The Fiji Times
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FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica will be reinstated to his Cabinet post after the Suva Magistrate’s Court acquitted him of all corruptionrelated charges yesterday afternoon. Resident Magistrate Charles Ratakele dismissed the perjury and...
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Miracle at sea
A FIJIAN medical team stranded at sea for 36 hours on a wooden plank was miraculously rescued after a mysterious light guided a search vessel directly to them. Captain Adriano Rabolabiu of the Lomaiviti Princess XII diverted to assist the search,...
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Ocean heat alert
PACIFIC nations have been placed on high alert following a stark United Nations warning of unprecedented ocean warming, with sea surface temperatures surging nearly 3 degrees Celsius above normal. Rising temperatures are expected to threaten island...
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From to joy
endeavours at all times to publish articles which are accurate and fair. If you have a complaint about a report that appeared in publication please write to Complaints, GPO Box 1167, Suva Fiji; email: [email protected] or fax to 3301521.
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Missing six found
A SIX-MEMBER medical outreach team missing for more than 24 hours in the treacherous Lau waters was dramatically rescued last evening. The team — comprising a medical officer, dental officer, charge nurse, peer educator, health inspector and dental...
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NCD crisis
EVERY 8.5 hours, a Fijian loses a limb to diabetes, while seven people die every day from heart attacks linked to the country’s worsening noncommunicable disease crisis. New Ministry of Health data paints a grim picture of an epidemic that is no...
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Call to block porn
CALLS to block online pornography have surfaced again as authorities battle a horrifying rise in domestic sexual offences. Citing a rise in family-related violence, a Nadi based police of cer reported that a community meeting advocated for...
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$500m reform package
FIJI is positioned to secure a major $F500million ($US230m) fiscal package from the World Bank and AIIB, aimed at strengthening public finances and building a more lucrative environment for privatesector growth. Finance Minister Immanuel Esrom...
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Laws hurt iTaukei rights
THE legacy of more than 30 laws introduced under the previous government continues to undermine iTaukei rights and institutions, says Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa. Speaking after the Rewa Provincial Council meeting last week, she called for...
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Clash over sugar plans
A FRESH political clash has erupted over the future of Fiji’s sugar industry, with former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry accusing Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of failing to understand the sector amid plans to privatise the Fiji Sugar...
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US: STRAIT OF HORMUZ OPEN
THE US military launched a 13th night of consecutive strikes against Iran, US Central Command has announced, and claimed the Strait of Hormuz remained open despite the threats posed by Tehran. “US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces successfully...
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16-year rule haunts iTaukei
SIXTEEN years of “damage” inflicted by the policies of the previous government still haunts the iTaukei community today. Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa said this as she called for urgent attention to unresolved issues involving iTaukei identity,...
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Cash for trash
OVER $680,000 was released into the local economy in the first six months of this year alone from the collection of 7.5 million PET bottles and aluminium cans. This, according to data released yesterday by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), which...
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‘Please send in the army’
SEND in the army. That’s the plea of Ba cane grower, Arvind Singh, who is urging Government to deploy military personnel to sugarcane farms. He says a crippling labour shortage has stalled manual harvesting and threatens local sugar supplies. He...
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Tudravu sounds warning
ONLINE threats and racial incitement will not be tolerated. The warning from Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu follows the arrest of a man over an alleged post threatening to burn Suva. Police say those spreading violent or hateful content online...
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Welcome in style ...
Reigning Miss Bula Alumeci Davu leads the welcome dance during the opening night of the Bula Festival at Prince Charles Park in Nadi.
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A final at home
THE McDonald’s Fijian Drua Women are one step away from creating more history after powering into their rst-ever Super Rugby Women’s home nal next Saturday. The Drua delivered a commanding 31-5 victory over Queensland Reds at Churchill Park in Lautoka...
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Six years, no resort
SIX years after leasing their land for a promised luxury resort, traditional landowners of Vatulele say their patience has run out. Claiming the site remains largely undeveloped, they are demanding $2million in compensation from Vatulele Hotels Pte...
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‘Never by the gun’
NO rule by the barrel of a gun. That’s the submission of the Vanua o Lau to the Constitutional Review Commission where it called for limits on the military’s role – and saying Fiji’s democracy must never be governed by force. It recommended that...
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Call for special audit
CALLS are growing for a special audit of the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) amid allegations of waste and mismanagement. Yesterday, Opposition MP Viam Pillay said FSC had become a “monument of mismanagement”, receiving millions in taxpayer support while...
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‘Coke’ find scare
A COCAINE package that washed onto a beach has left villagers living in fear and reignited concerns that Fiji’s coastline is becoming a gateway for international drug traffickers. The package, found at Mau Village between Suva and Navua, tested...
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Sugar’s hard truth
CANE farmers around the country have been fooled with the possibility of reviving the sugar industry. Finance permanent secretary Shiri Gounder told the Dialogue Fiji National Budget Forum in Nadi that taxpayers would ultimately pay billions of dollars...
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Brothers’ gritty win
THE TISA Insurance Covenant Brothers overcame a fierce Lomaiviti Black outfit to win 17–14 in the semi-final of the FMF Suva Rugby Union’s Escott Shield competition at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last night. In a intensely contested semi-final match,...
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RAIL CAN SAVE FIJI SUGAR
For more than a century, Fiji’s sugar industry survived on one fact: Cane moved from field to mill free of charge. Rail did that work under the Master Award, carrying over 70 per cent of the crop for free while lorries handled the rest, on tributary...
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Speight breaks silence
FOR the first time since leading the 2000 coup, George Speight has publicly explained why he overthrew the elected government, saying the Mahendra Chaudhry-led coalition’s policies and proposed legislation drove his actions. In a candid submission to...
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Sugar talks bring hope
PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has signalled possible relief for sugarcane farmers, saying the Government hopes to return with “better news” after examining industry costs and payment rates. The announcement came during consultations with growers in...
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Australian warning on missile test
CHINA’S planned sea-based missile test in the Pacific this week has drawn a sharp warning from Australia, which says the exercise risks undermining regional stability and the Pacific’s shared vision of an “Ocean of Peace”. Australia’s Foreign Minister...
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Defence pact
FIJI has entered a high-stakes defence pact with Australia, signing the “Ocean of Peace Alliance” in a move that locks the two nations into a mutual defence commitment across the Paci c. Under Article 6, an attack on either country is treated as a...
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Hunt on for kill suspects
A VILLAGE is in shock, and police are hunting for a group of men following the brutal death of a Ra villager. The victim was allegedly assaulted by fellow villagers earlier this week, only to be rushed to the Nayavu Health Centre on Thursday when his...
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Fields of despair
THE backbone of Fiji’s historic sugar industry is on the verge of collapse as high transport costs, and the closure of tramlines leave a devastating trail of abandoned, empty fields across the Western Division. Sowani Veremalua Tovata, a...
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The defining storyli
WHEN the groundbreaking Nations Championship kicks off this weekend, international rugby enters a bold new frontier. Every summer tour and autumn test now acts as a high-stakes group match, building toward a spectacular three-day, multi-game Finals...
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‘Remove immunity’
THE Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has made a historic submission to the Constitutional Review Commission, calling for the removal of immunity provisions in Fiji’s 2013 Constitution with Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai saying Fiji...
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Bitter start
A BITTER start marked the delayed opening of Fiji’s 2026 sugar crushing season as the industry suffered a double blow on day one. Operations at the Lautoka, Rarawai, and Labasa mills ground to a near-halt because of a severe shortage of cane and sudden...
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Rise of women in the force
THE Fiji Police Force is breaking barriers with 1253 women officers, including 81 in senior leadership roles. Following the release of a new Gender Barrier Assessment Report in Suva, Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu pledged to continue promoting...
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‘Decision imminent’
PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has signalled that a decision on the future of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai is imminent, as the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) weighs submissions ahead of his...
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$1billion shortfall
THE Government will borrow a staggering $1.4billion in the 2026-2027 financial year to plug a $1.045billion net budget deficit, repay maturing debt and bankroll major capital projects as it grapples with what officials describe as an economic...
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Party unveils poll hopefuls
THE Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) has taken its rst major step towards the next general election, unveiling 23 candidates as it seeks to rebuild under leader Aseri Radrodro. The line-up blends experienced politicians with new faces,...
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Budget’s true
For more updates visit our website www. jitimes.com FOR now, the success of Government’s latest national budget (FY 2026-2027) theme: “A responsible budget for a sustainable future” will have to remain on the shelf as a possibility that may or may not...
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ON THE MOVE
Members of the Third Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment on a route march from Wailoku early yesterday morning as part of Day 4 of Infantry Week activities in Suva.
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Focus on real needs
THE Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) is warning against the use of public funds for political gain as the country moves closer to the next general election, urging Government to focus the national budget on the real needs of ordinary...
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Fuel subsidy backlash
A $5MILLION government fuel subsidy has sparked intense debate over the survival of Fiji’s sugar sector as Bucaisau Cooperative president Firoz Ali warns the relief excludes rail-reliant farmers, forcing many to delay harvests amid soaring production...
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Maritime drug crisis
FIJI could be breeding a dangerous new generation of drug dealers if immediate, funded action is not taken to combat the maritime narcotics crisis, warns Tui Nayau Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara. Demanding an urgent meeting of the National Security...
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Officers under probe
THREE Labasa police officers are under investigation for allegedly accepting a bribe from a suspect held in custody. The snap bribery probe ordered by Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu after a fellow officer blew the whistle has triggered a...
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Tight contest!
Labasa’s Rex Naime tries to make his way through the Navua defence during the second day of the 2026 BIC Fiji FACT tournament at Subrail Park in Labasa last night. Both teams were locked nil-all at halftime when this edition went to press.
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Ready to serve
... Police Constable Jekope Viaviaturaga, recipient of the prestigious Baton of Honour, dedicated his achievement to his family after joining the force to inspire positive change and combat crime in his home village of Loa, Cakaudrove on Vanua Levu.
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Another WC upset
PORTUGAL forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s two second-half misses against the Democratic Republic of Congo and a mostly anonymous display did little to dissuade those who feel he is past his prime and not the man to lead his country to World Cup success....
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MESSI MAGIC
LIONEL Messi scored three goals in his team’s 3-nil win over Algeria at the FIFA World Cup in USA yesterday. Messi, appearing in his sixth World Cup, became the tied all-time FIFA World Cup top goal scorer with Miroslav Klose on 16 goals each.
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Drug fight boost
WITH illicit drugs continuing to wash up on Fiji’s shores and concerns growing over trafficking routes through the Lau Group and other remote maritime areas, efforts to strengthen surveillance at sea have taken on greater urgency. Against this...
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Reject coup makers
UNITY Fiji leader Savenaca Narube has vowed to remove constitutional immunity provisions and urged Fijians to stop electing coup makers, declaring that accountability and leadership reform would be central to his party’s election campaign. In a...
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Narube attacks Aiyaz, Biman
UNITY Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube has criticised former minister Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum and current Minister Professor Biman Prasad, stating that both failed to move Fiji’s economy forward based on economic data. Speaking on The Fiji Times’ online...
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Islands on drug watch
Drua fight back ... McDonald’s Fijian Drua Women player Josivini Naihamu in action against Western Force during their Super W match at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday. The Drua Women edged the Force Women 29–24. THE waters around Lau have been...
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Crisis hits students
FIJI’s fuel crisis may now be reshaping the school academic year. A Ministry of Education circular directing schools to complete all curriculum by the end of Term 2 has triggered questions over what remains for Term 3 and whether students will return...
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Army role set out
THE death of Jone Vakarisi serves as a critical turning point for Fiji’s security forces, prompting clearer operational roles between the military and police. Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua says the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) is now...
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Ali flags rising debt pressure
GOVERNMENT’S ability to support the economy during periods of slower growth is becoming increasingly constrained as public debt and government spending continue to rise, says Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor Ariff Ali. Speaking at the State of the Fijian...
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194 intern doctors left in limbo
A TOTAL of 194 intern doctors across Fiji face an anxious, uncertain future as delays in official postings leave them in professional limbo. Labasa Hospital’s intern representative Dr Maca Ratabua warns that the crisis spans Suva, Lautoka, and Labasa,...
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Hope for minor offence convicts
A CONVICTION for a minor offence committed decades ago can continue to haunt a person long after they have served their punishment, shutting them out of jobs, overseas opportunities and a fresh start. Now, Fiji is taking a bold step to change...
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Drug fight setback
FIJI’S fight against the growing drug epidemic is being hampered by a severe shortage of mental health specialists, with just 10 doctors at Saint Giles Hospital tasked with providing specialist mental healthcare for the entire country.
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Nth heading into 7s finale
for the series as it continued to unfold onward into the World Championships afterwards and this season. Having been in the job for more than a year and understanding an evolving team like the Fijiana, Walker affirmed in January this year how the...
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Sa’ar on protesters
The Fiji Times Facebook Page ISRAELI Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says pro-Palestinian protesters are driven by an agenda to “destroy the Jewish state”, while also defending Israel’s military operations in Gaza and blaming Hamas for civilian...
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PRIME MINISTER SITIVENI RABUKA: No troops for Israel
FIJI will not send troops or become involved in any of Israel’s ongoing con icts, says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, drawing a clear line between friendship and military engagement. The assurance as Israel opened its embassy in Suva yesterday, comes...
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Call for early medical attention
KADAVU residents are delaying treatment until conditions become critical. Mata ni Tikina o Tavuki, Viliame Laugasau, says too many patients are arriving at medical centres were already in severe condition, limiting treatment options and increasing the...
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Fuel, gas prices soar
FIJIANS woke up to the highest fuel prices in history today. Driven by Middle East geopolitical tensions, the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) confirmed massive hikes. Motor spirit and diesel face the biggest increases, with both...
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No time to mourn
“IT is a sad reality we are living in.” That is how mata ni tikina o Tavuki in Kadavu, Viliame Laugasau described the situation facing families on the island, where residents have been forced to bury their loved ones on the same day they die because...
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Fiji eyes strong Valla
THE spotlight is once again on the Fiji national rugby sevens team and the Fiji women's national rugby sevens team as both teams compete in the inaugural Valladolid Sevens in Spain, a tournament that could prove crucial in shaping the direction of Fiji...
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One for pride
15 GAMES down and now just one to go. Sadly, the Fijian Drua won’t be contesting the play-offs, and tonight’s clash with the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane will bring down the curtain on their fth season. Unfortunately, they didn’t...
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Child sold for sex claim
A DESPERATE call to rescue a teenage girl allegedly being prostituted by her own family was made at the Nasinu Women’s Forum yesterday. Margaret Bennion alleged the girl was being sold for cash by her mother and said repeated appeals to Child Helpline...
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Drugs on wheels
ALLEGATIONS that police vehicles are being used in drug-related activity surfaced at a women’s meeting in Lami yesterday, raising fresh concerns over corruption within enforcement agencies. Lami Police crime prevention officer Tevita Qounadovu Nawatu...
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MPs get telling-off
MEMBERS of Parliament copped a rare public rebuke yesterday when Speaker of Parliament Filimone Jitoko blasted the MPs for chronic absenteeism, lateness and failing the people who elected them. Opening Parliament yesterday, he gave them a dressing...
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Tip-off leads to drug raid
A JOINT counter-narcotics operation in the Western Division yesterday targeted alleged drug-related activities at a residential property in Legalega, Nadi. The raid was conducted at about 9am by the Joint Counter Narcotics Task Force comprising...
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HIV fight under threat
FIJI has sounded an urgent warning to the world that climate change is fueling a dangerous public health crisis, with cyclones, flooding and supply disruptions now threatening the country’s ability to contain soaring HIV and tuberculosis...
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All on the line
WORLD Rugby has launched a bold new six-year strategy to unite rugby and grow investment into the sport. A plan by the game, for the game, it sets out a clear, ambitious, and realistic plan to ensure rugby continues to thrive within a rapidly changing...
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PM’s move sparks mixed reactions
PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s decision to defer the long-awaited local government elections until after the next general election has sparked mixed reactions, with Government defending the move as an economic necessity while ratepayers and business...
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Nations unite
PACIFIC nations have launched an unprecedented regional push against organised crime, warning that drug trafficking, money laundering and cybercrime are outpacing national borders and overwhelming isolated policing efforts. This, after regional...
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Race against time
PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Government is racing to avert possible nationwide power rationing as it works with Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) ahead of a critical May 22 deadline over fuel recovery support. EFL has warned that failure to secure...
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Babies face eye damage
MORE premature babies in Fiji are developing serious eye damage after COVID, with some requiring injections in both eyes to prevent blindness, according to Island Medical Centre director and consultant ophthalmologist Dr Shereen Aiyub. Speaking at the...
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