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☆ Inside the life and career of Larry Page, Google's co-founder and first CEO
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

AdvertisementSo who is Larry Page and how did he get to where he is today? AdvertisementPage and Sergey Brin create GoogleGoogle co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page met as students at Stanford. Google's parent company, Alphabet, has developed self-driving cars through Waymo, the company formerly known as the Google Self-Driving Car project. Page's personal lifeGoogle cofounder Larry Page and his wife, the scientist Lucinda Southworth C Flanigan/FilmMagicThroughout it all, Page has kept information about his personal life closely guarded. Life after GoogleGoogle cofounder Larry Page bought Cayo Norte, an island in Puerto Rico.

Persons: —, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Page, Sundar Pichai, Gloria, Carl Page —, Larry, what's, Nikola Tesla, he's, Brin's, BackRub, Brin, Eric Schmidt, Schmidt, Andy Rubin's, he'd, Andrew Kelly, Sergey, Lucinda Southworth C, Lucinda Southworth, Richard Branson, Page's, Carl Victor Page, Carl Page, He's, Hugh Langley Organizations: Service, Google, Business, Michigan State University . Education, Getty, Michigan State University, The, Montessori, Google Google, Stanford, Associated Press, University of Michigan, Labs, Reuters Page, Virgin Group, Investments, Carl Victor Page Memorial Foundation, Zee Aero, Pacific, Virgin Island, Atomic Locations: Michigan, Waymo, Toronto, Stanford, Caribbean, Palo Alto, Cayo Norte, Puerto Rico, Koop, Tavarua, Fiji

☆ China Hopes Fiji Will Continue 'Firm' Support for Chinese Issues - Chinese State Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China said it hopes Fiji will continue to give 'firm' support to it on issues concerning Chinese core interests and major concerns, Chinese state media cited President Xi Jinping as saying to Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Xi told Rabuka that China will continue to support Fiji in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, Chinese state television said. China supports Fiji in independently choosing its own development path and achieving national development and revitalisation, Xi said. China is also willing to increase Fijian imports, support commercial investments into Fiji and encourage more tourists to visit Fiji. China has been pushing for greater security and trade ties with Pacific Islands countries, signing in July a policing pact with Solomon Islands and raising alarm for the United States.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Sitiveni Rabuka, Xi, Rabuka, Liz Lee, Christopher Cushing, Stephen Coates Organizations: Fijian, Economic Cooperation, Fiji, Pacific Locations: BEIJING, China, Fiji, Asia, San Francisco, Pacific, Solomon Islands, United States, Beijing

☆ Five modern-day ghost towns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Elissa Garay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Think of “ghost towns” and images of dusty, lost-to-time towns, like those in America’s Wild West, may come to mind. “Climate change will undoubtedly cause death of landscapes where we shall mourn our environmental decline.”Visiting such places now can shine a critical light on the effects of climate change and, in so doing, offer educational experiences to the contemporary visitor. “Visiting such places now can shine a critical light on the effects of climate change and, in so doing, offer educational experiences to the contemporary visitor.”Here are five global ghost towns that have been created as climate change reshapes the world – the likely harbingers of many more to come. Chacaltaya Ski Resort, BoliviaBolivia's abandoned Chacaltaya Ski Resort closed in 2009. Luke Chen/iStock Editorial/Getty ImagesOnce the world’s highest ski resort, the 17,388-foot-high lodge on Mount Chacaltaya opened in the 1930s as a popular – and only – ski resort in Bolivia’s Andes.

Persons: ”, Gaia Vince, “, Jack DeWaard, “ They’re, it’s, Vince, ” Vince, DeWaard, Philip Stone, Stone, Christoph Sator, de Jean Charles, Jean Charles’s, Cotul, Luke Chen, Chacaltaya, Kile Brewer, – Organizations: CNN, Population Council, United Nations, University of Central, for Dark Tourism Research, Institute, Dark Tourism, Fijian, Louisiana Communities, Valmeyer , Illinois Old, Valmeyer, School, The New York Times Locations: Wild, Hawaii , California, Australia, Bangladesh, Lahaina, Hawaii, Spain, University of Central Lancashire, Vunidogoloa, Fiji, Pacific, Fijian, Vanua Levu, Louisiana, Gulf, Mexico, New Orleans, Cotul Morii, Moldova, Morii, Europe, Bolivia, Andes, La Paz, Valmeyer , Illinois, Mississippi, North, Illinois, Valmeyer, –

☆ Fiji and Australia boost cyber security cooperation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 22, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Fiji and Australia will cooperate on cyber security, with Australia also boosting aid to its Pacific Islands neighbour under an enhanced partnership, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after meeting his Fijian counterpart on Wednesday. Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, on his first three-day official visit to Australia since becoming leader in December, said the relationship with Australia was warm. Under Rabuka's government, Fiji has put a decade-old policing agreement with China on hold, and sought to increase defence ties with Australia. Albanese said Australia had agreed to provide more budget support to Fiji "to help economic recovery and to boost growth", and would sell it 14 Bushmaster protected vehicles to support the Fiji military's peacekeeping operations around the world.

Persons: Mike Segar, Anthony Albanese, Sitiveni Rabuka, Rabuka, Albanese, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Australian, Fijian, Fiji, Australia, Lowy Institute, Pacific, Fiji military's, Thomson Locations: Fiji, U.N, New York City , New York, U.S, Australia, China, Canberra, United States

LONDON (AP) — Health ministers in the Western Pacific nominated a surgeon from Tonga, Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala, to lead the World Health Organization's regional office at a meeting in Manila on Tuesday. Piukala's nomination for WHO's top job in the Western Pacific comes months after the U.N. health agency fired its previous director, Dr. Takeshi Kasai, following allegations of racism and misconduct first reported by The Associated Press last year. Piukala was most recently Tonga's minister of health and defeated rival candidates from China, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Vietnam. Days after the AP report, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that an internal investigation into Kasai had begun. ___The Associated Press health and science department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.

Persons: Saia Ma'u, Takeshi Kasai, Piukala, ” Kasai, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ”, ” Piukala, Temo Waqanivalu Organizations: —, Western Pacific, Health, The Associated Press, WHO, AP, Associated Press, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group Locations: Tonga, Manila, Western Pacific, China, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Vietnam, Kasai, Pacific, Western, Syria, Congo

☆ 'Different' Fiji exit World Cup proud to have fought to the end
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"They've worked so hard since week one, 15 weeks now, and they've showed they belong on the world stage. "This is a different Fiji team and I think it's the start of something special. Sunday's match had echoes of Fiji's last World Cup quarter-final in 2007, when they fought back to level the match at 20-20 only to go down 37-20 to eventual champions South Africa. "The second thing was we needed to be more consistent in preparation, and I think what we've shown this year is that we've grown in that area. I think that's only going to grow as we go forward to the 2027 and 2031 World Cups."

Persons: Simon Raiwalui, Andrew Couldridge, Raiwalui, They've, they've, Josua Tuisova, Sam Matavesi's, Nick Mulvenney, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby Union, England, Fiji, Twickenham, Rights, Velodrome, South Africa, Fijian Rugby Union, Josua, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Fiji, Rights MARSEILLE, France, England

☆ Fiji expect Matavesi to face England after father's death
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MARSEILLE, France, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Fiji expect hooker Sam Matavesi to play in Sunday's World Cup quarter-final against England after he travelled back to England, where he lives and plays in the Premiership, after the death of his father, Sireli, earlier this week. Sireli Matavesi moved to Cornwall after touring there in 1987. "It is with heavy hearts that The Fiji Rugby Union, The Flying Fijians Team and Head Coach Simon Raiwalui share the news of our hooker Sam Matavesi and former Flying Fijian Josh Matavesi, who have lost their beloved father, the late Sireli Matavesi," the union said in a statement on Wednesday. "Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the Matavesi family during this incredibly difficult time. Sam Matavesi travelled to Cornwall to spend time with his family but the Fiji camp say he is expected to be able to play in Marseille on Sunday.

Persons: Sam Matavesi, Sireli, Sireli Matavesi, Simon Raiwalui, Josh Matavesi, Matavesi, Sam, Josh, Josua, Tito, Tuisova, Waisea Nayacalevu, Raiwalui, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris Organizations: England, Fiji Rugby Union, The Flying Fijians, Flying, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, Fiji, England, Cornwall, Marseille

☆ Fiji prop Koroiduadua ruled out of World Cup, Tuqiri in
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LYON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Fiji prop Jone Koroiduadua has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup by injury and will be replaced in the squad by the uncapped Emosi Tuqiri, the team said on Sunday. Koroiduadua, who plays in Super Rugby Pacific for the Fijian Drua, made his debut off the bench in the warm-up loss to France in Nantes last month. The 26-year-old also featured in Fiji's warm-up win over England but missed out on selection for the first two matches of the tournament proper, the narrow loss to Wales and Fiji's first win over Australia in 69 years. Born in Fiji and raised in Australia, Tuqiri is a big, ball-carrying prop who also plays for the Drua and is a cousin of former Wallabies Lote Tuqiri and Tevita Kuridrani. The 22-year-old former Fiji under-20 international will arrive in France later this week and join the squad as it prepares for the Pool C clash against Georgia next Saturday.

Persons: Jone Koroiduadua, Tuqiri, Koroiduadua, Fiji's, Wallabies Lote Tuqiri, Nick Mulvenney, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Super Rugby Pacific, Fijian, England, Wales, Australia, Wallabies, Georgia, Thomson Locations: Fiji, France, Nantes, Australia

☆ How Fiji’s historic Rugby World Cup victory left Australia facing the prospect of early elimination
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Frank Lomani’s game-ending kick may have drifted wide of the posts, but that mattered little for Fiji’s players. As the final whistle blew on the Rugby World Cup group stage match, they could now celebrate beating Australia for the first time in the tournament’s history – and a first victory against the Wallabies since 1954. Soon after, the players huddled together and – as is a tradition for Fijian rugby teams – sang a hymn to give their thanks to God. Fiji's players form a circle after defeating Australia for the first time in 69 years. Two-time champion Australia could now be knocked out of the Rugby World Cup group stages for the first time.

Persons: CNN — Frank Lomani’s, Fijian rugby teams –, ”, Josua Tuisova, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Samu Kerevi, Olivier Chassignole, Suli Vunivalu’s, Simon Raiwalui, “, Sunday’s, Chris Hyde, Raiwalui, –, we’ve, they’ve, Waisea Nayacalevu, Francis Bompard, Fiji’s, Seremaia Bai, Bai, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, Rugby World, Wallabies, Fijian rugby teams, Wales, Australia, Getty, Georgia, Fiji, England, Rugby, “, South, Super Rugby, New, ” Locations: Australia, Fiji, AFP, ”, rugby’s, South Africa, Portugal, Fijian, New Zealand, Argentina, Zealand, –

☆ Slipper returns to replace Tupou in Wallabies team to face Fiji
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Thomson Reuters | Leads Coverage Of Sport Across The Asia-Pacific. Still Reports On The Full Panoply Of Sport. Many Olympics World Cups World Championships Grand Slams Grands Prix | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Fiji is the most important match of our Rugby World Cup campaign," coach Eddie Jones said in a news release. "It's another big opportunity for our young side to keep getting better and we'll be ready on Sunday." The experienced Nic White will instead partner flyhalf Carter Gordon at halfback with rookie Issak Fines-Leleiwasa set to win his second test cap from the bench. Hooker Jordan Uelese has also recovered from injury and will back up starting rake David Porecki from the bench. Ben Donaldson, man of the match against Georgia after being brought into the side primarily for his place-kicking, retains the fullback spot ahead of Andrew Kellaway.

Persons: James Slipper, Andrew Boyers, ETIENNE, George Gregan, Adam Ashley, Cooper, Taniela Tupou, Stade Geoffroy, Eddie Jones, Jones, Tate McDermott, Nic White, flyhalf Carter Gordon, Issak, Rob Valetini, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Lock Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Hooker Jordan Uelese, David Porecki, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway, Jordan Petaia, Carter Gordon, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost, Angus Bell, Jordan Uelese, Blake Schoupp, Zane Nonggorr, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Lalakai Foketi, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Rugby Union, Wales, Evergreen Wallabies, Fiji, Georgia, Stade, Rugby World, Thomson Locations: Australia, Cardiff, Wales, Britain, Australian, Taniela, Fiji

☆ England hit rock bottom with first-ever defeat by Fiji
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - England slumped to a 30-22 loss against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday to record their first-ever defeat by the visitors, leaving them in utter disarray ahead of the World Cup which kicks off next month in France. But winger Selestino Ravutaumada capped a scintillating display with a swerving run to send replacement Simione Kuruvoli over for the decisive score that sealed their victory and left England looking utterly broken. This win is for all the people back home in Fiji," Ravutaumada said as Fijian supporters gathered in a corner of Twickenham sang and waved their national flags in celebration of their historic win. Fiji meanwhile can look forward to a possible World Cup quarter-final or better if they can repeat Saturday's mature performance at the tournament in France. England meanwhile have just two weeks to find some kind of cohesion before an opening fixture against the dangerous Argentina on Sept. 9.

Persons: Jonny May, Ollie Lawrence, Manu Tuilagi, Habosi, Marcus Smith, Joe Marchant, Selestino Ravutaumada, Ravutaumada, Wonderwall, George Ford, Steve Borthwick, Eddie Jones, Lawrence White, Ken Ferris Organizations: Fiji, Twickenham, Pacific Islanders, England, Saturday, Fijian Drua Super Rugby, Wales, Thomson Locations: England, France, Fiji, Argentina

☆ Pacific Islands divided over Fukushima water release, says Cook Islands PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) chair and Prime Minister of Cook Islands, Mark Stephen Brown, speaks during the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit at the former presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 29, 2023. Ahn Young-joon/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, chairman of the Pacific Islands bloc, said that science supported Japan's decision to pump treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, but that the region may not agree on the "complex" issue. Not all Pacific leaders had the same position and the Pacific Islands Forum may not reach a collective position, he said. The United States conducted nuclear tests in the Pacific Islands in the 1940s and 1950s, and France between 1966 and 1996. A Pacific Nuclear Free Zone was established in 1985 under a treaty that prevents the dumping of radioactive materials.

Persons: Mark Stephen Brown, Ahn Young, Mark Brown, Brown, Sitiveni Rabuka, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Islands, Pacific Islands, presidential Blue House, Rights, Cook Islands, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Pacific, United, Fijian, Melanesian Spearhead Group, Thomson Locations: Cook Islands, Korea, Seoul, South Korea, Japan, China, Cook, United States, France, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands

☆ Australia to set up Pacific Championship in rugby league diplomacy play
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Australia said it would commit A$7 million for a Pacific rugby league championship, in a "football diplomacy" move seen as boosting Australia's soft power amid competition for influence with China. Women's and men's teams from seven countries will compete in the Pacific Rugby League Championships, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday. About half of players in Australia's National Rugby League competition are of Pasifika heritage, said Pat Conroy, the minister for international development and the Pacific. The Australian government has funded a PNG team in the Queensland state rugby competition, and a Fijian team in the NSW state competition, he said. Albanese said that the Pacific Championship will showcase women's rugby league, and that the Matildas had shown how women's sport can inspire nations.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, Albanese, Pat Conroy, Conroy, Mary Fowler, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SYDNEY, Pacific, Pacific Rugby League, Pacific Islands Forum, New, Australia's National Rugby League, rugby, Fijian, league, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, New South Wales, Queensland, Pacific, NSW

☆ New Zealand and Fiji finalising defence agreement - Fiji PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins hold a press conference in Wellington, New Zealand June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Lucy CraymerWELLINGTON, June 7 (Reuters) - New Zealand and Fiji are finalising a defence agreement that will increase engagement between the two countries militaries and help build capacity and skills in the Fiji Defence Force, the Fijian prime minister said on Wednesday. Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told media in Wellington, where he is meeting senior New Zealand government officials including the prime minister and opposition leader, that the agreement would be finalised next week. “The agreement will allow defence officials to undertake engagement in different areas including capacity building and upskilling and exposure to new technologies interoperability and technical support among other,” he said. In May, the U.S and Papua New Guinea signed a defence cooperation agreement and a maritime surveillance deal.

Persons: Sitiveni Rabuka, Chris Hipkins, Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, ”, Rabuka, “, ” Hipkins, Lucy Craymer, Michael Perry Organizations: Fiji Prime, Zealand, REUTERS, Fiji Defence Force, Fiji’s, New Zealand, New, U.S, NZ, Thomson Locations: Wellington , New Zealand, New Zealand, Fiji, Wellington, Australia, China, Solomon Islands, U.S, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu

☆ Opinion | If You’re Reading This, You’re Probably ‘WEIRD’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +83 min

You’re probably very weird, and not just for all the obvious reasons you’re thinking of. Because, obviously, there’s going to be some overlap in the curve here. How you’re going to behave with your professor is quite different than how you’re going to behave with your friends. But it’s really kind of faceless, and you’re not really helping anybody you know. I think things are dynamic, and directions are changing, and that sort of thing.

☆ Pacific meetings, defence pact, to go ahead in Papua without Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Biden had been expected to meet with 18 leaders from the region's main bloc, the Pacific Islands Forum, and sign a defence cooperation agreement with PNG on Monday. PNG Prime Minister James Marape is expected to announce details of the defence pact with the United States on Thursday, his office told Reuters. Fiji said Pacific leaders would hold discussions with Modi on regional cooperation. The chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, said the regional meeting had originally been organised between the Pacific countries and India, and his plans to travel to PNG were unchanged. Biden will arrange another summit of Pacific island leaders this year after the disappointment caused by his cancellation of the PNG visit, his national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday.

☆ Fijiana Drua brush aside adversity to retain Super W title
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, May 6 (Reuters) - Fijiana Drua put aside a season of adversity to retain the Super W title with a 38-30 victory over the Queensland Reds in the final of the sixth edition of the Australian elite women's competition in Townsville on Saturday. While last year they topped the regular season standings, this year the Drua finished fourth and had to beat the four-times champion New South Wales Waratahs in the semi-finals to reach the final. On Saturday, tries from Drua number eight Sereima Leweniqila and winger Adita Miliana early in the second half broke open what had been a tight game. Hooker Tiarna Molloy and replacement winger Sam Curtis scored tries to make the scoreline more respectable but the Reds were unable to escape a fourth loss in the five Super W finals. "What an epic battle that was tonight, we'll definitely be back next year," said Queensland captain and Olympic Sevens champion Shannon Parry.

☆ Savea ties Super Rugby try-scoring record but Drua stun Canes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

May 6 (Reuters) - Julian Savea crossed twice to equal Israel Folau's Super Rugby record of 60 tries but it was not enough to stop the Fijian Drua adding the Wellington Hurricanes to their list of victims in Suva on Saturday. A noisy crowd at HFC Bank Stadium erupted in delight as replacement back Kemu Valetini kicked two penalties in the last five minutes to give the Drua a 27-24 win, a fourth victory in their second season in Super Rugby Pacific. "The Drua came out to play and they played the whole 80 and put us under a lot of pressure ... Flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi then gave the Hurricanes a 24-14 lead with a converted try under the posts but the Drua would not lie down. Savea, who was playing in his 150th Super Rugby match in his final season with the Hurricanes, was still appreciative of having matched former Wallabies fullback Folau's tally.

☆ Australia PM visits Fiji to discuss nuclear submarines, regional security
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Australia is party to a nuclear-free zone treaty with 12 other South Pacific nations, including Fiji, in a region where sensitivity over nuclear weapons is high because of the effects of nuclear weapons tests by the United States and France. Albanese will meet with Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on Wednesday to discuss regional security, a day after unveiling details of the AUKUS submarine programme in San Diego with the leaders of United States and Britain. Australia will buy three U.S. Virginia-class submarines early next decade, before shifting to production of a new AUKUS submarine based on a British design from 2040. Australia emphasised on Tuesday the submarines will not carry nuclear weapons. Australia's defence officials have said the nuclear submarine fleet is needed as a deterrent to China's naval build up.

☆ Fiji's former leader Bainimarama bailed after court appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, March 10 (Reuters) - Fiji's former long-serving prime minister Frank Bainimarama pleaded not guilty in a Suva court on Friday after being charged with abuse of office and held in police custody overnight. Fiji's Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde approved the charges of abuse of office against Bainimarama and suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho. read moreBainimarama, who led the Pacific island nation for 16 years until narrowly losing an election in December, rejected the charge. "I served as Fiji's prime minister with integrity and with the best interest of Fijians at heart," Bainimarama said outside court, according to video taken by Fijian media outlets. Bainimarama resigned from parliament on Wednesday after being suspended last month for sedition and insulting the president.

☆ WHO fires director in Asia accused of racist misconduct
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Tedros did not refer to Kasai by name, referencing only his title as regional director in the Western Pacific. It is the first time in WHO's history that a regional director has been dismissed. He said that the process of naming a new regional director for the Western Pacific would begin next month, with the election to be held in October. In January, the AP reported that a WHO doctor hoping to replace Kasai as regional director in the Western Pacific had previously faced sexual misconduct accusations. With support of some WHO colleagues and his home country, Waqanivalu was preparing to run for the regional director job.

☆ Super Rugby finally rolls into the post-COVID era
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SYDNEY, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Finally freed of the COVID travel restrictions that sounded the death knell to the intercontinental edition and fragmented and disrupted the rump competition, Super Rugby returns in its full new normality on Friday. The second season of Super Rugby Pacific will be played with a host of law variations aimed at making the game more attractive to fans but one aspect of the competition is highly unlikely to change -- New Zealand supremacy. The Canterbury Crusaders dominated Super Rugby in the years pre-pandemic and have proved just as hard to beat with or without fans in the stadiums, through lockdowns, biosecurity protocols and in competition hubs. Despite optimistic noises coming from across the Tasman Sea in Australia, the biggest challenge to the Crusaders is likely to come from the North Island of New Zealand. The forgiving and sometimes derided playoff system that offers knockout rugby to eight of the 12 teams will give hope to all but the most hapless outfits.

☆ Fiji fires its top cop and scraps a policing agreement with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Police operate a security check point in the Fijian capital of Suva in December following general elections. The Pacific island nation has played an important regional role amid competition between China on the one side and Australia, New Zealand and the United States on the other. Fiji's president on Friday suspended the commissioner of police following a general election saw the first change in government in the Pacific island nation in 16 years, after the military earlier warned against "sweeping changes." Qiliho declined to comment to local media because he said he will face a tribunal over his conduct. The Pacific island nation, which has a history of military coups, has been pivotal to the region's response to competition between China and the United States, and struck a deal with Australia in October for greater defence cooperation.

Leaving parliament on Saturday, Rabuka told waiting media he was humbled to have become the prime minister of Fiji before being rushed away to be sworn in by the country's president. Biman Prasad, leader of the NFP and the new finance minister, said the incoming government would work for the Fijian people. The prime ministers of both New Zealand and Australia released statements to congratulate the newly sworn-in Rabuka. "We strongly value Fiji as a close friend and partner as we progress our shared priorities for the region," New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. Anthony Albanese, Australia's prime minister, added in a tweet that he also looked forward to working with Rabuka.

☆ Fiji PM Bainimarama says military deployed to maintain law and order
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SYDNEY, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said on Thursday that the military was deployed across the country to complement the police in maintaining law and order. "The reports of harassment suffered by our citizens and violence targeted at Indo-Fijian homes and businesses in the wake of the election are deeply disturbing," he said in a Facebook post. The government called in the military citing racial tensions after last week's election delivered a hung parliament. read moreOpposition parties have disputed reports of violence and have called for evidence. Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Writing by Praveen Menon; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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