Fiji

Coconut pests in Fiji increase after Cyclone Winston

The Ministry of Agriculture said there had been an increase in rhinoceros beetles feeding on fallen trees and other vegetation ruined in the intense storm which hit Fiji nearly a year ago.

The beetle feeds on the soft immature fronds in the crown of the palms, weakening the plant and reducing its production.

The ministry's research director Apaitia Macanawai said farmers could get help putting in place traps infected with a fungus and virus which kill the beetles.

Photo: John Ska (A male oryctes rhinoceros) 

Fiji military brought in to combat weapons smuggling

The Fiji Sun reports five weeks of training starts today after an agreement signed yesterday between the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority and the Fiji Military Forces.

The authority's chief executive Visvanath Das said customs officers would learn how to identify weapons that are sometimes dismantled before being brought in.

He said the smuggling of illicit drugs and ammunition remains a border security issue in Fiji and around the world and the military will also help instill discipline in his officers.

Magnitude-6.9 earthquake hits near Fiji, prompting evacuations, causing power cuts

The USGS said the quake was at a depth of 15.2 kilometres and an aftershock measuring magnitude-5.7 had also been recorded.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has withdrawn a tsunami warning for parts of the Pacific located 300 kilometres from the epicentre.

Radio New Zealand reported people had been evacuating the Fijian tourist hub of Nadi since the earthquake struck.

There have been no reports of damage or injury from Fiji.

Strong winds, heavy rain cause chaos in Fiji

The system is now expected to possibly intensify into a category one cyclone later today.

At least ten families were evacuated in Navosai overnight after flood waters entered their homes.

A main highway in the capital Suva has been blocked by a landslide, and some powerlines have fallen due to strong winds.

Fiji's power authority said technicians were looking into the issue and there was no time frame on when power would be restored in the affected areas.

Film highlights Fiji's baffling rate of albinism

A new film has highlighted the issue, writes Ben Collins.

Christine Nestel called Fiji's largest television station to ask if she could use footage from a talent programme. It was, she explained, for her documentary Coming Out of the Shadows.

The clip shows Laisa Bulatale, a woman with albinism and one of the subjects of Nestel's film.

She was eventually put through to the CEO of Fiji TV Geoffrey Smith.

Canadian forcibly deported from Fiji

Karen Seaton, who holds a Fiji residency permit, addressed the committee on Friday on behalf of expat landowners affected by changes to the Land Sales Act.

Act 16 requires all non-resident land owners to have constructed a $US120,000 dollar house by the end of the year or pay a fine every six months of 10 percent of the value of their land.

Miss Seaton said she was taken from her hotel room in Suva by immigration officials and forced onboard a flight to Los Angeles.

Fiji vow to learn from Dubai 7s defeat

Interim head coach Naca Cawanibuka ‏described it as a "tough day at the office" while Captain Osea Kolinisau tweeted that he was "Proud of the boys. A good start to the season and we will come out stronger next week."

Fiji still had the most players named in the tournament dream team, with newcomer Setareki Bituniyata joining Kolinisau and Jerry Tuwai.

Fiji have been drawn in Pool B in Cape Town, alongside France, Kenya and Japan.

Fiji cocoa farms receive recovery assistance

The assistance is being made possible through the Increasing Agriculture Commodity Trade (IACT) project TC Winston Recovery Action; a FJD4.3 million initiative funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC).

 The first recipient, Tomohito Zukoshi, co-founder of Fijiana Cocoa and Adi Chocolate brands, has recently received equipment needed to clear cocoa plantations and improve cocoa productivity.

US Tuna Association to defend fishing rights at Fiji meeting

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission is meeting in Nadi next week with American Samoa and others calling for more fishing days on the high seas for the US fleet.

Restrictions have impacted fish deliveries to the two canneries in American Samoa.

ATA executive director Brian Hallman said the association's main approach would be to ensure that all management proposals are science based.

He said that in the past that had not always been the case and rules should be applied and enforced equally for all fishing fleets.

Voting for Miss Pacific Islands pageant 2016 begins

The pageant week begins with a church service and over the course of the week will assess each contestants through various activities planned.

Contestants representing eight Pacific Islands - American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Tonga have all gathered in Apia, Samoa.

Contestants and their teams started arriving in Samoa last week for the 30th anniversary of the Miss Pacific Islands.