PINA

Fijian President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere today paid a courtesy call to the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog at his residence in Tel Aviv. Expressing his pleasure at the visit, President Herzog said Fiji has always been a friend of Israel and the state visit is testament to the relationship of the two countries. President Katonivere on the other...

Samoa is the first of five Pacific nations that a high-ranking U.S Government official will visit this week, the U.S State Department has announced. U.S Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will travel to Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Australia, and New Zealand. “The Deputy Secretary’s travel to the region reflects the United States’ commitment to engage meaningfully with fellow Pacific nations...

Fiji’s national carrier, Fiji Airways is suspending flights to Honiara for the month of August. A message from Fiji Airways to its passengers says flights for the month of August have been temporarily suspended following inspection, assessment and confirmation of inadequate runway conditions at Henderson International Airport. The runway at Henderson International Airport has not been resurfaced for many years and...

The Pacific Regional Law Enforcement Conference(PRLEC) this week facilitated new discussions on effective leadership, the implications of money laundering, and the legal frameworks in place to respond to transnational crime. Pacific leaders were challenged to think about how existing networks can be better utilised to build relationships and share information. Stemming out of this conversation was an emphasis on the...

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama today had the opportunity to meet with the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris where they discussed the U.S, Fiji and Pacific engagements at the White House in Washington DC. As chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Prime Minister Bainimarama conveyed his appreciation to Vice President Harris for her virtual engagement...

Solomon Islands Opposition Leader Matthew Wale has lashed out at the Prime Minister’s decision to remove the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) as a State Owned Enterprise (SOE). In a statement, Wale said this is yet again another scheme orchestrated by the Prime Minister to curtail activities of SIBC as the voice of the nation and people of Solomon Islands. The...

A revival in tourism is expected to boost economic growth in the Pacific in 2022 and 2023, but the COVID-19 pandemic, rising commodity prices, and climate change continue to pose risks, according to the Asian Development Bank. After an average economic contraction of 0.6 percent in 2021, ADB’s Pacific Economic Monitor (PEM), released today, says the Pacific is expected to...

Coalition talks have begun in earnest, with the governing Cook Islands Party (CIP) confident they have the edge in the race. Meanwhile, the final count with special and postal votes that should shine light on the tied Ngatangiia seat will happen sometime next week. says chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua. The count could find a winner for the constituency that has...

The Solomon Islands’ government has prompted outrage by ordering the censorship of the national broadcaster, forbidding it from publishing material critical of the government, which will vet all stories before broadcast. On Monday the government announced that the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC), a public service broadcaster established in 1976 by an act of parliament, would be brought under government...

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has met with the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres where they discussed the need for greater urgency by the world’s leaders in tackling climate change, and accelerating COVID- 19 recovery efforts amongst other important global issues. At the meeting, Prime Minister Bainimarama thanked Secretary-General Guterres for his efforts to broker the export of wheat and...