PINA

By Samantha Magick The new Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni says the support expressed for his office and appointment from Pacific Islands regional agencies, is good news for ocean governance, and for him personally. The decision to create a stand-alone Office of the Pacific Ocean Commission (OPOC) in Palau and appoint a dedicated Commissioner, was driven by political expediency; the...

By Samantha Magick Discharge of treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan is expected to begin on Thursday, 24 August, weather and sea conditions permitting. The Japanese government has asked the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) to promptly proceed with its preparations for process. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last month issued a report that...

Japan has said it will start releasing more than one million metric tonnes of treated radioactive water from the devastated Fukushima nuclear power plant on 24 August, despite concerns among neighbouring countries, including China, and local fishing communities. The plan, approved two years ago by the Japanese government, is seen as crucial to the decommissioning of the nuclear power station,...

Four nations, one prize: the chance to play at February's FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai beckons for one of Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Fiji, or Tonga. The OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup 2023 kicks off in Papeete on Tuesday local time (Wednesday NZT) with the first of three match days before the final on Saturday August 26 at 4pm...

There is no Israel Folau in the 'Ikale Tahi's Rugby World Cup 32-member squad list released by the Tonga Rugby Union in Nuku'alofa on Monday night. Folau, a former star for the Wallabies, has not recovered from a knee injury that has kept him out of action since playing for Tonga against Australia A in early July. Outside back Telusa Veainu...

Australian taekwondo coach Bianca Scurry has claimed that Honiara has many problems to address before the 2023 Pacific Games. Scurry travelled to Honiara in Solomon Islands in May to coach and mentor the nation's taekwondo teams. She conducted training sessions at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport as part of preparations for the Games. Back again in the island nation, Scurry...

The Government of Japan announced today that it requested Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) to promptly proceed with its preparations for the discharge into the sea of ALPS treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, in accordance with the implementation plan approved by Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority. If there is no interference due to weather...

The Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) expresses our concerns regarding Australia's eagerness to secure early support for its bid to host COP31. Australia, through its Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen MP, will host a dialogue with Pacific Island nations on 23 August 2023, seeking early commitments of support for its COP31 nomination. While PICAN acknowledges the...

As the calls continue to call for local and international action to reject the discharging of wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan into the Pacific Ocean, Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says the controversy is on the agenda of the Pacific Islands Forum. While speaking during the Pacific Small Islands Developing States High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change,...

Days after United States Congressional leaders and executive branch officials told Marshall Islands leaders there was "no more money" for nuclear test compensation, the U.S Senate passed legislation expanding nuclear compensation to more Americans in the US mainland and Guam. The Senate legislation seeks to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990. This law currently provides compensation to American Downwinders...