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28th March
Lebanon wakes up in two time zones as clock change row deepens divisions
BEIRUT (Reuters) -Lebanon woke up in two time zones on Sunday amid an escalating dispute between political and religious authorities over a decision to delay the clock change by a month. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib...
Afghan girls struggle with poor internet as they turn to online classes
KABUL (Reuters) – Sofia logs in to class on a laptop in Kabul for an online English course run by one of a growing number of educational institutes trying to reach Afghanistan’s girls and women digitally in their homes. But when the teacher calls on Sofia to read a passage her computer screen freezes. “Can...
Young Portuguese defer dreams as housing crisis bites
LISBON (Reuters) – When Maria Lopes moved to Lisbon from the northern Portuguese city of Tondela, her goals were straightforward: study, find a job, get a place of her own. But a decade on, she still lives in a tiny, rented room – one of tens of thousands of young Portuguese hit by a housing...
Spain tells ‘fire tourists’ to stay away from forest blaze
BARRACAS, Spain (Reuters) – Officials told ‘fire tourists’ to keep away from blazes raging in eastern Spain on Sunday, saying onlookers were putting themselves at risk and disrupting efforts to quell the flames. More than 500 firefighters backed by 20 planes and helicopters were battling the fire four days after it broke out near the...
27th March
Israel’s Netanyahu sacks defense minister who opposed judicial overhaul
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after he said the government should delay moving forward with a highly-contested plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to remove from his position Defense Minister Yoav Gallant,” the prime minister’s office said. Gallant, a...
Mexico government to challenge Supreme Court suspension of electoral reform
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The Mexican government said Sunday it would challenge the Supreme Court’s temporary suspension of parts of a controversial electoral reform pushed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The Supreme Court on Friday halted parts of the reform, which was a scaled-down version of a failed constitutional reform originally sought. The court...
UK PM Sunak to unveil measures to crack down on anti-social behaviour
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will unveil new measures on Monday to crack down on antisocial behaviour by focusing on policing in several areas of England and Wales, as he works to win over voters in the run-up to an election expected next year. Sunak, who has seen a small tick up...
She’s her own boss
Former hotel waitress Amrita Nand enjoys being an entrepreneur and her own boss. The 35-year-old was working with the food and beverage department at the Capricorn International Hotel in Nadi. She was also an employee of New World and Maxval-U supermarkets before starting her own pot plant business in 2016. Ms Nand normally sold her...
Evacuated villagers tell how Spain’s forest fire forced them to leave animals
By Guillermo Martinez BARRACAS, Spain (Reuters) – Spain’s first major wildfire of the year scorched more than 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of forest and forced 1,700 villagers to leave their homes in the Valencia and Aragon regions. Residents recounted fleeing their houses and leaving animals behind. “Bad, how am I supposed to feel? Your town...
Archive of treasures
Just as the minutes and hours of time go by, the ink used to pen thoughts on paper will gradually fade and disappear into obscurity. And when that happens, it leaves gaps in history, if not for the sacred few whose task is to document events of importance for future generations. That is one reason...
Back in history: From a village to town
An article in The Fiji Times on July 2, 1977, brought back the good old memories of Labasa Town in the early 1920s when it was still at the development stages. The town was a village at that time, with earth road having deep side drains. During the spring tide, you could fish in the...
Argentina ex-President Macri says he will not be candidate in upcoming elections
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Former Argentine President Mauricio Macri said on Sunday that he will not be a presidential candidate in the country’s October general elections, as the opposition coalition moves to confirm its candidates. The center-right Macri’s decision to opt out opens the door wider for other candidates of the opposition coalition “Together for...
Honey industry struggles
A boom in beekeeping in the Pacific has helped improve yield and quality for more than 30 per cent of the country’s pollination-dependent crops, but it comes at an inopportune time as Fiji grapples with a varroa mite invasion and adverse weather events. It has presented beekeepers in the Pacific nation with a dilemma. There...
Solar power for water
Solar Fiji has been growing steadily as a result of the reliability of its products for off-grid areas in the country. Company director Joe Baravi said they had recorded an increase in the demand for solar power. “Yes, there has been an increasing demand of solar power for off-grid and grid-tied commercial and residential clients....
Banksy’s migrant rescue ship seized by Italy’s coast guard in Lampedusa
MILAN (Reuters) – A rescue ship funded by British street artist Banksy was seized in Lampedusa on Sunday after Italy’s coast guard said the boat had disobeyed its instructions to head to Sicily after carrying out a migrant rescue operation. The coast guard said it had ordered the MV Louise Michel ship to dock in...
Locals learn from celebrity chef
Local chefs at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort and the Fiji Marriot Resort Momi Bay got a chance to learn from Australian celebrity chef Matt Moran who, over two days, showcased his wide-ranging talents in fine dining. The restaurateur was a guest at the two Sheraton Resorts property where local and international guests...
Ready, set, roll! Thai man wins fastest joint rolling in Phuket
By Jorge Silva PHUKET, Thailand (Reuters) – With nimble fingers and years of practice, Ativat Janmuangthai beat other cannabis enthusiasts to roll a perfect, one-gramme joint in 43 seconds on Saturday, becoming the fastest joint-roller in Thailand’s Phuket. “He’s been rolling joints for five years, he can even roll joints blindfolded. He’s very fast,” said...
Ratu Epenisa leads Bau delegation to present reguregu to late Ratu Epeli Ganilau
A delegation from the chiefly island of Bau led by Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, na Turaga na Vunivalu na Tui Kaba, presented their i-reguregu to the family of the late chief, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, at the Government training centre in Suva this afternoon. The delegation was received by Ratu Epeli’s eldest son, Ratu Penaia Kamisese Tuivanuavou...
US Vice President Harris promises greater investment for Africa
ACCRA (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said on Sunday that the United States will increase investment in Africa and help spur economic growth as she began a week long tour of the continent aimed at offering a counter to the influence of rival China. China has invested heavily in Africa in recent decades,...
Apple CEO praises China’s innovation, long history of cooperation on Beijing visit
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Apple CEO Tim Cook on Saturday used his first public remarks on his visit to China to praise the country for its rapid innovation and its long ties with the U.S. iPhone maker, according to local media reports. Apple CEO Tim Cook on Saturday used his first public remarks in China in...
Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible, NATO says
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO on Sunday criticised Russia for its “dangerous and irresponsible” nuclear rhetoric, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. “NATO is vigilant, and we are closely monitoring the situation. We have not seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that would lead us to...
Stand tall, PM tells new recruits
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka witnessed the passing-out parade of about 40 new Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) personnel, including nine women, at the Naboro Corrections Facility last week. He said over the past 10 weeks, the graduates had learnt many aspects of training, including English proficiency, psychological assessment, institution orientation, medical testing and fitness. “Stand tall,...
Young Portuguese defer dreams as housing crisis bites
By Catarina Demony, Patricia Vicente Rua and Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) – When Maria Lopes moved to Lisbon from the northern Portuguese city of Tondela, her goals were straightforward: study, find a job, get a place of her own. But a decade on, she still lives in a tiny, rented room – one of tens...
Women share stories and journey
More than 200 participants gathered to participate in the Women Invigorating the Nation (WIN) convention 2023 in Suva last Friday. Guest speakers included Assistant Minister for Housing Lenora Qereqeretabua and Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Sashi Kiran as well as various entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC) vice-chairman Sharyne Fong said the...
Anger over close of Noumea beaches due to deadly shark attacks
Beachgoers in New Caledonia have protested against the closure of Noumea’s swimming beaches until the end of the year. The mayor took the decision ten days ago because of a spate of shark attacks, including the fatal mauling of a swimmer. About 100 people formed a chain along a beach, denouncing the ban as discriminatory. They...
Workshop to enhance professionalism
Fijians and visitors to our shores deserve police officers who are professional, calm, and collected with their approach, says Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew. Speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day Fiji Police Annual Consultative Workshop in Suva, he told senior police managers that there were times when the Fiji Police Force...
Online violence – Technology-facilitated abuse
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali says some women have become suicidal as a result of continued technology-facilitated abuse. Ms Ali was one of the speakers at the two-day Women Invigorating the Nation (WIN) Convention held at the Grand Pacific Hotel over the weekend. “It’s good to see what’s out there because we learn...
Putin says Moscow to place nuclear weapons in Belarus, US reacts cautiously
By David Ljunggren (Reuters) – Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday, sending a warning to NATO over its military support for Ukraine and escalating a standoff with the West. Although not unexpected and while Putin said the move would not violate nuclear non-proliferation promises, it is one...
Catch of the day
When Shaiyad Ali left his home at 2am on Saturday to go fishing, he didn’t imagine he’d haul in the biggest catch of his life. The 47-year-old panel beater from Navua, who usually fishes as a pastime, caught a kavu in Pacific Harbour. He said he had to use every technique he had learnt just...
First lady praises WIN convention participants
First Lady Filomena Katonivere has thanked the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC) for the positive and influential impacts they made in the lives of women entrepreneurs in Fiji, in the formal and informal sectors. Speaking during the closing dinner of the two-day 2023 Women Invigorating the Nation (WIN) convention at the Grand Pacific Hotel on...
