Pacific Islands

Transport Infrastructure

Panama removes more than 650 vessels from its registry amid sanctions and stricter rules

Panama's Maritime Authority said that it has removed more than 650 ships from its registry since 2019, as part of a campaign to comply with U.S. sanction and enforce stricter regulations for the vessels it flags. The authority said that since last year, 214 ships have been removed from Panama's register, which is among the largest in the world with over 8,500 vessels. Once removed from the registry, ships cannot sail under Panamanian flag. Panama has responded to criticism from non-governmental group United Against Nuclear Iran. UANI, which said last week that Panama had taken insufficient action against sanction violations...

Transport Infrastructure

ADNOC's logistics equip transfers tankers to Navig8, will cut some personnel after takeover

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's logistics arm has actually transferred its tankers to Navig8 after it purchased 80% of the company for more than $1 billion and will cut part of its labor force, the state oil giant said in a. statement. ADNOC Logistics & & Services, which raised nearly. $ 770 million in an initial public offering in 2023, stated in June. it was purchasing Singapore-headquartered Navig8 as part of its. growth method. ADNOC has actually noted numerous of its systems over the last few years and. pursued a string of offers to broaden in nearly every part of...

Transport Infrastructure

Australia signs $89 million economic and security treaty with Nauru

Australia signed an economic and safety treaty with Nauru, Monday. It pledged A$100,000,000 ($64,000,000) in direct budget assistance over five years as well as A$40,000,000 to increase security in this remote Pacific Islands nation. China is also courting Nauru. This is Australia's second security agreement in the Pacific Islands, which effectively blocks China from creating policing links after a similar one agreed with Tuvalu. It also gives Australia a right of veto on Chinese involvement in Nauru’s banking, telecommunications, or security sectors. Canberra grew more concerned about Beijing's intentions in the Pacific Islands after Solomon Islands signed a 2022 security...

Transport Infrastructure

China's Xi backs Fijian PM's Pacific strategy ahead of regional meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping told going to Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka he backed his Ocean of Peace plan during a conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese state media reported, days ahead of a summit for Pacific Island leaders in Tonga. China likewise vowed to step up its trade ties with the archipelagic state, which wishes to upgrade its ports and ship structure, roads, and sewage facilities, but can only do so through protecting much better terms for its farming and fisheries exporters owing to deep debts. China values Prime Minister Rabuka's vision for an Ocean of Peace and is...

Passenger Transportation Services

Fiji cops investigating supposed rape, theft of Virgin Australia team members

Fiji authorities stated on Thursday they were investigating an incident involving 2 team members of Australian airline company Virgin Australia who were apparently victims of rape and theft in Nadi in the early hours of New Year's Day. The team members were in the popular tourist destination on a layover before they were supposed to fly off the following day, Performing Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew stated in a. statement. Virgin, which said it was aware of the incident, has sent. people to Fiji to provide support. It did not provide further. details of the occurrence in a declaration...

Passenger Transportation Services

United States sanctions targets include previous SriLankan Airlines CEO over Plane deal

The U.S. State Department announced a slew of sanctions on Monday to mark International AntiCorruption Day and the eve of Human Rights Day, targeting people from numerous countries, consisting of the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines over Airplane purchases. Also targeted were North Macedonia's former deputy prime minister, Artan Grubi, as well as Enver Bexheti, a judge from that country's appeals court and Kevin Kedi, a councilman from the Marshall Islands, for supposedly accepting bribes. The State Department stated the United States was redesignating UK resident Fawaz Akhras, father of the British-born other half of the deposed Syrian president, Bashar...

Passenger Transportation Services

Taiwan's President Lai in Marshall Islands on very first overseas state go to

Taiwan President Lai Chingte got here on an official see to the Marshall Islands on Tuesday, which he stated was the very first nation he had checked out because taking office in May, as part of a Pacific tour of diplomatic allies. China, which sees Taiwan as its own territory and opposes any foreign interactions or check outs by the island's leaders, has been stepping up military pressure against Taiwan, including 2 rounds of war games this year. Showing up in the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro, Lai described Taiwan's indigenous residents as sharing a culture with the Pacific Islands'...