Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency amid a spike in infections as the Pacific nation grapples with a correlating rise in methamphetamine use.

The country’s health and medical services minister, Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, said in a statement on social media that an outbreak-level response was no longer sufficient to address what he described an “epidemic”.

“Today I am formally declaring a national health emergency in Fiji,” he said. “This decision recognises the seriousness of the epidemic and the urgent coordinated response our country now needs.”

The health minister said the government estimates that one in every 60 adults in Fiji is now living with HIV.

“Five years ago, the estimate was one in 167. In 2025, we recorded 2,060 new HIV diagnoses,” he said, adding that one in 50 pregnant women has HIV.

The emergency declaration followed on from a cabinet decision on 9 September and would require a coordinated response, he added.

Home to less than one million people, the Pacific nation is facing one of the sharpest increases in new HIV infections globally, according to UNAIDS, which said that new infections spiked 12-fold between 2010 and 2025.

Fiji’s location as a drug-running hub coupled with the escalating use of methamphetamine locally has fuelled the rapid spread of HIV, a situation worsened by unsafe injecting and a lack of access to clean needles. Low health awareness, cultural stigma and inadequate testing and treatment have exacerbated the crisis. 

Among HIV cases in Fiji with a known mode of transmission, over half were linked to sexual transmission and more than 42% to injecting drug use, according to UNAIDS.

Of an estimated 9,100 people living with HIV in Fiji in 2025, only 39% were aware of their HIV status and only 22% were accessing antiretroviral treatment, the UN said.

Responding to the emergency declaration, UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima said in a statement on Wednesday that the situation was a “a stark reminder to the world that AIDS is not over”.

“HIV epidemics can change quickly, and countries need health and community systems that are ready to respond urgently,” said Byanyima. “Fiji has recognised the urgency of the moment and is stepping up its response.”

The UN agency said it welcomed plans to introduce a needle and syringe programme, with legislative amendments expected to go before parliament, as well as efforts to expand prevention, testing and access to treatment. (The Guardian)

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Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a four-day visit, accompanied by his spouse, Suluweti Rabuka.

He was welcomed at the airport by Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar.

In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed Rabuka and said that his visit will deepen the India-Fiji partnership across diverse sectors

“Warm welcome to PM Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji as he arrives in New Delhi on his first visit. PM Rabuka was received by MoS Education & DoNER Sukanta Majumdar at the airport. The visit will further deepen the India-Fiji partnership across diverse sectors,” Randhir Jaiswal said.

Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, accompanied by his spouse, Suluweti Rabuka, will visit India from August 24 to 27, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The visit will begin in New Delhi, where the Prime Minister Rabuka will be received at IGI Airport, after which he will have a meeting with a Cabinet Minister. On August 25, Rabuka will lay a wreath at Rajghat before meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, which will be followed by an exchange of MoUs and press statements. He will then call on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Continuing his engagements, on August 26, the Fijian leader will deliver a lecture at Sapru House, organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs. The visit will conclude with his departure from Delhi on August 27.

The upcoming engagement also followed recent high-level exchanges between the two countries.

India’s links with Fiji commenced in 1879 when Indian labourers (‘Girmitiyas’) were brought there under the indenture system to work on sugarcane plantations. Between 1879 and 1916, around 60,553 Indians were brought to Fiji. Beginning in the early 20th century, Indian traders and others had also started arriving in Fiji. In 1920, the indenture system was abolished. Before Fiji’s independence in 1970, India had a Commissioner since 1948, who was later upgraded to High Commissioner after independence. (ANI)

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Members of the Indian diaspora and Fijian community gathered at the High Commission of India in Suva to pay tribute to the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

The solemn ceremony saw heartfelt floral offerings and prayers for those who lost their lives in what has been described as the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Fiji’s Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Hon. Agni Deo Singh, attended the event to express his condolences. Swami Sanyuktanand of Fiji Sevashram Sangha also offered prayers for the victims, condemning the brutality of the attack.

Indian High Commissioner Mehta reaffirmed solidarity with the victims’ families, stating,“We stand united against all forms of terrorism and in unwavering solidarity with the victims’ families.”

Earlier, Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Biman Prasad joined Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in condemning the attack and extended Fiji’s support to India, saying, “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish a swift recovery to those injured. Fiji stands with India in this time of sorrow.”

The 22 April 2025 attack, carried out by Islamist terrorist, killed 26 men and injured more than 20 others, primarily targeting Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir.

Indian authorities have linked the incident to Pakistan-based terror networks, with The Resistance Front, a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba group, claiming responsibility.

Following a high-level security review chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government cited clear “cross-border linkages” and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, promising retribution “beyond their imagination.” (Australia Today)

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In a groundbreaking milestone for the Tamil language in  Fiji and the Pacific region, the Tamil Teaching Programme was officially launched today.

Funded by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and implemented in collaboration with the  Fijian Ministry of Education, the Fiji Government, and TISI Sangam, this initiative seeks to preserve and revitalise one of the world’s oldest classical languages.

Two Tamil teachers from India will be stationed at Sangam schools in Rakiraki and Labasa to educate and inspire future generations. This marks a significant step forward in promoting Tamil culture and language among Fiji’s South Indian diaspora.

The Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam (TISI Sangam) was founded in 1926 in Nadi by Sadhu Kuppuswamy, an indentured labourer turned spiritual leader. Influenced by Swami Vivekananda and other Indian saints, Sadhu Kuppuswamy dedicated his life to uniting Fiji’s South Indian community and fostering cultural and linguistic heritage. The organisation, initially centred around the iconic Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple in Nadi, has grown into a cornerstone of South Indian identity in Fiji.

Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s Minister for External Affairs, has been a strong proponent of cultural preservation. Last year, during his visit to the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple last year, he committed to assisting with language and cultural education in Fiji. The introduction of Tamil teachers is a direct outcome of these discussions.

By strengthening ties between Fiji and Tamil Nadu, it ensures the survival of Tamil language and culture in Fiji for future generations. (Australia Today)

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The Board of Directors at the South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPX), the licensed operator of the stock market in Fiji has announced the appointment of Sri Lankan Sheraj Obeyesekere as its Chief Executive Officer with effect from June 2024. The appointment places the new CEO of SPX (34) among the youngest Chief Executives in the Stock Exchange industry. 

Sheraj holds 12 years of experience in the corporate sector, having worked across multiple industries including roles at a global banking and financial services knowledge outsourcing firm, a big 4 professional services firm, an Australian Managed IT Services provider, the licensed Stock Market Operator in Sri Lanka and most recently the governing body for the sport of Cricket in Sri Lanka. 

His journey to leadership in capital markets commenced at the Licensed Stock Market Operator in Sri Lanka, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in 2016 where he progressed from the position of a Senior Executive to Head of Special Projects as part of the CSE CEO’s Office.  During his tenure at CSE, he was involved in multiple areas at the exchange including promoting investments into Sri Lankan equities locally and internationally, the promotion of CSE’s listings platforms, branding, media relations, the digitalization of internal operations, advocacy & community engagement, fostering local and international partnerships, stakeholder relations and other futuristic special projects covering Market Data Monetization, Revenue Optimization, Governance of the Exchange & Demutualization, ESG investing and reporting, Government Relations, Employee Experience and Women Empowerment.

The SPX is Fiji’s only securities exchange, licensed by the Reserve Bank of Fiji under the Companies Act 2015. It facilitates capital raising in the primary market and offers a fair, transparent platform for secondary market trading. The SPX is a private company with eight shareholders constituted by its Articles of Association and operates under the direction of its Board of Directors. The SPX has two wholly owned subsidiary companies; Central Share Registry Pte Limited (CSRL) and the SPX Trustees Limited (SPXT).

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