A senior Ukrainian official said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s idea of creating a buffer zone inside Ukrainian territory was a clear indication that Moscow planned to escalate its war in neighbouring Ukraine.

A 37-year-old man has been remanded by the Nadi Magistrates Court.

Israeli troops raided the compound of Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital early on Monday, saying they killed over 20 gunmen, in an operation Palestinian health authorities said caused multiple casualties and set off a fierce fire in one of the buildings.

The DPP lawyer in the case involving FijiFirst Leader Voreqe Bainimarama, former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Health Minister Neil Prakash Sharma has called for a speedy trial date.

Former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem has been served the complete set of disclosures today.

Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho pleaded not guilty to abuse of office charges this morning.

Western governments lined up on Monday to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin’s landslide reelection as unfair and undemocratic, but China, India and North Korea congratulated the veteran leader on extending his rule by a further six years.

The recent flooding of the Western Division has once again brought to light the longstanding issue of infrastructure vulnerability in Ba Town.

Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) and Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) have seized undeclared cigarettes and controlled gas from a flagged fishing vessel in a joint operation.

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, through the Department of Civil Aviation, hosted a roundtable discussion with aviation and tourism stakeholders to review Fiji’s Aviation Policy.

Flying Fijians captain Waisea Nayacalevu has inked a one-year deal with Sale Sharks, with an option to extend for an additional year.

The Education Ministry has announced the completion of its national employee retention exercise to bolster national education workforce.