Bula vinaka everyone
HEADLINES
Here are some reports that made headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Friday, September 24.
CASH PRIZES
But before that, remember 10 people will win cash prizes this month as we celebrate our 152nd anniversary. You can get into the draw to be one of those 10 lucky people. All you have to do is cut out a masthead of The Fiji Times, write your name, address and phone contact and place this in a bin at a store that sells the newspaper near you. It’s that easy!
COVID-19 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
There’s no doubt about the fact that COVID-19 has had an impact on us all. In fact no one is immune from the virus. We have a special supplement on the COVID-19 story. Check it out this Saturday, September 25. Read about safety advice, get some tips and read about the experiences of various people. Surely you can relate to the topic!
PAGE 1
- SODELPA Opposition MP Lynda Tabuya claimed the Climate Change Bill 2021 was another tick in the box for the Prime Minister to look for climate finance at the COP26 in Glasgow to fund their elections campaign.
- THE Speaker of Parliament is wrong in ordering “voting by acclamation” in Parliament and refusing a roll call, say three of the country’s top lawyers, Graham Leung, Richard Naidu and Filimoni Vosarogo.
PAGE 2
- MORE than 8300 children between the ages of 0 to 19 years contracted COVID-19 during the second wave this year and, sadly, some succumbed to it.
- A CONTEMPT of court proceedings has been filed against Veronica and Manoa Malani by the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in the Suva High Court. A statement from the Government said the couple were served with the application for an order of committal in the High Court, after they made comments against the Judiciary and members of the Judiciary on September 10 in a live video posted on Facebook.
PAGE 4
- HEALTH Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says there were delays in the announcement of some COVID-19 deaths because verification of identities and other issues took more time than expected.
- WATERWAYS Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy said the establishment of containment borders to minimise the spread of COVID-19 resulted in 11 nature-based sea walls not being completed in the last financial year.
- TEACHER transfers will be considered to bring families together who have been separated for a long period during the second wave of COVID-19, says newly-appointed Education Minister Premila Kumar.
PAGE 5
- ONLY seven of the planned 18 nature-based sea walls were completed in the last financial year, says Waterways Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy.
- PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says because bamboo grows “incredibly fast compared to trees”, it can generate quicker economic returns in comparison to well-established timber trees such as pine, mahogany and native trees which take decades to mature.
- THE Pacific Islands Development Forum is aiding Fiji in the construction of the Fiji Bamboo Centre at the Nasinu Forestry Station, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
PAGE 7
- FIJI Airports Ltd has been told to operate outer island airports that are incurring losses and continue to subsidise domestic travel.
- THE new target population of adults aged 18 and over for the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign is 618,173.
- FIJI recorded 72 new cases of COVID-19 during the 24-hour period that ended on Wednesday morning. Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong said there were currently 12,982 active cases.
- A 40-YEAR-OLD woman who allegedly robbed a 65-year-old lady along Waimanu Rd, Suva, last week of more than $50,000 was denied bail by the Suva Magistrates Court today.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The letters to the editor pages are quite popular. In fact it has reached a stage that writers even have their own little conversations going on in the background. You’ll have to be a regular though to catch on to what they are saying. But Pages 8 and 9 are loaded with opinions on various issues.
PEOPLE
This section is about people. It touches the lives of everyday people, their hopes and aspirations and their journey to where they are today. Read about the emotions and the challenges.
THE SHOPPER
There’s much more than shopping tips. The Shopper comes out every Friday. It’s big, bright and loaded with information.
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about rugby union, touching on the Fijian Drua as it prepares for the new season of Super Rugby.
MORE INSIDE
There’s more to read inside but you’ll have to get a copy to know what we are talking about. Happy reading!
