Author: TMC Palau
Bougainville’s President Ishmael Toroama says if Papua New Guinea’s national parliament refuses to back the 2019 referendum result it will undermine the peace process.Toroama made the comment while addressing last week’s meeting in Port Moresby of the Joint Supervisory Body co-chaired by PNG’s prime minister, James Marape.As a result of the meeting, after months of uncertainty, both governments have decided that the referendum results will finally be tabled for deliberation by the national parliament on 27 August.The historic, non-binding referendum saw 97.7 per cent of respondents in the autonomous PNG region vote in favour of independence.The referendum was provided for…
[Source: AP] The trial of a man accused of orchestrating the killing of Tupac Shakur started this week with jury selection, almost 30 years after the rap legend was gunned down near the Las Vegas Strip. Attorneys began vetting potential jurors Monday for the case, which centers on one of the hip-hop world’s defining moments and enduring mysteries. Seven potential jurors were asked to return Thursday afternoon as attorneys continue the selection process Tuesday and Wednesday. A total of 16 jurors will be selected for the monthlong trial. Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, has pleaded not guilty to murder with…
The netball community in New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Australia are mourning the loss of former Silver Ferns’ captain Ana Noovao, who has died aged 58.The midcourter played for New Zealand between 1989 and 1992, picking up 23 test caps.Netball New Zealand said it was deeply saddened by the news. In a statement it said Noovao died peacefully on Sunday in Rockhampton, Queensland, after a long illness, surrounded by her family and loved ones.Noovao, who was hugely proud of her Cook Island heritage, was a gifted wing attack with natural creativity and was known for her calm temperament on…
[Source: Reuters] The densely populated Chinese capital of Beijing braced for the expected onset of more than one-third of its annual rainfall over 24 hours starting late on Tuesday as moisture from Typhoon Dolphin to the south converged with cool air over northern China. From Tuesday evening through Thursday, most areas in Beijing will experience heavy downpours with a cumulative rainfall of over 100mm (3.9 inches) in 6 hours and more than 150mm (5.9 inches) in 24 hours, according to the city’s meteorological service. The cumulative rainfall in districts including Tongzhou, Daxing, Fangshan, Mentougou, Huairou, and Fengtai may exceed 200mm…
Saadet Gokce11 August 2026•Update: 11 August 2026China on Tuesday urged the Pacific Islands Forum to “abide by the one-China principle” and “properly handle Taiwan-related issues,” after the forum’s chief said that Taiwan would attend an annual summit in Palau next month.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that Taiwan’s participation in the events of international organizations “must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle, which is a basic norm in international relations confirmed by UNGA (UN General Assembly) Resolution 2758 and a prevailing international consensus.”Beijing “urges the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to abide by the one-China…
[Source: Reuters] U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday calling for fewer childhood vaccinations by limiting the inoculation schedule to 11 immunizations, which he said would give U.S. children “gold-standard” protection and align the country with peer nations that recommend fewer shots. The order advances a long-standing goal of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist who has promoted a link between vaccines and autism that scientists have repeatedly debunked. “Effective immediately, my administration is recognizing gold-standard childhood vaccine recommendations for only 11 core vaccinations against the most serious and dangerous diseases, along with the…
[Source: Reuters] Taylor Swift’s wedding dress remains under wraps. But wedding chain David’s Bridal is already betting brides will want one just like it. Fans are eagerly awaiting the reveal of the Christian Dior dress Swift wore at her tightly controlled Madison Square Garden celebration on July 3. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong design team at David’s Bridal, which owns roughly 200 stores across the U.S., has already sketched about two dozen looks based on the pop star’s likely aesthetics, with a focus on Hollywood glamour and drop-waist silhouettes, CEO Kelly Cook told Reuters.Article continues after advertisement Those preparations will help…
Northern Marianas tennis player Carol Lee won the Warsaw T-Mobile Polish Open in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday.She secured her first WTA title with a thrilling 6-4, 7-5 victory over Czech Republic’s Gabriela Knutson in the final.The Marianas Variety reported Lee maintained absolute poise under pressure.Breaking early in the opening set to build momentum, Lee fended off late break points to close out the set, 6-4.The second set proved to be a battle of attrition. With both players trading service holds deep into the set, Lee’s sharp return game and aggressive depth forced key errors at 5-5, allowing her to serve…
[Source: Reuters] More than 100 people were killed after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, toppling buildings, damaging hospitals and infrastructure and trapping people beneath the rubble in the country’s strongest earthquake this century. The quake struck just days after Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in as president, thrusting the new administration into its first major crisis, with memories still fresh of devastating twin earthquakes in neighboring Venezuela in June. “The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed,” he said in a national…
By: L.N. Reklai NGARAARD, Palau (August 10, 2026) — Ngaraard State’s traditional leaders and elected officials are calling for an urgent meeting with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Industries and the Environmental Quality Protection Board after heavy rains triggered mudslides and runoff near the TACMOR project, raising concerns about impacts on mangroves, seagrass beds […]The post Ngaraard Leaders Demand Answers on TACMOR Project Environmental Impacts appeared first on Island Times News. Source link