The Fiji Times

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

‘Stop or face the law’

DRUG dealers in the Western Division have been warned by Republic of the Fiji Military Forces Joint Taskforce Black Rock Camp Commander Brigadier General Manoa Gadai that no one will be spared by the law. Following the official launch of the Joint...

Fiji’s risky trend

A SILENT health crisis is tightening its grip on Fiji’s younger generation. New findings from the Ministry of Health reveal alarming increases in smoking and alcohol consumption among young adults, raising fears about the nation’s future...

Time to deliver

Legacy lives

THE story of the Girmitiyas remains one of the most heartbreaking chapters in the history of the Pacific. Drawn from India by promises of work and opportunity, thousands of labourers crossed dangerous oceans only to face years of suffering on...

Nothing to fear

THE police and the military have one mission, and that is to dismantle drug networks and restore public safety through intelligence-led joint operations now expanding across the country. Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said this as he called on...

Act now on youth

FIJI risks losing a generation of young people to unemployment, drugs and social instability unless urgent action is taken to create meaningful jobs and opportunities. World Bank economists yesterday warned that at least 19 per cent of Fijian youths...

‘Social media not lawless’

SOCIAL media is not a lawless space. That is the warning from Online Safety Commissioner Filipe Batiwale as serious allegations against senior members of the Fiji Police Force continue to circulate online, initiated by an Australian social media...

‘We are at fault’

“WE are at fault, and we must be accountable for that.” Those were the sobering words of RFMF Commander Ro Jone Kalouniwai following the death of Jone Vakarisi in military custody — a statement that has placed accountability, discipline and public...

Goodbye!

ACROSS Fiji today, many mothers will wake to flowers, laughter and family celebrations. But inside several homes, Mother’s Day has arrived with silence and heartbreak. Two weeks after nine fishermen vanished at sea, their families continue to wait...

Pending evidence

SERIOUS questions were raised in the High Court in Suva yesterday over the way police were handling the alleged murder case of police constable Peniasi Racagi, after key evidence remained outstanding months after charges were laid. Presiding judge...

Money delays relocation

“BIG boxes” packed with investigation les linked to 11 senior police officers could take prosecutors more than seven months to comb through, before it is known whether criminal charges will follow. The les, submitted to the Office of the Director of...

$47m fuel help

AUSTRALIA has given $A30million ($F47m) in budget support to help Fiji respond to the current fuel crisis and support wider Pacific fuel supply resilience. The assistance comes as the region faces rising fuel prices linked to global disruptions, with...

FAMILIES OF 9 MISSING FISHERMEN PREPARE FOR FAREWELL RITES

FAMILIES of the nine men lost at sea near Kadavu are now facing a heartbreaking truth. Their loved ones are not coming back. They have begun preparations for the traditional farewell rites, but grief hangs heavy over the families, many still...

Divided loyalty warning

THERE is no room for divided loyalty, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces warned soldiers. Commander Land Force Brigadier General Onisivoro Covunisaqa told troops last Friday that loyalty was non-negotiable and betrayal will be crushed. He said the...

Chief Justice raises alarm

CHIEF Justice Salesi Temo says putting politicians in charge of choosing the Commissioner for FICAC would be “the biggest disaster”. His warning came before Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka con rmed that a recommendation is now before the Constitutional...

QVS claims glory

QUEEN Victoria School won the boys division title after a 33-year lapse at the Coca-Cola Games Championship which ended at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday. It was a close call in the end as the Tailevu school edged defending champion Marist...

FIJI, AUSTRALIA AND ISRAEL

OPINION

Order in Suva City

SUVA’S streets are growing quieter. Security personnel across the capital say the number of loiterers and street dwellers in the Central Business District has dropped noticeably over the past week, a shift many link to the ongoing joint operation by...

Fuel supply ‘stable’

Picture: SUPPLIED GOVERNMENT has issued another assurance that Fiji’s present fuel stocks are adequate and supply remains stable under normal operating conditions. Parliament was told yesterday that the country’s total fuel stock available on land...

IN POLICE CUSTODY

• - 6pm, 8pm Deluxe at Village 6; 6pm, 8pm at Village 4; 6pm Premium, 8.30pm at Damodar City; 8.30pm Deluxe at Damodar Cinemas Labasa. • 5.30pm Deluxe at Damodar Cinemas Labasa; 8pm at Damodar City; 5.30pm at Village 4. • The Devil Wears Prada 2...

Weight of duty

PARLIAMENT united in prayer and support yesterday for Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua, whose daughter, a police officer, lies in critical condition at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital after a violent, drug-related pursuit in Laqere, Nasinu early...

‘In the dark’

KELEPI Komaisavou could not identify his alleged abusers when he was held in a dark room at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua, Suva, where he was taken alongside four others including the late Jone Vakarisi. Mr Komaisavou claimed he was forced to...

Drua chasing consecut

n REUTERS Haereiti Hetet Zuriel Togiatama Mesake Doge Mesake Vocevoce Temo Mayanavanua (co-c) Etonia Waqa Kitione Salawa Isoa Tuwai Frank Lomani (co-c) Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula Manasa Mataele Virimi Vakatawa MaiBkyaGTRuEiGtuCbLAoRuK Taniela...

Free heart surgery

FOR years, heart patients in Fiji have faced a harsh reality — pay thousands to seek treatment overseas or go without lifesaving care. That will soon end. A free, dedicated adult heart surgery facility by the Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian...

‘Cries for mercy’

THE drugs are secure. Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said this as he pushed back against mounting speculation over the handling and risks posed by the $1billion cocaine haul seized at Vatia Wharf early this year. He dismissed claims of tampering...

More taken in

MORE drug suspects are being hauled in for questioning as Police, backed by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, intensify a sweeping nationwide crackdown targeting illicit drugs and the proceeds of crime. Authorities have seized substances and cash...

Security alert

THE Republic of the Fiji Military Forces needs to strengthen its security systems following revelations of unauthorised arms in Fiji, says Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua. This follows the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) recent con rmation of...

Fuel cost a threat — Biman

FORMER Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad warns that rising global fuel costs threaten Fiji with imported inflation, weakened business confidence, and reduced household purchasing power. He urges accelerating the transition to renewable energy...

Death by injuries

THE late Jone Vakarisi did not die of any pre-existing medical condition as earlier suggested by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces while in their custody. Newly-verified medical findings now point to severe injuries as the cause of death, raising...

Tell the ‘truth’

“WE deserve the truth!” This was the call from the grieving families of four individuals who were taken in by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces as part of a national security investigation, one of whom is now dead. Jone Vakarisi, 36, died in...

FIJIANS OR FIJI ISLANDERS?

THESE last few weeks the Great Council of Chiefs has stirred up the hornets’ nest by calling for the term “Fijian” to be reserved for indigenous Fijians only and that citizens in general be called “Fiji Islanders” as in the 1997 Constitution. Prime...

Baptism of fire

By VEREIMI WARA

Global siren on

THE global siren for preparation is now live, said regular The Fiji Times columnist Dr Sushil Sharma as worst case scenarios of the impact of the war in the Middle East on economies begin to emerge across the world. On Monday, Reserve Bank of Fiji...

Tourism downturn

THE backbone of Fiji’s economy, tourism, is bracing for a sharp downturn as escalating conflict in the Middle East threatens to disrupt global travel flows and raise operating costs. New projections in the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2026 by the...

Recession fears

FIJI is staring at an economic recession in the face if the war in the Middle East drags on for longer than six months. This was among the possible scenarios outlined by Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) governor Ariff Ali at yesterday’s launch of the Asian...

$263m on NCDs

FIJI is teetering on the brink of a catastrophic health crisis as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) claim 80 per cent of deaths and drain $263 million annually from the economy. A new Asian Development Bank report demands urgent reforms, warning that...

Fiji’s history in briefcase

IT is easy to overlook him walking through town, his grip rm on a weathered briefcase that time seems to have forgotten. But the contents of the old man’s fading bag will surprise you. They are fragments of Fiji’s colonial past, from the early days...

Sef Fa’agase Brandon Paenga-Amosa Misinale Epenisa Franco Molina Jeremy Williams Nick Champion de Crespigny Jack Daly Vaiolini Ekuasi Henry Robertson Ben Donaldson Dylan Pietsch Bayley Kuenzle Hamish Stewart George Bridge Mac Grealy

In-form winger Darby Lancaster injured his ankle while scoring in Brisbane, so George Bridge shifts from centre to the wing, allowing Hamish Stewart to start in the No. 13 jersey. Fullback Mac Grealy was impressive last week and will be looking to...

Every citizen is a ‘Fijian’

EVERY citizen of Fiji is Fijian. This is the position of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka as debate intensi es over national identity. Responding to the Great Council of Chiefs’ proposal to reserve “Fijian” for iTaukei, he called for careful, inclusive...

PM moves to cut costs

PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has ordered sweeping austerity measures, slashing ministers’ pay by 20 per cent and grounding overseas travel for politicians, permanent secretaries and civil servants. In an address to the nation last night, he...

Death drain

SUVA’S Tacirua East is mourning its third drain-related fatality. An 18-year-old student was swept away by strong currents while attempting to wash her shoes last Saturday. Meanwhile, heavy rain bands and strong winds associated with Tropical Cyclone...

Fuel price debate

A SENIOR international economist has ignited a strong debate, claiming “something is amiss” with Fiji’s staggering April 1 fuel price increase. Sydney-based expert Dr Kishti Sen warns that the 21 per cent surge at the pump de es established logic,...

Father drowns, children orphaned

RESURRECTION Sunday church service for four children of Votua Village ended on a sad note, with the passing of their father and sole breadwinner, Gaberieli Walu, relayed to them by relatives. Mr Walu is believed to have drowned while attempting to...

US FIGHTER JET SHOT DOWN

WASHINGTON - A US ghter jet was shot down over Iran and search-and-rescue efforts have so far recovered one of two crew members who ejected, a US official told Reuters, in the rst known incident of its kind in the nearly ve-week-old war. The Pentagon...

Victory of God over death, sin

EASTER celebrates freedom from slavery; victory of God over death and sin. Jews and Christians remember God’s saving and liberating acts. Moses led Israel to freedom from slavery. Jesus died and rose from the dead. He passed over sin and death and...

BEYOND THE LIMITS

PATRICIA Naisara didn’t step into leadership expecting a global pandemic to rede ne what it meant. But in some ways, that is what happened. A part of Leadership Fiji 2020 cohort and Westpac Fiji staff member, Patricia joined the program during a...

Fiji’s HIV strategies ‘outdated’

FIJI’S HIV prevention strategies are outdated and ineffective. Principal medical officer for Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Dashika Balak, said this while warning that traditional approaches had...

Phone in a body

A FIJIAN prisoner underwent emergency surgery after hiding a mobile phone inside a body cavity, which overheated and partially melted, causing severe internal injuries. Fiji Correction Services’ Isireli Dausiga warned families and visitors that...

6 front court, denied bail

Richard Mock’s mother Seraphine Mock in tears outside the Nadi Magistrate’s Court. Pictured on the left are the six police officers who allegedly assaulted 35-year-old Richard Mock to death at the Namaka Police Station last year, who appeared at the...

Law change ‘top priority’

Full report JUSTICE Minister Siromi Turaga has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to amending the 2013 Constitution before the upcoming elections, labelling it a primary mandate. Highlighting the necessity of reform to maintain public trust, Mr...

Make or break!

■

Mock case file heads to police

A YEAR after Nadi man Richard Mock allegedly died in police custody, the case le held by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions since May 2025, is nally set to return to police today, acting DPP Nancy Tikoisuva has conrmed. Mock is alleged...

Rent scandal hits council

NEW allegations have hit the Fiji Sports Council over the renting of Council office space to a law firm owned by the brother of suspended CEO Gilbert Vakalalabure. A whistleblower alleges that Rokoika & Vakalalabure Lawyers, a law firm owned by Tevita...

Vatia 5 out of jail

FOUR accused in the Vatia cocaine bust — Iliesa Cokanasiga, Jonathan Hill, Sunia Kobululevu Vakaloloma, and Travis Cheer — were granted State immunity and released on bail by the Ba High Court yesterday. Meanwhile, prosecutors sought permission to...

Biman: Risks real

RISING global tensions in the Middle East could trigger economic ripple effects that may reach Fiji’s shores, with potential impacts on infrastructure projects, tourism and the cost of living. National Federation Party leader and former Minister of...