There will be no shadow National sides taking part in the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s-The Road To Moscow.

This has been confirmed in the last hour to Fijivillage by Fiji Rugby Union’s General Manager High Performance Unit Mike Ryan.

 

Ryan added they want the players to feature for their clubs.

 

Ryan also said that about 25 players from the training squad that was announced this week will march into camp after the Marist 7s while the rest of the players will join after their Pacific Nations Cup commitments with the Flying Fijians.

FRU earlier said that two shadow National sides will take part in the Marist 7s.

Meanwhile, the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s will be held next Friday and Saturday.

Story by: Akuila Cama

A helicopter is currently on its way to Waimanu Hill in Lami to rescue a 60-year-old woman after she complained of body aches while catching prawns with her two daughters.

Police Spokesperson, Ana Naisoro confirmed to Fijivillage that a team of police officers are working with other authorities to evacuate the woman from the site as it is quite far to reach.

One of the daughters had to walk approximately six hours to get help. 

Story by: Praneeta Prakash

$4 million will be used for the major upgrades of health centers across the country, while $900,000 will be allocated for minor repairs.

This is part of the Capital Projects to be carried out by the Ministry of Health for the first and second quarters.

According to the Minister of Health Dr Neil Sharma the Lautoka hospital will see some major upgrades as its servicing a large population in the West. 

Three additional operating theaters will be set up along with a cardiac-cath laboratory next year.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has increased its human resource capacity with a total of 2,500 nurses recruited into the workforce.

Story by: Gwen McGoon

Comedy and silly stunts can be expected when Mr Flip Flap takes to the stage at the Fiji Showcase 2013 from today. 

Mr Flip Flap who is from England said as part of his act he will be doing tricks with any objects.

 

The other international entertainers include Cookie the Clown, Dangerman Shep, Captain Cook and the Lion Man.  

The Fiji showcase 2013 is now underway at the Vodafone Arena. 

At 1pm The Lion Man will be doing his walkabout, Mr Flip Flaps show will start at 1.15pm while at 3.30pm Cookie’s Crazy Comedy Show kicks off. 

Over 140 exhibitors will be at Fiji Showcase and many people look forward to this event as items are sold at wholesale or below wholesale prices.

Story by: Sofaia Koroitanoa

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck early this morning at Vatoa Island, Lau. 

The Mineral Resources Department states the earthquake had a depth of 100km which struck at 5okm of Vatoa Island, Lau.  

No tsunami threat is expected within the region in particular to the local coastal vicinities since the earthquake location is deep.

Story by: Sofaia Koroitanoa

Over $300 million has been circulating in the country over the past three years generated from money laundering, tax evasion and funding illegal activities.

Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority CEO Jitoko Tikolevu said they are investigating a number of cases.

 

Tikolevu believes with the introduction of the new ‘unexplained wealth’ provisions in the Proceeds of the Crime Amendment Decree of 2012 they will be able to deal with this issue.

He said they will now have additional powers to forfeit any undeclared income as unexplained wealth.

The Director of the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit Razim Buksh said the new unexplained wealth provisions enables the court to confiscate any property or benefit that is owned or controlled by a person that cannot be reasonably explained in relation to the lawful income of that person.

Buksh added Police now can shorten the investigation time of such cases.

 

Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua said they have committed substantial resources in investigating complex financial crimes as they have specialized units like the Anti-Money Laundering Investigation Unit, the Cyber-Crime Unit and the Transnational Crime Unit.

Stoey by: Ronal Deo & Akuila Cama

Police have now confirmed that a hunting gun is one of the items stolen during a home robbery earlier this week.

The licensed hunting gun was stolen from a home in Wainadoi.

Investigations have also revealed that the gun was not loaded nor was any ammunition stolen from the home of the businessman.

Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro said they can also confirm that the robbery was carried out by an opportunist who took advantage of an easy situation to rob an innocent family.

Police are refuting speculation regarding the motive behind the robbery which is currently being made.

Four men are still on the run after the break-in. 

They also got away with the hunting gun, cash and jewelry.

Story by: Vijay Narayan

The clash between the Chiefs and the Crusaders tonight will go a long way towards deciding the New Zealand Conference.

Chiefs assistant coach Wayne Smith, who has both coached the Crusaders and coached against them, said his team will have to play their best game of the season as a collective if they are to beat the Crusaders in Hamilton.

Last year the Chiefs managed to win two out of three encounters with the franchise that has won more Super Rugby titles than any other and all three of them could have gone either way.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder has made five changes to the team that bet the Blues last weekend.

Hooker Codie Taylor makes the starting fifteen with Corey Flynn out with a hamstring injury. 

Israel Dagg returns to fullback moving Tom Taylor into the number 12 jersey and Ryan Crotty to Centre while Robbie Fruean moves to the bench. 

Winger Telusa Veianu also takes his place on the bench.

The Chiefs will host the Crusaders at Hamilton at 7.35pm tonight while the Rebels will take on the Waratahs at 9.40pm.

Story by: Rusiate Baleilevuka

The hunt for two drivers continues into the fifth day in relation to the fatal accident that claimed the life of a 42-year-old man in Kinoya last Sunday.

Eyewitness told police that the man was walking towards the Kinoya traffic lights when he was hit by a taxi and then another vehicle.

 

Police are appealing to the general public to contact your nearest police station or community post or 917 if you have any information. 

Story by: Ronal Deo

The Fiji Netball under 19 side left our shores last night beaming with confidence hoping they can return with their first ever trans-Tasman title.

Coach Moape Vu said the girls know the expectations for them to perform as they will be facing tough opponents from New Zealand and Australia.

Vu added the side has been training for two months and the reason for leaving early is for the girls to adjust themselves to the weather in New Zealand.

Fiji is pooled with Australia, Malaysia and Team Pasifika.

Fiji will take on Australia in their first match at 7.30pm next Monday in Rotorua.

Story by: Aliki Bia