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.

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.

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.

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.

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, said the Tui Samoa cable would improve the lives of people in his country as well as students who will access a new world of information.

The fibre-optic cable will link Samoa's two main islands and Wallis and Futuna to Fiji, where it will connect to the Southern Cross Cable between Hawaii and Sydney.

The chairman of the Samoa Submarine Cable Company, Pepe Christian Fruean, said the company was committed to delivering a fast, reliable and affordable internet service to all its partners.

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 30^th anniversary of the Miss Pacific Islands.

Mr Trump said during his campaign he would pull out of the Paris climate accord although reports indicate he has softened his approach.

In a speech this morning in Suva, Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said without America the battle against climate change is doomed.

He told diplomats, NGOs and government officials Mr Trump must be persuaded to change his mind.

He said if the US does withdraw from the agreement there is no hope for the world to comprehensively tackle the issue.

The national side were clinical and brutal as they outclassed the Samoans with four tries to three in Suva last night. 

Fiji led 14-5 at half time with tries from Kalione Nasoko and veteran winger Joeli Lutumailagi while Samoa's try was scored by Gordon Langkilde. 

Risiate Tadulala scored Fiji's first try in the second half before Samoa came back strongly with two tries from winger Samoa Toloa.

Toloa's try closed the score line to a four point gap and also gave the Samoans a fighting chance to upset the Olympic Gold Medalist.

Fijivillage reported that the Commission says it is a major concern because more than 50 cases of misleading and deceptive trade practices by various travel agents have been recorded in the past year.

The Australian High Commission said it was aware of a scam circulating on social media but said Canberra has made no changes to the entry requirements for Fiji citizens.

It said any suspected fraud should be reported to the police, the Commerce Commission or the Australian High Commission in Suva.

The men were among eight officers on trial for the rape and sexual assault of Mr Soko and Senjeli Boila in August 2014.

Fiji Village reports three of the police officers were found not guilty by the assessors.

Lautoka High Court Judge Justice Aruna Aluthge will deliver his judgement on Friday after a month long trial.

Fijivillage reports the five police officers found guilty are Penaia Drauna, Filise Vere, Viliame Vereivalu, Jona Davonu and Senitiki Natakasavu, and the soldier is Pita Matairavula, who is a former body guard of the prime minister.