Bula vinaka everyone
I hope you are well wherever you are right now. Stay well and stay safe.
LATE UPDATE
The permanent secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong has just announced 131 new cases of COVID-19 for the 24 hours ending at 8am today. There were 63 cases in the Western Division, 66 cases in the Central Division and 2 cases in the Eastern Division. Read more about this on www.fijitimes.com
CASH PRIZES
Remember you can get into the draw to win cash prizes. All you have to do is to cut off the masthead of The Fiji Times and drop this in a bin provided at an outlet or agency selling the newspaper around the country. It is that easy. Check Page 11 of the Fiji Times for Wednesday, September 15 for details.
Kaila!
Remember we have the special edition for Kaila! inside The Fiji Times. It’s loaded with fun activities for the young at heart. Check out the riddles, lyrics, jokes and much more. It’s brighter, colourful and exciting! The kids will love it!
HEADLINES
Here are some reports that made the headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Wednesday, September 15.
PAGE 1
CLOSE to 130,000 Fijians are classified as “near-poor” and at risk of falling into poverty, says the Fiji Bureau of Statistics 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey.
FORMER Marist Brothers High School sprinter Jerome Nale, 21, is the latest Fijian to be selected into the USA 7s team. The Santa Rosa Rugby Club halfback is among new faces in the USA Eagles to the Vancouver 7s in Canada this weekend.
PAGES 2 and 3
There’s more on Fiji Bureau of Statistics 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey on these pages.
ATTORNEY General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has criticised the Fiji Bureau of Statistics for releasing the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey with ethnic and religious data.
In a press conference tonight he said Government was challenging the reliability of the statistics.
The A-G also said it was now exposing FBoS for carrying out “ethnic analysis based on a very flawed system”.
“Indeed we are philosophically opposed to putting ethnicity and religion to poverty,” he said.
“If we are going to start having compassion for people based on their ethnicity then you are losing your sense of humanity.”
PAGE 4
RENOWNED radio announcer and Sugar City personality Michael Faga passed away at the Lautoka Hospital on Monday. MixFM station manager Harry Hatch said they were heartbroken by the sudden loss of their colleague and friend.
PAGE 5
TWELVE COVID-19 patients are in severe condition while three others are in critical condition. This, according to Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong. He said 117 COVID-19 patients were presently admitted in hospitals around the country – 44 patients at the Lautoka Hospital, eight patients at the FEMAT field hospital and 65 at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH).
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
There are interesting letters on Pages 8 and 9.
Feel the pulse of the nation. Read about various topics readers are interested in, what they are discussing, and what they feel strongly about.
PEOPLE
In this section, read about: SOMETIMES you have to be straight up with people because they don’t realise what you go through, says Apau Neori. Neori, who looks after a farm in Naitasiri, lives alone. He lives life a day at a time, but has come to realise how communicating with other human beings is important to maintaining your sanity.
SHIPPING
This section is much more than just about shipping services. Check it out!
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about sevens rugby, and a new kid on the block.
MORE TO READ INSIDE
There’s more to read inside but you’ll have to get a copy to know what we are talking about. Happy reading!
