Author: TMC Palau

Rugby reporter Joe Porter on the latest from South AfricaRichie Mo’unga is back in black.The Canterbury first-five, who has recently returned from playing in Japan, has been named to start for the All Blacks against the Lions in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning.Mo’unga last played for the All Blacks at the 2023 World Cup. He was initially ineligible to be selected for the tour of South Africa, but became eligible to be called in as an injury replacement after taking the field in the NPC.When midfielder Billy Proctor was forced to head back to New Zealand with a shoulder injury, coach…

First Published: 24th August, 2026 18:31 IST He will also engage with the key stake holders and the Indian community there. Written By Northeast Live Digital Desk The Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, will visit Vietnam, Lao PDR and Palau from August 26 to September 2, 2026, to review progress in bilateral relations, exchange views on further strengthening close and historic ties, and advance the countries’ strong development partnerships. He will be on a two-day visit to Vietnam from 26-27 August. During the visit, he will meet senior leadership of the Government of Vietnam to review…

Back in 1964, Aseta Redican became the first Pacific person to qualify as a physiotherapist in Aotearoa, graduating from Otago’s School of Physiotherapy.On Saturday, she received an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Otago, recognising her pioneering contributions to Pacific health across Samoa and Aotearoa New Zealand.Redican said she was initially convinced the university had made a mistake when she received notification of the honorary degree.”I was overwhelmed and in total disbelief, still am,” she said.”Someone, or some people, must have recommended me and whoever they are, I am eternally grateful.”Otago University vice-chancellor Grant Robertson described Redican as…

Pacific leaders are heading into next week’s Pacific Islands Forum summit with a call for unity but also signs that reaching a common position on some of the region’s biggest security issues will not be easy.Outgoing Forum Chair and Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Matthew Wale, says Pacific countries must remain united and set their own priorities as geopolitical competition grows around them.His warning comes after Forum foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint response to China’s recent missile test with the issue now expected to go before leaders when they meet in Koror from 30 August to 4 September.In…

Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita will undertake an official visit to Vietnam, Lao PDR and Palau from August 26 to September 2, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. The visit will cover bilateral engagements with the three countries as well as participation in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting with Dialogue Partners in Palau. Margherita will begin his tour with a visit to Vietnam on August 26-27. During the visit, he is scheduled to meet senior Vietnamese government leaders to review progress in bilateral relations, which were recently elevated to an…

The 2023 Pacific Games audit report will be handed to Solomon Islands Police for investigation.Solomon Islands auditor-general David Teika Dennis told Honiara-based Solomon Business Magazine (SBM) that findings from the special audit into the Games would be sent for further investigation.Dennis revealed the National Hosting Authority (NHA), the government body responsible for organising and delivering the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, did not adhere to the requirements of the Public Financial Management Act 2013 (PFMA 2013).According to the audit findings, the NHA also did not adhere to the prescribed financial management processes when expending public funds for the hosting of…

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is urging people to prepare for a prolonged drought linked to El Niño.In a statement, the ABG said there was an 80 to 90 percent chance of below-normal rainfall across Bougainville until the end of the year.It said the Nissan Atolls and other vulnerable outer-island communities in Northern Bougainville would be prioritised for drought monitoring.El Niño typically brings hotter and drier conditions to Papua New Guinea, increasing the risk of drought, water shortages, crop losses and food insecurity, particularly in the Highlands and remote island communities.The PNG National Weather Service said a strong El Niño…

The Fiji government’s new five percent Tourism Services Tax (TST) has been criticised by international travel associations.The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) and the Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand (TAANZ) say the tax will penalise visitors who have already booked their travels to Fiji.ATIA and TAANZ have called on the Fijian government to withhold implementing the new tax, scheduled to be effective to take effect from 1 September.ATIA chief executive Dean Long said the tax would mean a Fiji holiday could become more expensive for Aussie travellers.The new tax will be in place for large-scale tourism operators and travel…

A whale-watching boat carrying several New Zealand Anglican Church delegates capsized and sank in Tonga on Saturday.RNZ Pacific understands several passengers were briefly hospitalised, but there were no serious injuries.Paramedics from New South Wales, who were in the country for a Rotary International training event, led the rescue.”Before leaving, the Bishops, Chaplains and leaders of the group led a prayer, thanking and blessing the team for the help and support they had provided,” a Rotary statement read.”It was a very special and humbling moment for our team, and certainly not something we expected when we started the day.”The Diocese of…

Fiji’s lawmakers have repealed a 2010 law that opened all surfing breaks to public access, despite opposition criticism that the replacement legislation is “flawed”.The move comes after the Fijian parliament passed the Commercial Use of Marine Areas (CUMA) Bill 2025 last Thursday. The legislation received 27 votes in favour, seven abstentions, and 21 MPs did not vote.The legislation grants customary owners greater rights over the commercial use of marine areas.Fiji’s coalition government has long signalled it would repeal the Bainimarama-era Regulation of Surfing Areas Act, arguing that customary owners should be compensated for the commercial use of their marine areas.Deputy…