Author: TMC Palau

Varanisese Qoro at the Mc’Donalds Fijian Drua women awards night The rise of McDonald’s Fiji Drua Women Rookie of the Year Varanisese Qoro has come as no surprise to her father, Josaia Qoro, who says his daughter made a life-changing decision at the start of the year. Josaia revealed that he sat down with Varanisese and asked her to choose between pursuing employment and committing fully to rugby. “At the beginning of this year, I sat her down and asked her whether she wanted to work or play rugby. She replied saying she wanted to play rugby.” That decision has…

[Source: Reuters] Globally, people currently use roughly 7,500 languages, with English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, Arabic and French the most common, counting native and nonnative speakers. That ​is a lot of languages. But it is a far cry from the peak number historically. Researchers used mathematical modeling and insights from anthropology, linguistics and demography ‌to estimate the number of languages used globally dating back about 12,000 years to around the end of the last Ice Age, covering a chapter in time called the Holocene epoch.Article continues after advertisement They identified a period spanning the first millennium BC and first millennium…

[Source: Reuters] Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru’s president, becoming the latest in a string of conservative leaders elected ‌across Latin America by voters frustrated by crime, weak economic growth and political instability. The 51-year-old daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori is Peru’s first-ever elected female head of state. Her victory in June’s presidential runoff marked the return of one of Peru’s most influential and polarizing political dynasties and capped a political comeback after years of failed bids. “I assume office with the firmness needed to govern, but also with the sensitivity ​required to listen to and heal the…

For decades, parliamentary politics across the Pacific region has largely been shaped by men. This week, women parliamentarians from across the region gathered in Wellington with a focus on changing that.The women changing Pacific politics The House Thirty-one women MPs from 14 Pacific jurisdictions are taking part in a wānanga hosted by the New Zealand Parliament, with a focus on “decision-making and influencing change across the Pacific.”The gathering comes as Pacific nations continue to grapple with the barriers preventing more women from entering politics. Ignoring New Zealand and Australia, women make up just 7.7 percent of MPs across Oceania, compared…

[Photo: File] The Australia-backed infrastructure project at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital has been confirmed to be completed in the next 20 years, one that officials described as along-term investment in Fiji’s healthcare. The Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa who confirmed this, says that the project includes CWMs improvement plan and a new hospital to be built outside of the CWM. “That is a big project. As the Minister has already alluded to, it will take at least about 10 to 20 years to complete the whole project improvement plan for the hospital and also for the new hospital…

[Photo: Supplied: Fiji Govt] The government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and community engagement following public discussion surrounding the Google ICT Facility development at Natadola. Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel says the project is one of the most significant digital infrastructure investments in Fiji’s history and will strengthen the country’sdigital connectivity and reinforce Fiji’s position as a destination for global technology investment. Immanuel says the government wants public discussion on the project to be based on facts rather than speculation. According to the government, consultations were conducted throughout the project’s development with the Ministry of Lands, the iTaukei Land…

[Photo: FILE] Government will invest $1.3 million in a new housing development in Caubati, Nasinu, as part of efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities for Fijians. Minister for Housing Maciu Nalumisa says the funding is part of this year’s budget priorities, which focus on increasing formal housing developments and supporting low-income families. He says the Caubati project is among several new developments planned, alongside the continuation of settlement formalization programmes nationwide. Nalumisa adds that the government is also strengthening the First Home Ownership Initiative, with revised eligibility criteria aimed at helping more families own their homes.Article continues after advertisement “Under…

A Pacific geopolitical expert there is a risk that Pacific Islands’ priorities and security concerns are being sidelined by increased geopolitical competition and tensions in the region.Are there too many security alliances in the Pacific?Pacific WavesThis comes amid a growing number of security alliances being formed between Australia and Pacific countries, as well as new regional security organisations, and as China increases its footprint in the region.Anna Powles, an associate professor at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, told RNZ Pacific that the already crowded regional architecture is becoming more complex, and that there is a…

[Photo: FILE] Health officials are sounding the alarm as diabetes-related amputations continue to rise in Fiji, with concerns that many patients are delaying medical treatment in favour of herbal medicine and faith-based healing. The Ministry of Health says this trend persists despite years of education and awareness campaigns. Recent figures reveal that around 70 percent of surgeries carried out in the country are diabetes related. The Assistant Minister for Health, Penioni Ravunawa, highlighted cultural challenges as a contributing factor to late-stage presentations.Article continues after advertisement  “Unfortunately, with our communal system also in Fiji, we tend to rely on herbal medicine…

Melvin Mani and coach Alvin Chand.[Source:Fiji FA/Facebook] Extra Supermarket Labasa’s top goal scorer, Melvin Mani, will miss Saturday’s crucial Extra Premier League clash against Dayal’s Sawmillers Ba at Subrail Park. The Labasa star is one of 12 players who will watch this weekend’s round 16 from the sideline after accumulating two yellow cards. Also out for Labasa is Peniasi Rotidara who has two yellow cards as well. Mani, who scored the winning goal against Prithvi Navua last week, has netted six goals in the league after 15 rounds.Article continues after advertisement The Babasiga Lions are also going to be playing…