PINA

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...

Lima Sopoaga made a strong debut for Manu Samoa, helping the side to a 28-14 win over the Barbarians in Brive, France at the weekend. The match were among pre-Rugby World Cup warm up matches across Europe at the weekend. Selected at flyhalf for Manu Samoa, ex-All Black Sopoaga showed glimpses of his old self, kicking two penalties and a conversion...

Flying Fijians went down 34-17 to France in their Rugby World Cup warm-up test match in Nantes Sunday. The host mounted pressure from the beginning and took early control of the game. Les Bleus opened up a 16-3 advantage through Peato Mauvaka’s try and three Melvyn Jaminet penalties. Caleb Muntz got the first three points for Fiji before Tevita Ikanivere scored...

Pacific Ministers attending the third Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology (PMMM-3) in Nadi, Fiji, have been urged to stand in solidarity to strengthen weather, climate, water, ocean and related development services in the context of sustainable development. The call comes from Fiji’s Minister for Public Works, Communications, Transport and Meteorological Services, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, who opened the third gathering of Ministers...

Weather-related disasters and climate change impacts are unravelling the fabric of society in the South-West Pacific. Sea level rise threatens the future of low-lying islands whilst increasing ocean heat and acidification harms vital and vulnerable marine ecosystems, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2022 report provides...

Tonga is hosting the Regional Preparatory Meeting of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS), that opened this week. About 70 international delgates are gathered to prepare for the 4th International Conference on SIDS, to be held in May next year. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) include low-lying coastal countries that share similar sustainable development challenges, including small population, limited resources,...