Author: TMC Palau

SYDNEY – Taiwan will attend an annual gathering of Pacific Island leaders in Palau in August, the regional bloc said, overcoming protests from China that saw Taipei barred from the event in 2025.China and Taiwan were important partners to the region, a Pacific Islands Forum official told reporters late on Aug 7, after ministers from 18 member states met in Fiji to thrash out priorities.“Taiwan is a very important development partner. It is not a dialogue partner. However, it engages with members of our forum family,” Baron Waqa, the forum’s secretary-general, told a news conference.Palau, host of the Aug 30…

Fiji Pearls head coach Michelle Parsons has named her final squad for the upcoming World Cup Oceania Qualifier, which will be held in Tonga next month. The qualifiers are scheduled to run from September 14 to 18. For the shooting positions, Parsons has selected Leehava Saverio, Maliana Rusivakula, Maria Rusivakula and Malita Vocea. The midcourt lineup features Abbie Leger, Jimaima Kete, Teuila Sotutu and Nina Nakula.Article continues after advertisement In defence, Parsons has named Alisi Naqiri, Elenoa Gukirewa, Varanisese Vula and Vutaeli Tokaduadua. The Fiji Pearls are expected to depart for Tonga early next month as they prepare to compete…

Ra High School has caused the biggest upset of the Vodafone Super Deans U18 quarter-finals after edging defending champions, Ratu Kadavulevu School, 12-10 in their quarter finals clash in Tavua this afternoon. RKS started the match strongly with an unconverted try to lead 5-0 before Ra High replied with an unconverted try in the 33rd minute to level the score at 5-all. Both teams were locked at 5-all at the halftime break. RKS again started the second spell strongly, with yet another unconverted try to take a 10-5 lead.Article continues after advertisement The underdogs, Ra High, did not lost hope…

[ Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat / Facebook ] The Pacific Islands Forum says no member state blocked a proposed statement on China’s recent ballistic missile testing into the Pacific. The issue was raised following the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting, with questions over why the region had not issued a strong collective response. PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa says ministers discussed the matter but had differing views on how the statement should be worded. “There is no blocking. Kiribati did not block, Nauru did not block. They just honestly put in place their position so that others can consider and…

With less than a week to go before around 9000 Cook Islanders head to the polls, the cost of living remains the dominant issue for voters.The Cook Islands will hold its 2026 general election on Wednesday, 12 August (Thursday NZ time).Cost of living dominiant issue for Cook Islanders in electionPacific WavesMore than 60 candidates from over two dozen constituencies are vying for a seat in the Cook Islands 24-member parliament.Rashneel Kumar, the editor of the islands’ only daily newspaper, the Cook Islands News, told Pacific Waves, the election campaign period for the country’s four-yearly election is well underway, with campaign…

[Photo: FILE] Fiji is tightening its driver licensing system by making road safety training compulsory before new drivers can sit a learner licence test. The Land Transport Authority will introduce a mandatory Learner Driver Course for all Class 2 Learner Permit applicants from next Monday to reduce road crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities. LTA Chief Executive Irimaia Rokosawa says all learner applicants must complete the course before becoming eligible to sit the Driver Knowledge Test. He says the course will be provided free of charge at LTA branches nationwide and is designed to ensure new drivers understand road rules, hazard…

Here is the rock that was dug out of the main ground at Garvey Park in Tavua. A major safety hazard was removed from the main ground at Garvey Park in Tavua earlier today, just hours before the Vodafone Deans Trophy and Weet-Bix Raluve Championship quarter-finals. A video posted this morning on Facebook showed school students digging out a large rock that had become exposed on the playing surface, raising concerns about the safety of players preparing to take the field. The incident has raised questions about the condition and safety of grounds, and the roles of officials in making…

Both Guam’s men’s and women’s national teams walked onto the floor one win away from advancing to the medal rounds in the 2026 Oceania Volleyball Championships Friday night at the University of Guam Calvo Field House in Mangilao, Guam.The path to the podium – for both teams – went through Palau.Guam, in the final women’s final game in Pool A, defeated Palau 25-6, 25-14, 25-22.With the win, Guam’s women’s national volleyball team advanced to Saturday’s semifinals, where they were scheduled to take on American Samoa, the No. 2 seeds in Pool B, at 1:30 p.m. at UOG.The winner will advance…

Lomary Secondary School has booked its place in the Weet-Bix Raluve Under-18 semi-finals after a dominant 38-5 win over Bua Central College at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva this morning. The Lomary side controlled the quarter-final from the outset, producing a strong performance to finally break through the quarter-final barrier after five years of trying. Captain Ema Lebagade says the team is proud of the result but knows there is still work to be done before the semi-final next week. Lebagade says they have been trying for the past five years to get past the quarter-final stage, and achieving…

Former Rugby World Cup winner Mike Catt has been appointed as senior assistant coach of the Fijian Drua men’s team ahead of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season.The Fijian Drua confirmed his appointment on Thursday.In a statement, Catt said he is looking forward to the oportunity.”I’m very excited. I think what I’ve seen and how the Drua have performed in the past five years since they’ve started has been very impressive and it only looks like going forward, they are heading towards the right direction,” he said.”To be part of something special and relatively new is very and it is…