Author: TMC Palau

August 31, 2026 — 11:37amSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.AAAWhatever mistakes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is guilty of, neglecting the Pacific is not one of them. The PM has travelled widely throughout the region and landed significant security agreements with Tuvalu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Fiji.Even as he copped domestic criticism for his overseas travel, Albanese has shown the region respect by attending every Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting – something few of his predecessors can boast.Albanese is again attending the Pacific Islands Forum, held this week…

Di Lucy CraymerWELLINGTON, 31 agosto (Reuters) – I leader del Pacifico hanno iniziato a riunirsi lunedì a Palau in occasione del Forum annuale delle Isole del Pacifico, ma l’assenza di diversi capi di governo ha gettato un’ombra su un incontro che avrebbe dovuto dimostrare l’unità regionale.I primi ministri di Figi, Vanuatu, Samoa e delle Isole Salomone e il presidente di Kiribati non parteciperanno di persona al ritiro dei leader.Il primo ministro delle Isole Salomone, Matthew Wale, avrebbe dovuto partecipare, ma ha lasciato Palau per affrontare una mozione di sfiducia nel suo Paese. Kiribati ha dichiarato che il presidente Taneti Maamau…

The two candidates running for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) seat in the US Congress clashed over whether the territory is getting enough economic benefit from the growing American military presence in the territory.Challenger Galvin Deleon Guerrero described the current arrangement as a “raw deal” for the CNMI, saying military expansion should result in more jobs for local residents, contracts for local companies and investment in public infrastructure.While incumbent delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds said relations between the CNMI and the US military have improved and argued that continued engagement can produce greater benefits for the territory.”I would say…

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is heading to a Pacific Islands Forum already overshadowed by tensions between China and Taiwan, as the deputy prime minister flies to Washington for talks with the US secretary of defence to progress the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program.This week’s leaders summit in Palau has been billed as an opportunity to co-operate on the climate crisis; rising fuel and food costs from the Middle East conflict; and in combatting the transnational drugs crime blighting Pacific Islands’ security – but the run-up to the forum has been dominated by deepening regional fault lines over the potential flashpoint of…

Fijians living and working in Palau have been urged to embrace their role as “everyday ambassadors” of Fiji while respecting the laws, customs and traditions of Palau.The message was delivered by Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Sakiasi Ditoka, as he met with members of the Fijian diaspora community in Palau yesterday.Ditoka was accompanied by Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change, Lynda Tabuya, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Dr. Raijeli Taga, and Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Sivendra Michael.While highlighting the importance of the long-standing friendship between the two Pacific nations, Ditoka…

There are many factors that make postcard-perfect Palau a peculiar host for this year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting.It’s remote and closer to the Philippines than any other PIF member. It’s attached to the US after signing a free association pact with Washington DC in 1994.And it’s well-off for the region, thanks to that US tie-up, and a lucrative tourism industry.But Palau’s most relevant anomaly ahead of this week’s summit is its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, which upends the table from recent gatherings.Palau is made up of hundreds of islands in the western Pacific Ocean. (Susie Dodds/AAP PHOTOS)It is the…

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale made an emergency trip back to Honiara on Sunday morning from Palau after a motion of no confidence was filed against him.Wale was in Palau to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting as its current chair. He was suppose to hand over the chairmanship to Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr in Palau.Wale, 57, was elected prime minister of the country on 15 May and has been in office for just over 100 days.The no-confidence motion against him on over the weekend has been filed by East Malaita MP and Minister of Home Affairs…

Australian aid Members of Australia’s Emergency Action Alliance (EAA) and their local partners have released an appeal for those affected by the flood disaster on the China-Nepal border, which has killed hundreds of people and left thousands in need of humanitarian assistance. The Australian government has pledged $5 million to multilateral and non-government partners and will deploy humanitarian specialists to assist with relief efforts. Several EAA members have also released public appeals to raise funds for those affected by the 10 August Colombia earthquake. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said Australia is “outraged” at Israel’s decision not to pursue criminal…

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will not attend the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, with Foreign Affairs Minister Sakiasi Ditoka set to represent Fiji. The Forum Leaders Meeting, which is being held in Palau, is expected to be an important platform for Pacific leaders to strengthen regional cooperation and agree on common priorities ahead of Pre-COP31 and COP31. Fiji’s delegation will be led by Mr Ditoka, while Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change and PSIDS Chair Lynda Tabuya has highlighted climate change as one of Fiji’s key priorities at the meeting. Ms Tabuya said Fiji wants Pacific…

A third of Pacific Islands Forum leaders may miss this week’s summit in a blow to regional unity that could deteriorate into a crisis.However, Australian and New Zealand officials are downplaying the impact of the pull-outs, some of which they privately blame on Chinese pressure.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will fly out to Palau on Monday to lead Australia’s delegation at the annual PIF leaders meeting.For various reasons – domestic politics, poor health, and unspoken defiance – seven leaders may not attend.The leaders from Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are out, while there are conflicting reports about the participation…