PINA

More than half the world is being left behind at the midpoint for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told Ambassadors in New York on Tuesday. Launching a special edition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) progress report, he warned that their collective promise made in 2015 of a more green, just and equitable global...

New Ireland Province’s aspiration of attaining autonomy is slowing coming into fruition with the first reading on the proposed amendment to the Constitution on Autonomy which is expected to go through the next session of Papua New Guinea Parliament. Veteran politician and New Ireland Governor, Sir Julius, will present the amendment bill and is hopeful the House will give their...

“Saying No to single-use plastics” is not enough, much more must be done by our global community to address the plastic crisis we now face. Recognising this, the UN Environment Assembly passed a resolution in February 2022 to develop a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution including that within our marine environment. This must be completed by the end...

Contaminated cough syrup made by an Indian company has been found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday, after a spate of child deaths linked to similar syrups in some countries last year. The WHO statement did not say whether any children in the Marshall Islands or Micronesia had fallen sick. But it said...

The Pacific Islands Forum has developed the Blue Pacific 2050 Strategy, which is a bold growth plan for our region. It lays out a thorough and well-rounded strategy for tackling the many difficult problems we face, such as climate change. Manoa Kamikamica, Fiji’s deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade said investing in disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation can be...

The SUN FLOWER 7, a fish carrier sailing under the flag of South Korea, was recently denied permission to unload a tuna catch of over 4,000 kgs, estimated to be worth 250 million baht (US$7.2 million), in Bangkok. However, subsequent Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) investigations have revealed this was not an isolated incident. EJF investigations have revealed this was not...

Vanuatu is set to be the pilot country for a new database that will improve insights on trade to enable better policy and business decisions. Vanuatu’s Director of Customs and Inland Revenue, Harold Tarosa and SPC Director of the Statistics for Development Division, Peter Ellis, signed a Data License Agreement on 21 April at the Oceania Customs Organisation’s Workshop that...

By Anthony Bergin It’s surprising that there’s almost nothing in the Defence Strategic Review about the Pacific Islands or our strategic interests in Antarctica. The review looked north but not south or east. Where else will Defence Minister Richard Marles’s aim to develop “impactful projection” be needed if not to deter China in the Pacific? With their militarily useful locations, ports...

With less than seven months to go before the Honiara 2023 Pacific Games, the Pacific Games Council is pretty confident that the Solomon Islands will successfully deliver the Games. “Facilities are being built but will be ready for the Games, with time to spare. We believe the Games will be delivered successfully,” said council CEO Andrew Minogue to Saipan Tribune. Minogue’s...

K12.1 million (US$3.44 million) for the Pacific Games in Honiara has been approved by Cabinet last Thursday, says Papua New Guinea Sports Minister Don Polye. “The Cabinet of Prime Minister James Marape has approved a K12.1 million (US$3.44 million) in support for the preparations of the Games in Honiara and also to prepare for the Olympic,” he told the South...