Author: TMC Palau
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Senior Military Official in Guam and Palau Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, commander, Joint Task Force-Micronesia (JTF-M), the President of Palau Surangle Whipps, Jr., and the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Palau Joel Ehrendreich hosted a bilateral Palau-U.S. Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) in Peleliu, Sept. 16-17.Senior leaders including ambassadors, ministers, senators, governors, and advisors from across the Republic of Palau gathered with representatives from the U.S. Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, and other governmental organizations for the two-day event to discuss the United States’ ongoing commitment to security and defense in the region.“The…
The publication documents the stories of pioneering women who broke barriers. [PHOTO:MOLLYN NAKABEA] In commemoration of the legacy of women parliamentarians in Fiji, the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Fiji Group has launched a booklet celebrating the contributions of women parliamentarians from 1966 to 2026. The publication documents the stories of pioneering women who broke barriers and helped shape Fiji’s democratic institutions. Deputy Speaker of Parliament and CWP Fiji Chair Lenora Qereqeretabua says the launch of the booklet is a tribute to the courage and resilience of Fiji’s women parliamentarians. She says documenting these stories is essential to preserving the experiences and…
Barcelona are preparing to officially add Xevi Pujol to their new basketball front-office structure. According to SPORT, the Catalan executive is arriving at Palau after completing the two-month notice period required to end his relationship with Baskonia. Pujol, 36, is set to become one of the key sporting figures of Barça’s basketball section after previous stops with Manresa and Baskonia. At Manresa, he was credited as one of the architects of the club’s rise, with moves such as Chima Moneke, Sylvain Francisco, Cameron Hunt and Derrick Alston Jr., as well as the team’s historic run to the 2022 Basketball Champions…
A former Fiji Rugby Union executive and longtime journalist believes the country’s anti-corruption agency is “not fit for purpose”.Charlie Charters, a British-Fijian national, made the comments after the Fiji High Court in Suva permanently stayed the criminal proceedings against him a fortnight ago.In March, the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) charged Charters with two counts of aiding and abetting an unidentified whistleblower to unlawfully disclose official information about the organisation.However, the Fiji High Court, on 24 July, dismissed the charges, ruling that FICAC violated his constitutional rights and abused the court process.In his ruling, Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu found that…
[Source: File] Rewa FC is setting its sights on a historic OFC Men’s Champions League title as the Delta Tigers prepare to begin their campaign this Saturday in Lautoka. The Fijian champions will take on Solomon Islands side Central Coast Galaxy at Churchill Park, with club officials confident the team is ready for Oceania’s premier club competition. Senior Vice President Sanjay Patel says winning the Champions League would rank as the club’s greatest achievement. “For Champions League, it’s our ultimate challenge. If we can win the Champions League for Fiji, that will be our biggest achievement today.”Article continues after advertisement…
The U.S. and the Republic of Palau concluded a highly productive working-level JCM, deepening the security partnership by connecting Palauan officials with a range of U.S. interagency experts to address shared challenges. The meeting utilized the JCM platform to facilitate direct dialogue between Palauan leaders and U.S. representatives from the departments of State, Justice, Homeland Security, and War. This interagency approach was designed to provide comprehensive, tailored solutions to Palau’s security priorities, including drug-related threats, criminal activity, and border security. Senior Palau officials highlighted that this JCM’s focus on countering illicit narcotics was both timely and aligned with President Surangel…
The incident was traced to a pump failure at the Robertson Pump Station. [PICTURE:SUPPLIED] The Water Authority of Fiji has restored normal wastewater operations following an overflow incident along Cumming Street, Suva, this morning. WAF says its response teams attended the site immediately after the wastewater overflow was reported and carried out repairs, followed by disinfection and cleaning of the affected footpath and surrounding areas. The incident was traced to a pump failure at the Robertson Pump Station, which receives and transfers wastewater from the surrounding catchment. According to WAF, the failure occurred after the pump control float switches became…
For generations, Palau’s turquoise lagoons and rich forests have defined life in the western Pacific. Today, as the nation prepares to host Pacific leaders for the Pacific Islands Forum later this month, many islanders fear another reality is taking shape – one where their homeland sits on the frontline of growing tensions between the United States and China.The Pacific nation of about 18,000 people is seeing a major expansion of US military facilities under its long-standing Compact of Free Association with Washington.While supporters say the projects will strengthen regional security, critics worry about the impact on communities, the environment and…
[Source: File] Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Fiji, has strengthened its long-standing association with the McDonald’s Coral Coast Fiji 7s by becoming the Naming Rights Partner of the Women’s Division for the tournament’s 15th edition. The resort will also continue its role as the tournament’s official resort, extending one of the longest-running commercial partnerships in Fijian sport. Since the inaugural Coral Coast Fiji 7s in 2010, Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Fiji, has remained one of only two foundation partners to support the tournament throughout its entire history. The 15th edition of the tournament will be held from January 14 to 16, 2027, with…
Gilbert + Tobin and Ashurst Perkins Coie have guided parties on Solar Pacific Pristine Power’s augmentation and financing of the Palau solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project for an undisclosed amount. Solar Pacific, headquartered in Manila, is a subsidiary of Philippines renewable energy company Alternergy. Ashurst Perkins Coie said the augmented facility was among the largest solar-plus-BESS projects in Palau, and was being financed by the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) through Export Finance Australia (EFA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Gilbert + Tobin advised the AIFFP, with Sydney-based partner Jamie…