Author: TMC Palau

Tonga’s netballers are two from two at the 2027 Netball World Cup Oceania Qualifier in Nuku’alofa.The Tonga Tala beat Papua New Guinea 71-47 on Tuesday, while in the day’s other game, Fiji came from behind to beat the Cook Islands 65-63.The Tala had also won their first match against the Cooks Islands, 81-55, on Monday.Samoa had opened the tournament with a 72-56 win over PNG Pepes.On Wednesday evening, Samoa Tifaimoana plays Fiji Pearls and PNG Pepes face the Cook Islands.Tonga has a bye on Wednesday and will be back in action against Fiji on Thursday.”Tonga came out 9th place out…

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) visa is one of very few of Australia’s temporary work visas — and by far the biggest — that mandates family separation. Long-time PALM analyst Peter Mares has written that: “Prolonged family separation is unconscionable.” This is almost right. It is unconscionable if it is enforced by government. It should be for families themselves to decide whether to stay together or not. PALM workers are of two types: those with short-stay visas, here for several months, mainly to pick fruit; and those with long-stay visas, here for up to four years, mainly to work…

During his first stop in Palau, Rowell participated in the Pacific Islands Forum while holding a series of bilateral engagements. He met directly with Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr. to discuss progress at Malakal Port and future partnership opportunities.   As part of the U.S. delegation, Rowell joined Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Kevin Lunday, for engagements with key leaders representing Pacific nations including Japan, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and Tonga.  Rowell also engaged distinguished alumni of the State Department’s Young Pacific Leaders initiative from Palau,…

RAROTONGA, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) —Cost of living and housing are among the major items on the agenda for the incoming Cook Islands Party-led government in their first 100 days in office, Prime Minister Mark Brown has confirmed. Brown led the CIP to a 13-seat majority win in the 2026 general election last […]The post Cook Islands PM Mark Brown targets cost of living, housing in first 100 days appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

Pacific households in New Zealand will be the hardest hit by scheduled benefit cuts and social housing rent increases, according to officials.Ahead of Budget 2026, government ministers were presented with modelling that estimated 26,000 Pacific families would see their weekly income fall by an average of $30.75 from April next year.It is noted this factored in “a large proportion of Pacific Peoples in social housing and larger family sizes”, meaning greater exposure to a cut in the Temporary Additional Support (TAS) maximum rate from 30 percent of income to 25 percent.”Pacific peoples have the highest weekly loss when compared with…

The Municipality of Tempio will no longer be the implementing body for the redevelopment of a section of the Tempio-Aglientu-Palau state road (SS 133, amounting to 22 million euros). The regional councilor for Public Works, Antonio Piu , decided this with a provision that effectively removes the Tempio administration’s mandate to carry out the work. The regional council’s decision is the consequence of a note sent by the Municipality of Tempio , following the inauguration of mayor Gianna Masu , in which the Tempio administrators asked the region to suspend the intervention. The regional council, led by President Alessandra Todde,…

The NRL’s new PNG franchise is facing a trademark hurdle, with New Zealand Rugby moving to protect its Chiefs brand.Australian media is reporting there is “geopolitical sensitivity” over the PNG Chiefs name, as it was endorsed by PNG Prime Minister James Marape following a public survey and talks between governments, the NRL and the club’s board.NZ Rugby (NZR) has written to the NRL, urging it to reconsider the PNG franchise’s name.NZR told 1News the Chiefs have been a professional rugby club since 1996 and “has an established identity and fanbase, both in the Pacific region and globally”.”There are long-standing registered…

By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang Koror, Palau – Ngeremlengui State and the nation are mourning the passing of former Ngeremlengui State Governor and Senator Ngiraklang John Skebong, who passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the age of 79. Skebong died following a period of hospitalization at Belau National Hospital, marking the end of a […]The post Former Ngeremlengui Governor and Senator Ngiraklang John Skebong dies at 79 appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau (Sept. 14, 2026) — Eight days after two tourist divers disappeared during a dive at Peleliu Wall, the chances of survival have significantly diminished, while questions remain about what caused the experienced divers to descend after beginning their ascent. The two divers, identified as 62-year-old Tan Soon Liang, also known […]The post Day 8: Search Ends for Two Experienced Divers Missing at Palau’s Peleliu Wall  appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat has cancelled his trip to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) this week, as the search for survivors from the MV Matui continues.Napat was scheduled to lead Vanuatu’s delegation to the 81st Session of the UNGA in New York.However, in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the Vanuatu Prime Minister’s Office said he would cancel his trip “to attend to urgent domestic matters”.Napat will now fly to Santo, where the country’s inter-island ferry, MV Matui, departed before sinking last week, resulting in two confirmed deaths so far.The Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority (VMSA) said 14 survivors have…