Page 2 - Fiji

PM Modi congratulates newly-elected Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Fiji's Sitiveni Rabuka on his election as the leader of his country. "I look forward to working together to further strengthen the close and long-standing relations between India and Fiji," Modi tweeted. Rabuka was sworn in as Fiji's prime minister on Saturday, capping a tense week in a fragile Pacific democracy where the former military commander first held office more than two decades ago. The 74-year-old won the nomination by one vote over incumbent Frank Bainimarama at a sitting of the Fijian Parliament in Suva.

Sitiveni Rabuka sworn in as Fiji prime minister after close election

Sitiveni Rabuka was sworn in as Fiji's prime minister on Saturday more than two decades after the former military commander first held the office in a term lasting nearly seven years. The 74-year-old won the nomination by one vote over incumbent Frank Bainimarama at a sitting of the Fijian Parliament in Suva. Rabuka, the head of the People's Alliance Party, was elevated to the position after forming a majority coalition with two other parties following last week's close and contentious election. The tripartite coalition had announced on Tuesday its intention to form a government with a combined 29 seats compared to the 26 held by Bainimarama's Fiji First Party. The People's Alliance Party and affiliated National Federation Party shared 26 seats but were able to form an alliance with the Social Democrat Liberal Party to break the deadlock. Bainimarama, who served as Fiji's prime minister for almost 16 years, and Fiji First had refused to concede the election results in the days ...

Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed as Fiji prime minister after close election

Sitiveni Rabuka was confirmed as Fiji's next prime minister on Saturday more than two decades after the former military commander first held the office in a term lasting nearly seven years. The 74-year-old won the nomination by one vote over incumbent Frank Bainimarama at a sitting of the Fijian Parliament in Suva. Rabuka, the head of the People's Alliance Party, was elevated to the position after forming a majority coalition with two other parties following last week's close and contentious election. He will be officially sworn in later Saturday at Government House. The tripartite coalition had announced on Tuesday its intention to form a government with a combined 29 seats compared to the 26 held by Bainimarama's Fiji First Party. The People's Alliance Party and affiliated National Federation Party shared 26 seats but were able to form an alliance with the Social Democrat Liberal Party to break the deadlock. But Bainimarama, who had served as Fiji's prime minister for almost 16

Fiji calls military to maintain security after close election is disputed

Fijian police on Thursday said they were calling in the military to help maintain security following a close election last week that is now being disputed. It was an alarming development in a Pacific nation where democracy remains fragile and there have been four military coups in the past 35 years. The two main contenders for prime minister this year were former coup leaders themselves. Police Commissioner Brig. Gen. Sitiveni Qiliho said in a statement that after police and military leaders met with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama they collectively decided to call in army and navy personnel to assist. The commissioner said there had been threats made against minority groups who were now living in fear following recent political developments. Reporters in the capital, Suva, said there were no immediate signs of any military presence on city streets. The military move came after Bainimarama's Fiji First party refused to concede the election, despite rival Sitiveni Rabuka's party a

Vote counting for Fiji's general election finishes with no clear winner

Vote counting finished in Fiji's general election on Sunday but there was no clear winner, and various political parties are now negotiating to form a coalition government. The election had pitted two former coup leaders against each other. Sitiveni Rabuka, who led a coup back in 1987 and later served as an elected prime minister in the 1990s, emerged as the main challenger to Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who has held power for the past 16 years. Rabuka's People's Alliance Party and allies the National Federation Party won about 45 per cent of the vote combined. Bainimarama's Fiji's First party, meanwhile, won about 43 per cent. That has left both sides seeking to form a coalition with the Social Democrat Liberal Party. The liberal party's general secretary Lenaitasi Duru told media they were having meetings with both sides. The first round of negotiations was done yesterday, Duru said. "We are expecting more negotiations later this afternoon. He said the party's priorities

India in talks with Fiji to set up language lab to promote Hindi

In a bid to promote Hindi, officials from India and Fiji are in talks to set up a modern language laboratory in the South Pacific nation, Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Palaniswamy Karthigeyan said

Want more Indian-origin candidates in fray: Unity Fiji on Independence day

As Fiji celebrates its Independence day, a political party leader has said that he wants more representation from Fijians of Indian descent to join their line-up for election

5.5-magnitude earthquake hits south of Fiji Islands: US Geological Survey

The earthquake took place on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported

China falls short on deal with Pacific nations but finds smaller wins

China fell short Monday on a bold plan to have 10 Pacific nations endorse a sweeping new agreement covering everything from security to fisheries as some in the region expressed deep concerns

As China seeks big Pacific deal, many in Fiji see infrastructural benefits

Wang hosts a key meeting in Fiji with foreign ministers from 10 Pacific nations he hopes will endorse a sweeping new agreement covering everything from security to fisheries

China hosts Pacific islands meeting in Fiji, security ties in focus

China Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds a meeting with counterparts from 10 Pacific island nations in Fiji today

US wins latest legal battle to seize Russian yacht worth $325 mn in Fiji

The U.S. argues that its investigation has found that behind various fronts, the Cayman Islands-flagged luxury yacht is really owned by the sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov

India-Fiji relations based on respect, sense of service of humanity: PM

Prime Minister Modi addressed the opening of Shri Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital in Fiji via a video message

5.7 magnitude earthquake strikes near Fiji, says US Geological Survey

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake has been registered near the Fiji island nation, the US Geological Survey said.The tremor was recorded at 20:02 GMT on Friday, at a depth of 557 kilometers (over 346 miles), 231 kilometers east of the town of Levuka on the island of Ovalau.There are no reports about any damage or victims caused by the earthquake, no tsunami alert has been declared.Fiji is located in a seismically active zone known as the Ring of Fire and regularly suffers from powerful earthquakes.

After sweeping India, fierce Covid-19 waves hit other developing nations

Reported spikes in handful of nations signal the potential dangers of an uncontrolled spread.

Cabinet nod to pact between India, Fiji for co-operation in agri sector

This MoU will come into effect on the date of its signing and will remain in force for a period of five years

Tsunami watch for New Zealand, Fiji after massive undersea earthquake

The magnitude of the quake was previously measured at 7.9 and 7.5 by the US Geological Survey (USGS), but was later revised to 7.7

India delivers relief materials to Fiji for cyclone-affected people

India on Monday delivered relief supplies, including dignity kits containing hygiene and sanitary items and sleeping mats to Fiji for the cyclone-affected families

India sends relief materials to cyclone-affected people of Fiji

Fiji was hit by cyclone Yasa on December 17 and 18

China's 'wolf warrior' diplomacy in focus as scuffle hurts Taiwan official

A ministry spokesperson told Bloomberg News by text that the injury was a "mild concussion."