Author: TMC Palau
[Photo: File] Vodafone Fijiana XV head coach Willie Walker has named two debutants in his match-day 23 for Saturday’s opening Test against the South African Springbok Women at HFC BankStadium in Suva. Ruth Raketekete will start at inside centre, while Adi Vani Buleki has been named on the wing, with both set to earn their first international caps. Experienced halfback Kolora Lomani will captain the side, while prop Bitila Tawake has been named vice-captain. The forward pack features Karalaini Naisewa, Tiana Robanakadavu, Mereoni Nakesa, Karavaki Lutumaibau and Nunia Daunimoala, while Adi Salaseini Railumu and Alfreda Fisher joinLomani in the loose…
Authorities have suspended the search for six people who remain missing after a small fibreglass boat failed to arrive at its intended destination in Fiji’s Lau Group. The 25-foot half-cabin vessel departed Namuka for Fulaga Island this morning but did not reach its destination. Villagers carried out an initial search, but no trace of the boat or its occupants was found. Search efforts were suspended because of adverse weather conditions and are expected to resume tomorrow, when conditions improve.Article continues after advertisement Police have appealed to mariners and communities along nearby coastal areas to remain alert for the missing vessel.…
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford wanted to scrap annual limits on Pacific migrant workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, but apparently could not get the sign-off from Cabinet.Stanford made her case in a meeting last month, according to papers released on Wednesday, proposing it would reduce administration costs for RSE employers, while increasing remittances sent back to the Pacific.Stanford recently announced a swathe of technical changes to the RSE scheme, such as allowing workers to apply for migrant exploitation protection visas, and extending how long an employer could stay in the scheme if they treated their staff properly.Her office…
[Source: Reuters] New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was open to a referendum on whether to change the country’s electoral system, opening another split in his centre-right coalition months ahead of a general election. New Zealand adopted the German-style Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system in 1996 after an inquiry found smaller parties were being shut out of parliament under the previous first-past-the-post system. Luxon said in an interview with radio station Newstalk ZB that a referendum is “something we should consider”, and could be held as early as 2027 if he returns to power following a general election…
[Source: Reuters] Board gaming company Asmodee’s (ASMDEEb.ST), chief executive said on Tuesday that trading card games, an “extremely strong” category in its catalogue, were here to stay. Trading cards are typically sold in sealed booster packs, a format which encourages repeated purchases by collectors and players alike. “On a game-by-game basis, maybe some will see ups and downs, but what’s very strong with Asmodee is that we are not depending or relying just on one,” Thomas Koegler told Reuters, referring to the range of trading card titles the company distributes. Koegler said that many of these games were dedicated to…
The US Navy and Marine Corps have finalised a plan to conduct distributed operations training on Tinian in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.Tinian mayor Edwin Aldan has welcomed the US Department of the Navy’s decision to approve expanded joint military training on the island, but said residents should have been better informed about the contents of the final decision.The comments came after the navy issued a Record of Decision, signed on 23 July by Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment) Brendan Rogers, formally approving Alternative 1 under the CNMI Joint Military Training project.The decision allows…
Koror (PALAU) – Palau enters this year’s Micronesian Cup with a squad shaped by continuity, commitment, and the unmistakable pride of representing one of the region’s smallest nations on a FIBA stage.For Palau, every international appearance carries weight. It’s not just about basketball, it’s about visibility, community, and showing that a small island nation can stand tall in regional competition. That spirit is embodied by returning athletes who stepped forward in 2022 and now return with experience, maturity, and a deeper understanding of what it means to compete for Palau.Wallace Worswick is one of the central figures in Palau’s campaign,…
[Source: File] Fiji Rugby has defended its decision to stage the Vodafone Fijiana XV Test against South Africa on the same day as the Vodafone Deans and Weet-Bix Raluve national quarter-finals, saying the occasion is about celebrating the entire rugby pathway. In a statement today, the union acknowledged public discussion surrounding Saturday’s schedule but stressed that the arrangement was designed to showcase rugby from the grassroots to the international level. The Vodafone Fijiana XV will host the Springbok Women in a World Rugby-sanctioned Test at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva before the national schools quarter-finals get underway. Fiji Rugby says…
This speech was delivered at the launch of the Australian Council for International Development’s (ACFID) State of the Sector Report 2026 on 6 August 2026. I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet, and pay my respects to Elders past and present. I extend that respect to all First Nations people here today. On the cover of this report are Kilu and Oneidah from Boboe Island in Solomon Islands, harvesting sea grapes. Sea grapes are a traditional food and an important source of livelihood. In Western Province, four communities have launched a women-led…
The installation of the new wastewater pipeline at Palau d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm and the replacement of the existing pumping station are progressing as planned. This project, which was visited this morning by the Councillor for the Water Cycle, José Ramón González de Zárate, also includes the installation of a sewage network, which was previously nonexistent, for the homes in the Salt de l’Aigua area.The budget for this project amounts to €568,574.57, financed by the Renewal Funds of Veolia, the concessionaire for the Integrated Water Cycle, and carried out by the company Mediterránea de Obras y Asfaltos S.A. The reason…