Fiji

Cyclone Winston is not posing any threats to islands in the region at this point, but winds near its centre are expected to reach about 83 kilometres an hour by midnight tonight.

It is forecast to intensify tomorrow as it moves further south east between Vanuatu and Fiji.

The system has brought heavy rain to Fiji's main island of Viti Levu, with a flood warning in place for the Rakiraki area.

He said the media had and continued to have an important role to play in ensuring political accountability.

“Because of the importance of journalism in society, most members of the media abide by certain professional and personal ethics,” Akauola said.

“Many journalists attempt to cultivate an air of neutrality, focusing on reporting of the issues as they are, so that people can judge the facts for themselves, while others focus on offering commentary and analysis from the perspective of particular position.”

The late goal at extra time was scored by Robertlynn Kig who also scored PNG’s first goal.

PNG was the first to score when Kig floated home a free kick into the top corner of the goal and found the net four minutes into the game.

New Caledonia struggled to escape PNG’s defensive half but couldn’t get past the strong backline as they attempted to score on several occasions.

Our girls pushed through the first half to hold a 1-0 lead over New Caledonia at halftime.

This match will get underway today at the CIFA Academy at 1pm (PNG time).

PNG and New Zealand are the only teams to go through pool play without a defeat.

But after a first-up 7-1 drubbing of Vanuatu, PNG struggled a little, edging Cook Islands 2-1 before the draw with Fiji on Match Day 5.

Our girls will be banking on top striker in the tournament Belinda Giada to help them secure a win.

Giada scored a total of eight goals so far in the tournament, four goals against Vanuatu, two goals against Cook Islands and another two against Fiji.

“The deficit balance of trade PNG has experienced with a small country like Fiji holds questions for those responsible to answer.

“It has proven that the Prime Minister and his minister have lost their bearings and that it should be a wake-up call for them,” said Opposition Leader Don Pomb Polye when commenting on PNG’s negative balance of trade with Fiji to the tune of K54 million.

Mr Polye described it as ‘a joke and undeserved,’ given the country’s economic status.

He has urged the two leaders to refrain from making ‘political rhetoric in supporting businesses.’

PNG has the biggest economy and consumer base in the Pacific, apart from Australia and New Zealand.    

It was revealed during the formal bilateral meeting between Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru, and Fiji’s Minister for Public Enterprises, Industry, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya that a Fiji trade delegation will visit PNG.

The leaders meeting was held last week in Suva with trade and investment as the main point of discussion.

It says the system, which became a three overnight, is moving north-west at three kilometres per hour.

A storm warning is currently in force for ships within 500 kilometres of Ula, as it moves between Fiji and Vanuatu.

Cyclone Ula is expected to reach the southernmost islands of Vanuatu on Monday.

Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho says it's a serious in-house matter and gave no further information.

But earlier he told FBC news that Henry Brown is now on leave overseas and will return on January the 19th.

Mr Brown is the police's director of intelligence and investigations.

Mr Qiliho is the former land force commander, who was put in charge of the force last month when Ben Groenewald resigned as police commissioner, citing interference by the military.

A Eurocopter crashed as it attempted to land on Treasure Island, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported.

It was apparently caught by a strong gust of wind.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) said there were seven people on board at the time, including the pilot, but there were no fatalities.

It is the worst it has been for the code which is considered the national sport in the country.

PNG, which was usually in the top five in past years, has dropped out of sight and now sits at number 14, plunging three place from 11^th spot out of 35 countries in the new  RLIF World Rankings issued recently.