Fiji

Business Link Pacific Portal to launch across the Pacific in unique four-country event

The Business Link Pacific Portal is an innovative online platform designed to connect quality business advisors with small and medium-sized growing businesses in the Pacific.  

To mark the launch of the Portal, Business Link Pacific are co-hosting four launch events, one in each country, which are open to small and medium sized businesses and free to attend.  

Pacific foreign ministers meeting in Fiji Friday

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said it is an important opportunity to deepen partnerships within the Pacific family.

He said this will include strengthening Pacific regionalism, responding to climate change, advancing the Boe Declaration on regional security, and fisheries and oceans issues.

Mr Peters said his government is committed to advancing security, well-being, prosperity and resilience in its Pacific neighbourhood.

     

Pacific’s fastest man reigns in thrilling 200m final

In a thrilling contest at Apia Park Stadium, Tabakaucoro was victorious in 20.87 seconds, inches ahead of Dodson who finished in 20.91 seconds. Papua New Guinea’s Theo Piniau snatched bronze in 21.70 seconds.

Both Tabakaucoro and Dodson fell after crossing the finish line, sending the medics out onto the field.

The Fijian admitted he was feeling very sore after the competition. “I expected to finish strong but not to fall over like that, but it just shows the level of competition here,” Tabakaucoro told the Pacific Games News Service.

Diabetic amputations 40 percent of all Fiji surgery

Eddie McCaig said half the estimated 60,000 people in Fiji with diabetes did not realise they had the illness because they ignored early signs like thirst and excessive urination.

Fiji can't afford the high cost of the amputations, as well as eye surgery and kidney failure caused by diabetes, he said.

"What I keep reminding people is that when we get to see them, we have no option but to cut the limb off," Prof McCaig said.

"When we say 'one amputation every twelve hours', about 40 per cent of the surgery done in this country is for amputation," he said.

Goals galore as Pacific Games football kicks off

Defending men's champions New Caledonia opened with a 5-0 win over American Samoa before Pool B rivals Solomon Islands upped the ante with a 13-0 thrashing of Tuvalu.

However Bonitos head coach Wim Rijsbergen was not getting carried away with much tougher games still to come.

New Caledonia win first gold medal at Pacific Games

Charlotte Robin defended her title after winning the Open Water Swimming competition today.  
New Caledonia took the silver medal after Miana Flament came in second.
Fiji’s Matelita Buadromo settled for a bronze, which is Fiji’s first medal at the Games.

Today is the first day of competition following a spectacular opening ceremony in Apia, Sunday evening.

     

Infectious cause ruled out in deaths of US tourists to Fiji

David Paul and Michelle Calanog Paul from Fort Worth in Texas arrived in Fiji for a holiday on 22 May and reportedly died within days of each other.

The Ministry said it had advised the couple's family of their findings after an extensive investigation with help from the US Centre for Disease Control, the World Health Organisation and a medical forensics unit in Australia.

The Ministry said there was no risk to the public and the five people in contact with the deceased couple were under observation, but they are all in good health and have returned to work.

Pacific nations to host future Tests in new 10-year rolling calendar

RLIF CEO Nigel Wood confirmed on the eve of Saturday’s opening round of Oceania Cup matches between New Zealand and Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium and Samoa and Papua New Guinea at Leichhardt Oval that the international body wanted to play games in the Pacific islands.

An RLIF meeting in Singapore earlier this month agreed that the Oceania Cup would be staged mid-year and at the end of the season on an annual basis, except in 2021 and 2025 when the World Cup is held.

Fiji remain winless at Junior World Champs

The Baby Flying Fijians conceded the opening try after eight minutes in Santa Fe when first five Joaquin De La Vega Mendia spotted a mismatch in defence and got on the outside of lock Chris Minimbe to score in the left-hand corner.

The home side doubled their lead six minutes later after Caleb Muntz had missed a penalty goal attempt for Fiji.

Quick hands put fullback Ignacio Mendy into space down the right hand touchline, with the custodian stepping inside the final line of defence to give Argentina a 10-0 advantage at half-time.

Flu ruled out as cause of American tourist deaths in Fiji

In a statement issued late morning Fiji's health ministry said influenza had been ruled out and at this stage they did not believe there was any risk to the public.

The authorities said it would be premature to speculate further on the cause of death until the investigation is complete.

David Paul and Michelle Calanog Paul from Fort Worth in Texas arrived in Fiji for a holiday on 22 May and reportedly died within days of each other.

They were aged in their thirties and described by relatives as very fit and healthy.