Vanuatu Department of Correctional Services under review
PORT VILA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (VANUATU DAILY POST) – Vanuatu’s Department of Correctional Services is undergoing a major review. “An amendment to the Correctional Services Act, which will ensure rapists and murderers are locked up...
Second explosive device found at Crimea attack scene disarmed: RIA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A second explosive device found among the personal possessions of the chief suspect in a deadly attack on a college in Crimea that left at least 17 dead on Wednesday has been disarmed, the RIA news agency cited officials as saying. Vladislav Roslyakov, 18, turned up at the college in the city...
Rewal estate body notes complaints on commissions
THE Real Estate Agents Licensing Board (REALB) has to date received several complaints with regards to the percentage of commission charged by real estate companies that operate in Fiji. REALB acting chief executive Virisila Tuimanu said the industry needed relevant practice guidelines with the main objective to protect customer interests. “Real estate commissions charged by...
Soccer – Honda keen for Victory kickoff after ‘weird’ off-season
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Former Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda is itching to kick off his Australian adventure with Melbourne Victory on Saturday after a long wait through the A-League’s “weird” and “unique” pre-season. As the league’s highest profile signing, Honda arrived in Australia to much fanfare in August, but with A-League champions Victory eliminated from the...
Turkish investigators examine Saudi consulate in Istanbul for second time
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A small group of Turkish investigators are examining the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Wednesday, a Reuters photographer said, the second such search this week of the premises after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared two weeks ago. The search at the consulate appeared to mostly focus on the backyard, the photographer said....
Health Ministry targets remaining 16pc of children for MenC jab
A TOTAL of 274,612 children aged between 1 to 19 years have been immunised the various divisions around the country under the National Meningococcal (Men C) Immunisation Program. Fiji’s Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar, in a Government media statement, said while the ministry had achieved 84 per cent of the target coverage,...
Palestinian rocket attack on Israeli city draws Gaza air strikes
GAZA (Reuters) – A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in the largest city in southern Israel early on Wednesday, prompting Israeli air strikes that killed a militant in the Palestinian enclave. Egypt, which sent a delegation to Gaza on Tuesday for the latest round of talks on a long-term ceasefire, postponed...
Malietoa and Malie chiefs plead not guilty to contempt
APIA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (SAMOA OBSERVER) – Malietoa Fa’amausili Moli and 15 other chiefs from Malie have pleaded not guilty to the charge of contempt of court. The others include Maualaivao Pepe; Maualaivao Pat Ah Him; Auimatagi Sa’oloto; Auimatagi Fa’afetati; Auimatagi Afi Fa’amausili; Fa’amausili Siona; Fa’amausili Chris; Muagututi’a Peter; Muagututi’a Fa’alafi; Tulasunu’i Umutaua; Tulasunu’i Ulaese;...
‘Our arts reflect who we are’
OUR art reflects who we are, where we’re going and our inextricable connections to the past. These are the words of curator, Ema Tavola, when describing her role as a Pacific art curator. “I’m interested in this area exclusively because creativity and our arts are intrinsic in Pacific Island cultures and identities,” she said. “Our...
Jet-setting substitute helps Cruzeiro lift Copa do Brasil
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored just hours after returning from international duty to help Cruzeiro secure their sixth Copa do Brasila triumph with 2-1 second leg victory over Corinthians on Wednesday. The goal gave the Belo Horizonte club a 3-1 aggregate victory after they edged the first leg 1-0 at home...
Indian minister quits to fight sexual harassment accusations
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian government junior minister resigned on Wednesday to fight accusations of sexual harassment from more than a dozen women during his previous career as a journalist, the most high-profile casualty of a growing #MeToo movement in the country. The women have accused M.J. Akbar, a junior foreign minister, of inappropriate...
Attempted PNG media censor irks Pruaitch
PORT MORESBY, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (POST COURIER) – Papua New Guinea Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch has expressed dismay over attempts to block the live talkback show over the Maserati luxury car deal. Pruaitch said he is dismayed to learn that the O’Neill government has effectively censored the PNG media and threatened one of the pillars...
Project intended to maintain Fiji’s ecosystem
THE Fiji Ridge to Reef (R2R) project was developed with the intention to maintain and enhance Fiji’s ecosystem goods and services. UNDP pacific office in Fiji country director and head of Pacific Regional Policy and Program Bakhodir Burkhanov highlighted during a partnership signing between four non-government organisations (NGOs). “The Fiji R2R project contributes directly to...
Soccer – U.S. Women claim CONCACAF title over Canada
(Reuters) – The United States women’s soccer team won their eighth CONCACAF Championship with a 2-0 over Canada on Wednesday in Frisco, Texas as both sides continued to build toward next year’s World Cup. Rose Lavelle scored a goal in the opening minutes and Alex Morgan added another late on to give the Americans the...
Guatemala president rejects ‘conditions’ after Trump aid threats
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said Wednesday his government rejects “conditions” placed on foreign aid, after threats this week from U.S. President Donald Trump to cut assistance if a Central American migrant caravan is not stopped by local authorities.
Cook Islands could become GCF implementing agency
RAROTONGA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (RADIO COOK ISLANDS) – The Cook Islands could be on its way to become an implementing agency for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Deputy Prime Minister Mark Brown has just returned from a meeting with the GCF in Korea. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Management could get the thumbs up...
Kidney dialysis patients eligible for treatment from December
KIDNEY dialysis patients in Viti Levu will be eligible for the $75 kidney dialysis treatment from December. This was confirmed by nephrologist specialist Dr Amrish Krishnan who is now working with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and is being assigned to develop the Government’s kidney dialysis unit. Dr Krishnan confirmed that as for...
Rugby – England’s Hughes has ban hiked to six weeks after ‘joke’ tweet
(Reuters) – England number eight Nathan Hughes will miss tests against South Africa, New Zealand and Japan after having a striking ban extended to six weeks for describing his disciplinary hearing as a “joke” on Twitter. The 27-year-old Wasps forward had earlier received a four-week ban for striking Gloucester’s Lewis Ludlow during the Oct. 6...
Jordan says nearly 300 Syrian ‘White Helmets’ leave for West
AMMAN (Reuters) – Nearly 300 Syrian “White Helmet” rescue workers and their families who fled Syria for Jordan three months ago have left for resettlement in Western countries under an U.N. sponsored agreement, Jordan said on Wednesday. In July the rescue workers who had been operating in rebel-held areas fled advancing Russian-backed Syrian government troops...
PNG to deploy fighter jets and foreign military as it plans major security operation for APEC
PORT MORESBY (AFP) – Papua New Guinea will deploy foreign fighter jets and special forces to protect world leaders attending a major Asia-Pacific forum next month in the crime-plagued capital Port Moresby, officials have said. The government is planning a massive security operation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit from November 17, which will...
