Passengers flying on a major Aussie airline were left unable to check into their flights following a major technical outage. RPT

The Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team survived a strong effort from USA to beat them 33-12 in their second pool match at the Vancouver 7s today. Fiji scored five tries in the match compared to USA’s two. Joseva Talacolo grabbed a brace while Ilikimi Vunaki, Viwa Naduvalo and Joji Nasova scored a try each. This is the team’s second win after recording a 38-12 win over Uruguay earlier. The side takes on Spain in their last pool match at 6.52am tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Fijiana side suffered a disappointing 19-14 defeat against Japan in their opener, having led 14-nil at the break. They take on France in their next match at 3.52pm. RPT

Titikaveka Bulldogs will face the mighty Tupapa Panthers today at Victoria Park. Last week, the Panthers defeated the Arorangi Bears 12-8. MELINA ETCHES. 25021601 The unbeaten Titikaveka Bulldogs are looking to extend their winning streak to three matches when they take on the Tupapa Panthers in week three of the Rarotonga League 13s competition this afternoon. Cook Islands Rugby League competition coordinator Francis (Franky) Toa says the Bulldogs are not a team to be underestimated in the weekly domestic rugby league competition. The Panthers, the former premier men’s champions, cannot afford to be complacent despite playing the Bulldogs at their home ground, Victoria Park in Tupapa. The Bulldogs defeated Arorangi Bears 22-20 and Takuvaine Warriors 48-10 in their first two matches. The Panthers have also won their first matches against Ngatangiia Matavera Sea Eagles 28-12 and the Bears 12-8. “The Bulldogs, I believe they can’t be underestimated in the...

The Penjuku Adventist School community at Marovo, Western province has received a critical boost to infrastructure through two projects funded by the Solomon Islands–Australia Community Partnerships, including a fence around the school, and solar lighting for classrooms.  Solomon Islands – Australia Community Partnerships support community-led projects that improve living standards. These are small projects with a big impact on Solomon Islanders.  Penjuku Adventist Primary School received SBD144,005 for the fence project, including building materials and transportation from Honiara to Penjuku. The fence is now keeping dogs and unauthorised visitors out of school grounds.  As Penjuku Adventist School completed this project quickly, Australia was able to award their school a second project – solar lighting for the school precinct.  Using more than SBD237,000 for building materials and transportation, Penjuku Adventist School worked with Superfly to install solar power to their school precinct.  Now students at Penjuku are able to study outside of school hours with reliable lighting.  Australia’s...

Medium Rare Content Agency’s new Sponsorship and Experiences division, in collaboration with international partners Phar Partnerships, today announced it has secured Liquid I.V. as the official hydration partner of Bondi Beach.  In a groundbreaking collaboration between Medium Rare and Waverley Council in Sydney, the number one* powdered hydration brand in the U.S., Liquid I.V., now has an exclusive […] The post Medium Rare secures Liquid I.V. as official hydration partner of Bondi Beach appeared first on NewsCorp Australia. RPT

The incident injured several students from the primary school tour group at Government House in Canberra, leaving one Year 6 girl fighting for her life. RPT

THE Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) strongly supports the views expressed by Ba’s leading sugarcane farmer and former Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) board member Arvind Singh who has called on the industry’s movers and shakers to implement cost-cutting measures to revive the ailing industry. NCCI president Dr Ram Raju said the sugar industry was in a deplorable state today because of years of neglect and mismanagement. “We fully agree with what Arvind Singh has highlighted in the media and the time to take action is now,” Dr Raju said. He said while many well-established businesses and property landlords had emerged out of the sugar industry during its heydays, it was sad how things had turned out for the past 20 years. “There is no doubt that sugar prices keep dwindling and are very unstable in the world market due to oversupply and declining demand but this does not...

Despite the Cook Islands having so much going for it – best climates, cheap cost of living, low crime, no homeless, no really poor, good connectivity, easy access to NZ for health/education, etc., and Rarotongans speak better English than most New Zealanders and better Maori than most NZ Maori, 60 years of self-government doesn’t appear to be something to celebrate. The current dance with the dragon got me thinking … Mmmm so just for fun, a note on the achievements of self-government and some historical context: 1964: UN forces self-government on unsuspecting territories. 1965: NZ Queen (as of right of NZ) becomes CI Head of State (through the QR). Cook Islanders remain NZ citizens with the proviso that ‘nothing in the CI Constitution’ will affect the ‘status of any NZ citizen’. 1966: Poor drafting of Constitution sets up for political failure due to no provision to amend electoral seats...

A DEAL to ensure legal aid is more accessible to people with disabilities across the Solomon Islands was signed this week. This significant milestone was achieved on Wednesday after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO), the Disabled Peoples Association of Solomon Islands (DPASI), and the Development Services Exchange (DSE). The ceremony, held in Honiara on 19th February 2024, marked a collaborative effort to make legal aid more accessible to people with disabilities across the Solomon Islands. The MOU establishes a framework for cooperation to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access legal services and support more effectively. DPASI CEO Casper Fa’asala, Deputy Public Solicitor Chris Rarumae, and General Secretary of Development Services Exchange Mrs Jennifer Wate signing the MOU. This initiative is a critical step toward addressing the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities in navigating the legal system and asserting...

Escape, Australia’s leading travel media brand, will this weekend launch its inaugural Readers’ Choice Cruise Awards presented by My Cruises, to celebrate excellence in the cruise industry. This Sunday February 16, Escape will call on its audience of more than 3.7 million Australians to vote for the ships and cruise lines they love, and why, in 18 […] The post Escape and My Cruises launch inaugural readers’ choice cruise appeared first on NewsCorp Australia. RPT