Fiji

Yesterday a man named as Muhammad Rheesh Isoof appeared in the Nadi Magistrates Court facing five murder charges for the deaths of Nirmal Kumar, his wife Usha Devi, their daughter Nileshni Kajal and her two daughters Sanah and Samarah Singh.

He also faced an attempted murder charge relating to the one-year-old baby cousin of the two dead girls.

A freelance reporter in Fiji, Lice Movono, said rumours of witchcraft circulating since the discovery of the dead family three weeks ago in the Nausori Highlands, can now be put aside as the case reveals more information.

Just weeks after levelling fierce criticism at Scott Morrison, Mr Bainimarama also played down the differences between the two leaders.

AAP reports the two prime ministers signed the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership, aimed at strengthening security and economic ties.

The Fiji leader recently accused Australia of being insulting over negotiations about climate change at the Pacific Islands Forum. He even told media that he had been mistaken in his earlier belief that Mr Morrison was his friend.

The tournament aims to encourage equal opportunities for Women’s rugby and Deaf rugby across the Pacific region and beyond.

In a statement, Oceania Rugby Competitions Manager Wayne Schuster said they are excited about the inclusion of the Oceania Rugby Deaf tournament.

The category will feature International Deaf teams from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

The Canadian Women’s team and the Japan SDS Men’s and Women’s team will feature in this year’s format including Oceania’s Vanuatu Women’s team, who will feature in their first international rugby outing.

Fiji Police said the accused who is a holder of PR status in New Zealand has been charged with five counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

The suspect who is alleged to be a “healer” will be produced at the Nadi Magistrates Court today.

The bodies of a 63-year-old Nirmal Kumar, his 54-year-old wife Usha Devi, their 34-year-old daughter, Nileshni Kajal and her two daughters aged Sana, 11, and Samara, 8 were found in the Nausori Highlands on 26 August 2019.

A one-year-old girl was also found crawling at the scene.

FBC News reports the Legal Aid Commission is representing Kiala Marcellino Penakoy Henri Lusaka.

The commission requested a psychiatric evaluation of its client citing his history of mental illness.

Forty-four year-old Jennifer Downes was found dead in her Suva home on the 23rd of August.

Mr Lusaka, who is 39, has been given time to file applications for bail and the psychiatric evaluation.

The Pacific students are among 210 young people from 43 countries attending the summit along with over 200 Japanese youths.

Japan was hit with a deadly tsunami in March 2011 following a magnitude nine earthquake off the country's east coast.

At least 20,000 people died in the disaster.

Noriko Tanaka, from the Japanese Embassy in Wellington, said it was important for the youth to learn about tsunamis and share their knowledge with their communities when they return home.

Even Sir Graham and Hansen themselves were forced to take a pathway through Wales en route to the top NZ role.

If you're in doubt about which teams to support at the Rugby World Cup when New Zealand aren't playing, this list of Kiwi-coached sides may swing your allegiance.

Joe Schmidt (Ireland)

International teams coached: Ireland (2013-present)

International record: 50-18-1 (72.5 percent)

Tournament titles: Three (Six Nations 2014, 2015, 2018)

The athletes were welcomed in a traditional Fijian ceremony on Monday night.

British television producer Mark Burnett, who is producing the Eco-Challenge TV series, thanked the Fijian government for allowing the competitors to stop over at villages during the race.

Teams in the Eco-Challenge Fiji race will cross through several provinces covering 670 kilometres in two weeks.

The race was last held in Fiji in 2002.

This week's race is being hosted by British adventurer and television host Bear Gryllis.

Fiji Times journalist Felix Chaudhary said the baby, who survived in the open for at least a day, was recovering well.

However, Mr Chaudhary said the extended family and community remained on edge with rumours of sorcery swirling.

Two New Zealand residents have been questioned by police in relation to the deaths and barred from leaving the country, although no charges have been laid.

The journalist had spoken to the father of two of the deceased and said the man was not aware those questions were reputedly faith healers.

The FijiKava Limited facility opened in Levuka last week.

Company founder Zane Yoshida said the new facility would standardise and improve the quality of kava in the country.

With increased demand from Europe and the United States, Fiji must explore every opportunity to protect kava as a true Fijian product, he said

Mr Yoshida, who hails from Levuka, said the mass production of disease-free kava plants with desirable traits would take place at the laboratory.