Seven tourists taken to hospital in Fiji after drinking cocktails at resort bar

Published

2 days ago

December 16, 2024

admin

Seven foreign tourists have been taken to hospital after drinking cocktails at a five-star resort in Fiji, authorities have said.

Australians are among the tourists who became ill after drinking at the Warwick Fiji resort on the south coast of Viti Levu island on Saturday, Fiji’s government said in a statement.

Local media reports suggest an American tourist is also among those who were taken to hospital.

The group were treated for nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms, said Jemesa Tudravu, a Fijian health ministry spokesperson.

Two people remain in hospital and are conscious and in a stable condition, Fiji’s Tourism Minister Viliame R Gavoka said.

Four others were discharged on Monday and one on Sunday.

The cause of their illnesses are not known and officials have said it is too soon to know if tainted alcohol was involved.

Mr Gavoka said no other reports of similar illness have been recorded at the resort or across Fiji.

“The resort management has assured us that they have not engaged in practices such as substituting ingredients or altering the quality of drinks served to guests,” he said.

Police in the South Pacific nation are leading an investigation into the incident and have ordered toxicology tests and are awaiting the results.

It comes after six foreign tourists, including a British woman, died after consuming contaminated alcohol in Laos last month.

The Fijian government said in a statement that this is an “extremely isolated incident, affecting only these seven guests at a specific bar within the resort”.

It continued: “While we understand the concern, we want to emphasise that the tourism experience in Fiji is typically very safe, and we have acted immediately to try and discover the cause of what made these guests, at this resort, fall ill.”

Mereisi Makutu, the front office manager at the resort, told Fiji’s state broadcaster it was also investigating the incident.

“Our main priority at the moment is to look after those guests that are in hospital at the moment,” she told the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation.

David Sandoe, an Australian who said his daughter and granddaughter were hospitalised, told Sky News Australia on Monday his relatives had been cleared for discharge from hospital.

Australia Treasurer Jim Chalmers told a news conference consular officials were helping those impacted along with their families.

“We are thinking of the friends and family of the people who are affected. This is no doubt a very distressing time for them,” he said.

The Australian government has updated its travel advice for Fiji to flag dangers of drink-spiking, and warned Australians more generally about the risk of alcohol poisoning when travelling.

World

Looking Back at 2024: A World in Turmoil

Published

19 mins ago

December 18, 2024

admin

Looking Back at 2024: A World in Turmoil

👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈

In this special episode, Richard and Yalda take a look back at the biggest world news stories of 2024.

From reporting on the frontlines of Ukraine and Lebanon, to witnessing the election of Trump in Washington, Richard and Yalda have criss-crossed the planet covering global events.

They take a look back at the most significant stories they have reported on, answer some listener questions and discuss what countries and conflicts they will be watching in 2025.

To get in touch or share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk.

World

Former Australia rugby boss Alan Jones denies sex charges against 10 males

Published

19 mins ago

December 18, 2024

admin

Former Australia rugby boss Alan Jones denies sex charges against 10 males

A well-known former boss of Australia’s national rugby team has denied dozens of sex charges against 10 males.

Alan Jones – who was also a radio presenter for many years – appeared in court for the first time since his arrest last month.

The 83-year-old is accused of 34 charges of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, sexual touching without consent and common assault.

Some of the complainants are as young as 17 and police said the alleged offences happened between 2001 and 2019.

Jones wasn’t asked to enter a plea during Wednesday’s hearing in Sydney but afterwards told media he would fight the claims at trial.

“I am certainly not guilty and I’ll be presenting my account to a jury,” Jones said.

“These allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth. I have never indecently assaulted these people. I am emphatic that I’ll be defending every charge,” he added.

Police charged Jones with 24 offences related to eight males on 18 November, prompting two more complainants to come forward.

His lawyer, Bryan Wrench, told the judge his client welcomed a jury trial so he could clear his name.

“There have been many… untruths published by the media and the police in this matter,” Mr Wrench said.

Jones coached the Wallabies – Australia‘s rugby union side – for four years from 1984, winning 86 of his 102 matches.

He went on to host a popular morning radio show in Sydney from 2002 until 2020 and was highly influential in the media.

Jones was also known for his conservative politics and once worked as a speechwriter for Michael Fraser, who was prime minister for eight years until 1983.

He’s been free on bail since his arrest last month.

An administrative hearing in the case is now scheduled for 11 March.

World

Israel denies reports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks

Published

19 mins ago

December 18, 2024

admin

Israel denies reports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has rejected Reuters reports that he is heading to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks.

The news agency earlier said that a deal is expected to be signed in the coming days, citing sources briefed on the meetings.

However, his spokesperson messaged journalists to say: “The prime minister is not in Cairo.”

Mr Netanyahu has today visited Mount Hermon on the Syrian side of the border.

While there, he said Israeli troops will occupy a buffer zone inside Syria for the foreseeable future – and “until another arrangement is found that will ensure Israel’s security”.

Meanwhile, Hamas said a Gaza ceasefire deal is possible but only if Israel did not set new conditions.

This comes after the number of deaths in Gaza in the Israel-Hamas war, according to Palestinian officials, passed 45,000 people this week.

Despite the denials, reports hint at deal optimism

If Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way to Egypt, or planning to go, it would be seen as a significant development in ceasefire talks.

The denials from his office, and on Egyptian state television, suggest it isn’t true, although the reports themselves, so far only from Reuters, are a sign of optimism that a deal could be nearing.

Little has leaked from recent talks, an indication no one wants to jeopardise this opportunity, but there have been reports from all involved that the two sides are getting closer to an agreement.

When this might happen is unclear. Some have suggested within days, but the White House said on Monday night that they hoped it could be finalised before the end of the month, suggesting there are still small areas of disagreement.

It’s understood that Hamas has softened on its demand that Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza before any hostages are released. That would be a major hurdle removed.

But the identity of the Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange is still being negotiated, as is the status of the IDF in Gaza beyond the initial two to six week first phase of a ceasefire.

White House spokesperson John Kirby has said in an interview with Fox News the US believed the parties were getting closer to the long-awaited ceasefire.

He told the broadcaster: “We believe – and the Israelis have said this – that we’re getting closer, and no doubt about it, we believe that, but we also are cautious in our optimism.

“We’ve been in this position before where we weren’t able to get it over the finish line.”

Mr Kirby did not respond when asked if Mr Netanyahu was travelling to Cairo for talks.

Egyptian state-affiliated al Qahera News TV also refuted claims of Mr Netanyahu’s trip to Egypt, citing an “informed Egyptian source”.

Mr Netanyahu was supposed to originally be in court on Tuesday over his ongoing bribery and fraud trial, but on Monday he was given an exemption for proceedings citing exceptional circumstances – without any details being made public.