The Fiji Times

Ex-workers face probe

The Ministry of Housing and Community Development is not engaged in the sale of land or assurance of leases, says Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development Premila Kumar. She said the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) was investigating two former staff members of the ministry who were issuing letters by using fake...

Johnson & Johnson charged by New York with civil insurance fraud over opioid claims

NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York state filed civil charges on Thursday accusing Johnson & Johnson of insurance fraud for downplaying the risks of opioid painkillers, including to doctors and elderly patients. J&J and its Janssen Pharmaceuticals affiliate were accused of targeting elderly patients for opioid treatment despite the risks of side effects such as...

Bus drivers quizzed over damage claim

Police are investigating allegations that bus drivers damaged property at Naqere subdivision, Savusavu. Police spokeswoman Savaira Gonedua said investigations had begun after property owner Bashir Khan lodged a report at the Savusavu Police Station. She said a few Vishnu Holdings Ltd bus drivers were taken in yesterday and questioned over the alleged incident. Ms Gonedua...

Facebook says it will no longer show health groups in recommendations

(Reuters) – Facebook Inc <FB.O> will no longer show health groups in its recommendations, the social media giant announced on Thursday, saying it was crucial that people get health information from “authoritative sources.” Over the last year, the company took down more than 1 million groups that violated Facebook’s policies on misinformation and harmful content,...

PEOPLE: Little dholakia

The complexity of dholak (Indian drum) playing did not hinder Arnav Chand’s little fingers from giving it a try. The belief that little children cannot play dholak perfectly was proven wrong by Arnav. Originally from Rambisessar Rd, Sawani, Nausori, he is known as the youngest dholakia in the community. Arnav, 7, is a Year 2...

Labour leader questions disparity in fuel prices on Garden Island

Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry has questioned the disparity in fuel prices on Taveuni and the rest of Fiji. He said it was unfair that people living on the Garden Island were forced to pay 35 cents a litre more for all types of fuel. “They feel cheated considering that the price per litre...

Burned out and abused: French COVID-19 testers strike over work conditions

PARIS (Reuters) – Hundreds of workers at COVID-19 laboratories in France went on strike on Thursday, a trade union said, angry over poor working conditions as the coronavirus testing system buckles under huge demand. The hard-left CGT union said the strike was disrupting testing in some towns and could drag on if laboratory owners failed...

Former ministers call for a committee of inquiry

Two former Fijian education ministers have called on the Education Ministry to establish a committee of inquiry to look into the grievances of students at Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS). Opposition parliamentarian Ro Teimumu Kepa said the ministry needed to urgently resolve the impasse. She said closing the school and acting “in a high handed manner”...

Burned jaguars, fire tornadoes: Blazes in Brazil wetland deliver climate warning

POCONÉ, Brazil (Reuters) – A fire has been burning since mid-July in the remote wetlands of west-central Brazil, leaving in its wake a vast charred desolation bigger than New York City. A team of veterinarians, biologists and local guides arrived in late August to prowl the bumpy dirt road known as the Trans-Pantanal Highway in...

Countries can end COVID-19 by working together in solidarity – Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Minister

In the Declaration on the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations, governments and heads of state acknowledge that only by working together in solidarity can countries end the pandemic and effectively tackle its consequences. This has been the message shared by Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Jaushieh...

Moore: This is wrong

All foreign companies contracted for road maintenance projects must abide by Fiji’s labour laws, says Fiji Roads Authority chief executive officer Jonathan Moore. He made the comments in response to a statement by contractor China Railway No.5 Engineering Group Fiji Co that they were not familiar with “Fiji’s labour laws” when they sent home more...

Uganda reverses forest destruction by inviting in … loggers

KALAGALA, Uganda (Reuters) – For decades, farmers hungry for land and families needing firewood whittled away at Uganda’s forests, home to endangered gorillas, elephants and chimpanzees. Now the decline has reversed, thanks to a government policy that relies on loggers to help protect trees. Private companies are developing timber plantations as buffers next to protected...

‘MOE still rebuilding schools’

The Ministry of Education is still rebuilding schools four years after Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston made landfall in Fiji. This, according to Education Minister Rosy Akbar while commissioning new school classrooms at Naivicula District School in Wainibuka, Tailevu. Ms Akbar said Government spent more than $220 million in their rebuilding process. She said a total...

Fiji’s Registrar of Political Parties request meeting with NFP accounts team, auditor

Fiji’s Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem has requested a meeting with the National Federation Party’s (NFP) accounts team so issues identified by the verification team are conveyed to all parties. Mr Saneem called for the meeting this afternoon after receiving confirmation that the NFP had appointed an auditor – recognised by the Fiji Institute...

Training plane reports landing incident on Kadavu

A Cessna training plane went off the runway on Kadavu this morning. Pacific Flying School chief executive officer Tim Joyce said there were no injuries. “I can confirm a landing incident,” Mr Joyce said. He said inspectors from the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji had departed Nadi for Kadavu to inspect the plane.

Delta taps $9 billion in financing against loyalty program

(Reuters) – Delta Air Lines <DAL.N> said on Thursday it is raising $9 billion, $2.5 billion more than its previous estimates, through new bonds and loans backed by its SkyMiles loyalty program, as it attempts to strengthen its coronavirus-roiled finances. U.S. airlines have cut costs and raised debt to survive what they call an unprecedented...

Agreement signed for waste collection service

Residents, businesses and informal settlements in the Nasinu area will receive regular and efficient waste collection service from next Monday, says Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development Premila Kumar. She said this was made possible after the Suva City Council (SCC) and the Nasinu Town Council (NTC) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA)...

Israel closes schools again as COVID-19 cases surge

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel closed its schools on Thursday, a day before entering a second national coronavirus lockdown, as daily infections topped 4,500. The initial lockdown was imposed in late March and eased in May, when the number of new cases dropped to about 20 a day. Israeli leaders have acknowledged they lifted restrictions too...

Parliament – Small Grant Scheme funded 171 projects since 2018

The Small Grant Scheme (SEG) has funded a total of 171 projects at a combined cost of $12.6million. This was revealed in a written response provided by Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama following a question raised by Opposition MP Mosese Bulitavu in Parliament querying statistics and costing on projects funded by small grant project allocation...

Teenagers feared drowned are brothers; yet to be found

The two brothers believed to have drowned in Lautoka are students of Tilak High School. They have been identified as Shivnil Singh and Shelvin Singh. It is understood they did not go to school and joined a group of other students to spend the day the Saweni picnic spot. Initial searches conducted by Police and...

‘Big Guns’: Top Funding for FijiFirst

The FijiFirst party has been mostly funded by “big guns” of the local business community. This, according to Labasa businessman Charan Jeath Singh who claimed he received a list yesterday containing the names of donors from the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) after he made a formal request. He said he could not release a copy...

White House suggests Congress pass standalone bill to help U.S. airlines

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Giving U.S. airlines $25 billion in aid over the next six months could save more than 30,000 jobs, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters on Thursday after meeting with the companies’ top executives, suggesting lawmakers approve a separate assistance package for the struggling corporations. Congress has been deadlocked over...

Child injured in felling accident; police investigate

Fijian Police are investigating an incident where a four-year-old girl sustained injuries by a tree allegedly felled by military engineers near her home at Wailailai Settlement in Suva last week. Police spokesperson Savaira Tabua also confirmed a report had been lodged with Police regarding the incident. “Investigations are still ongoing. If any progress, I will...

NFA commends public response to new 910 emergency line

National Fire Authority (NFA) chief executive officer Puamau Sowane says it is encouraging to see the public acknowledge the new 910 fire emergency number that officially launched last week. Mr Sowane said the authority was grateful that the 910 emergency line was finally reaching the public and feedbacks were being provided. A letter writer to...

EU details energy savings and renewables push to reach tougher climate target

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union needs to hike its renewable energy and energy saving targets, according to its analysis published on Thursday of how the bloc could make deeper emissions cuts this decade. The European Commission wants the EU to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, against 1990 levels,...

New law to protect Thai fishermen seen boosting child labour

BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Teenagers could work as unpaid interns on Thai fishing vessels in a proposed change to the law that activists fear will encourage child labour. An amendment to a ministerial regulation – aimed at protecting workers – underwent a public hearing on Thursday in answer to years of global criticism over...

Fiji Navy musical band commissioned

The Republic of the Fiji Military Forces Navy band was commissioned at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua this morning. RFMF Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto said the event would add on to their rich history. “Today, on display as the RFMF Navy band is a direct product of the RFMF band,” Cmdr Naupoto said....

Teenagers believed to have drowned at Lautoka picnic spot

Two teenagers are believed to have drowned at a picnic spot in Saweni, Lautoka. They are high school students who had gone to the picnic area with a group of other students. Family, friends and Police officers are now looking for the missing students.

WHO says more than 170 countries have joined COVAX vaccine facility

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – More than 170 countries have joined the World Health Organisation’s COVAX global vaccine plan to help buy and distribute immunisation shots for COVID-19 fairly around the world, the body’s director general said. “More than 170 countries have joined the COVAX facility, gaining guaranteed access to the world’s largest portfolio of vaccine candidates,”...

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