Author: TMC Palau

The 9/11 attacks on the US claimed thousands of lives, stunned the world, and triggered responses that continue to shape global politics, security, and public life today.A series of coordinated attacks in the United States killed almost 3000 people, with planes hijacked and crashing in Pennsylvania, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and most prominently, the World Trade Center in New York City.September 11 witness: ‘I hope people become kinder’While the world watched in horror at the unfolding events, the memories of 9/11 are etched in the minds of those who survived or witnessed the attacks. That day is especially personal…

By Talaia Mika, RNZ Pacific correspondentFive strong teams are in Tonga to compete for a spot in the World Cup Qualifiers including Tonga, who finds confidence from their home soil as they prepare to host the tournament next week.It’s a double celebration for Tonga next week, given it’s their first time playing on their home soil and being able to host the Qualifiers at the same time.Despite this, Tonga Netball Association chief executive Salote Sisifa said Tonga is confident of securing one of two remaining spots at next year’s Netball World Cup in Sydney when the Pacific qualifier gets underway…

New Zealand First is wanting to make sweeping changes to the country’s immigration laws.The party unveiled over a dozen new policies on Friday ahead of November’s general election.NZ First policiesRestrict birthright citizenship, so only the children of citizens are automatically entitled to New Zealand citizenship at birthDouble qualifying periods for attaining citizenship or permanent residence, from five to 10 yearsIncrease application fees for citizenship and permanent residence “to reflect its value and to better fund the wider immigration system”Prevent asylum seekers who have applied for a work visa while in New Zealand from being eligiblePrevent asylum seekers from using temporary…

America’s being told it could improve its standing in the Pacific by being more present. The United States has no resident ambassador in any of the 14 Pacific Island countries, at a time when the geopolitical giants are jockeying for power and influence in the region. Charles Edel, the Australia chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, believes the US could do more to prove it’s committed. Over the past 10 years it’s paid just “episodic attention” to the region, says Edel, in spite of considering itself a Pacific nation. Now that other big…

Four Seasons Explorer Palau has always been about reaching extraordinary places few travellers experience. Now, the journey continues north to Kayangel as the luxury catamaran introduces a new route with access to one of the archipelago’s most remote island escapes. Aboard Four Seasons Explorer Palau – the only vessel to journey to both the country’s northern and southern islands – guests experience this pristine hideaway exclusively when conditions allow. Just 1.4 square kilometres in size, Kayangel is celebrated for its untouched beauty, crystal-clear waters and powder-soft white sand beaches. Central to the Kayangel stop-off is a stretch of shoreline reserved…

Rotorua will host the 2026 Oceania Rugby 7s Cup tournament next month.Oceania Rugby and New Zealand Rugby have partnered with the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union to host the event, which will be the only international rugby sevens tournament in New Zealand this year.The event will feature eight teams in the Men’s Cup – Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands and Niue.The women’s competition runs across two sections, the Oceania 7s Women’s Cup, which will feature Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue and Solomon Islands, and a six-team International Women’s Invitational, featuring Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, France, Japan…

By: Laurel Marewibuel KOROR, Palau — A new Palau-based health collaboration platform has moved from planning to its first practical partnerships, signing a statement of collaboration and four nonbinding cooperation agreements during Pacific Islands Forum week. Palau Medical Hub is designed to connect local health priorities with medical, scientific, technology, supply, infrastructure and implementation expertise […]The post Palau Medical Hub Begins Health Collaboration With Four Initial Agreements appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

By: Laurel Marewibuel KOROR, Palau — “I got to meet with some elderly at the old age center and got to spend some time with them. Hearing their stories was so inspiring.” For Taiwanese youth ambassador Corayne, those conversations with Palau’s elders were among the experiences that made a two-week cultural exchange in Palau memorable. […]The post Taiwan Youth Ambassadors Discover Palau’s Culture, People and Natural Beauty During Two-Week Visit  appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

By: Laurel Marewibuel KOROR, Palau — A New York-born engineer and four-time founder is urging Palau to pursue an unprecedented economic transformation: becoming the world’s 13th country capable of launching rockets into space. Eric Adolphe, founder of Forward Edge-AI, said the proposal is advancing through the Palau Senate, with a public hearing expected in October. […]The post Palau Could Become World’s 13th Rocket Launch Nation, Entrepreneur Tells Students appeared first on Island Times News. Source link

Graves of Cook Islander soldiers vandalised in RarotongaA historic cemetery in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, has been vandalised devastating families and local community members.An Australian-based researcher, who has led the restoration project at the Nikao Cemetery in Rarotonga for ten years, says those responsible for vandalising the headstones need to be prosecuted.It was reported this week that a number of headstones were knocked over, including the headstone of researcher Cate Walker’s mother.Walker was notified by the Cook Islands Investment Corporation this week, who sent pictures of the damaged headstones.Speaking to Pacific Waves, Walker said the vandalism was something she never expected…