A Russian Oligarchs luxury superyacht has left Fiji for united states after a court in the island nation ordered the removal of the vessel from its harbor. The court observed that maintaining the vessel was costing dearly to the island nation.

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russian luxury superyacht leaves Fiji for US

Authorities in Fiji seized a 300 million dollar luxury yacht owned by a Russian Oligarch. The US requested Fiji to seize the yacht as its allies impose sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine war: Fiji seizes Russian Oligarch's luxury yacht on United States' request

New Zealand and Fiji signed a partnership statement on Tuesday that will see the two countries work more closely together in areas such as security, protecting shared interests and economic resilience.

The announcement between the two countries came days after the Solomon Islands government confirmed it was "diversifying" its security relationships beyond Australia, which prompted alarm in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealands-prime-minister-ardern-says-solomon-islands-china-deal-gravely-concerning-466244">New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda&nbsp;Ardern&nbsp;says Solomon Islands-China deal 'gravely concerning'</a>

"Aotearoa New Zealand is committed to working alongside Fiji and supporting common goals — both in Fiji and in the Pacific region," New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement after the agreement was signed.

The partnership statement outlines a broad range of priorities such as pursuing greater understanding and coordination on foreign policy priorities; building economic resilience; supporting capability to uphold sovereign authority, according to a New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dramatic-video-shows-rescue-from-new-zealand-boat-sinking-that-killed-four-464641">Dramatic video shows rescue from New Zealand boat sinking that killed four</a>

"This strategic cooperation is timely, as our region paves its way forward to progressive socio-economic recovery," said Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.

Watch |&nbsp;New Zealand borders to reopen; Visa-Waiver countries tourists can travel from May 1

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New Zealand and Fiji signed a partnership statement on Tuesday that will see the two countries work more closely together in areas such as security, protecting shared interests and economic resilience.

New Zealand and Fiji signed a partnership statement on Tuesday that will see the two countries work more closely together in areas such as security, protecting shared interests and economic resilience. The announcement between the two countries came days after the Solomon Islands government confirmed it was "diversifying" its security relationships beyond Australia, which prompted alarm in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Also read | New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Solomon Islands-China deal 'gravely concerning' "Aotearoa New Zealand is committed to working alongside Fiji and supporting common goals — both in Fiji and in the Pacific region," New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement after the agreement was signed. The partnership statement outlines a broad range of priorities such as pursuing greater understanding and coordination on foreign policy priorities; building economic resilience; supporting capability to uphold sovereign authority, according to a New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade statement. Also read | Dramatic video shows rescue from New Zealand boat sinking that killed four "This strategic cooperation is timely, as our region paves its way forward to progressive socio-economic recovery," said Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama. Watch | New Zealand borders to reopen; Visa-Waiver countries tourists can travel from May 1

New Zealand, Fiji agree to work together on security, economy, other areas

According to reports, Google co-founder Larry Page is in Fiji riding out the pandemic. The multi-billionaire reportedly arrived in the Fijian city of Nadi last month on a private jet even as the country has been&nbsp;hit with the second wave of the virus.

Reports say Page, 48, has kept a low profile since the pandemic began last year. He reportedly arrived in the country with coronavirus supplies to help citizens in Fiji.

Page is reportedly spending time in his luxury yacht in the Fijian islands during the pandemic parking himself in Tavarua island. Page was earlier spotted in Namotu amid speculation that he has bought an island in Fiji.

According to reports, Larry Page and Google co-founder Sergey Brin have sold over $1 billion stocks since May with Alphabet stocks on a high since the pandemic last year as the company posted second-quarter revenue and earnings.

Fiji had closed its border due to the coronavirus pandemic however the country's “Blue Lane” initiative allows high net individuals with superyacht and private jets to enter the country with few restrictions.

Reports say Fijian authorities have allowed Larry Page to keep his visit private with very little information on the Google superstars whereabouts.

Page had stepped down as Alphabet CEO in 2019 while handing over the reins to CEO Sundar Pichai. Page and Brin&nbsp;however still have voting rights

Page and Brin had co-founded Google in 1998 with both men ranked as one of the richest men in the world. Page's reported&nbsp;net worth is $117 billion and he is the sixth wealthiest person in the world.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

According to reports, Google co-founder Larry Page is in Fiji riding out the pandemic. The multi-billionaire reportedly arrived in the Fijian city of Nadi last month on a private jet even as the country has been hit with the second wave of the virus.

According to reports, Google co-founder Larry Page is in Fiji riding out the pandemic. The multi-billionaire reportedly arrived in the Fijian city of Nadi last month on a private jet even as the country has been hit with the second wave of the virus. Reports say Page, 48, has kept a low profile since the pandemic began last year. He reportedly arrived in the country with coronavirus supplies to help citizens in Fiji. Page is reportedly spending time in his luxury yacht in the Fijian islands during the pandemic parking himself in Tavarua island. Page was earlier spotted in Namotu amid speculation that he has bought an island in Fiji. According to reports, Larry Page and Google co-founder Sergey Brin have sold over $1 billion stocks since May with Alphabet stocks on a high since the pandemic last year as the company posted second-quarter revenue and earnings. Fiji had closed its border due to the coronavirus pandemic however the country's “Blue Lane” initiative allows high net individuals with superyacht and private jets to enter the country with few restrictions. Reports say Fijian authorities have allowed Larry Page to keep his visit private with very little information on the Google superstars whereabouts. Page had stepped down as Alphabet CEO in 2019 while handing over the reins to CEO Sundar Pichai. Page and Brin however still have voting rights Page and Brin had co-founded Google in 1998 with both men ranked as one of the richest men in the world. Page's reported net worth is $117 billion and he is the sixth wealthiest person in the world. (With inputs from Agencies)

Worth a search: Is Google co-founder Larry Page hiding in Fiji to ride out Covid pandemic?

Fiji&nbsp;coach Vern Cotter has said his team did not wear jerseys with a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccination</a> message in Saturday's 57-23 defeat by New Zealand in Dunedin because the idea had been sprung on the players late with little consultation.

News website Stuff reported the team was supposed to wear jerseys with the message "Vaccinate&nbsp;Fiji" in the clash, with the idea coming from one of their main sponsors,&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;Airways.

"That's a really complex question, and the answer is complex as well," New Zealand's Cotter was quoted as saying by Stuff when asked why the team abandoned the plan.

"We really haven't got the full answer. It was sprung on the players quite late in the piece, and there wasn't a lot of exchange and consultation.

"As you can imagine, it's a delicate subject for some, so it was probably better to just have a clean jersey at this stage, and spend some time on how we best want to communicate on this matter and how comfortable the players are in communicating it."

A spokesman for&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;Airways said that the decision was disappointing, Stuff reported.

"We had given up our (advertising) space (on the jersey) to push an important, life-saving message to support the efforts of&nbsp;Fijian front-liners battling the current <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID outbreak</a>," the spokesman was quoted as saying.

"We defer to&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;Rugby to address the issue."

COVID-19 infections in&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;have risen in recent weeks, with an average of 609 new infections reported each day according to a Reuters tally. The South Pacific island nation of less than 900,000 people has recorded over 9,500 cases and 49 novel coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic began.

Fiji&nbsp;will take on the All Blacks again in Hamilton next Saturday.

Fiji coach Vern Cotter has said his team did not wear jerseys with a COVID-19 vaccination message in Saturday's 57-23 defeat by New Zealand in Dunedin because the idea had been sprung on the players late with little consultation.

Fiji coach Vern Cotter has said his team did not wear jerseys with a COVID-19 vaccination message in Saturday's 57-23 defeat by New Zealand in Dunedin because the idea had been sprung on the players late with little consultation. News website Stuff reported the team was supposed to wear jerseys with the message "Vaccinate Fiji" in the clash, with the idea coming from one of their main sponsors, Fiji Airways. "That's a really complex question, and the answer is complex as well," New Zealand's Cotter was quoted as saying by Stuff when asked why the team abandoned the plan. "We really haven't got the full answer. It was sprung on the players quite late in the piece, and there wasn't a lot of exchange and consultation. "As you can imagine, it's a delicate subject for some, so it was probably better to just have a clean jersey at this stage, and spend some time on how we best want to communicate on this matter and how comfortable the players are in communicating it." A spokesman for Fiji Airways said that the decision was disappointing, Stuff reported. "We had given up our (advertising) space (on the jersey) to push an important, life-saving message to support the efforts of Fijian front-liners battling the current COVID outbreak," the spokesman was quoted as saying. "We defer to Fiji Rugby to address the issue." COVID-19 infections in Fiji have risen in recent weeks, with an average of 609 new infections reported each day according to a Reuters tally. The South Pacific island nation of less than 900,000 people has recorded over 9,500 cases and 49 novel coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic began. Fiji will take on the All Blacks again in Hamilton next Saturday.

Rugby: Fiji dropped 'vaccinate' jerseys over lack of consultation, says coach

Fiji&nbsp;has announced plans to make the coronavirus vaccine compulsory for all workers as it battles a runaway outbreak of the Delta variant, with the prime minister issuing a blunt message: "no jabs, no job".

Frank Bainimarama said all public servants in the South Pacific nation of 930,000 must go on leave if they have not had their first injection by August 15 and would be dismissed if they did not receive their second by November 1.

Private sector employees must have their first jab by August 1, with individuals facing hefty fines if they fail to comply and companies threatened with being shut down.

"No jabs, no job -- that is what the science tells us is safest and that is now the policy of the government and enforced through the law," Bainimarama said in a national address late Thursday.

The hardline policy comes amid government frustration at the widespread flouting of virus safety measures such as social distancing and wearing masks, blamed in part for a huge spike in infections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-says-virus-related-deaths-rise-to-48000-302632">Also read |&nbsp;UK says virus-related deaths rise to 48,000</a>

Until April,&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;had recorded no community cases for a year but a quarantine breach saw the highly contagious Delta variant, first detected in India, rapidly gain a foothold, with the country now recording 700-plus new cases a day.

'Reckless rule-breakers'

The under-resourced health system has been stretched to breaking point, with the country's largest hospital in Suva this week saying its mortuary was at capacity and urging the families of virus victims to collect their loved ones.

Bainimarama has resisted calls to lock down the entire country, citing the economic cost and the practicalities of enforcing such a move in densely-populated squatter settlements.

"A hard lockdown, as some are calling for, cannot be strictly enforced everywhere in&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;and our experts tell us it would not kill off the virus," he said.

"But it would kill jobs and it could kill our country's future."

Instead, Bainimarama has imposed localised lockdowns in infection hotspots, including the capital Suva, while rolling out the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

While almost 340,000 adults have received their first injection, Bainimarama said online misinformation was discouraging some people, assuring them he had experienced no serious side effects from the inoculation.

"I have not been magnetised or micro-chipped by the vaccine, I have not received the mark of the beast or any other creature -- the vaccine does not do that to anyone," he said.

The rugby-mad country's national team has thrown its weight behind the inoculation drive and will wear shirts emblazoned with the message "vaccinate&nbsp;Fiji", rather than their sponsor's logo, during their two-Test series against New Zealand starting this weekend.

Bainimarama said spot fines were being introduced for "reckless rule-breakers" who did not wear marks, attended social gatherings or violated quarantine orders.

Australia's minister for international development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja, told AFP on Friday that his country had delivered 70,000 more doses to&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to around 400,000.

He vowed Australia would&nbsp;"continue to up our effort when it comes to sharing vaccines in the region. I expect it will continue to ramp up right throughout this year."

Fiji has announced plans to make the coronavirus vaccine compulsory for all workers as it battles a runaway outbreak of the Delta variant, with the prime minister issuing a blunt message: "no jabs, no job".

Fiji has announced plans to make the coronavirus vaccine compulsory for all workers as it battles a runaway outbreak of the Delta variant, with the prime minister issuing a blunt message: "no jabs, no job". Frank Bainimarama said all public servants in the South Pacific nation of 930,000 must go on leave if they have not had their first injection by August 15 and would be dismissed if they did not receive their second by November 1. Private sector employees must have their first jab by August 1, with individuals facing hefty fines if they fail to comply and companies threatened with being shut down. "No jabs, no job -- that is what the science tells us is safest and that is now the policy of the government and enforced through the law," Bainimarama said in a national address late Thursday. The hardline policy comes amid government frustration at the widespread flouting of virus safety measures such as social distancing and wearing masks, blamed in part for a huge spike in infections. Also read | UK says virus-related deaths rise to 48,000 Until April, Fiji had recorded no community cases for a year but a quarantine breach saw the highly contagious Delta variant, first detected in India, rapidly gain a foothold, with the country now recording 700-plus new cases a day. 'Reckless rule-breakers' The under-resourced health system has been stretched to breaking point, with the country's largest hospital in Suva this week saying its mortuary was at capacity and urging the families of virus victims to collect their loved ones. Bainimarama has resisted calls to lock down the entire country, citing the economic cost and the practicalities of enforcing such a move in densely-populated squatter settlements. "A hard lockdown, as some are calling for, cannot be strictly enforced everywhere in Fiji and our experts tell us it would not kill off the virus," he said. "But it would kill jobs and it could kill our country's future." Instead, Bainimarama has imposed localised lockdowns in infection hotspots, including the capital Suva, while rolling out the Astra Zeneca vaccine. While almost 340,000 adults have received their first injection, Bainimarama said online misinformation was discouraging some people, assuring them he had experienced no serious side effects from the inoculation. "I have not been magnetised or micro-chipped by the vaccine, I have not received the mark of the beast or any other creature -- the vaccine does not do that to anyone," he said. The rugby-mad country's national team has thrown its weight behind the inoculation drive and will wear shirts emblazoned with the message "vaccinate Fiji", rather than their sponsor's logo, during their two-Test series against New Zealand starting this weekend. Bainimarama said spot fines were being introduced for "reckless rule-breakers" who did not wear marks, attended social gatherings or violated quarantine orders. Australia's minister for international development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja, told AFP on Friday that his country had delivered 70,000 more doses to Fiji in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to around 400,000. He vowed Australia would "continue to up our effort when it comes to sharing vaccines in the region. I expect it will continue to ramp up right throughout this year."

'No jabs, no job': Fiji to make vaccine compulsory

Fiji on Wednesday began distributing groceries to some households as it urges people to stay at home amid rising infections of the highly transmissible Delta variant of the novel coronavirus. 
 
Authorities posted pictures on social media of bags of supermarket supplies, including packaged food and toilet paper, being delivered to homes around the capital, Suva, as they reinforced calls for people to obey social distancing rules and get vaccinated. 
 
Police and a supermarket 'delivered household packs to Fijians in targeted lockdown areas and home isolation', the government said on Twitter as part of a publicity blitz on COVID-19 safety. 
 
The deliveries were mostly being made in poorer neighbourhoods. "We are here to ensure that Fijians get assistance," the government said. 
 
Since the pandemic began, the country of less than a million people has reported 39 deaths, but most have come since the emergence of the Delta variant in April and case numbers have risen to more than 500 a day, according to the latest figures on Tuesday. 
 
The government has said some patients are seeking treatment too late and the main hospital's mortuary was full. Some victims were also dying at home, it said. 
 
But the government has resisted calls for a lockdown and instead urged people to take precautions.

Fiji on Wednesday began distributing groceries to some households as it urges people to stay at home amid rising infections of the highly transmissible Delta variant of the novel coronavirus.

Fiji on Wednesday began distributing groceries to some households as it urges people to stay at home amid rising infections of the highly transmissible Delta variant of the novel coronavirus. Authorities posted pictures on social media of bags of supermarket supplies, including packaged food and toilet paper, being delivered to homes around the capital, Suva, as they reinforced calls for people to obey social distancing rules and get vaccinated. Police and a supermarket 'delivered household packs to Fijians in targeted lockdown areas and home isolation', the government said on Twitter as part of a publicity blitz on COVID-19 safety. The deliveries were mostly being made in poorer neighbourhoods. "We are here to ensure that Fijians get assistance," the government said. Since the pandemic began, the country of less than a million people has reported 39 deaths, but most have come since the emergence of the Delta variant in April and case numbers have risen to more than 500 a day, according to the latest figures on Tuesday. The government has said some patients are seeking treatment too late and the main hospital's mortuary was full. Some victims were also dying at home, it said. But the government has resisted calls for a lockdown and instead urged people to take precautions.

Fiji police deliver groceries, toilet paper amid COVID-19 spike

A Covid-19 outbreak that forced Fiji's capital into lockdown after the island nation avoided transmission for a year was confirmed as the Indian variant Tuesday, with health officials saying they feared a "tsunami" of cases.

The Pacific country had largely dodged community transmission before a cluster emerged this month centred on a quarantine facility in Nadi, the city that is home to Fiji's international airport. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fiji-capital-in-lockdown-after-funeral-turns-out-to-be-virus-superspreader-event-380468">Also read | Fiji capital in lockdown after funeral turns out to be virus 'superspreader' event</a> 
 
The permanent secretary for health and medical services, James Fong, said six new cases had emerged in quarantine facilities on Tuesday and events in India showed the threat posed by the strain could not be underestimated.

"We cannot let that nightmare happen in Fiji," he said in a televised address.

"We still have time to stop it happening but a single misstep will bring about the same Covid tsunami that our friends in India, Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States are enduring."

Fiji has largely contained the virus through strict isolation measures and border controls, recording 109 cases and just two deaths in a population of 930,000.

There are currently 42 active cases, 18 of them detected at the border and 24 locally transmitted.

The cluster began when a soldier contracted the virus at a quarantine facility and transmitted it to his wife, who then exposed up to 500 people at a funeral.

Fong said there was evidence that soldiers who had returned from overseas deployments had broken quarantine rules by mixing when they should have been in isolation.

"This is unacceptable," he said, adding that the military was investigating what had happened.

The capital Suva is in lockdown, along with Nadi and Lautoka, Fiji's second-largest city.

Authorities on Tuesday banned inter-island travel, while national carrier Fiji Airways has suspended all international and domestic passenger flights.

The emergence of community transmission is a blow for Fiji's hopes of opening quarantine-free travel bubbles with Australia and New Zealand, both major sources of international tourists before the pandemic.

A Covid-19 outbreak that forced Fiji's capital into lockdown after the island nation avoided transmission for a year was confirmed as the Indian variant Tuesday, with health officials saying they feared a "tsunami" of cases.

A Covid-19 outbreak that forced Fiji's capital into lockdown after the island nation avoided transmission for a year was confirmed as the Indian variant Tuesday, with health officials saying they feared a "tsunami" of cases. The Pacific country had largely dodged community transmission before a cluster emerged this month centred on a quarantine facility in Nadi, the city that is home to Fiji's international airport. Also read | Fiji capital in lockdown after funeral turns out to be virus 'superspreader' event The permanent secretary for health and medical services, James Fong, said six new cases had emerged in quarantine facilities on Tuesday and events in India showed the threat posed by the strain could not be underestimated. "We cannot let that nightmare happen in Fiji," he said in a televised address. "We still have time to stop it happening but a single misstep will bring about the same Covid tsunami that our friends in India, Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States are enduring." Fiji has largely contained the virus through strict isolation measures and border controls, recording 109 cases and just two deaths in a population of 930,000. There are currently 42 active cases, 18 of them detected at the border and 24 locally transmitted. The cluster began when a soldier contracted the virus at a quarantine facility and transmitted it to his wife, who then exposed up to 500 people at a funeral. Fong said there was evidence that soldiers who had returned from overseas deployments had broken quarantine rules by mixing when they should have been in isolation. "This is unacceptable," he said, adding that the military was investigating what had happened. The capital Suva is in lockdown, along with Nadi and Lautoka, Fiji's second-largest city. Authorities on Tuesday banned inter-island travel, while national carrier Fiji Airways has suspended all international and domestic passenger flights. The emergence of community transmission is a blow for Fiji's hopes of opening quarantine-free travel bubbles with Australia and New Zealand, both major sources of international tourists before the pandemic.

COVID-19: Fiji fears virus 'tsunami' after outbreak found to be Indian variant

The Fijian capital Suva entered a 14-day lockdown Monday as the Pacific island nation battled to contain a Covid-19 spike following a "superspreader" funeral event.

Around 100,000 people in the city must stay in containment zones and non-essential businesses are shuttered after the first community coronavirus cases in 12 months were detected.

A soldier contracted the virus at a quarantine facility and is believed to have transmitted it to a maid, who then exposed up to 500 people at a funeral.

The permanent secretary for health and medical services, James Fong, said four new cases emerged over the weekend.&nbsp;

"Three of the cases involved persons who attended the funeral that we have identified as a superspreader event, including a husband and wife who circulated through the community," Fong said.

It is not clear how the fourth person, a woman from the outskirts of Suva, became infected.

"She and her husband have been placed in quarantine, but prudence requires us to treat this case as a possible community transmission," Fong said.

"Because we cannot yet pin down the movements of these people and identify all their contacts, we are forced to take strict precautionary measures."&nbsp;

Fiji&nbsp;has largely contained the virus through strict isolation measures and border controls, recording fewer than 100 cases and just two deaths in a population of 930,000.

The emergence of community transmission is a blow for&nbsp;Fiji's hopes of opening quarantine-free travel bubbles with Australia and New Zealand, the source of most of its international visitors.

Fiji's economy is heavily dependent on tourism, which has all but evaporated during the pandemic.

Monthly visitor numbers were down up to 99 percent from pre-pandemic levels, according to government statistics.

Australia and New Zealand opened a trans-Tasman bubble a week ago allowing quarantine-free travel between the two countries -- although New Zealand has since suspended contact with Western Australia due to a Covid-19 outbreak in Perth.

The Fijian capital Suva entered a 14-day lockdown Monday as the Pacific island nation battled to contain a Covid-19 spike following a "superspreader" funeral event.

The Fijian capital Suva entered a 14-day lockdown Monday as the Pacific island nation battled to contain a Covid-19 spike following a "superspreader" funeral event. Around 100,000 people in the city must stay in containment zones and non-essential businesses are shuttered after the first community coronavirus cases in 12 months were detected. A soldier contracted the virus at a quarantine facility and is believed to have transmitted it to a maid, who then exposed up to 500 people at a funeral. The permanent secretary for health and medical services, James Fong, said four new cases emerged over the weekend. "Three of the cases involved persons who attended the funeral that we have identified as a superspreader event, including a husband and wife who circulated through the community," Fong said. It is not clear how the fourth person, a woman from the outskirts of Suva, became infected. "She and her husband have been placed in quarantine, but prudence requires us to treat this case as a possible community transmission," Fong said. "Because we cannot yet pin down the movements of these people and identify all their contacts, we are forced to take strict precautionary measures." Fiji has largely contained the virus through strict isolation measures and border controls, recording fewer than 100 cases and just two deaths in a population of 930,000. The emergence of community transmission is a blow for Fiji's hopes of opening quarantine-free travel bubbles with Australia and New Zealand, the source of most of its international visitors. Fiji's economy is heavily dependent on tourism, which has all but evaporated during the pandemic. Monthly visitor numbers were down up to 99 percent from pre-pandemic levels, according to government statistics. Australia and New Zealand opened a trans-Tasman bubble a week ago allowing quarantine-free travel between the two countries -- although New Zealand has since suspended contact with Western Australia due to a Covid-19 outbreak in Perth.

Fiji capital in lockdown after funeral turns out to be virus 'superspreader' event

India's coronavirus vaccine outreach, or Vaccine Maitri, is continuing with full gusto, with the latest entrant being Fiji, which got&nbsp;a consignment of 100,000 doses.&nbsp;

The vaccines were handed over by India's acting high commissioner Saifullah Khan to Fiji's Prime Minister Admiral (Retd) Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama at the Nadi International Airport.&nbsp;Fiji's Health minister Ifereimi Waqainabete, Defence minister Inia Seruiratu, Permanent Secretary for Office of the Prime Minister Yogesh Karan, Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services James Fong and other top officials were also present.

Fiji's prime minister thanked Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi, tweeting, "Vinaka [thank you]&nbsp;to my friend, @narendramodi , for helping us take this giant step towards a post-pandemic future for Fiji and for the world."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VaccineMaitri?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VaccineMaitri</a> has arrived to Fiji with 100k doses of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. 
 
Vinaka to my friend, <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a>, for helping us take this giant step towards a post-pandemic future for Fiji and for the world. <a href="https://t.co/xlWdm04Nvs">pic.twitter.com/xlWdm04Nvs</a>
— Frank Bainimarama (@FijiPM) <a href="https://twitter.com/FijiPM/status/1376455082242269190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

"In a bleak year for multilateralism, you’ve helped put a welcome pause on the pandemic politics that’s kept valuable vaccines in the world’s largest &amp; richest countries," he added.

India has sent vaccines to other countries in the Pacific, including to Solomon Islands. India has also dispatched the doses to the Caribbean.

The Indian high commission&nbsp;said in a release: "India and Fiji share longstanding partnership based on mutual respect, cooperation and cultural ties. Fiji is an important partner for realising the Indo- Pacific vision that envisages a free, open and inclusive region in a common pursuit of progress and prosperity."

India began its Vaccine Maitri drive in January, with the first tranche of Indian vaccines being sent to the Maldives and Bhutan, followed by other countries in the neighbourhood. India's vaccine outreach to the world started within four days of it starting its mega domestic vaccination programme on 16th January.

Speaking at an event on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said, "Since the launch of Vaccine Maitri, we have supplied 64 million doses of vaccines to 82 countries. This includes supplies under a grant, commercial contracts and the COVAX facility [the global vaccine access initiative spearheaded by World Health Organization]."

India's vaccine initiative is expected to get a booster shot, with Quad countries - India, US, Australia, Japan- agreeing after the first leadership summit in March that India's vaccine manufacturing capacity will be increased to produce more doses for the Indo-Pacific region.

India's coronavirus vaccine outreach, or Vaccine Maitri, is continuing with full gusto, with the latest entrant being Fiji, which got a consignment of 100,000 doses.

India's coronavirus vaccine outreach, or Vaccine Maitri, is continuing with full gusto, with the latest entrant being Fiji, which got a consignment of 100,000 doses. The vaccines were handed over by India's acting high commissioner Saifullah Khan to Fiji's Prime Minister Admiral (Retd) Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama at the Nadi International Airport. Fiji's Health minister Ifereimi Waqainabete, Defence minister Inia Seruiratu, Permanent Secretary for Office of the Prime Minister Yogesh Karan, Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services James Fong and other top officials were also present. Fiji's prime minister thanked Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi, tweeting, "Vinaka [thank you] to my friend, @narendramodi , for helping us take this giant step towards a post-pandemic future for Fiji and for the world." #VaccineMaitri has arrived to Fiji with 100k doses of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. Vinaka to my friend, @narendramodi, for helping us take this giant step towards a post-pandemic future for Fiji and for the world. pic.twitter.com/xlWdm04Nvs — Frank Bainimarama (@FijiPM) March 29, 2021 × "In a bleak year for multilateralism, you’ve helped put a welcome pause on the pandemic politics that’s kept valuable vaccines in the world’s largest & richest countries," he added. India has sent vaccines to other countries in the Pacific, including to Solomon Islands. India has also dispatched the doses to the Caribbean. The Indian high commission said in a release: "India and Fiji share longstanding partnership based on mutual respect, cooperation and cultural ties. Fiji is an important partner for realising the Indo- Pacific vision that envisages a free, open and inclusive region in a common pursuit of progress and prosperity." India began its Vaccine Maitri drive in January, with the first tranche of Indian vaccines being sent to the Maldives and Bhutan, followed by other countries in the neighbourhood. India's vaccine outreach to the world started within four days of it starting its mega domestic vaccination programme on 16th January. Speaking at an event on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said, "Since the launch of Vaccine Maitri, we have supplied 64 million doses of vaccines to 82 countries. This includes supplies under a grant, commercial contracts and the COVAX facility [the global vaccine access initiative spearheaded by World Health Organization]." India's vaccine initiative is expected to get a booster shot, with Quad countries - India, US, Australia, Japan- agreeing after the first leadership summit in March that India's vaccine manufacturing capacity will be increased to produce more doses for the Indo-Pacific region.

India sends COVID-19 vaccines to over 80 countries, Fiji the latest entrant

At least one person was dead and five were missing Sunday as Fiji was battered by a tropical cyclone for the second time in a month.

Cyclone Ana, a Category Two storm, slammed into the South Pacific island nation with winds up to 140 kilometres an hour (87 mph) and heavy rain, causing widespread flooding.&nbsp;

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said a 49-year-old man drowned while four fishermen and a three-year-old boy were missing.

More than 7,600 people, many of them rescued from flooded villages, were taking shelter in evacuation centres.

Local media reports said the three-year-old went missing when he accompanied his grandfather to check their boat, which was stuck in mangrove plants.

NDMO director Vasiti Soko said people continued to ignore warnings against venturing out during the storm.

"We are in the midst of a cyclone with widespread flooding throughout the country, yet we continue to receive reports of members of the public, adults and children alike wandering around," she said.

"They should be mindful of the risks they place themselves and members of the Fiji police force deployed to rescue them when there is a mishap."

In December, four people died and 23,000 people fled their homes when super cyclone Yasa, a top-of-the-scale Category Five storm, flattened entire villages with wind gusts of up to 345 kilometres an hour.

At least one person was dead and five were missing Sunday as Fiji was battered by a tropical cyclone for the second time in a month. Cyclone Ana, a Category Two storm, slammed into the South Pacific island nation with winds up to 140 kilometres an hour (87 mph) and heavy rain, causing widespread flooding.

At least one person was dead and five were missing Sunday as Fiji was battered by a tropical cyclone for the second time in a month. Cyclone Ana, a Category Two storm, slammed into the South Pacific island nation with winds up to 140 kilometres an hour (87 mph) and heavy rain, causing widespread flooding. The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said a 49-year-old man drowned while four fishermen and a three-year-old boy were missing. More than 7,600 people, many of them rescued from flooded villages, were taking shelter in evacuation centres. Local media reports said the three-year-old went missing when he accompanied his grandfather to check their boat, which was stuck in mangrove plants. NDMO director Vasiti Soko said people continued to ignore warnings against venturing out during the storm. "We are in the midst of a cyclone with widespread flooding throughout the country, yet we continue to receive reports of members of the public, adults and children alike wandering around," she said. "They should be mindful of the risks they place themselves and members of the Fiji police force deployed to rescue them when there is a mishap." In December, four people died and 23,000 people fled their homes when super cyclone Yasa, a top-of-the-scale Category Five storm, flattened entire villages with wind gusts of up to 345 kilometres an hour.

One dead, five missing as fresh cyclone batters Fiji

A spate of diseases threatens to worsen an already desperate situation in Fiji -- where thousands of lives have been devastated in the wake of the deadly super cyclone Yasa.

Yasa is a top category-five storm that made landfall on Thursday.

Four people died and entire villages were wiped out, with crops and livestock destroyed.

Agencies rushed food and clean water to areas where the storm smashed into the northern islands of the South Pacific nation on Thursday night, forcing more than 23,000 people to flee their homes.

Agriculture officials are also being sent to hard-hit areas to help farmers dispose of dead livestock to reduce the risk of disease, National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko said.

Fiji is prone to violent storms at this time of year. Cyclone Winston killed 44 people when it slammed into the islands in 2016.

Aerial assessment showed that Bua province on the northern island of Vanua Levu suffered 70% damage and destruction, while the small island of Kia was completely destroyed, Fiji Red Cross Director General Ilisapeci Rokotunidau said.

While the largest island of Viti Levu - where about three-quarters of Fijians live - was spared the worst, Vanua Levu and other small islands were in dire need of fresh water and shelter. 
&nbsp;

A spate of diseases threatens to worsen an already desperate situation in Fiji -- where thousands of lives have been devastated in the wake of the deadly super cyclone Yasa.

A spate of diseases threatens to worsen an already desperate situation in Fiji -- where thousands of lives have been devastated in the wake of the deadly super cyclone Yasa. Yasa is a top category-five storm that made landfall on Thursday. Four people died and entire villages were wiped out, with crops and livestock destroyed. Agencies rushed food and clean water to areas where the storm smashed into the northern islands of the South Pacific nation on Thursday night, forcing more than 23,000 people to flee their homes. Agriculture officials are also being sent to hard-hit areas to help farmers dispose of dead livestock to reduce the risk of disease, National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko said. Fiji is prone to violent storms at this time of year. Cyclone Winston killed 44 people when it slammed into the islands in 2016. Aerial assessment showed that Bua province on the northern island of Vanua Levu suffered 70% damage and destruction, while the small island of Kia was completely destroyed, Fiji Red Cross Director General Ilisapeci Rokotunidau said. While the largest island of Viti Levu - where about three-quarters of Fijians live - was spared the worst, Vanua Levu and other small islands were in dire need of fresh water and shelter.

Cyclone Yasa sparks disease fears in already ravaged Fiji

The devastation in Fiji following Cyclone Yasa was compared to a war zone Saturday as reconnaissance flights showed entire villages wiped out and authorities put the cost at hundreds of millions of dollars.

The death toll rose to four with aid workers fearing it will increase when contact is re-established with outlying areas.

A state of natural disaster has been declared for 30 days as emergency services scramble to provide food and clothing to the worst affected areas.

The superstorm slammed into Fiji's second-largest island Vanua Levu late Thursday, leaving a trail of destruction and affecting 93,000 people, according to the National Disaster Management Office.

Of the 24,000 people who evacuated their homes at the height of the storm, 16,113 are still unable to return.

A New Zealand Air Force reconnaissance flight flew over the area on Saturday to assess the scale of the damage, with reports of houses, crops and entire livelihoods wiped out.

The storm also damaged schools and caused widespread flooding and landslides.

"We've been receiving pictures of Kia island. We have seen total devastation. It looks like a war zone," Save the Children Fiji chief executive Shairana Ali told AFP.

"Houses have been smashed to pieces and nothing remains. People are really desperate for shelter and desperate for food. There's obviously huge psychological damage."

Communications with the eastern Lau islands group were cut during the storm and the extent of damage there was unknown.

National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soki said that while it would take days to assess the full scale of the damage, "we are likely looking at hundreds of millions of dollars."

She said the immediate focus was on restoring critical infrastructure, re-establishing communication with severely affected areas and maintaining public safety.

The deaths of a 45-year-old man and a three-month-old baby were confirmed after the storm swept through on Friday, and Soko said two more bodies had since been found.

One, a 70-year-old man, was inside his home when the roof blew away and timber fell on his head.

"There were villages that were totally wiped out by the storm surge and the only clothes (the villagers have) are those on their backs," Fiji Red Cross operations manager Maciu Nokelvu told AFP.

"We are providing temporary shelters with the provision of tarpaulins and shelter toolkits, and dry clothes.

"The most devastated area is in the second largest island Vanua Levu; however, we haven't received any information from the Lau group of islands on the eastern side."

More than 10,000 food parcels were being prepared for distribution on Sunday.

Yasa weakened after leaving Fiji and initially headed towards Tonga.

It has since veered south, away from the islands, although a heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remain in force for parts of Tonga.

The devastation in Fiji following Cyclone Yasa was compared to a war zone Saturday as reconnaissance flights showed entire villages wiped out and authorities put the cost at hundreds of millions of dollars.

The devastation in Fiji following Cyclone Yasa was compared to a war zone Saturday as reconnaissance flights showed entire villages wiped out and authorities put the cost at hundreds of millions of dollars. The death toll rose to four with aid workers fearing it will increase when contact is re-established with outlying areas. A state of natural disaster has been declared for 30 days as emergency services scramble to provide food and clothing to the worst affected areas. The superstorm slammed into Fiji's second-largest island Vanua Levu late Thursday, leaving a trail of destruction and affecting 93,000 people, according to the National Disaster Management Office. Of the 24,000 people who evacuated their homes at the height of the storm, 16,113 are still unable to return. A New Zealand Air Force reconnaissance flight flew over the area on Saturday to assess the scale of the damage, with reports of houses, crops and entire livelihoods wiped out. The storm also damaged schools and caused widespread flooding and landslides. "We've been receiving pictures of Kia island. We have seen total devastation. It looks like a war zone," Save the Children Fiji chief executive Shairana Ali told AFP. "Houses have been smashed to pieces and nothing remains. People are really desperate for shelter and desperate for food. There's obviously huge psychological damage." Communications with the eastern Lau islands group were cut during the storm and the extent of damage there was unknown. National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soki said that while it would take days to assess the full scale of the damage, "we are likely looking at hundreds of millions of dollars." She said the immediate focus was on restoring critical infrastructure, re-establishing communication with severely affected areas and maintaining public safety. The deaths of a 45-year-old man and a three-month-old baby were confirmed after the storm swept through on Friday, and Soko said two more bodies had since been found. One, a 70-year-old man, was inside his home when the roof blew away and timber fell on his head. "There were villages that were totally wiped out by the storm surge and the only clothes (the villagers have) are those on their backs," Fiji Red Cross operations manager Maciu Nokelvu told AFP. "We are providing temporary shelters with the provision of tarpaulins and shelter toolkits, and dry clothes. "The most devastated area is in the second largest island Vanua Levu; however, we haven't received any information from the Lau group of islands on the eastern side." More than 10,000 food parcels were being prepared for distribution on Sunday. Yasa weakened after leaving Fiji and initially headed towards Tonga. It has since veered south, away from the islands, although a heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remain in force for parts of Tonga.

Fiji scrambles to provide aid as cyclone toll rises

Super cyclone Yasa flattened entire villages as it tore through Fiji, with one person reported dead -- a 46-year-old farmer from the Labasa region of Vanua Levu, who died when a wall of his house collapsed on top of him.

Cyclone Yasa, a top category five storm, made landfall over Bua province on the northern island of Vanua Levu on Thursday evening, bringing torrential rain, widespread flooding and winds of up to 285 km per hour (177 miles) across the archipelago.

The storm triggered floods, landslides and blackouts before moving out to sea early Friday, where it rapidly weakened to a Category Three system.

Fiji had on Thursday declared a state of natural disaster, ordered its entire population of nearly 1 million people to seek shelter and implemented a nightly curfew.

The Red Cross said it was scrambling response teams amid "extensive destruction" in Vanua Levu's Bua region and other coastal communities inundated by storm surges.

Aid agencies had pre-positioned supplies across the country in anticipation of major disasters during cyclone season, which runs until May.

Fiji's National Disaster Management Office said there were about 24,500 people sheltering in almost 500 evacuation centres across the country.

Authorities had issued dire warnings about the danger posed by the cyclone for most of the week, urging people to find solid structures or flee to higher ground if they live on the coast.

Authorities remain concerned about heavy rains bought by Cyclone Yasa, though the storm has weakened in strength and is now just a category two as it moves south across the island chain.

Still, the adverse weather has hampered efforts by aid groups to dispatch assistance, with waves of more than 3 metres (10 ft) preventing ships leaving Suva.

Yasa is the third Category Five storm to hit Fiji since 2016, when Cyclone Winston killed 44 people and destroyed tens of thousands of homes.

The most recent was Cyclone Harold, which claimed 31 lives as it tracked through the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga in April this year.

(with inputs from agencies)

Super cyclone Yasa flattened entire villages as it tore through Fiji, with one person reported dead -- a 46-year-old farmer from the Labasa region of Vanua Levu, who died when a wall of his house collapsed on top of him.

Super cyclone Yasa flattened entire villages as it tore through Fiji, with one person reported dead -- a 46-year-old farmer from the Labasa region of Vanua Levu, who died when a wall of his house collapsed on top of him. Cyclone Yasa, a top category five storm, made landfall over Bua province on the northern island of Vanua Levu on Thursday evening, bringing torrential rain, widespread flooding and winds of up to 285 km per hour (177 miles) across the archipelago. The storm triggered floods, landslides and blackouts before moving out to sea early Friday, where it rapidly weakened to a Category Three system. Fiji had on Thursday declared a state of natural disaster, ordered its entire population of nearly 1 million people to seek shelter and implemented a nightly curfew. The Red Cross said it was scrambling response teams amid "extensive destruction" in Vanua Levu's Bua region and other coastal communities inundated by storm surges. Aid agencies had pre-positioned supplies across the country in anticipation of major disasters during cyclone season, which runs until May. Fiji's National Disaster Management Office said there were about 24,500 people sheltering in almost 500 evacuation centres across the country. Authorities had issued dire warnings about the danger posed by the cyclone for most of the week, urging people to find solid structures or flee to higher ground if they live on the coast. Authorities remain concerned about heavy rains bought by Cyclone Yasa, though the storm has weakened in strength and is now just a category two as it moves south across the island chain. Still, the adverse weather has hampered efforts by aid groups to dispatch assistance, with waves of more than 3 metres (10 ft) preventing ships leaving Suva. Yasa is the third Category Five storm to hit Fiji since 2016, when Cyclone Winston killed 44 people and destroyed tens of thousands of homes. The most recent was Cyclone Harold, which claimed 31 lives as it tracked through the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga in April this year. (with inputs from agencies)

Cyclone Yasa levels entire villages, leaves extensive damage in Fiji

Tonga and Fiji were bracing for potentially catastrophic damage as tropical cyclones Zazu and Yasa intensified off their coastlines

Fiji govt announces nationwide curfew as category-5 storm Yasa to make landfall

Fijians living in the path of an approaching super cyclone Yasa were told to stay put inside their homes or immediately seek adequate shelter on Wednesday. The authorities have warned that the storm has the potential to destroy buildings and cause mass destruction.&nbsp;

The Fiji Meteorological Service said Cyclone Yasa had intensified to top-of-the scale Category Five storm the winds are expected to gust upto 280 kilometres per hour (174 miles per hour). Fiji's National Disaster Management Office said tow-thirds of Fiji's population of 900,000 is in the cyclone's path. Cyclone Yasa is expected to hit Fiji on Thursday.

National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko urged anyone who doubted their home's structural integrity to prioritise survival over protecting their property and escape right away.

"If you need to move to an evacuation centre, we are pleading that you move before it gets dark," Soko said.

"If you know that your house cannot survive strong winds, let alone the cat five cyclone that is on the way, please take yourselves, your children and your valuables to the evacuation centre."

Soko said Cyclone Yasa was likely to have a larger impact than Cyclone Harold in April this year, another Category Five storm that gouged a trail of destruction across the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga.

In Fijian capital Suva, residents were boarding up their windows and storefronts

Fiji's military is on alert in order to carry out swift rescue and salvage efforts.

Category Five cyclones were once rare but have now become much common in Fiji.

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama among those blaming the trend on climate change.

"We can see the eye (of Cyclone Yasa) and the area that's of concern -- it's not just part of Fiji like Harold, it's the whole of Fiji," Soko said.

"It's strong enough to uproot trees. It's strong enough to uproot buildings that are not well secured. It can also create a lot of flying debris."

She added that authorities were considering a curfew and movement restrictions, with Fiji's military on standby if needed.

(With AFP inputs)

Fijians living in the path of an approaching super cyclone Yasa were told to stay put inside their homes or immediately seek adequate shelter on Wednesday. The authorities have warned that the storm has the potential to destroy buildings and cause mass destruction.

Fijians living in the path of an approaching super cyclone Yasa were told to stay put inside their homes or immediately seek adequate shelter on Wednesday. The authorities have warned that the storm has the potential to destroy buildings and cause mass destruction. The Fiji Meteorological Service said Cyclone Yasa had intensified to top-of-the scale Category Five storm the winds are expected to gust upto 280 kilometres per hour (174 miles per hour). Fiji's National Disaster Management Office said tow-thirds of Fiji's population of 900,000 is in the cyclone's path. Cyclone Yasa is expected to hit Fiji on Thursday. National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko urged anyone who doubted their home's structural integrity to prioritise survival over protecting their property and escape right away. "If you need to move to an evacuation centre, we are pleading that you move before it gets dark," Soko said. "If you know that your house cannot survive strong winds, let alone the cat five cyclone that is on the way, please take yourselves, your children and your valuables to the evacuation centre." Soko said Cyclone Yasa was likely to have a larger impact than Cyclone Harold in April this year, another Category Five storm that gouged a trail of destruction across the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga. In Fijian capital Suva, residents were boarding up their windows and storefronts Fiji's military is on alert in order to carry out swift rescue and salvage efforts. Category Five cyclones were once rare but have now become much common in Fiji. Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama among those blaming the trend on climate change. "We can see the eye (of Cyclone Yasa) and the area that's of concern -- it's not just part of Fiji like Harold, it's the whole of Fiji," Soko said. "It's strong enough to uproot trees. It's strong enough to uproot buildings that are not well secured. It can also create a lot of flying debris." She added that authorities were considering a curfew and movement restrictions, with Fiji's military on standby if needed. (With AFP inputs)

Fiji braces for impact as super Cyclone Yasa approaches

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-2000-evacuated-one-missing-as-scary-cyclone-hammers-fiji-270741">Tropical Cyclone Sarai</a> was moving slowly away from Fiji on Sunday, leaving two people dead and more than 2,500 needing emergency shelter.

The cyclone damaged houses, crops and trees, cut power and forced the cancellation of several international flights, stranding holidaymakers visiting the island nation, which is a major tourist draw.

National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko said an 18-year-old student drowned off the island of Kadavu.

"The man is believed to have been swept away by strong currents when he was swimming with his friends," she said.

The body of a man in his 40s was found on Sunday off the coast of the main island Viti Levu a day after he was swept away by strong currents when crossing a river.

Another person was in intensive care in hospital after being hit by a falling tree.

Soko said that at the height of the storm, there were 2,538 people packed into 70 evacuation centres although by Sunday evening 500 had been cleared to return home.

Electricity was restored to 80 percent of the capital Suva but power company Energy Fiji Limited said it could take a week to restore supplies to all areas of Viti Levu.

Sarai, maintaining winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour (93 miles per hour),&nbsp;was tracking east and was expected to pass over Tonga on New Year's Eve.

Tropical Cyclone Sarai was moving slowly away from Fiji on Sunday, leaving two people dead and more than 2,500 needing emergency shelter. The cyclone damaged houses, crops and trees, cut power and forced the cancellation of several international flights, stranding holidaymakers visiting the island nation, which is a major tourist draw.

Tropical Cyclone Sarai was moving slowly away from Fiji on Sunday, leaving two people dead and more than 2,500 needing emergency shelter. The cyclone damaged houses, crops and trees, cut power and forced the cancellation of several international flights, stranding holidaymakers visiting the island nation, which is a major tourist draw. National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko said an 18-year-old student drowned off the island of Kadavu. "The man is believed to have been swept away by strong currents when he was swimming with his friends," she said. The body of a man in his 40s was found on Sunday off the coast of the main island Viti Levu a day after he was swept away by strong currents when crossing a river. Another person was in intensive care in hospital after being hit by a falling tree. Soko said that at the height of the storm, there were 2,538 people packed into 70 evacuation centres although by Sunday evening 500 had been cleared to return home. Electricity was restored to 80 percent of the capital Suva but power company Energy Fiji Limited said it could take a week to restore supplies to all areas of Viti Levu. Sarai, maintaining winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour (93 miles per hour), was tracking east and was expected to pass over Tonga on New Year's Eve.

Two dead, 2,500 seek emergency shelter in cyclone-battered Fiji

One person was killed in Fiji and one is missing as tropical cyclone Sarai battered the South Pacific nation with strong wind and heavy rain, authorities said on Sunday. The Fiji National Disaster Management Office said one person was in intensive care and more than 2,500 people had moved to 70 evacuation centers. #Fizi #CycloneSarai #TropicalCyclone

2 killed & over 2500 people evacuated after tropical cyclone 'Sarai' hits Fiji

Nearly&nbsp;2,000&nbsp;people took refuge in emergency shelters and one man was&nbsp;missing&nbsp;after being swept away in floodwaters as Tropical&nbsp;Cyclone&nbsp;Sarai pounded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strong-undersea-quake-off-fiji-but-no-tsunami-178123">Fiji</a>&nbsp;on Saturday causing widespread damage.

National Disaster Management Office Director Vasiti Soko urged locals and the thousands of tourists in&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;not to be reckless as Sarai lashed the Pacific island nation with heavy rain and destructive winds.

With wind gusts strengthening to 150 kilometres (93 miles) per hour during the day, Sarai destroyed houses and crops, brought down trees, cut power and caused considerable flooding in low-lying areas.

Thousands of holidaymakers were stranded with flights to and from&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;either cancelled or rescheduled.

New Zealander Melonie Sheppard, who was holidaying on Mana Island to the west of mainland&nbsp;Fiji, described the situation as "scary" and said their resort was in lockdown.&nbsp;

"We're being hammered by intense winds and horizontal rains. The resort is providing packed meals and water direct to rooms when they can," she told the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-police-suspend-search-for-two-missing-in-deadly-eruption-269901">New Zealand</a> Herald.&nbsp;

"Wind is howling and tree debris flying about, doors and windows shaking, huge waves rolling into shore. Water now leaking into some rooms -- it's a bit&nbsp;scary&nbsp;at times."

The&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;government issued a statement warning of "destructive force winds with... coastal sea flooding to be expected."

The National Disaster Management Office said as of mid-morning on Saturday, 1,970 people had sought emergency shelter and there had been no reports of any injuries.

However, there were fears for the safety of a man swept away as he tried to cross a flooded river while another man, reported&nbsp;missing&nbsp;at sea, was rescued in his fibreglass dinghy by police.

Acting police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said it was disappointing that some people had disregarded the weather warnings.

"People themselves are irresponsible... we issued a warning prior to the&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;through the relevant authorities, yet people saw it fit for themselves during the&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;to take such irresponsible actions," he said.

On its present track, the&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;is forecast to pass adjacent to&nbsp;Fiji's main island Viti Levu, then across&nbsp;Fiji's southern islands before heading towards Tonga, which has activated its tropical&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;warning centre with the storm expected to arrive late Sunday.

Nearly 2,000 people took refuge in emergency shelters and one man was missing after being swept away in floodwaters as Tropical Cyclone Sarai pounded Fiji on Saturday causing widespread damage.

Nearly 2,000 people took refuge in emergency shelters and one man was missing after being swept away in floodwaters as Tropical Cyclone Sarai pounded Fiji on Saturday causing widespread damage. National Disaster Management Office Director Vasiti Soko urged locals and the thousands of tourists in Fiji not to be reckless as Sarai lashed the Pacific island nation with heavy rain and destructive winds. With wind gusts strengthening to 150 kilometres (93 miles) per hour during the day, Sarai destroyed houses and crops, brought down trees, cut power and caused considerable flooding in low-lying areas. Thousands of holidaymakers were stranded with flights to and from Fiji either cancelled or rescheduled. New Zealander Melonie Sheppard, who was holidaying on Mana Island to the west of mainland Fiji, described the situation as "scary" and said their resort was in lockdown. "We're being hammered by intense winds and horizontal rains. The resort is providing packed meals and water direct to rooms when they can," she told the New Zealand Herald. "Wind is howling and tree debris flying about, doors and windows shaking, huge waves rolling into shore. Water now leaking into some rooms -- it's a bit scary at times." The Fiji government issued a statement warning of "destructive force winds with... coastal sea flooding to be expected." The National Disaster Management Office said as of mid-morning on Saturday, 1,970 people had sought emergency shelter and there had been no reports of any injuries. However, there were fears for the safety of a man swept away as he tried to cross a flooded river while another man, reported missing at sea, was rescued in his fibreglass dinghy by police. Acting police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said it was disappointing that some people had disregarded the weather warnings. "People themselves are irresponsible... we issued a warning prior to the cyclone through the relevant authorities, yet people saw it fit for themselves during the cyclone to take such irresponsible actions," he said. On its present track, the cyclone is forecast to pass adjacent to Fiji's main island Viti Levu, then across Fiji's southern islands before heading towards Tonga, which has activated its tropical cyclone warning centre with the storm expected to arrive late Sunday.

Nearly 2,000 evacuated, one missing as 'scary' cyclone hammers Fiji

To mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-vows-to-take-strategic-partnership-with-pacific-island-states-to-new-heights-251857">Narendra Modi</a> on Tuesday called for increasing the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix during the India-Pacific Islands Developing States (PSIDS) Leaders' Meeting held on the sidelines of the 74th session of United Nations General Assembly here.

He also announced the allocation of $12 million grants ($1 million to each PSIDS) towards the implementation of high impact developmental project in the area of their choice.

"In addition, a concessional Line of Credit of $150 Million which can be availed by the PSIDS for undertaking solar, renewable energy and climate-related projects based on each country's requirement was announced," said the release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

This is the first time Prime Minister has met the leaders of the PSIDS on the margins of UNGA in plurilateral format.

The leaders deliberated on a wide range of issues including sharing of development experiences for the attainment of SDGs, enhancing cooperation in renewable energy, joining the newly launched Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, capacity building, implementation of projects under the India-<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-inaugurates-gandhi-solar-park-at-un-headquarters-launches-commemorative-postage-stamp-251853">UN</a> Development Partnership Fund and a roadmap for future India-PSIDS cooperation, read the release.

It also added that during the first and second editions of the FIPIC summits in Fiji (2015) and Jaipur (2016), PM Modi expressed India's desire to be a close partner of the Pacific Islands nations and its readiness to work closely to advance their developmental agenda.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that India and the PSIDS have shared values and a shared future. Moreover, he highlighted the need for development policies to be inclusive and sustainable to reduce inequality and contribute to empowerment and improvement of the quality of people's lives.

"India is equally committed to tackling the impact of climate change and supports efforts of the PSIDs to achieve their developmental goals through necessary developmental and technical assistance," PM Modi said.

Adding that PM Modi has offered to organize a Jaipur Foot Artificial Limb Fitment Camp in a Pacific regional hub under 'India for Humanity' programme, the press release further stated that the Prime Minister also announced a Distinguished Visitors Programme under which eminent persons from these countries can visit India.

"India would also welcome the visit of a Parliamentarian delegation from the PICs to India. To continue High-Level engagement, PM extended an invitation to all the leaders for the 3rd FIPIC Summit to be held in Port Moresby in the first half of 2020," read the release.

The meeting was attended by the Heads of delegation of Fiji, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Nauru, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, The Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu and Republic of Vanuatu.&nbsp;

To mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for increasing the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix during the India-Pacific Islands Developing States (PSIDS) Leaders' Meeting held on the sidelines of the 74th session of United Nations General Assembly here.

To mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for increasing the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix during the India-Pacific Islands Developing States (PSIDS) Leaders' Meeting held on the sidelines of the 74th session of United Nations General Assembly here. He also announced the allocation of $12 million grants ($1 million to each PSIDS) towards the implementation of high impact developmental project in the area of their choice. "In addition, a concessional Line of Credit of $150 Million which can be availed by the PSIDS for undertaking solar, renewable energy and climate-related projects based on each country's requirement was announced," said the release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. This is the first time Prime Minister has met the leaders of the PSIDS on the margins of UNGA in plurilateral format. The leaders deliberated on a wide range of issues including sharing of development experiences for the attainment of SDGs, enhancing cooperation in renewable energy, joining the newly launched Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, capacity building, implementation of projects under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and a roadmap for future India-PSIDS cooperation, read the release. It also added that during the first and second editions of the FIPIC summits in Fiji (2015) and Jaipur (2016), PM Modi expressed India's desire to be a close partner of the Pacific Islands nations and its readiness to work closely to advance their developmental agenda. The Prime Minister also emphasized that India and the PSIDS have shared values and a shared future. Moreover, he highlighted the need for development policies to be inclusive and sustainable to reduce inequality and contribute to empowerment and improvement of the quality of people's lives. "India is equally committed to tackling the impact of climate change and supports efforts of the PSIDs to achieve their developmental goals through necessary developmental and technical assistance," PM Modi said. Adding that PM Modi has offered to organize a Jaipur Foot Artificial Limb Fitment Camp in a Pacific regional hub under 'India for Humanity' programme, the press release further stated that the Prime Minister also announced a Distinguished Visitors Programme under which eminent persons from these countries can visit India. "India would also welcome the visit of a Parliamentarian delegation from the PICs to India. To continue High-Level engagement, PM extended an invitation to all the leaders for the 3rd FIPIC Summit to be held in Port Moresby in the first half of 2020," read the release. The meeting was attended by the Heads of delegation of Fiji, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Nauru, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, The Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu and Republic of Vanuatu.

PM Modi calls for increasing share of renewable energy at PSIDS leaders' meet

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama will stay in power for a second term as he narrowly won a general election on Sunday after voting resumed following delays due to bad weather.&nbsp;

Bainimarama`s Fiji First party led with about 50 per cent of the votes, closely followed by nearly 40 per cent for opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), according to the Fiji Elections Office (FEO).&nbsp;

Bainimarama, who has been the Prime Minister of Fiji since leading a bloodless coup in 2006, has won 27 of 51 seats, according to the electoral commission.&nbsp;

"I`m proud to become your prime minister once again," Bainimarama told FBC News from Auckland, New Zealand, where he had been attending his brother`s funeral.&nbsp;

SODELPA, which won 21 seats, and three other losing parties urged the electoral commission and the FEO to refrain from officially announcing results, saying the tally process was not transparent.&nbsp;

Fiji went to polls on Wednesday, only the second time the country has held democratic elections since 2006.

"The supervisor of elections has been in a great hurry to get the results out," Mahendra Chaudhry of the Fiji Labor Party said on Facebook Live video, along with SODELPA, National Federation Party and Unity Fiji.&nbsp;

"He (the supervisor) has, in the process, compromised the procedures and the requirement of the law, so that should be set right if this election is to have any credibility," Chaudhry said.

Elections Supervisor Mohammed Saneem said in response that the authorities had been open.&nbsp;

"The people of Fiji deserve better in terms of information. And the Fiji Elections Office is giving all the information accurately in a timely manner," Saneem said, also on Facebook Live.&nbsp;

Endorsing Saneem`s claims, election monitoring body Multinational Observer Group (MOG) said in a short interim statement on Friday that the Fijian election campaign was conducted according to international standards.&nbsp;

"We understand that there are some members of the public who have concerns about the integrity of the pre-poll ballots, and therefore we recognised the need to look closely at this process," it said.&nbsp;

"The MOG assesses that the legal framework underpinning the electoral system complies with the fundamental international principles of universal suffrage and non-discrimination."

Earlier in the week, heavy rain disrupted the election in some venues. Voting in those places was rescheduled to Saturday, Nov. 17, to ensure all eligible votes were counted.&nbsp;

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama will stay in power for a second term as he narrowly won a general election on Sunday after voting resumed following delays due to bad weather.

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama will stay in power for a second term as he narrowly won a general election on Sunday after voting resumed following delays due to bad weather. Bainimarama`s Fiji First party led with about 50 per cent of the votes, closely followed by nearly 40 per cent for opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), according to the Fiji Elections Office (FEO). Bainimarama, who has been the Prime Minister of Fiji since leading a bloodless coup in 2006, has won 27 of 51 seats, according to the electoral commission. "I`m proud to become your prime minister once again," Bainimarama told FBC News from Auckland, New Zealand, where he had been attending his brother`s funeral. SODELPA, which won 21 seats, and three other losing parties urged the electoral commission and the FEO to refrain from officially announcing results, saying the tally process was not transparent. Fiji went to polls on Wednesday, only the second time the country has held democratic elections since 2006. "The supervisor of elections has been in a great hurry to get the results out," Mahendra Chaudhry of the Fiji Labor Party said on Facebook Live video, along with SODELPA, National Federation Party and Unity Fiji. "He (the supervisor) has, in the process, compromised the procedures and the requirement of the law, so that should be set right if this election is to have any credibility," Chaudhry said. Elections Supervisor Mohammed Saneem said in response that the authorities had been open. "The people of Fiji deserve better in terms of information. And the Fiji Elections Office is giving all the information accurately in a timely manner," Saneem said, also on Facebook Live. Endorsing Saneem`s claims, election monitoring body Multinational Observer Group (MOG) said in a short interim statement on Friday that the Fijian election campaign was conducted according to international standards. "We understand that there are some members of the public who have concerns about the integrity of the pre-poll ballots, and therefore we recognised the need to look closely at this process," it said. "The MOG assesses that the legal framework underpinning the electoral system complies with the fundamental international principles of universal suffrage and non-discrimination." Earlier in the week, heavy rain disrupted the election in some venues. Voting in those places was rescheduled to Saturday, Nov. 17, to ensure all eligible votes were counted.

Fiji prime minister narrowly wins election to serve a second term

New Zealand&#39;s national carrier on Tuesday cancelled all flights in and out of the capital, Wellington, and the southern city of Christchurch declared a state of emergency as the remnants of tropical cyclone Gita pummelled the country.

Even before the storm hit in full force, heavy rains in the centre of New Zealand brought floods in Christchurch, prompting a warning from Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

&quot;The full impact of the storm will be felt overnight and tomorrow morning,&quot; she said, urging residents of low-lying areas to evacuate. &quot;We are expecting homes to be flooded.&quot;

Air New Zealand said all flights to the capital would be grounded from 2.45 pm&nbsp;(0145 GMT) as weather authorities issued warnings of severe weather and heavy rain and gusts of up to 150 kph (93 mph).&nbsp;

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said troops had fanned out to areas likely to be the hardest hit and the national Civil Defence office in Wellington was on standby to help.

&quot;My message still to people is please look out for your local warnings and expect disruption to travel and please just be careful,&quot; she told reporters at parliament.&nbsp;

Cyclone Gita hit the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week, packing winds up to 275 kph (171 mph). Fiji escaped major damage but Tonga suffered widespread destruction and flooding. Earlier, the storm had caused extensive damage in Samoa and American Samoa.

The cyclone had since been downgraded to a storm, but forecasters said it was still likely to wreak havoc on Tuesday evening as it traversed the centre of New Zealand.

Parts of the country are still reeling from a huge storm that prompted authorities to declare states of emergency at the beginning of February.

More than 40 schools and preschools shut in the upper South Island, while mayors urged people to stay home.

Transport authorities shut a stretch of highway along the east coast of the South Island and the Department of Conservation was closing seaside hiking tracks and campsites along the West Coast and ushering tourists away from low-lying areas, media said.

Even before the storm hit in full force, heavy rains in the centre of New Zealand brought floods in Christchurch, prompting a warning from Mayor Lianne Dalziel

New Zealand's national carrier on Tuesday cancelled all flights in and out of the capital, Wellington, and the southern city of Christchurch declared a state of emergency as the remnants of tropical cyclone Gita pummelled the country. Even before the storm hit in full force, heavy rains in the centre of New Zealand brought floods in Christchurch, prompting a warning from Mayor Lianne Dalziel. "The full impact of the storm will be felt overnight and tomorrow morning," she said, urging residents of low-lying areas to evacuate. "We are expecting homes to be flooded." Air New Zealand said all flights to the capital would be grounded from 2.45 pm (0145 GMT) as weather authorities issued warnings of severe weather and heavy rain and gusts of up to 150 kph (93 mph). Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said troops had fanned out to areas likely to be the hardest hit and the national Civil Defence office in Wellington was on standby to help. "My message still to people is please look out for your local warnings and expect disruption to travel and please just be careful," she told reporters at parliament. Cyclone Gita hit the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week, packing winds up to 275 kph (171 mph). Fiji escaped major damage but Tonga suffered widespread destruction and flooding. Earlier, the storm had caused extensive damage in Samoa and American Samoa. The cyclone had since been downgraded to a storm, but forecasters said it was still likely to wreak havoc on Tuesday evening as it traversed the centre of New Zealand. Parts of the country are still reeling from a huge storm that prompted authorities to declare states of emergency at the beginning of February. More than 40 schools and preschools shut in the upper South Island, while mayors urged people to stay home. Transport authorities shut a stretch of highway along the east coast of the South Island and the Department of Conservation was closing seaside hiking tracks and campsites along the West Coast and ushering tourists away from low-lying areas, media said.

Former cyclone Gita hits New Zealand; emergency declared in southern city

It is difficult to assess the success of a negotiation round when it is not meant to deliver concrete decisions. The recently concluded 23rd session of the conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP23), in Bonn under Fiji&rsquo;s Presidency, was mandated to deliberate on the contours of deliberations at future COPs. Not surprisingly, therefore, the outcome of the COP23 consists of decisions to hold further dialogues and how to conduct them.

The COP23 decided on two sets of dialogues to be concluded by the COP25 in 2019. First decision relates to the issues around pre-2020 commitments. These include commitments by developed countries of providing USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to developing countries, ratification of the Second Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol and meeting the mitigation pledges made in support of the Copenhagen Accord of 2009.

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<h5>Even the liberal assessments of the implementation of developed country commitments on pre-2020 climate finance show that the status is way off the mark.</h5>
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Even the liberal assessments of the implementation of developed country commitments on pre-2020 climate finance show that the status is way off the mark and COP23 is still requesting parties to ratify the Doha Amendments to Kyoto Protocol. With this reality check, the decision to hold stocktakes on pre-2020 implementation and ambition at COP24 (in 2018) and COP25 (in 2019) promises little in concrete terms.

Nevertheless, it is a moral and diplomatic achievement for developing countries to keep the agenda and monitoring, reporting and verification of developed country commitments up to 2020 on the table. It may very well serve as a pressure handle on the outcomes of the biennial high-level ministerial dialogues on climate finance scheduled in 2018 and 2020.

The second decision is more open to interpretation in terms of its implications. The COP23 adopted the proposal of the Presidencies of COP 22 (Morocco) and COP 23 (Fiji) to launch a facilitative, participatory, inclusive dialogue to promote cooperation among countries&mdash;the Talanoa Dialogue, drawing from the Fijian tradition of collective decision making through building common understanding.

The Talanoa Dialogue will focus on post-2020 climate action with a particular reference to the upcoming special report of the IPCC focusing on limiting the mean global surface temperature rise to 1.50C by 2100. It is expected to &ldquo;send clear forward-looking signals&rdquo; for &ldquo;greater confidence, courage and enhanced ambition&rdquo; in preparation of nationally determined contributions which are due to be revised in 2020.

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<h5>The concept of &ldquo;signals&rdquo;, perhaps, offers a better key to understand the significance of COP23 in implementing the Paris Agreement.</h5>
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The concept of &ldquo;signals&rdquo;, perhaps, offers a better key to understand the significance of COP23 in implementing the Paris Agreement. While the Paris Agreement allows countries to set a moving target for themselves, hence greater flexibility&mdash; to the chagrin of many&mdash;what it was able to accomplish was a forward-looking strong collective signal, through submitted NDCs, about the direction of technological transformation and partnerships. The International Solar Alliance, a partnership among governments on the initiative of India, was launched in Paris, followed by the Marrakech partnership of non-state actors next year.

Through such initiatives, governments, non-state and sub-national actors are sending each-other signals of willingness to go the extra mile if they give each other the confidence to do so. It is in these signals from sub-national actors that the optimists plant their hope to undermine the negative impacts of USA&rsquo;s announcement to pull out from the Paris Agreement.

How do we see a climate of confidence emerging? Who should take the lead? Delivering on earlier commitments appears to be a certain way of doing it. Hence, the two dialogues on pre and post-2020 implementation and ambition are intricately interwoven.

In case, governments fail to deliver on this balance, the responsibility will fall on the non-negotiating actors, particularly the private sector to respond to the &ldquo;signals&rdquo; of the Paris Agreement through investments in non-fossil technologies and ensure that governments feel confident and encouraged to enhance their ambition. Whether we like it or not, such are the risks and opportunities of a bottom-up regime, working through signals.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

The Talanoa Dialogue will focus on post-2020 climate action with a particular reference to limiting the mean global surface temperature rise to 1.50C by 2100

It is difficult to assess the success of a negotiation round when it is not meant to deliver concrete decisions. The recently concluded 23rd session of the conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP23), in Bonn under Fiji’s Presidency, was mandated to deliberate on the contours of deliberations at future COPs. Not surprisingly, therefore, the outcome of the COP23 consists of decisions to hold further dialogues and how to conduct them. The COP23 decided on two sets of dialogues to be concluded by the COP25 in 2019. First decision relates to the issues around pre-2020 commitments. These include commitments by developed countries of providing USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to developing countries, ratification of the Second Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol and meeting the mitigation pledges made in support of the Copenhagen Accord of 2009. Even the liberal assessments of the implementation of developed country commitments on pre-2020 climate finance show that the status is way off the mark. × Even the liberal assessments of the implementation of developed country commitments on pre-2020 climate finance show that the status is way off the mark and COP23 is still requesting parties to ratify the Doha Amendments to Kyoto Protocol. With this reality check, the decision to hold stocktakes on pre-2020 implementation and ambition at COP24 (in 2018) and COP25 (in 2019) promises little in concrete terms. Nevertheless, it is a moral and diplomatic achievement for developing countries to keep the agenda and monitoring, reporting and verification of developed country commitments up to 2020 on the table. It may very well serve as a pressure handle on the outcomes of the biennial high-level ministerial dialogues on climate finance scheduled in 2018 and 2020. The second decision is more open to interpretation in terms of its implications. The COP23 adopted the proposal of the Presidencies of COP 22 (Morocco) and COP 23 (Fiji) to launch a facilitative, participatory, inclusive dialogue to promote cooperation among countries—the Talanoa Dialogue, drawing from the Fijian tradition of collective decision making through building common understanding. The Talanoa Dialogue will focus on post-2020 climate action with a particular reference to the upcoming special report of the IPCC focusing on limiting the mean global surface temperature rise to 1.50C by 2100. It is expected to “send clear forward-looking signals” for “greater confidence, courage and enhanced ambition” in preparation of nationally determined contributions which are due to be revised in 2020. The concept of “signals”, perhaps, offers a better key to understand the significance of COP23 in implementing the Paris Agreement. × The concept of “signals”, perhaps, offers a better key to understand the significance of COP23 in implementing the Paris Agreement. While the Paris Agreement allows countries to set a moving target for themselves, hence greater flexibility— to the chagrin of many—what it was able to accomplish was a forward-looking strong collective signal, through submitted NDCs, about the direction of technological transformation and partnerships. The International Solar Alliance, a partnership among governments on the initiative of India, was launched in Paris, followed by the Marrakech partnership of non-state actors next year. Through such initiatives, governments, non-state and sub-national actors are sending each-other signals of willingness to go the extra mile if they give each other the confidence to do so. It is in these signals from sub-national actors that the optimists plant their hope to undermine the negative impacts of USA’s announcement to pull out from the Paris Agreement. How do we see a climate of confidence emerging? Who should take the lead? Delivering on earlier commitments appears to be a certain way of doing it. Hence, the two dialogues on pre and post-2020 implementation and ambition are intricately interwoven. In case, governments fail to deliver on this balance, the responsibility will fall on the non-negotiating actors, particularly the private sector to respond to the “signals” of the Paris Agreement through investments in non-fossil technologies and ensure that governments feel confident and encouraged to enhance their ambition. Whether we like it or not, such are the risks and opportunities of a bottom-up regime, working through signals. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: COP23 at Bonn ended with no concrete decisions

Around <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/more-than-17-million-muslims-gather-for-start-of-hajj/2017/08/30/5f03d726-8d60-11e7-9c53-6a169beb0953_story.html?utm_term=.c7c4707d4140">1.7 million Muslims</a> have gathered this year in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage &ndash; <a href="http://www.dictionary.com/browse/hajj">the hajj</a>. The five-day pilgrimage <a href="http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/history/middle-east-history/hajj-pilgrimage-islam?format=HB&amp;isbn=9781107030510#r1EAFLxwIhcoTB6d.97">is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation</a> for all Muslims who have the physical and financial ability to undertake the journey.

So, what is the hajj and what is its spiritual significance?

The fifth pillar

Millions of Muslims from diverse countries such as Indonesia, Russia, India, Cuba, Fiji, the United States, Nigeria and others congregate in Mecca during the last month of the Muslim lunar year.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/184265/width754/file-20170831-32045-gdggwc.jpg" />
<figcaption>
Pilgrims dressed in white garments. <a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/aljazeeraenglish/4123390204/in/photolist-7hnsfy-dqsVVf-7duYF4-8RpkCH-79riDe-f7bkTc-4Hh1A1-5VrCdR-5EQert-aECwxs-WfuiKx-5Zp6RG-5vEWkL-5Zp3Nd-UkvMJu-bbLaB4-baMrWa-dnXjRu-aaj4Pe-7yfUEo-6X522A-aNLLcn-dtNpmB-prVQPP-xpBTq-efCN2o-7ZiP1B-7ab1dG-7ab1du-eg4WRc-689Sed-fntKkM-RaUt4-5YD77K-7iU1uN-Sk6Z3y-5Xbum3-8UiyE8-vNjgG-pS5hEz-62kErs-dtw7BT-RtMFKv-5L8q5Y-5MNzJw-aECKRw-S8Wdyh-2jjQt-Jq48b-baj3MZ">Al Jazeera English</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a>
</figcaption>
</figure>

Pilgrims wear plain, white garments. Men drape seamless, unstitched clothing and women dress in plain white dresses and headscarves. The idea behind dressing simply is to mask any differences in wealth and status.

The pilgrimage is considered the fifth pillar of Islamic practice (the other four being the profession of faith, five daily prayers, charity and <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-ramadan-is-called-ramadan-6-questions-answered-77291">the fast of Ramadan</a>). In calling Muslims to perform the hajj, the Quran <a href="http://www.quranexplorer.com/quran/">says</a>,

&ldquo;Proclaim to men the Pilgrimage: they will come to thee on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path.&rdquo;

The rites of the hajj are believed to retrace events from the lives of prominent prophets such as Ibrahim and Ismail.

The first day of the hajj

Pilgrims start by circling <a href="http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195125580.001.0001/acref-9780195125580">the &ldquo;Holy Kaaba</a>,&rdquo; the black, cube-shaped house of God (at the centre of the most sacred mosque in Mecca), seven times.

The Kaaba occupies a central place in the lives of Muslims. In all parts of the world, Muslims are expected to turn toward the Kaaba when performing their daily prayers.

Specific rules <a href="http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195125580.001.0001/acref-9780195125580">concerning going around</a> the Kaaba are prescribed for pilgrims. They may also kiss, touch or approach the Kaaba during the pilgrimage as a sign of their respect and continued devotion.

The Quran tells the story of Ibrahim&rsquo;s sacrifice, who when commanded by God, agreed to sacrifice his son, Ismail. Muslims believe the Kaaba holds the black stone upon which Ibrahim was called to sacrifice Ismail.

In performing the rituals, they join in a long line of pilgrims to Mecca &ndash; <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-life-of-muhammad-9780196360331?cc=us&amp;lang=en&amp;">including Prophet Muhammad</a> &ndash; who circled the Kaaba.

Pilgrims then proceed to a ritual walking &ndash; about 100 meters from the Kaaba &ndash; to hills known as &ldquo;Safa&rdquo; and &ldquo;Marwah.&rdquo; Here they re-create <a href="http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/history/middle-east-history/hajj-pilgrimage-islam?format=HB&amp;isbn=9781107030510">another significant event</a> recorded in the Quran: when Ibrahim was granted a son by God through his Egyptian slave girl Hajar. After the birth of Ismail, God instructed Ibrahim to take Hajar and her newborn son out into the desert and leave them there. Ibrahim left them near the present-day location of the Kaaba. Ismail cried out with thirst and Hajar ran between two hills, looking for water until she turned to God for help.

God rewarded Hajar for her patience and sent his angel Jibreel to reveal a spring, which today is known as &ldquo;Zamzam Well.&rdquo; Pilgrims drink water from the sacred well and may take some home for blessings.

The second day of the hajj

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/184267/width754/file-20170831-22397-zsohp9.jpg" />
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Pilgrims praying on Arafat. <a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/aljazeeraenglish/4135906354/in/photolist-7itASf-7ipEj8-7m6S5M-4kgEVJ-7iw61y-8TRppx-97r2W7-arbDH-7iscY6-7ifhd9-7ygqjr-7hX95R-fBsJ1X-7ykfkW-7ygrB8-7ygrne-7ykeTq-an6Zn-8TULHS-5Hycc7-5HtS4v-7ykf8J-5Hu33g-5HtUxP-7ygrbR-5HyeCd-5HtTPn-5HyrAE-8TUqFh-7ygrRD-8TRKpi-5HtRhv-8TRnNz-8TREd4-7ykdSq-4qY7wP-an6Zo-arbS4-qXKmg2-dcec1H-8TRzCc-8TUp9s-8TRU4c-7rR3ib-8TUVES-8TRJ9r-8TRH3K-8TRSuH-8TUUFE-8TRx2n">Al Jazeera English</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a>
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The hajj &ldquo;climaxes&rdquo; with a sojourn into the plains of Arafat near Mecca. There, pilgrims gather in tents, spend time with one another and perform prayers. Some pilgrims will ascend a hill known as the &ldquo;Mount of Mercy,&rdquo; where Prophet Muhammad delivered the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farewell_Sermon">farewell sermon</a> toward the end of his life.

They then proceed to an open plain near Mecca, often a highlight of the journey for many pilgrims. Muslims believe that the <a href="http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195125580.001.0001/acref-9780195125580">spirit of God comes closer to Earth</a> in this place at the time of the pilgrimage.

As a scholar of global Islam, during my fieldwork, I have interviewed those who have gone on the hajj. They have described to me their personal experiences.

Many pilgrims, when standing in the plains of Arafat, <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=LkmkAwAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PA60&amp;lpg=PA60&amp;dq=a+close+communion+with+god+plains+of+arafat&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=xfljL0qqXO&amp;sig=ST3pnAIcye_QJ2ZbbcPA2gfMBIM&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjitdWOp4LWAhVDQiYKHamnA9QQ6AEIPjAG#v=onepage&amp;q=a%20close%20communion%20with%20god%20plains%20of%20arafat&amp;f=false">feel a close communion with God.</a>

Final three days

Afterwards, pilgrims move to Mina, also known as the Tent City, about five kilometres from the holy city of Mecca. Here, they reenact another part of the story of Ibrahim&rsquo;s test of faith in the sacrifice of his son.

They recall how Satan tried to tempt Ibrahim to disobey <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-muslims-celebrate-eid-twice-a-year-6-questions-answered-80949">God&rsquo;s call to sacrifice Ismail</a>. Ibrahim, however, remained unmoved and informed Ismail, who was willing to be sacrificed. To reenact Ibrahim&rsquo;s rebuff of Satan&rsquo;s temptation, pilgrims throw small stones at a stone pillar.

They then proceed to follow Ibrahim in the act of sacrifice. The Quran says just as Ibrahim attempted to kill his son, God intervened and a ram was sacrificed in place of Ismail. In remembrance, Muslims all over the world sacrifice an animal on this day. The <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-muslims-celebrate-eid-twice-a-year-6-questions-answered-80949">&ldquo;festival of the sacrifice&rdquo; is known as Eid al-Adha</a>.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/184266/width754/file-20170831-2020-czju2i.jpg" />
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Pilgrims stoning the devil in Mina. <a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/aljazeeraenglish/4142094316/in/photolist-7iXrgk-7iXrAK-7iXrqk-7j2iPq-8U9pyc-7iXrtK-7iXrxn-7j2jd3-7j2jfj-7ykkpd-7j2iSQ-7j2jkf-7j2j7E-7iXrcV-7j2jFy-7j2jJU-7ykk2L-7iXr7Z-7iXriZ-7iXryR-7j2job-7j2iVd-7iBtP1-7j2jGS-7iXrSX-7ykhiS-7ygxAz-7iXrLe-7j2j2d-7ygwp8-8UbHdp">Al Jazeera English</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a>
</figcaption>
</figure>

Many pilgrims spend the next few days repeating the stoning at Mina (at least six more times) and going around the Holy Kaaba in Mecca (at least once more). Pilgrims also start to put on their everyday clothes <a href="http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195125580.001.0001/acref-9780195125580">to indicate a transition to their worldly life</a>.

It is believed that a proper performance of the hajj can absolve Muslim pilgrims of any previous sins. However, Muslims also believe that just undertaking the pilgrimage is not enough: <a href="http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/history/middle-east-history/hajj-pilgrimage-islam#O3cwEbjxDttkhEyF.97">It is up to God to judge the pilgrimage as acceptable or not.</a>

Creating one Muslim community

The hajj is a massive <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/08/world/meast/how-hi-tech-manages-millions-during-the-hajj/index.html">organisational project</a> for the Saudi authorities. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/08/world/meast/how-hi-tech-manages-millions-during-the-hajj/index.html">Issues concerning</a> crowd management, security, traffic and tensions constantly plague the successful organisation of the annual event. A deadly stampede in 2015 left <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/25/middleeast/hajj-pilgrimage-stampede/index.html">over 700 dead</a>.

There are other ongoing tensions as well: Some <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-shia-sunni-divide-78216">Shia</a> governments such as Iran, for example, have levelled <a href="http://www.alterinter.org/spip.php?article4502">charges alleging discrimination</a> by <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-shia-sunni-divide-78216">Sunni</a> Saudi authorities. Furthermore, this year, citizens of <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/hajj-qataris-year-saudi-row-170825192148831.html">Qatar were not able to perform the hajj</a> following the decision by Saudi Arabia and three other Arab nations to sever diplomatic ties with the country.

To address such issues, <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=6VeCWQfVNjkC&amp;q=OIC#v=snippet&amp;q=OIC&amp;f=false">many Muslims have called</a> for the <a href="http://www.oic-oci.org/">Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC)</a>, an intergovernmental organisation, to put together an international, multi-partisan committee to organise the pilgrimage.

Perhaps that could help avoid regional or sectarian conflicts. The hajj, after all, is any individual Muslim&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195125580.001.0001/acref-9780195125580">single most</a> symbolic ritual act that reflects <a href="http://imjcr.com/journals/imjcr/Vol_3_No_1_June_2014/3.pdf">the ideal of unity</a>.

<img alt="The Conversation" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/83284/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1" />By requiring Muslims to do the same clothes, pray in the same spaces and perform the same rituals, the hajj creates a global Muslim community, with no class distinctions.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/explaining-the-muslim-pilgrimage-of-hajj-83284">original article</a>.

The goal of hajj is to create a global Muslim community, with no class distinctions but citizens of Qatar can't undertake hajj this year.

Around 1.7 million Muslims have gathered this year in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage – the hajj. The five-day pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for all Muslims who have the physical and financial ability to undertake the journey. So, what is the hajj and what is its spiritual significance? The fifth pillar Millions of Muslims from diverse countries such as Indonesia, Russia, India, Cuba, Fiji, the United States, Nigeria and others congregate in Mecca during the last month of the Muslim lunar year. Pilgrims dressed in white garments. Al Jazeera English, CC BY-NC Pilgrims wear plain, white garments. Men drape seamless, unstitched clothing and women dress in plain white dresses and headscarves. The idea behind dressing simply is to mask any differences in wealth and status. The pilgrimage is considered the fifth pillar of Islamic practice (the other four being the profession of faith, five daily prayers, charity and the fast of Ramadan). In calling Muslims to perform the hajj, the Quran says, “Proclaim to men the Pilgrimage: they will come to thee on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path.” The rites of the hajj are believed to retrace events from the lives of prominent prophets such as Ibrahim and Ismail. The first day of the hajj Pilgrims start by circling the “Holy Kaaba,” the black, cube-shaped house of God (at the centre of the most sacred mosque in Mecca), seven times. The Kaaba occupies a central place in the lives of Muslims. In all parts of the world, Muslims are expected to turn toward the Kaaba when performing their daily prayers. Specific rules concerning going around the Kaaba are prescribed for pilgrims. They may also kiss, touch or approach the Kaaba during the pilgrimage as a sign of their respect and continued devotion. The Quran tells the story of Ibrahim’s sacrifice, who when commanded by God, agreed to sacrifice his son, Ismail. Muslims believe the Kaaba holds the black stone upon which Ibrahim was called to sacrifice Ismail. In performing the rituals, they join in a long line of pilgrims to Mecca – including Prophet Muhammad – who circled the Kaaba. Pilgrims then proceed to a ritual walking – about 100 meters from the Kaaba – to hills known as “Safa” and “Marwah.” Here they re-create another significant event recorded in the Quran: when Ibrahim was granted a son by God through his Egyptian slave girl Hajar. After the birth of Ismail, God instructed Ibrahim to take Hajar and her newborn son out into the desert and leave them there. Ibrahim left them near the present-day location of the Kaaba. Ismail cried out with thirst and Hajar ran between two hills, looking for water until she turned to God for help. God rewarded Hajar for her patience and sent his angel Jibreel to reveal a spring, which today is known as “Zamzam Well.” Pilgrims drink water from the sacred well and may take some home for blessings. The second day of the hajj Pilgrims praying on Arafat. Al Jazeera English, CC BY-SA The hajj “climaxes” with a sojourn into the plains of Arafat near Mecca. There, pilgrims gather in tents, spend time with one another and perform prayers. Some pilgrims will ascend a hill known as the “Mount of Mercy,” where Prophet Muhammad delivered the farewell sermon toward the end of his life. They then proceed to an open plain near Mecca, often a highlight of the journey for many pilgrims. Muslims believe that the spirit of God comes closer to Earth in this place at the time of the pilgrimage. As a scholar of global Islam, during my fieldwork, I have interviewed those who have gone on the hajj. They have described to me their personal experiences. Many pilgrims, when standing in the plains of Arafat, feel a close communion with God. Final three days Afterwards, pilgrims move to Mina, also known as the Tent City, about five kilometres from the holy city of Mecca. Here, they reenact another part of the story of Ibrahim’s test of faith in the sacrifice of his son. They recall how Satan tried to tempt Ibrahim to disobey God’s call to sacrifice Ismail. Ibrahim, however, remained unmoved and informed Ismail, who was willing to be sacrificed. To reenact Ibrahim’s rebuff of Satan’s temptation, pilgrims throw small stones at a stone pillar. They then proceed to follow Ibrahim in the act of sacrifice. The Quran says just as Ibrahim attempted to kill his son, God intervened and a ram was sacrificed in place of Ismail. In remembrance, Muslims all over the world sacrifice an animal on this day. The “festival of the sacrifice” is known as Eid al-Adha. Pilgrims stoning the devil in Mina. Al Jazeera English, CC BY-SA Many pilgrims spend the next few days repeating the stoning at Mina (at least six more times) and going around the Holy Kaaba in Mecca (at least once more). Pilgrims also start to put on their everyday clothes to indicate a transition to their worldly life. It is believed that a proper performance of the hajj can absolve Muslim pilgrims of any previous sins. However, Muslims also believe that just undertaking the pilgrimage is not enough: It is up to God to judge the pilgrimage as acceptable or not. Creating one Muslim community The hajj is a massive organisational project for the Saudi authorities. Issues concerning crowd management, security, traffic and tensions constantly plague the successful organisation of the annual event. A deadly stampede in 2015 left over 700 dead. There are other ongoing tensions as well: Some Shia governments such as Iran, for example, have levelled charges alleging discrimination by Sunni Saudi authorities. Furthermore, this year, citizens of Qatar were not able to perform the hajj following the decision by Saudi Arabia and three other Arab nations to sever diplomatic ties with the country. To address such issues, many Muslims have called for the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an intergovernmental organisation, to put together an international, multi-partisan committee to organise the pilgrimage. Perhaps that could help avoid regional or sectarian conflicts. The hajj, after all, is any individual Muslim’s single most symbolic ritual act that reflects the ideal of unity. By requiring Muslims to do the same clothes, pray in the same spaces and perform the same rituals, the hajj creates a global Muslim community, with no class distinctions. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

What is the spiritual significance of hajj to a Muslim?

With the Rio Olympics at the halfway mark, here are five sporting stars who left their mark on the first week of competition with their records, style and courage: 
 
Michael Phelps, Swimming 
 
He said his body ached, his legs hurt and he felt tired, but Michael Phelps still went out of the Olympics in spectacular style with four golds and a silver in a week -- 22 golds in a five-Olympics career -- and still one more title likely on Saturday. The Chinese medicinal practice of `cupping` which left red circle marks on his body was the only apparent sign that at 31, Phelps is slowing down, and then barely. His victories in the 4x100m free and 4x200m free relays, 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley were all clear. 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/000_em62l-20160813065705.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Making a splash: As constant as the leap year, US&#39;s swimming legend Michael Phelps bags heaps of gold at the quadrennial event.
</div>
 
The man who won eight golds at Beijing in 2008 has always come across as something of a medal machine. But Phelps has also shown his more mature side in Rio. Being in a three-way dead heat for silver in the 100m on Friday was &quot;kind of cool&quot;. 
 
&quot;My body is in pain, my legs are hurting,&quot; said Phelps after a crushing 200m fly win. &quot;I think the biggest thing for me through the meet so far is I`ve been able to kind of finish how I wanted to,&quot; added the American, who has insisted there will be no sixth Olympics. 
 
Simone Biles, Gymnastics 
 
Simone Biles lived up to her star billing as the gymnastics dynamo put herself on track for a record five gold medals in Rio by winning the all-around title after helping the United States to defend their team title.&nbsp; 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/simone%20biles-20160813081501.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Simone Biles might be only be 1.45m tall but her exploits at the Games has made her a giant in her discipline.
</div>
The 1.45m (4ft 9ins) Texan with a big smile gave a powerful display of gravity-defying tumbling and acrobatics to add the Olympic all-around crown to the three world titles she holds. She is unbeaten in the individual event since 2013. 
 
If Biles takes the vault, beam and floor over coming days she will have won more gold at one Games than any other woman, overtaking Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina (1956), Czech Vera Caslavska (1968) and Romanian Ecaterina Szabo (1984), who have all won four. 
&quot;I`m pretty sure I`ll just go on lockdown at my house. It won`t be exactly normal, but we`ll make it as normal as possible,&quot; said 19-year-old Biles of how she will cope with her fame on her return home. 
 
Fiji, Rugby Sevens 
 
The South Pacific sevens rugby players came to Rio as favourites but no one expected them to trounce Britain 43-7 in such devastating fashion in the final as the sport made its Olympic debut. Sevens may come from Britain but Fiji has become its capital. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/fiji%20rugby-20160813081028.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Fiji&#39;s sevens rugby team trounced Breat Britain in the final to win the country&#39;s maiden gong.
</div>
The speed and passing of captain Osea Kolinisau and his team blew away all-comers and they saved the best for last. World Rugby believes that Fiji and even the teams that trailed them will bring in new adepts and hopefully a permanent Olympic status. Fiji reckons the country`s first ever gold medal will bring sporting glory and tourists and investment to a poor country of 900,000 people. 
 
Ironically, Fiji is especially hailing the work of coach Ben Ryan to lift the side in recent years. He of course is British. 
 
Rafaela Silva, Judo 
 
Rafaela Silva, who was brought up in Rio`s notorious City of God favela, was called a &quot;monkey&quot; after being disqualified from the London Olympics in 2012. Four years on, Brazil is hosting the Games and the 57kg category judoka is the heroine as the country`s first and only gold medal of the opening week of competition. 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/rafaela%20silva-20160813081947.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Brazil&#39;s Rafaela Silva was called various names after her failure in London Games but four years on, she has had the last laugh by bagging the first gold medal for the host country
</div>
&quot;People taunted me, they said I was a monkey and my place was in a cage. But I proved my place is in sport and in judo,&quot; said the gritty 24-year-old who has spoken forcefully about racism in her country whilst she is in the Olympic headlines. Her sporting skill also deserves attention. She beat world number one Sumiya Dorjsuren of Mongolia to take the title and prove that Brazil is a world force in women`s judo even if the country does not always treasure them. 
 
Katie Ledecky, Swimming 
 
America`s newest star wrote her name in lights by uniting the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle for the first time since 1968 -- winning two of the races in world-record time. Katie Ledecky, 19, has four gold medals overall including the 4x200m freestyle relay, plus silver from the 4x100m free.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/ledecky-20160813070456.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Ledecky, who cried during the post-race media conference, is moving to Stanford University later this year.
</div>
 
 
The most extraordinary stat for Ledecky is that she has never lost an individual final at a world championships or Olympics, compiling nine world titles before she has even reached her twenties. She burst onto the scene at the 2012 London Olympics, when she won the 800m at just 15. And she has confirmed every ounce of her promise with her feats in Rio, which include world records in the 400m and 800m.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I just wanted to lay it all out there,&quot; Ledecky said after Friday`s 800m race. &quot;It was my last swim here at the Olympics, the pinnacle of our sport, and I have to wait another four years to have that moment.&quot; Ominously for her competitors, Ledecky may be reaching her peak for Tokyo 2020. 
 
(AFP) 
 
&nbsp;

Phelps, Biles, Fiji, Ledecky and Silva have taken different routes to reach the pinnacle of sports in the first week of the Games

With the Rio Olympics at the halfway mark, here are five sporting stars who left their mark on the first week of competition with their records, style and courage: Michael Phelps, Swimming He said his body ached, his legs hurt and he felt tired, but Michael Phelps still went out of the Olympics in spectacular style with four golds and a silver in a week -- 22 golds in a five-Olympics career -- and still one more title likely on Saturday. The Chinese medicinal practice of `cupping` which left red circle marks on his body was the only apparent sign that at 31, Phelps is slowing down, and then barely. His victories in the 4x100m free and 4x200m free relays, 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley were all clear. Making a splash: As constant as the leap year, US's swimming legend Michael Phelps bags heaps of gold at the quadrennial event. The man who won eight golds at Beijing in 2008 has always come across as something of a medal machine. But Phelps has also shown his more mature side in Rio. Being in a three-way dead heat for silver in the 100m on Friday was "kind of cool". "My body is in pain, my legs are hurting," said Phelps after a crushing 200m fly win. "I think the biggest thing for me through the meet so far is I`ve been able to kind of finish how I wanted to," added the American, who has insisted there will be no sixth Olympics. Simone Biles, Gymnastics Simone Biles lived up to her star billing as the gymnastics dynamo put herself on track for a record five gold medals in Rio by winning the all-around title after helping the United States to defend their team title. Simone Biles might be only be 1.45m tall but her exploits at the Games has made her a giant in her discipline. The 1.45m (4ft 9ins) Texan with a big smile gave a powerful display of gravity-defying tumbling and acrobatics to add the Olympic all-around crown to the three world titles she holds. She is unbeaten in the individual event since 2013. If Biles takes the vault, beam and floor over coming days she will have won more gold at one Games than any other woman, overtaking Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina (1956), Czech Vera Caslavska (1968) and Romanian Ecaterina Szabo (1984), who have all won four. "I`m pretty sure I`ll just go on lockdown at my house. It won`t be exactly normal, but we`ll make it as normal as possible," said 19-year-old Biles of how she will cope with her fame on her return home. Fiji, Rugby Sevens The South Pacific sevens rugby players came to Rio as favourites but no one expected them to trounce Britain 43-7 in such devastating fashion in the final as the sport made its Olympic debut. Sevens may come from Britain but Fiji has become its capital. Fiji's sevens rugby team trounced Breat Britain in the final to win the country's maiden gong. The speed and passing of captain Osea Kolinisau and his team blew away all-comers and they saved the best for last. World Rugby believes that Fiji and even the teams that trailed them will bring in new adepts and hopefully a permanent Olympic status. Fiji reckons the country`s first ever gold medal will bring sporting glory and tourists and investment to a poor country of 900,000 people. Ironically, Fiji is especially hailing the work of coach Ben Ryan to lift the side in recent years. He of course is British. Rafaela Silva, Judo Rafaela Silva, who was brought up in Rio`s notorious City of God favela, was called a "monkey" after being disqualified from the London Olympics in 2012. Four years on, Brazil is hosting the Games and the 57kg category judoka is the heroine as the country`s first and only gold medal of the opening week of competition. Brazil's Rafaela Silva was called various names after her failure in London Games but four years on, she has had the last laugh by bagging the first gold medal for the host country "People taunted me, they said I was a monkey and my place was in a cage. But I proved my place is in sport and in judo," said the gritty 24-year-old who has spoken forcefully about racism in her country whilst she is in the Olympic headlines. Her sporting skill also deserves attention. She beat world number one Sumiya Dorjsuren of Mongolia to take the title and prove that Brazil is a world force in women`s judo even if the country does not always treasure them. Katie Ledecky, Swimming America`s newest star wrote her name in lights by uniting the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle for the first time since 1968 -- winning two of the races in world-record time. Katie Ledecky, 19, has four gold medals overall including the 4x200m freestyle relay, plus silver from the 4x100m free. Ledecky, who cried during the post-race media conference, is moving to Stanford University later this year. The most extraordinary stat for Ledecky is that she has never lost an individual final at a world championships or Olympics, compiling nine world titles before she has even reached her twenties. She burst onto the scene at the 2012 London Olympics, when she won the 800m at just 15. And she has confirmed every ounce of her promise with her feats in Rio, which include world records in the 400m and 800m. "I just wanted to lay it all out there," Ledecky said after Friday`s 800m race. "It was my last swim here at the Olympics, the pinnacle of our sport, and I have to wait another four years to have that moment." Ominously for her competitors, Ledecky may be reaching her peak for Tokyo 2020. (AFP)

Rio Olympics 2016: Five stand-out performers of week 1

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