Fiji

Now the Samoan Chamber of Commerce is working overtime to repair the damage done to business confidence, following the bombshell announcement.

The chamber’s CEO Hobart Vaai said the move caught the community by surprise.

“Our local business community are very upset at the decision given Vailima's iconic place in our history,” he said.

“It's been our main brewery for a very long time and it’s something that has close affiliation to Samoa. It is marketed as being Samoa-made and the fact it's moving to Fiji has caused a lot of people to be upset.”

The hosts started off strongly in the game after leading in the first quarter 15-7.

The Alisi Naqiri-captained side maintained their strong defence that benefitted them a lot after extending their lead in the second quarter 40-14.

Ranked 15th in the world, Fiji also had a wealth of possession throughout the game and most of their players gave their strong performance.

The team also led in the third quarter 54-25.

Fiji will be meeting Tonga in their second game at 7.30pm (Fiji Time) tomorrow in Suva.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that out of the 268 cases recorded, 129 cases were recorded in the Central Division; 122 cases in the Western Division and 17 cases in the North.

97 new cases were recorded on Friday, 71 cases on Saturday and 41 cases on Sunday and 59 new cases in the last 24 hours ending at 8 am yesterday.

An 82-year-old man was presented to the Raiwaqa Health Centre in respiratory distress on the 9th of this month.

He was transferred to the CWM Covid ward, where he passed away yesterday.

This is believed to have been discussed during the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum, last week between Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Pacific counterparts.

Apart from Fiji, Papua New Guinea is also a possible destination in 2025.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama confirmed there have been some discussions about the possibility of Fiji hosting a match.

PNG has already put in a proposal to have a team in the National Rugby league competition in Australia, and PM Albanese is keen to see a Pacific team in the competition.

The Fijian Broadcasting Corporation’s Mario Fasala said they hope to turn this into an annual event.

A total of 60 spots out of the 68 have been booked so far.

One of the participants, Benjamin Robin, said he was excited to hear about the competition as he recalls his youth where he would gather with friends to fly kites.

“This thing was going on when I was very young, during those days there were lots of kite competitions, after so many years there was nothing, maybe 20-25 years there was no kite competition nor anybody flying kite.”

The Seilala Mapusua strong spirited side came from a 17-3 deficit in the first half to beat Fiji in the second half.

The visitors got off to a perfect start with Rodney Iona booting the first penalty in the 13th minute.

This was on the back of some good defending by Samoa after Fiji unleashed waves of attack in the first few minutes.

A few minutes later, Fiji hit back through number 8 Albert Tuisue who crashed over for a try after a quick tap from the 5 meter line.

Ben Volavola added the extras for the side to lead 7-3.

These diseases is caused by a family of viruses called enteroviruses.

Permanent Secretary Doctor James Fong says the disease can be mistaken for what many have read about monkeypox.

Thus, he said the ministry was yet to diagnose a case of monkeypox.

Fong says Fiji is in the middle of its chickenpox season, and measles cases have also been noted.

FBC reports the PS says the ministry has released a number of health advisories and guidelines to all clinicians in the public and private sectors in order to facilitate early case identification and reporting.

Fiji has a slim chance of winning the PNC title while for Samoa, a win over the host will see them bag their third title only, ever since the tournament started in 2006.

Samoa last won the tournament in 2014 together with Japan when the conference was split into two, while Fiji took out the competition in 2018.

Reeling from their loss to Australia A, Vern Cotter and his men are really wanting to put on a good performance at home before they embark on their overseas tour.

Cotter says the time to do the talking is over as they are ready for the match.

The '2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent' was endorsed by regional heads of governments on 14 July, as the curtains fell on the 51st Forum Leaders' Meeting in Suva.

"As Pacific Leaders, our vision is for a resilient Pacific Region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, that ensures all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy and productive lives," the 2050 strategy's leaders' vision states.

Forum chairman and Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said the new regional blueprint "is about who we are".

Fiji took the lead in the first half when Vanisha Kumar powered past the Solomons goalkeeper Margaret Kofela.

But the Solomons, which was playing in its first Nations Cup game since 2010, gained an equaliser before half-time.

Jemina David was tumbled over in the box by Unaisi Tuberi and a penalty kick was awarded. Solomons captain Ileen Pegi sent the goalkeeper the wrong way for the leveller.

Fiji gained the upper hand in the second half, with Mereoni Tora twice heading wide and Kumar forcing a fine reaction save from Kofela, but their foes held on for the point.