Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Fiji's Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum were questioned by police
The two men who have dominated the Fiji political landscape in the last 16 years have been questioned by the criminal investigations department (CID) in Suva.
Former prime minister Frank Bainimarama and former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum reported at the CID headquarters just after 3pm local time on Tuesday.
Fiji Police chief of intelligence, investigations and prosecution Sakeo Raikaci, who is the acting assistant commissioner, said both men were being questioned for allegations of abuse of office with regards to a separate report lodged earlier.
Fiji opposition leader Frank Bainimarama criticizes the new coalition government and prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka for its policies and actions since taking power on Christmas Eve in 2022. Monday 13 February 2023 Photo: Fiji Parliament
Police say more is to be released at a later date.
France grants loan to SLN nickel company
New Caledonia's SLN nickel company has been granted a $US43 million loan from the French state to stave off insolvency.
SLN is New Caledonia's largest company, employing about 2000 people directly and a further 8000 indirectly
The decision to lend more has been announced by the French finance ministry after coordination with Eramet, which is the main shareholder in SLN.
Last month, it was reported that $US63 million was being readied to rescue SLN but the company said it had not been advised of it.
In 2016, SLN had been given a $US600 million loan from its parent company Eramet and the French state, which was drawn down over six years.
Complaint filed against the head of Fiji's anti-corruption agency
Fiji's elections office has filed a complaint to the President against the head of the country's anti-corruption agency.
In a statement, the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) said it has lodged a report against the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) commissioner Rashmi Aslam "for failing to declare a conflict of interest" with former elections supervisor Mohammed Saneem.
The FEO said due to the alleged conflict of interest its complaint to FICAC against Saneem for abuse of office 'could be compromised'.
It said it is also concerned about the speed at which the anti-corruption office is conducting its investigations.
The election body says it "no longer has confidence" in Aslam in doing his job properly.
New Caledonia beaches closed
Beaches south of New Caledonia's capital city Noumea will be closed until February 16.
It follows two shark attacks and now the ongoing impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle.
The Noumea City Council said the sea condition is restless and dangerous with debris floating in the water.
High swell warnings remain in place until this evening.
Use of weed killer at detention centres in Samoa banned
Samoa's Coroner, Alalatoa Rosella Papalii has banned the use of the weed killer paraquat at all three detention centres in Samoa.
TV1Samoa reports the recent death of a man serving life imprisonment for the murder of his wife, allegedly from consuming paraquat, has prompted the ban.
The Coroner wants an inquiry into how the paraquat found its way into the Tanumalala Prison and into the possession of the prisoner.
She wants the inquiry to be handled by an independent person, or maybe an organization like the Ombudsman's Office.
Starlink satellite equipment confiscated in Vanuatu
All Starlink equipment in Vanuatu will be confiscated until the internet service provider gets a licence to operate in the country.
The company owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, uses low orbit satellites to provide fast internet to remote areas.
Starlink is not allowed to provide any internet services to Vanuatu until it's given government approval to operate.
A spokesperson for Vanuatu's telecommunications regulator said Starlink products were not allowed to be imported or offered for sale, under the country's regulator act.
The spokesperson said Starlink is working with the Vanuatu government to obtain a licence.
AIDS cases climbing in Fiji
The Fiji Ministry of Health says cases of the chronic immune system disease AIDS are climbing.
The latest figures for Fiji show 147 new cases were recorded last year.
Fiji Reproductive and Family Health Association spokesperson, Benito Sigaveivola told FBC there are currently 1553 active cases in the country.
"According to the statistics that we have received from the Ministry of Health, HIV and AIDS have increased in numbers, so the launching that was done in December, the first of 2022, we received 1553 new cases."
Sigaveivola said a health awareness campaign has been implemented.
Vanuatu's PM visits Australia
Vanuatu's Prime Minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau started a three-day tour of Australia yesterday.
It's the first visit by a Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu since 2018.
The Guardian reports, Kalsakau is joined by his trade and business minister as well as his agriculture minister.
Prior to Kalsakau's departure, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said trade, security, people-to-people links and climate would be discussed.
Drug operation in Tonga ends with large meth haul
Tonga Police seized a firearm and large amounts of methamphetamine from four suspects during an operation conducted.
Police said three drug raids took place in the space of 24 hours.
The operation ended with the arrest of three men along with the seizure of over 39g of methamphetamine, drug utensils and one rifle with live ammunition.
The operation is one of many conducted over the last decade to curb the sale of methamphetamine in the kingdom.
Police look into the death of a child at a resort in Fiji
Fiji Police are investigating the death of an eight-year-old child at a Denarau Island resort.
Police told the Sydney Morning Herald, they suspected the boy, who lived in Sydney but was a New Zealand citizen, died of electrocution.
He was found motionless near a flower garden at the hotel last Thursday evening.
A spokesperson from the resort says they are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and cooperating with police.