PINA

The Chair of the Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN) has confirmed that the smuggling of illicit drugs within the region continues to increase, tracing its roots back to South America. The effect of this has been noticed in Samoa with larger quantities of methamphetamine being seized at a more frequent rate. In an exclusive interview with Samoa newspaper at the conclusion...

A motion of no confidence was lodged and registered Friday by the Opposition bloc, moved by Johnny Koanapo, Member of Parliament for Tanna Constituency, and Malekula MP Gracia Shadrack, to remove the Speaker of Parliament. Vanuatu's opposition leader, Bob Loughman, has filed an urgent court hearing challenging the decision of the Speaker Seoule Simeon last Wednesday to not accept their...

The Pacific region's focus will shift briefly to Port Vila this week when Vanuatu hosts the heads of governments from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and the leader of the FLNKS of New Caledonia for the 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders' Summit. The regional sub-group had met on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in July...

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday during a visit to the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant that he has urged the operator to prioritise safety ahead of the planned release of treated radioactive water stored at the facility into the sea. With fishermen remaining concerned over how their businesses could be affected by the move, Kishida also told reporters that...

The Pacific Met Week, comprising of the Sixth Pacific Meteorological Council Meeting (PMC-6), the First Development Partners and Donors Engagement Meeting and the Third Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology (PMMM-3) in Nadi Fiji, has ended with Government Ministers reaffirming their commitment to strengthen weather, climate, water, ocean and related development services in the Pacific. The aspirations of Pacific Ministers are...

The Pacific will not entertain boomerang aid. This was the sentiment of the University of the South Pacific’s Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia to the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) delegation during the launch of the new Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership-Pacific. Ahluwalia said the Pacific has had enough of the boomerang aid that is often married into many donor-funded...

Marking a significant achievement, Operation Island Chief, a comprehensive surveillance initiative led by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), successfully concluded its mission last week. This operation, covering an expansive area of 18.2 million square kilometres of FFA Member EEZs and high seas, demonstrated the power of collaboration in protecting the Pacific region from illegal fishing activities. FFA Director General,...

In a robust display of maritime commitment, U.S Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam's Fast Response Cutters conducted four patrols over 44 days, enhancing safety and prosperity in the Pacific Islands region while combatting illicit maritime activity, including illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing and the illegal and unsafe transport of passengers. The crews of USCGC Frederick Hatch (WPC 1143), USCGC Myrtle...

Journalists from across the Pacific boosted their knowledge and skills together to harness the immense power of the media to drive transparent and accountable governance through impactful reporting on the use of public finances. The four-day Regional Media Engagement Workshop concluded on a resounding note, forging stronger collaborations among the economic journalists in the Pacific. The workshop, held from 15...

Spain have won the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first ever time, following a deserved 1-0 victory over European champions England in the Final in Sydney. A first-half goal from Olga Carmona was enough to settle a tense final at Stadium Australia, in which Spain also had a penalty saved in the second half. It was England who arguably had...