News
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Wallis and Futuna public sector strike widens
MATAU’TU, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (RNZ PACIFIC) – Reports from Wallis and Futuna say the territorial guards have gone on strike after deferring their action by two days. Local television reported that they want to be integrated into the French public service. Their action comes as senior public sector staff are in their fifth week of...
Digitally advanced tourism can improve local resource management: Koya
FIJI’S Tourism Minister Faiyaz Koya says a digitally advanced tourism sector can improve local community empowerment and efficient resource management, among other important development objectives. Speaking at the 2018 World Tourism Day Seminar in Rakiraki, Mr Koya underscored the importance of digitalisation in enhancing service delivery in the lucrative tourism sector. “This is why the...
Pot Nation: Canadian provinces’ legal cannabis store regulations
TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada became the first Group of Seven nation to legalise recreational cannabis on Wednesday. The federal government left many of the details of regulating sales up to provinces, which are taking different paths. Here are the frameworks across Canada’s biggest provinces, and the number of stores open on the first day of...
Air Niugini to operate first flight to China
PORT MORESBY, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (POST COURIER) – National airline, Air Niugini, will operate its first direct commercial flight between Port Moresby and Shanghai, China on Tuesday, Oct 23, next week. The Port Moresby/Shanghai flight will operate twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Flights depart Port Moresby at 7:30pm and arrive in Shanghai at 1am,...
