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☆ 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

☆ '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

☆ England set to drop Ford, start Smith at fullback in Fiji quarter-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MARSEILLE, France, Oct 12 (Reuters) - England coach Steve Borthwick looks set to make radical changes for Sunday's World Cup quarter-final against Fiji by dropping George Ford and starting Marcus Smith at fullback, strengthening his midfield defence and injecting some energy into the attack. However, while his defence and aerial skills are superior to Smith's, Steward has shown little in attack - though he is far from alone there. Defence generally has not been the issue for England as they racked up four wins in a row. Before the Samoa game they had the best defence in the tournament and had conceded only one try. England have made the second-fewest carries (108.8) for the second-fewest metres (461.3), they rank sixth for defenders beaten (22.5) and last for offloads (5.8).

Persons: Steve Borthwick, George Ford, Marcus Smith, Borthwick, Ford, Owen Farrell, Smith, Freddie Steward, Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Marchant, Elliot Daly, Henry Arundell, Jamie George, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris Organizations: Fiji, Harlequins, Samoa, Fijians, Defence, England, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, England, Chile, Samoa, Portugal

☆ 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, –

☆ 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.

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.

WELLINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Fiji's Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) is due to meet on Friday to decide if its decision to form a coalition with the opposition stands, a move that comes after the Pacific country's military was called in to help police maintain law and order. Fiji is waiting for its president to recall parliament so lawmakers can vote for a new prime minister after a national election last week showed no party received a clear majority. SODELPA, a power-broker holding three seats in the hung parliament, supports policies favouring indigenous Fijians, and on Tuesday signed a coalition agreement with the People's Alliance and the National Federation Party. However, the SODELPA's board is to meet again on Friday, after the validity of the decision to back the coalition was challenged by the party's general secretary and Fiji's Supervisor of Elections. However, opposition parties accuse Bainimarama and his allies of stoking fears of ethnic trouble as a pretext to cling to power.

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama's Fiji First has not conceded defeat, while a coalition of three parties say they have a combined majority and have agreed on People's Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka as prime minister. In a statement on Facebook, Bainimarama said the military "has been deployed to complement the Police in maintaining law and order". Bainimarama has been prime minister for 16 years, taking power in a coup, and later winning two democratic elections in 2014 and 2018. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said New Zealand was "aware of the statement from Fiji's Police Commissioner". The prime minister must be voted in by more than 50% of lawmakers on the parliament floor.

SYDNEY, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Fiji's parliament has delayed its first sitting, where it had been expected a new prime minister would be sworn in to the Pacific islands nation for the first time in 16 years. People's Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka is expected to become prime minister, after three parties signed a coalition agreement on Tuesday after a hung election. The deal would dislodge Fiji First's Frank Bainimarama, who has led Fiji since a 2006 coup. read moreThe constitution requires lawmakers to elect the prime minister from the parliament floor if no one party has won more than 50% of seats. On Wednesday morning New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand was yet to congratulate Rabuka as it waited until the "dust settles and there is finality over processes".

☆ Fiji's ruling party leads provisional count after national election
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Dec 15 (Reuters) - The ruling Fiji First party led provisional national election results, boosted by a 31.42% vote for Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, with half of polling stations counted in the Pacific island nation after Wednesday's vote. He is in a tight race against another former coup leader and one-time prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, whose People's Alliance Party has formed a coalition with Fiji's oldest political party, the National Federation Party. The provisional result showed Fiji First with 45.88% of votes at 7 a.m. Thursday, ahead of the People's Alliance Party with 32.66% of votes, while the National Federation Party had 9.29% of votes. On Thursday morning, Fiji's election commissioner, Mohammed Saneem, demonstrated to media a "double blind data entry" system being used to avoid errors in the final count. Australia's foreign minister Penny Wong told reporters Fiji's election appeared to have been conducted "peacefully and in an orderly manner".

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