Fiji

Isoof pleaded not guilty to five counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in the High Court in Lautoka today.

The bodies of carpenter, Nirmal Kumar, 63, his wife, Usha Devi, their 34-year-old daughter, Nileshni Kajal and Kajal's two daughters aged 11 and 8 years were found in Nausori Highlands about 30km away from Nadi.

Fijivillage reports Kajal’s one-year-old niece was found crawling nearby.

Isoof has been remanded in custody until 19 November.

Photo Fijivillage 

Dutch national Marc Winston, Shaneil Autar, Roshneel Kumar and Pravishek Narayan have been charged with one count each of unlawful possession and supply of illicit drugs.

Winston and Autar have also been charged with one count of unlawful exportation of illicit drugs.

It is alleged that on 7 October 2019, Winston, Autar, Kumar and Narayan engaged in dealing with the transfer, transport, and supply of 39.36 kg of cocaine between Lautoka and Nadi.

Fiji's Health Ministry said it was closely monitoring the outbreak, which has already moved to Samoa and Tonga.

The ministry is also rolling out training for health workers and urging the public to ensure children are vaccinated before going overseas, especially to New Zealand, Samoa, or Tonga.

"Outbreaks around the world, including in neighboring countries, puts us at risk of having travel related cases of measles," the ministry said in a statement Friday.

Villagers should refrain from diving and fishing in coastal waters following reports of submarine rumblings and what sounded like explosions, the NDMO said.

People should also avoid the mountain's slopes, the office said, describing the situation as "high-risk".

The NDMO and the Mineral Resources Department were despatching an assessment team to the area today, a spokesperson said.

A full media briefing is expected later today.

The warning follows a magnitude 5.1 quake in the area on Sunday, which has been followed by multiple aftershocks.

Fiji were the last Pacific side to reach the quarter finals in 2007 and bowed out of contention at the current tournament with a narrow defeat by Japan on Wednesday.

Between the end of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the start of the current tournament Fiji played eight tests against so-called tier one nations, winning three and losing five.

That included victory over France in Paris last year which lifted the Flying Fijians to a best ever eighth place in the world rankings.

With only three other teams in the pool, Vanuatu didn’t need extra motivation as they displayed a clinical performance, putting 8 goals past Tonga to follow up on their opening win and secure a spot in the play-off with full match points from two matches.

The Etienne Mermer coached  side were rewarded in the 28th minute with Bong Kalo putting Vanuatu in front with a nice finish in the box.

Kalo followed up with his second, a minute later in a similar style, before Jonathan SpokeyJack connected a cross from Bethuel Ollie for an early three goal lead two minutes later.

The South Americans, mostly amateurs, led 21-12 at halftime on the back of converted tries from halfback Santiago Arata, number eight Manuel Diana and centre Juan Manuel Cat as well as a penalty from Felipe Berchesi.

First five Berchesi kicked two more penalties in the second half to keep the scoreboard ticking over as the Fijians fought to get back in the game and Los Teros held on to claim their third victory in 12 World Cup matches.

Cheika hit out at his Fiji counterparts and claimed they were insincere in referring Hodge’s tackle after Saturday’s game in Sapporo which has resulted in a citing and a judicial hearing in Tokyo on a day still to be determined.

The first-half tackle prevented a possible try for Fiji and left flanker Peceli Yato concussed.

Fiji players immediately asked for the television match official to review the tackle. The TMO concurred with the referee and his assistant that the tackle did not even warrant a penalty.

The suspect was arrested at Nadi International Airport Saturday night for allegedly assaulting a border police officer on duty.

Fiji Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro said the suspect later drove a car into the door of Burger King Restaurant at the airport causing damage.

FBC News reports the suspect is believed to have been intoxicated.

Naisoro confirmed there are no reports of others being injured.

Photo supplied 

The visit by the multi-rotor Ospreys is a first for Fiji.

The Fiji Times reported the unusual aircraft touched down at Nadi International Airport on Tuesday.

A US Embassy official in Suva said the aircraft are destined for Australia and are not part of any operation in the Pacific.