Author: TMC Palau
[Source: Reuters] At least five people were killed and 41 were still missing on Sunday after a ferry caught fire off Indonesia’s Madura island, the country’s search and rescue agency said in a statement. The ferry was carrying 271 passengers and crew members, 225 of whom have been rescued, agency data showed on Sunday afternoon. A search and rescue operation was still ongoing, it added. The ferry was heading from Surabaya in East Java province to Makassar city in South Sulawesi.Article continues after advertisement It was unclear how the ferry caught fire, but the incident occurred on Sunday morning, the…
Anne Kamikamica outside court today. [PICTURE:APENISA WAQAIRADOVU] The wife of former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica says the past several months have been emotionally draining for their family, as they stood by him throughout his court case. Ann Kamikamica says frequent court appearances, public scrutiny and questions over her husband’s integrity took a heavy toll on the family. She says despite the challenges, they never doubted his innocence and are grateful the case has finally come to an end. “I’m grateful that it’s come to an end, it’s not easy going to court so often… when you know your man…
Fuel prices have plateaued throughout the Pacific, though supply chain “uncertainty” keeps costs high regionwide.Samoa, Tonga and Fiji have each decreased their fuel price caps for August, though each of them remains higher than before April when the global fuel crisis began.Fiji has seen a reduction of 36 to 38 NZ cents per litre for diesel, and 28 to 30 cents per litre for petrol. In urban Viti Levu, the diesel price decreased by 13.7 percent.In Samoa, diesel is down by 13.2 percent to $2.49 tala per litre, and in Tonga, it has fallen to $2.87 per litre.Samoa’s Minister of…
[Photo: JOSEFA SIGAVOLAVOLA] A year after being charged by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption with a count of perjury and an alternative count of false information to a public servant, former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica is now free of the allegations labelled against him. Kamikamica was charged in July last year and he stepped down from his ministerial post. Following a hearing on this matter last month, defence counsel Wylie Clarke had filed a no case to answer application in the Suva Magistrates Court. In that application, Clarke had stated that FICAC was not able to prove their…
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed that former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica will be reinstated to his portfolio. Kamikamica stepped down from his position after he was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption with one count of perjury and one count of giving false information to a public servant. Rabuka confirmed the reinstatement to FBC News after Kamikamica was acqquitted by the Suva Magistrates Court of all charges this afternoon. Magistrate Charles Ratakele while aqquitting Manoa Kamikamica stated that the no case to answer application filed on behalf of the accused has been upheld.Article continues after advertisement…
A 29-year-old man previously taken into custody following the death of a 12-year-old boy in Wailoku, Tamavua has been released, with police confirming no charges have been laid at this stage. Police have now confirmed that a 17-year-old is being questioned in relation to the investigation into the child’s death. FBC News understands the teenager is assisting police with their inquiries as investigators continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the death. The 12-year-old boy was reported missing by his mother after he was last seen playing at a neighbour’s home on Wednesday evening.Article continues after advertisement His body was discovered…
A new rugby union has been launched in Samoa, despite efforts by the sport’s global governing body to mediate a resolution to the current impasse between the Samoan government and Lakapi Samoa.Media reports out of Apia says the new Samoa Rugby Football Union (SRFU), a rival organisation to Lakapi Samoa, was launched at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel on Friday evening.At the same time, there are reports that Lakapi Samoa chairman Afioga Namulauulu Papali’i Leota Sami Leota and his board members have stepped aside pending a review.The new body was launched just two days after the Samoan government anounced…
The 2026 Vodafone Deans Under-18 favorites, unbeaten Lelean Memorial School, are tackling each game as it comes. Despite being touted as the best team in the competition, the Davuilevu team isn’t letting that get into their head. This weekend, Lelean and Ratu Kadavulevu School will shoulder the Eastern Zone hopes after Queen Victoria School and Saint Johns College fell in the eliminations last weekend.¤ LMS manager, Ilisapeci Bainivalu, says the road will be tougher from here onwards.Article continues after advertisement She adds no team should be taken lightly. ‘I think it will be a tougher preparation again for them to…
[Source: Reuters] A homemade bomb carried by a woman killed at least three people and injured 21 near an upscale restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, authorities said, amid unconfirmed speculation on social media that the attack may have been linked to the war in Ukraine. The explosion occurred just before 8 p.m. close to an Italian restaurant located in one of Moscow’s seven Stalin-era skyscrapers at Kudrinskaya Square, the police said. Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAK) said an unidentified woman carrying an improvised explosive device had tried to get into the restaurant but had been stopped by a…
The State intends to call four witnesses and rely on six documents during the trial. [Photo: FILE] Former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad’s criminal case will return to the Suva Magistrates Court on Friday for a final pre-trial conference ahead of the scheduled trial next week. Professor Prasad appeared before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad today, where the court was informed that the prosecution and defence remain on track for trial. The court is expected to confirm the prosecution’s witness list and documentary evidence at Friday’s pre-trial conference. The State intends to call four witnesses and rely on six documents (evidence)…