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19th February
Exclusive: U.S. blocks North Korean air traffic revival ahead of Trump-Kim summit – sources
MONTREAL/SEOUL (Reuters) – The United States has blocked efforts by a U.N. agency to improve civil aviation in North Korea at a time when Pyongyang is trying to reopen part of its airspace to foreign...
Man accused of raping two boys pleads not guilty
A 27-YEAR-OLD man charged for the alleged rape of two boys in his settlement pleaded not guilty to all the charges before the High Court in Suva today. The man is charged with three counts of sexual assault, three counts of rape and three counts of attempt to commit rape. It is alleged that he...
18th February
Paramount Group in talks to develop Africa’s defense industry
ABU DHABI (Reuters) – South African defense company Paramount Group expects to sign agreements with four African governments this year to set up production facilities in their countries, its chairman said on Sunday. Paramount, Africa’s largest privately owned defense firm, has established manufacturing capabilities to meet demand from specific domestic markets before, including in India,...
OFC Champions League: Ba aim for quarters
THE Ba football side is aware of the tough task on hand when they kick start its OFC Champions League campaign this Saturday. Teams’ Technical Advisor Shalen Lal said the side is aware of the task and are raring to go. “Yes, it is a tough pool we are in. But our aim is to...
Timeline: The rise and fall of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
(Reuters) – Islamic State faces the total defeat of its self-proclaimed caliphate. This timeline chronicles its lightning rise, cruel reign and stubborn fall. ** 2004-11 – In the chaos following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, an al-Qaeda offshoot sets up there, changing its name in 2006 to Islamic State in Iraq. ** 2011 –...
Youth league kicks off this weekend
THE Southern zone Vodafone Under-16 Youth League kick starts this weekend. In matches at the Fiji FA Academy Grounds, Nasinu plays Rewa at 10am, Northland Tailevu plays Tailevu Naitasiri at 12pm while Suva battles Navua at 2pm. In the western division, Rakiraki plays Tavua at 12pm at the FSC Ground in Rakiraki, Nadi battles Nadroga...
Pacific delegates to attend Pacific Ending Childhood Obesity forum
AROUND 45 participants, including representatives from 17 Pacific Island Countries and territories, technical agencies, and academics from regional Universities, development partners and civil society representatives will be attending the forum for Pacific Ending Childhood Obesity (Pacific ECHO) Network. According to a statement by the Fiji National University (FNU) the two-day forum which begins tomorrow, February...
IS ‘caliphate’ on brink of defeat in Syria as Trump urges Europe to do more
NEAR BAGHOUZ, Syria (Reuters) – U.S.-backed fighters in Syria are poised to capture Islamic State’s last, tiny enclave on the Euphrates, the battle commander said on Saturday, bringing its self-declared caliphate to the brink of total defeat as U.S. President Donald Trump spoke of “100 percent victory”. Jiya Furat said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)...
Polish PM cancels trip to Israel in wake of comments on Poles in Holocaust
WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland’s prime minister has canceled a trip to Israel in the wake of reported remarks made by his Israeli counterpart suggesting Polish complicity during the Holocaust, an aide in his office told Polish media on Sunday. A government spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki would not attend the summit...
NZ, Fiji military personnel hold peacekeeping operations seminar
THE New Zealand Defense Force and the Republic of the Fiji Military Force have recognised that simply doing peacekeeping was not enough however thoughtful and intellectual discussion must also be part of the wider step-up to meet the challenges. New Zealand Defence Adviser to Fiji and Tonga Lieutenant Colonel Josh Wineera during a contemporary peacekeeping...
WAF provides developments and plans at customer forums
THE Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) will be holding customer forums in the Western Division this Thursday, February 21, 2019 at the Tanoa Waterfront Hotel and next week Thursday, February, 27, 2019 at the Hotel Takia Conference Room. WAF General Manager Customer Services and Acting General Manager Operations, Sekove Uluinayau while opening the customer forum...
Iran’s Zarif accuses Israel, U.S. of seeking war
MUNICH (Reuters) – Iran’s foreign minister on Sunday accused Israel of looking for war and warned that its actions and those of the United States were increasing the chances of a clash in the region. Addressing the Munich Security Conference, Mohammad Javad Zarif, also criticized the U.S. administration after Vice President Mike Pence this week...
Trump policies unite allies against him at European security forum
MUNICH (Reuters) – In 2009, then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden came to Munich to “press the reset button” with Russia. A decade later he came again to offer the world better relations, this time with his own country. Promising that “America will be back” once Donald Trump leaves office, Biden won a standing ovation...
Litterbug caught red-handed and likely to be charged
A MAN was taken in for questioning for throwing rubbish along the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park last Friday. A Government statement issued this afternoon says a Ministry of Forestry official caught a man with a truck, registration number EE:253 throwing rubbish along the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park and the police was immediately alerted taking the man was...
Yvette walks free as High Court finds her not guilty of all charges
YVETTE Dianne Nikolic walked free out of the High Court in Suva after a ruling for no case to answer was allowed in a her favor this afternoon. Mrs Nikolic and her husband John Geoffery Nikolic pleaded not guilty to two counts of importing an illicit drug, one count of possessing arms and ammunition without...
May to speak to every EU head in bid for Brexit deal changes
LONDON (Reuters) – Theresa May plans to speak to every European Union leader and the European Commission chief to seek changes to her EU withdrawal agreement, days after another defeat from her own lawmakers and as businesses brace for a no-deal Brexit on March 29. In her talks with EU leaders and European Commission President...
Bail extended for Nasilasila
BAIL has been extended for former Fiji Airways men’s 7s team star Amenoni Nasilasila. He appeared before the High Court in Lautoka today charged with rape. Mr Nasilasila, 26, is alleged to have raped a 24-year-old woman in Olosara, Sigatoka, on December 22 last year. The matter will be called again on March 4. *More...
Indonesian presidential hopefuls vow energy self-sufficiency through palm
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s two presidential candidates pledged on Sunday to achieve energy self-sufficiency by boosting the use of bioenergy, particularly fueled by palm oil, to cut costly oil imports by Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Indonesia, the world’s biggest palm oil producer, has been pushing for all diesel fuel used in the country to contain...
Violence against women and children requires urgent attention: Koroivueta
FIJIAN women suffer violence including physical, sexual or emotional violence and quite often the only choice is to flee to seek help. This were the sentiments echoed by the Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Poverty Allevatiom Dr Josefa Koroivueta while officiating at the Gender Based Violence and Human Rights Training for senior officers of...
39.5kg cocaine bust suspect remanded; case transferred to High Court
A MAN charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs has been remanded by the Nasinu Magistrates court this afternoon. It is alleged that Joshua Aziz Rahman, 24, without lawful authority had in his possession 39.5 kilograms of cocaine on February 14, 2019, in Caubati. Police Prosecutor Constable Priti Prasad served full phase disclosures and objected...
Nigerian candidate says delayed presidential vote could be compromised
ABUJA (Reuters) – While most Nigerians took the delay in a presidential election in their stride on Sunday, after similar postponements in 2011 and 2015, one presidential candidate and civil society groups expressed concern that the vote could now be compromised. Authorities postponed Saturday’s election by a week just hours before polls had been due...
Flying Fijian helps club win in ‘French Top 14 Rugby’ competition
FIJI Airways Flying Fijian forward Peceli Yato has continued with his try scoring form for his club Clermont. Yato scored a try to help them beat Toulon 40-20 in the French Top 14 Rugby competition. Semi Radradra scored a try for Bordeaux Begles in the match. In another match, Agen upset Toulon 19-10. Benito Masilveu...
Weather watch: Trough of low pressure moving to the West
EXPECT rain in most parts of the country for the next few days. The weather bulletin issued from the National Weather Forecasting Centre in Nadi this morning says a trough of low pressure with associated cloud and showers remains slow moving just to the west of Fiji. Meanwhile, a moist northerly wind flow prevails over...
Kashmiris complain of evictions after deadly attack on Indian forces, authorities promise safety
SRINAGAR (Reuters) – India has warned against rising communal tensions across the country as some Kashmiris living outside their state said they faced property evictions while others were attacked on social media after a suicide bomber killed 44 policemen in the region. The car bomb attack on a security convoy on Thursday, claimed by Pakistan-based...
Marriott launches new loyalty brand
LOYAL guests of Marriott branded properties now have reason to celebrate with the launch of the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program in the country. Marriott International Fiji announced the new loyalty brand replaced previous loyalty brands, including Marriott Rewards, the Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG). This will be represented in all five Marriott associated...
Vodafone Premier League: Three matches this weekend
THE Rewa football side has a mammoth task on hand when they face Lautoka in the Vodafone Premier League this Sunday. After getting thumped 6-1 by Nadi last week, Rewa sits at the bottom of the points table. Lautoka hosts Rewa at 3pm at Churchill Park on Sunday while at the same time, Tavua will...
Catholic Church credibility on the line at abuse meeting
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican will gather senior bishops from around the world later this week for a conference on sex abuse designed to guide them on how best to tackle a problem that has decimated the Church’s credibility, but critics say it is too little, too late. The unprecedented four-day meeting, starting on...
Force conducts ‘Required Fitness Level Tests’
THE health of police officers has always been an area of concern as the people of Fiji expect more from members of the police force. Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho highlighted this in a statement today as the Fiji Police Force kicked off the Required Fitness Level Tests at the Nasese foreshore this...
Nadi International Airport receives Silver Recognition
NADI International Airport has been recognised by Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific as one of the leading Green Airports in the Asia-Pacific region. ACI Asia-Pacific announced the results of the Green Airports Recognition 2019 in which Nadi International Airport received Silver Recognition in the less than 10 million passengers per annum category. The program recognises...
U.S. cannot back Syrian forces who align with Assad: U.S. commander
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The United States will have to sever its military assistance to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) battling Islamic State if the fighters partner with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or Russia, a senior U.S. general said on Sunday. The remarks by Army Lieutenant General Paul LaCamera, who is the commander of the...
