Golf – Koepka leads in Korea, closes in on No.1 ranking
SEOUL (Reuters) – Brooks Koepka moved into position to claim his first win on his first start of the new PGA Tour season after the American shot a five-under-par 67 in the third round of...
Trump a reluctant critic of Saudi Arabia despite pressure to act
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Six days after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared, U.S. President Donald Trump tried to play down the crisis, saying “hopefully that will sort itself out”. It did not, and on Oct. 10, amid a growing outcry, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and national security adviser John Bolton pressed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin...
Macedonian vote opens way for historic deal, Greek PM says
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Saturday theapproval by Macedonia’s parliament of a proposal to change the country’s name paves the way for an historic deal between the two countries. “Today is a symbolic and historic day after the decision at the Skopje’s parliament which opens the way for the implementation...
Weather watch: Some roads reopened as floodwaters recede
THE Fiji Roads Authority has confirmed that some roads have opened up in the Central Division as floodwaters have receded and associated restoration works completed. But motorists are still being advised to be aware of hazards in some places. For instance, an advisory has been issued for motorists to be aware of the possibility of...
Dutch PM Rutte calls for further investigation into Khashoggi’s death
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Saturday that further investigations are needed after Saudi Arabia’s acknowledgment that journalist Jamal Khashoggi had died inside its Istanbul consulate.[nL2N1WZ1X9] “A lot still remains uncertain. What happened? How did he die? Who is responsible? I expect and I hope that all relevant facts will be...
Indian officials exchange blame for train ploughing into festival crowd
AMRITSAR, India (Reuters) – India’s railway officials and local community leaders traded blame on Saturday over an accident in which a train ran over scores of people gathered on the railway tracks for a festival in the northern city of Amritsar. Punjab state’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh told reporters on Saturday that 59 people had...
Nadi Police seize 6000-plus marijuana plants
FIJIAN Police seized more than 6000 plants of marijuana following a raid conducted in the interior of Nasaua in Nadi last Thursday morning. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the raid was conducted by officers from the Nadi Police Station. She said a 23-year-old man originally from Taveuni, Vanua Levu, was arrested during the raid where...
Thousands rally in Taiwan, call for referendum on independence from China
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Several thousand pro-independence demonstrators rallied in Taiwan’s capital on Saturday to protest against Beijing’s “bullying” and called for a referendum on whether the self-ruled island should formally declare independence from China. The rally, one of the largest seen on Taiwan this year, was organised by a group called Formosa Alliance founded six...
England win rain-marred fourth ODI to bag series
PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (Reuters) – England beat Sri Lanka by 18 runs via the Duckworth Lewis method in the rain-marred fourth one-day international on Saturday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Chasing a target of 274 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, England were comfortably placed at 132 for two after...
Weather watch: Strong wind warning cancelled
THE weather forecasting centre in Nadi has cancelled the strong wind warning previously in force for the land areas of Southern, Eastern and Northern Viti Levu, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Lau and Lomaiviti group, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands. In its bulletin issued early this morning, the weatherman says the trough of low pressure...
Barcelona reveal plans for ‘Espai Barca’ project
BARCELONA (Reuters) – FC Barcelona have revealed what the construction process of their ambitious ‘Espai Barca’ project will look like with a video simulation showing the club’s plans to revamp and expand their Nou Camp stadium and renovate its other installations. The video shows how the Nou Camp’s capacity will be raised from 99,000 spectators...
Afghanistan extends election to Sunday due to chaos at polling stations
KABUL (Reuters) – Voting in Afghanistan’s parliamentary election will be extended to Sunday in some constituencies after technical and organizational problems stopped voters casting their ballot in some polling centres on Saturday, government officials said. Abdul Badi Sayad, chairman of Independent Election Commission said the voting process will continue till Sunday in those places where...
Harry and Meghan Fiji visit: Meke preparations progress as planned
PREPARATIONS for the traditional meke or dance ahead of the royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan are going as planned, says Nakelo villager Levani Tuinabua. Mr Tuinabua said further details into the history and composition of the traditional meke would be revealed on the day of the royal...
Skull of ancient human found in burned Brazilian museum
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – The skull of Luzia, the oldest known human fossil in the Americas, was found by researchers combing through debris at Brazil’s National Museum, which burned down in September, the Museum said on Friday. The skull, though damaged, was protected by a cabinet that fell over the glass box it was...
Fiji Bodybuilding to host South Pacific championship
FIJI Bodybuilding Federation is set to host the South Pacific Bodybuilding Championship on November 26 to 27 at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva. Fiji Bodybuilding Federation treasurer Ronal Rishay said this was the first time Fiji would be hosting the South Pacific Bodybuilding Championship. “This is the first time Fiji is hosting a championship...
Seavula tests ability in 400m; Prepares for 2019 Games in Samoa
OLYMPIAN Sisilia Seavula will try and prove herself and her capabilities in the athletics arena by trying out a different event as she prepares for the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa. The 100 and 200 metres sprinter has opted to test her abilities in the 400m in next year’s regional event. Seavula said it would...
FCS to hold force expeditionary skills exercise
THE Fiji Corrections Service will conduct a force expeditionary skills exercise next week at the Naboro Prison Compound. There will be teams from the 14 institutions around the country and they will compete in the Fiji Correction Services inaugural force skills exercise. FCS public relations officer Jone Kalouniviti said officers who would compete in the...
BepiColombo spacecraft starts seven-year journey to Mercury
TOKYO (Reuters) – A European-Japanese spacecraft set off on a treacherous seven-year journey to Mercury to probe the solar system’s smallest and least-explored planet. The BepiColombo mission, only the third ever to visit Mercury, blasted off from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 rocket at 10:45 p.m. local time on Friday (0145...
Break the image of ‘second prison’: Usamate
“WE must break the image of the ‘second prison’ that inmates are subjected to – society and their homes.” These were the sentiments echoed by Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Jone Usamate while officiating at the Yellow Ribbon Employment Expo held at the ANZ Corporate Box in Suva on Friday. “We must break...
Top snookers battle lined up for Nausori tournament
FOUR top snooker players will battle it out in the Nausori Snooker Tournament. The players are Walter Robinson, Rahil and Sahil Prasad and Jiten Prasad. They will play against former champions in the likes of Viliame Umu, Yogen Prasad and Epeli Bua. The winner gets to walk away with $1000 prize money. The final will...
