Author: TMC Palau

Items remaining after fire incident The National Fire Authority says action can be taken against those who interfere with fire investigations by removing damaged structures before officers complete their assessments. NFA Chief Executive Officer Sowane Puamau raised the concern when he appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs. Presenting the NFA’s response to the Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2026, Puamau said fire scenes must be preserved until officers complete their assessments. He said removing damaged structures too soon can affect the NFA’s ability to determine the cause of a fire and prepare reports required for insurance claims.Article continues…

The son of a man allegedly murdered by a US-based hitman is on the run after escaping police custody in Tonga. Source link

Two former police officers have been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of raping a 17-year-old girl in Savusavu. High Court judge Justice Lee Burney delivered the sentence at the Labasa High Court today, saying the offending was a serious abuse of authority and public trust. The court heard that on the night of April 12 last year, the two men were on mobile patrol in Savusavu when they instructed the victim to enter their police vehicle. Justice Burney said the officers drove the victim to a secluded area, where they raped her on the back seat of…

Rubbish causing blocked drains Rubbish dumped into drains is making its way into irrigation systems, contaminating sugarcane fields and threatening farming communities, the Ministry of Agriculture has warned. The issue was raised during public consultations on the Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2026, where farmers’ concerns over waste pollution and blocked waterways came under scrutiny. Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Andrew Tukana told the Standing Committee on Social Affairs that illegal dumping is affecting waterways that connect directly to farming areas. He said waste from municipal drains can flow into streams and rivers, creating problems for communities downstream.Article…

In the last fortnight the Australian government has loudly celebrated the signing of two new security treaties in the Melanesian region. The first, the Nakamal Agreement, was signed with Vanuatu, with both prime ministers meeting before the assembled parliamentary press in Canberra on 29 June 2026. The second, the Ocean of Peace Alliance, was signed with Fiji on 6 July. Australia’s motivation for signing these security agreements has always been clear: they reflect its broader strategic interest in maintaining its regional security role to the exclusion of other international players (read China). What has been less clear is the cost…

[File Photo] The Suva High Court has permanently stopped the criminal case against former journalist Charlie Cobham Charters. Charters was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption with two counts of aiding and abetting over the alleged publication of official FICAC information on his Facebook account. The case was set to go to trial in the Suva Magistrates Court in September. However, the High Court ruled the charges could not continue, finding the prosecution case had major legal issues.Article continues after advertisement The Court found FICAC had failed to identify who Charters allegedly aided and abetted. It also raised…

Three boating incidents have been reported in Papua New Guinea waters.At least 26 people were reported missing after two boats capsized last Saturday, 18 July.They were reportedly voyaging on two boats from Pangpang Island in the Duke of York group to Kokopo, the capital of East New Britain.Eight bodies have been recovered as of Friday morning (NZ time).Separately, Bougainville’s President Ishmael Toroama said three Bougainvilleans remain unaccounted for after another maritime incident that same day.PNG’s Post Courier newspaper reported a passenger boat carrying nine people reportedly capsized on 15 July while travelling from Muliama to Anir Island, leaving six missing.East…

[Photo: FILE] Climate advocate Adi Sivoki Oripa Susu is calling for greater investment in nature-based solutions, saying mangrove restoration is essential to protecting Fiji’s coastal communities from the growing impacts of climate change. She says mangroves play a vital role in strengthening coastal resilience by protecting shorelines and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Adi Susu warns that climate change is not only damaging the environment but also threatening the culture, identity and livelihoods of coastal communities. She says rising sea levels are causing the loss of ancestral land, which also means the loss of cultural heritage and traditional knowledge passed…

Team Fiji Basketball 3×3 rep, Bulou Tuisue. [Photo: TAINA BASIYALO] More than 15 years after first wearing the Fiji jersey, Bulou Tuisue is preparing for another career milestone – leading the nation’s women’s 3×3 basketball team onto the Commonwealth Games stage for the very first time. The 35-year-old captain believes Fiji’s early arrival in Scotland has already paid dividends, giving the squad valuable time to recover from the demanding journey and adapt to the new time zone ahead of competition. While Tuisue is one of the newest members of the team’s 3×3 programme, having only taken up the fast-paced format…

Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa. [Photo: FILE] The Health Ministry will now work to ensure that HIV allocated funds are fully utilised. Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa has stressed this following concerns raised to the Ministry regarding the redeployment of HIV funds. Considering that there is now a dedicated HIV taskforce, according to Ravunawa, the unit will have its own funding to operate and combat the spread of HIV and STIs in the country. He stressed that while HIV infections continue to rise, particularly among young people aged 15- 35, it is still manageable and preventable with proper…