PINA

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...

Marika Koroibete hopes to take his electrifying game to even greater heights after clinching a second John Eales Medal as Australian rugby's Player of the Year. Despite only playing nine Tests in 2022, the Japan-based flyer became the sixth Wallaby to win the award on multiple occasions, having first taken it out in 2019. In the poll voted on by Australia's...

Fijian Drua will return to full strength this week with the return of key players against the Blues in this Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific at Churchill Park in Lautoka. Coming off the injury list are Captain Meli Derenalagi, winger Eroni Sau and halfback Frank Lomani. Head Coach Mick Byrne said it is positive to have the experienced and key players back. “Dume...

- Burdened by increasing plastic waste, the world is working towards a legally binding treaty to address this global issue across five international meetings. Our international community is being tasked with developing an agreement ready for action by the end of next year through the International Negotiating Committee (INC). The first International Negotiating Committee was held in Uruguay in November 2022...

New Caledonia's largest pro-independence party has been told that France is panicking and afraid of losing New Caledonia. The head of the Caledonian Union Daniel Goa briefed the party in Koumac after a week of meetings of a cross-section of New Caledonian politicians with the French government in Paris earlier this month. Goa said Paris kept reneging on earlier undertakings by...

A new head of the European Union Delegation to the Pacific to be based in Fiji has been announced by Josep Borrell, the vice-president of the European Commission. Barbara Plinkert will replace Sujiro Seam, who has been appointed European Union ambassador to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Plinkert was the head of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Southeast Asia...