculture, increased production of fruits and vegetables, and balanced nutrition and diet.”Through our collaboration, we aspire to advance balanced development across Tuvalu’s outer islands and create a better living environment for the next generation.”He also thanked the Tuvalu…

The United States (US) military will invest US$500 million (SR1.88 billion) to reconstruct and expand the main port in Koror, Palau, according to official statements from the Palauan government and the United States Department of Defense (US Department of Defense). The project, which involves rebuilding a deteriorating wharf originally constructed by Japan during the Second World War, expanding it to accommodate United States Navy (US Navy) vessels, and dredging the harbor to support military logistics, has raised concerns among local residents and officials about the potential for renewed superpower conflict and environmental harm.Strategic significance of Palau for United States military…

Koror, Palau – U.S. military plans to rebuild the main port in a pristine Pacific archipelago have stirred painful memories of World War II and have locals concerned about being caught in a potential superpower conflict.Palau will become the U.S. military’s top overseas location for construction next year as a crumbling wharf built by Japan in World War II is expanded to berth U.S. Navy ships and the harbor dredged deeper in a $500 million project.Haunted by their past, Palauans have asked Washington how they will be protected if war breaks out again in a country with less than 177…

Koror: US military plans to rebuild the main port in a pristine Pacific archipelago have stirred painful memories of World War II and have locals concerned about being caught in a potential superpower conflict.Palau will become the US military’s top overseas location for construction next year as a crumbling wharf built by Japan in World War Two is expanded to berth US Navy ships and the harbour dredged deeper in a $500 million project.Haunted by their past, Palauans have asked Washington how they will be protected if war breaks out again in a country with less than 177 square miles…

The Fijian Drua will host eight home matches during the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific competition, including one against defending champions.Their clash against the Hurricanes is expected to be held at the National Stadium in Suva.Other home games will include their opening clash of the season against the Highlanders on 13 February, round three against the Reds on 27 February, round six against the Blues on 20 March, round nine on 10 April against Western Force, round 14 against the Brumbies on 15 May, round 15 against the Crusaders on 21 May, and round 16 battle against the Waratahs on 29…

US military plans to rebuild the main port in a pristine Pacific archipelago have stirred painful memories of World War II and have locals concerned about being caught in a potential superpower conflict.Palau will become the US military’s top overseas location for construction next year as a crumbling wharf built by Japan in World War Two is expanded to berth US Navy ships and the harbour dredged deeper in a $500 million project.Haunted by their past, Palauans have asked Washington how they will be protected if war breaks out again in a country with less than 177 square miles of…

Fiji’s Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu has formally declared a national HIV emergency in the country.In a pre-recorded video press statement on Tuesday, Dr Lalabalavu said the decision was backed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his Cabinet due to the “seriousness of the epidemic”.The health minister confirmed that the government’s current estimates indicated that one in every 60 adults in Fiji is living with HIV.”Five years ago, the estimate was one in 1667. In 2024, we recorded 2060 new HIV diagnoses,” he said.”HIV prevalence among women attending antenatal care reached around two percent. That means one out of 50…

OVER the weekend, Pacific leaders started to arrive in Koror, Republic of Palau, for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum. For this year’s host, Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr., it’s a chance to showcase the Micronesian nation’s work on environment and development and an opportunity to bring in partners for programs on oceans, renewable energy and tourism. Speaking to journalists before the summit, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa said: “This year’s Forum theme—‘B.E.L.A.U: Building Economies, Life, Action, Unity’—reflects the collective journey of our Blue Pacific. It speaks to the imperative of building resilient economies, improving the lives of…