Author: ngewakl

[Photo: FILE] The Ministry of Health says the introduction of 12-hour shifts at the CWM Hospital in Suva is a temporary measure to manage ongoing staffing shortages. Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu says the system is currently operating with about 70 percent of its workforce, which has required adjustments to schedules to maintain essential services. “We are a critical workforce that delivers essential care to the general public. But then again, we as a ministry, as a part of government, are aligned with the priorities of government. And we felt a little bit of difficulty from that. So again, it’s…

As I write, my eyes keep straying to the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Andes out of the aeroplane window to my left. I am heading south, away from the Lithium Triangle, where I have spent a month exploring the world’s highest and driest desert. The Chilean Atacama is the home of the indigenous Lickanantay peoples, who have thrived in this hostile landscape since well before the Incas and then the Spanish came to dominate Chile. Nowadays, the biggest threat to the Lickanantay culture and way of life comes from the global mining corporations that dig up the Salar de…

“I don’t want to prove anything with this album; what I want is to enjoy playing with some of the most incredible musicians I’ve ever met,” Mirabet himself explains about this original project, which takes him into jazz at the head of a top-notch quartet: Perico Sambeat, Albert Sanz, Doug Weiss, and Jordi Rossy. It’s an intimate tribute to classic jazz and to the singer’s father—a trombonist and a great lover of the genre—conceived almost like one of those classic sessions from the ’50s and ’60s: “We recorded all together, looking at each other, having a conversation through our instruments.…

Overview: A petition to recall Ngchesar Delegate Rebecca Ngirmechaet has been rejected after election officials found it lacked enough valid voter support. The decision raises questions about recall efforts and voter eligibility requirements in Palau. Verification finds only 83 valid signatures, below 97 required under Constitution By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau (April 16, 2026)— The Palau Election Commission has rejected a petition seeking the recall of Ngchesar State Delegate Rebecca Sebalt Ngirmechaet after determining it did not meet the constitutional requirement for valid signatures. In a letter to Percy Rechelluul, a former Ngchesar State Council member identified as the contact…

Families of the nine men missing at sea are urging the public to be careful when sharing information, as the search enters another day. Timaima Buadromo, the wife of one of the missing fishermen, says false reports have added to the pain, giving families hope, only for it to be taken away. The men from Nanuku Settlement in Suva were last seen on Wednesday, heading out on what was meant to be a routine fishing trip, but never returned the next day. Many of them are the sole breadwinners for their families, with some leaving behind pregnant wives, making the…

Jeremiah Manele Photo: Facebook / Prime Minister’s Office, Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands prime minister has clawed one MP away from a new coalition seeking to remove him from power. Government House has confirmed to RNZ Pacific that the MP for South New Georgia Rendova and Tetepare, David Gina, was sworn in as Minister for Rural Development on Sunday afternoon. While is not enough to save Jeremiah Manele if parliament was called immediately for a no-confidence vote – as the new coalition still command 27 of the 50 seats in the House – it is the first defection from the…

Fiji is facing a worsening sexual and reproductive health crisis that is hurting young people, families and the economy, but new community research shows that Fijians already have practical solutions that could turn things around if they were properly supported. Rising teenage pregnancy, high rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, and widespread violence in relationships are making it harder for girls to stay in school, work and plan their futures. These problems are not just about individual choices. They are rooted in gender inequality, silence and shame around sex, and services that often feel unwelcoming or unsafe, especially for…

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – In an exclusive interview with Hawaii News Now, Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr., talked about efforts to attract more U.S. investment in the region to balance increasing investment and influence by Chinese companies. Whipps was among the Pacific Island leaders attending the inaugural Pacific Agenda Summit with U.S. government officials and business executives at the East-West Center this week.The two-day conference focused on “Investment, Security, and Shared Prosperity,” with a number of deals signed through the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, including a feasibility study to be led by local firm Architects Hawaii Limited into building a…

Overview: A construction worker is presumed dead after disappearing underwater at the Minatobashi Bridge project in Malakal. As search efforts continue, the tragedy casts a shadow over one of Palau’s most critical infrastructure upgrades. What safety measures should be in place for high-risk projects like this? Tragedy strikes major Japan-backed infrastructure project in Malakal By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau (April 16, 2026) — A construction worker is presumed dead after failing to surface while working at the Minatobashi Bridge construction site in Malakal on Thursday. The worker, a Bangladeshi national identified by his first name, “Mo,” was employed by Surangel…

Yasayasa Moala College athletes at today’s Maritime Zone at the national stadium in Suva. After a two-year absence caused largely by financial challenges, Yasayasa Moala College has returned to the Fiji Finals with renewed determination and a stronger purpose. Team manager Matelita Waqairatu says the school from the remote island of Moala has brought 21 athletes this year to compete in both track and field events at the Maritime Zone and the Coca-Cola Games, marking a proud moment for the school community. The last time Yasayasa Moala featured at the Fiji Finals was in 2023, and Waqairatu says the biggest…