Author: TMC Palau
Fijians can expect additional relief measures in the 2026–27 National Budget, which will be announced on the 26th of next month. Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel confirmed that the budget will include support measures aimed at protecting households, businesses, and the wider economy. He said the Ministry is currently engaging with multilateral development partners, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, to secure additional financing for the upcoming financial year. Rising fuel costs and ongoing uncertainty linked to the US–Iran conflict continues to place pressure on Fiji’s economy.Article continues after advertisement “The government has commenced…
Fiji Police Chief Rusiate Tudravu has reaffirmed that the force’s approach to combating drugs is focused strictly on criminal activity, and not the nationality of those involved. His comments come amid concerns raised by Pacific leaders at a regional policing summit about the possible involvement of Chinese criminal groups, including the 14K Triad, in regional drug trafficking networks. Speaking at the summit, Tudravu said intelligence and transnational crime units are actively monitoring suspicious activities linked to foreign drug trafficking groups. “This is not only the main way. There are other highways around the world; once we deal with this, they…
Ba FC have stormed into second place on the Extra Premier League standings after a devastating 7-0 win over Nasinu FC at Govind Park this afternoon. The emphatic result saw Ba produce a ruthless attacking display, running riot from start to finish to secure a vital three points in the title race and push their points tally to 20. The victory sees Ba leapfrog Lautoka FC, who had briefly moved into second earlier in the round following a strong 5-1 win over Tailevu Naitasiri FC. Lautoka had set the early pace in Round 10 with a dominant second-half performance.Article continues…
National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad. [Photo: FILE] Do not to be distracted by fake social media attacks, misinformation and politically motivated bloggers whose objective is to create division, confusion and negativity. This was the message from National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad to to a large audience of members, supporters and branch officials who attended the NFP Rewa Branch meeting at Vunimono High School on Saturday. He said despite the misinformation and fear campaigns spread by the previous government about social welfare assistance and scholarships being removed, the Coalition Government has instead strengthened and improved these programmes…
Auckland FC celebrate their OFC Pro League victory over South Melbourne. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport Auckland FC made it a triple celebration, as the OFC Pro League – the Oceania Football Confederation’s first-ever professional league – wrapped up at Eden Park on Sunday. The home team defeated South Melbourne 2-1 in the final. A Daniel Normann smacker, floated over South Melbourne goalkeeper Javier Diaz Lopez put them up 1-0 in the first half, before substitute Matt Ellis slotted one home in the second. Normann was subsequently named Player of the Match, saying the players had worked hard over the last six…
The Consumer Council of Fiji says the Alternative Dispute Resolution process should be fully managed under its mandate, as it is better placed to handle smaller consumer complaints more efficiently. While presenting its submission to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission 2023–2024 Annual Report, Chief Executive Seema Shandil says the current system could be improved through a clearer division of responsibilities between agencies. She says the Council’s complaint process is simple, involving receiving complaints, contacting retailers, and mediating to resolve issues before escalation. “As I said, we could put a ceiling or threshold,…
[Source: Fijian Drua/Facebook] The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua fell 19–15 to the Western Force in a tight contest in Perth last night, a result head coach Glen Jackson says came down to one crucial moment in a match his side could have won. Jackson says it was always a difficult assignment away from home, but he was proud of the effort shown by his players despite the season already being effectively decided after results elsewhere ended their finals hopes. He also pointed to a key decision late in the match that denied his side what could have been a decisive…
Force wing Zac Lomax is tackled against Fijian Drua. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images Robbed. That was how former ‘Flying Fijian’ and world sevens star Waisale Serevi described the Fijian Drua’s 19-15 Super Rugby Pacific loss to Western Force in Perth on Saturday night. Serevi asserted Mac Grealy’s final pass for Zac Lomax’s try in the corner was way forward, and should have been reviewed by referee Paul Williams and video official Aaron Paterson. TV commentators even said they could not believe how the late Force try was allowed, when they reviewed on screen. Grealy was on the five-metre mark when…
[Source: Reuters] At least 86 children have died from confirmed measles infections in Bangladesh this year, and another 426 with symptoms consistent with the disease, health officials said on Saturday, as the country battles one of its worst outbreaks in decades. Cases have spread rapidly in recent months, overwhelming hospitals and placing severe strain on already fragile healthcare services, particularly in rural districts and densely populated low-income urban areas. Health authorities have identified 62,507 suspected measles cases nationwide as well as 8,494 laboratory-confirmed infections between March 15 and May 23, data from the Directorate General of Health Services showed. Children…
[Source: Reuters] Indian state-owned fuel retailers raised petrol and diesel prices for the third time this month, dealers said on Saturday, as the companies look to recoup losses caused by elevated crude oil prices amid the Iran war. Petrol in New Delhi will cost 0.87 rupees (just under 1 U.S. cent) more at 99.51 rupees a litre, while diesel prices will be raised 0.91 rupees to 92.49 rupees per litre, dealers said. India, the world’s third-largest importer and consumer of oil, was one of the last major economies to raise retail fuel prices after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran triggered…