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9th July
Man allegedly attacks defacto-wife and stepdaughter; mother and daughter hospitalised
A 53 -year- old man who is alleged to have murdered his defacto-wife is in police custody at Sigatoka. It is alleged that the suspect struck the victim with a cane knife yesterday that had...
8th July
Family relocate in wake of TC Harold
A 60-year-old grandmother and her family were forced to dismantle their home of 20 years and relocate in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Harold. Loraini Marama of Vuniniudrovu Village, Naitasiri, said the move was brought about when very strong currents destabilised the foundation of their home. “During TC Harold, the Waimanu River currents were so...
Koya: Businesses used pandemic period to improve workforce skills
A few tourism and non-tourism businesses was reported to be using this time during the pandemic to improve workforce skills, according to Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Faiyaz Koya. The Minster revealed this during the launch of UNDP and UNCDF’s COVID-19 Response Project for Tourism Sector Workers which is set to provide approximately...
Vehicle accident damage power pole; power outage for residents
A vehicle accident this morning at Ratu Dovi Rd in Nadera caused damage to the 11,000V and 415V power pole resulting in an outage for residents in the area. Energy Fiji Ltd CEO Hasmukh Patel said their teams were carrying out power pole replacement works and was expected to be completed later this evening. He...
EU wants Brexit deal ‘but not at any price’ as teams head for dinner
LONDON (Reuters) – Top British and EU negotiators will dine at Number 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, kicking off the latest round of Brexit talks that have all but stalled amid differences, with the top EU official saying he wants an agreement, “but not at any price”. Last week’s round was cut short with both...
Greece relocates group of young refugees to Portugal
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece moved 25 unaccompanied minors from overcrowded migrant camps to Portugal on Tuesday as part of a relocation programme to EU countries. The boys, all aged between 15 and 17, had lived in refugee camps on outlying Greek islands. They have no relatives in Europe. Hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees...
Fiji presents instruments of ratification
Fiji has today deposited its instruments of ratification for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in the United Nations. Fiji was one of a majority of 122 nations that voted to adopt the historic treaty banning nuclear weapons three years ago in the UN general assembly. Fiji has become the 39th country...
Japan boosts rescue efforts as it warns of more rain in flood-hit areas
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan on Tuesday warned of more heavy rain on the southwestern island of Kyushu and bolstered rescue operations as the death toll in flood-hit areas rose past 50 with about a dozen people reported missing. The government said it would double rescue and relief personnel as heavy rain destroyed homes and caused...
Weather watch: Showers to affect rest of Fiji group
A trough of low pressure remains slow moving to the west of Fiji. The weather forecasting centre in Nadi has noted a situation of associated cloud and showers to affect the northern and eastern parts of the group. It advised that showers are expected to gradually affect the rest of the group from later today....
COVID-19: Six arrested for curfew breach
Police reported six arrests that were recorded over the last 24 hours for curfew breaches. Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said in the Southern Division, five cases were recorded for loitering at the Valelevu, Narere, and the Muanikoso area in Nasinu. He said the lone case in the Central Division involved a 24-year-old man who...
EU lawmakers agree to include shipping emissions in EU carbon market
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European lawmakers agreed on Tuesday to include international carbon emissions from the maritime sector in the EU carbon market, targeting an industry that does not yet pay for its pollution. They also called for binding targets for shipping companies to reduce the annual average CO2 emissions of all ships when in operation,...
Police report latest road fatality
Police have reported Fiji’s latest road fatality. A 31-year-old man from Natabua in Lautoka was allegedly hit by a vehicle around midnight Monday. The victim was found lying in a pool of blood near the Saweni Service Station in Lautoka. Investigations continue and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death....
Bolivia’s first transgender news anchor puts LGBTQ issues front and center
LA PAZ (Reuters) – Leonie Dorado, 26, is blazing a trail as the first transgender news anchor in Bolivia, a traditionally conservative South American nation currently in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic. Dorado, the new co-host of Bolivian program Aby Ayala TV, covers LGBTQ issues in her role, drawing on her own transition and...
Samabula man charged over alleged drug-find; fronts court today
A 36-year-old man will be produced at the Suva Magistrates Court today following a raid that resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine and marijuana. The accused has been charged with two counts of being found in possession of illicit drugs after a search was conducted at his home in Samabula on July 5. Police said...
UK will face consequences if it rules China is a hostile country – envoy
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain will have to bear the consequences if it treats China as a hostile country when deciding whether to allow Huawei to be involved in the country’s telecommunications networks, the Chinese ambassador to Britain said on Monday. “We want to be your friend. We want to be your partner. But if you...
China rebukes UK for ‘gross interference’ over Hong Kong
LONDON (Reuters) – China’s ambassador to London accused Britain on Monday of gross interference and making irresponsible remarks over Beijing’s imposition of new security legislation in Hong Kong that he said could damage future Chinese investment. Britain has described the security law as a “clear and serious” violation of the 1984 Joint Declaration under which...
Britain imposes sanctions on Russians, including top investigator, Saudis over rights
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain imposed sanctions on 25 Russians and 20 Saudis on Monday as part of post-Brexit measures foreign minister Dominic Raab said were aimed at stopping the laundering of “blood money”. After leaving the European Union in January, Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to forge a new independent role for Britain in foreign...
Macron taps trio to help drive coronavirus recovery
PARIS (Reuters) – France is creating three beefed-up ministries to spearhead its recovery from coronavirus turmoil as Emmanuel Macron attempts to recast his presidency less than two years before a possible re-election bid. In a cabinet reshuffle days after voters punished Macron and his party in local elections, the president and his new prime minister,...
Grandma stretches income from selling candies to feed seven children
Sovaia Rarawa is a 68-year-old grandmother who takes care of five of her seven grandchildren who attend primary school. Yesterday she prepared fried noodles and rice for their lunch, bought from the little income she earns from selling candies. A staple for the family is boiled taro leaves. She said she was forced to take...
Eight remain at home as students attend classes
As parents and caregivers prepared their children for school yesterday, eight children of a household at Bilo Rd outside Lami remained at home because of the family’s financial situation. Mereoni Adimaisau said her husband was a fisherman but fish sales had also decreased. The 44-year-old said they had to take in five nieces and nephews...
Initiative to give food to 9000
More than 9000 students will not have to worry about lunch after the TISI Sangam Fiji launches its school lunch program tomorrow, July 8, 2020. TISI Sangam Fiji CEO Jai Narayan said preparations were in progress to cater for students from 22 primary and five secondary schools. “At the moment we are all just preparing...
‘61pc have parents laid off, terminated’
About 61 per cent of students from seven schools in the Western Division have parents who have either been terminated or laid off from work. This, according to a survey by TISI Sangam of students who returned to classes yesterday. TISI Sangam Fiji president Damend Gounder explained the survey was conducted to assist the religious...
School lunches not on help list
The Education Ministry will not be providing lunches to students affected by COVID-19, says Minister for Education Rosy Akbar. She said the ministry would continue with the existing bus fare assistance and the ministry was watching out for students whose parents had been affected by COVID-19. Ms Akbar said the ministry was gathering data on...
7th July
675 schools yet to receive school grants
As many as 675 schools have yet to receive their Fiji Education Grant (FEG) allocation for this term, says Education Minister Rosy Akbar. She stressed there would be no exceptions — all schools would only get their grant when they submit the required documents. She said 10 secondary and 194 primary schools were on the...
Initiative to build capacity, resilience
The newly launched “Health Care On Air Pacific” initiative will build capacity and resilience within frontline workers around 14 Pacific Island countries that are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Officiating at the launch yesterday, Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said global data indicated that the presence of the virus on one country represented a...
Three deaths from dengue
Fiji recorded three deaths from 300 dengue fever cases recorded between November last year to date, says Minister for Health Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete. Dr Waqainabete said of these deaths, one was recorded towards the end of last year while two were recorded this year. “That number is much less now than what it used to...
‘Fiji contained’
FIJI is still a COVID-contained country and the 19th case diagnosed over the weekend does not change this, nor will Government review the reinforcement of COVID-19 restrictions. Ministry of Health’s acting permanent secretary Dr James Fong said this as he explained the framework for safely reopening the economy. Within the framework, Dr Fong said the...
Strict guidelines for hotel staff, guests
A hotel in Nadi used to quarantine returning Fiji citizens has been following strict guidelines to ensure staff and guests are protected from the deadly coronavirus. Hotel manager Novitesh Chand explained that a set of rooms had been blocked off at the resort where passengers had been quarantined since March. “We have very strict guidelines...
Man tests positive for COVID-19; Passengers remain in quarantine
A 66-year-old man has tested positive for COVID-19. The man, who is now recorded as Fiji’s 19th case, tested positive for the virus three days after returning from India on July 1 with his son. He is considered a “border quarantine case”. Ministry of Health acting permanent secretary Dr James Fong said the man had...
150th anniversary: Island mercy voyage
Torchlight and adhesive tape were once used by a medical team to give emergency treatment to a mother and her unborn baby on Matuku Island in the Lau Group. This happened in October 1969. The team was rushed by the Governor’s yacht, Ra Marama, to Matuku Island on a mercy mission to save the lives...
