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Pacific News In Brief For 16 June
Nauru - Interpol
Two people have been arrested in Nauru in connection to a massive cyber info-stealer bust.
More than 20,000 malicious IP addresses have been taken down as part of Interpol's Operation Secure.
Interpol said that infostealers use bots to steal information such as passwords and credit card details, trading this information on the black market.
Participating countries included Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Guam - drugs
A measure to address Guam's drug crisis by bolstering customs inspections at the island's commercial port underwent a public hearing on Thursday.
Bill 108-38 by Senator Will Parkinson would authorise the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency to enter into a public-private partnership to screen all cargo coming into the Port Authority of Guam.
Senator Parkinson said local forensic and customs reports make clear that unchecked cargo is the primary route for methamphetamine and other contraband entering Guam.
He said more than 90 percent of shipping containers are not physically inspected.
According to the Justice Department, crystal meth has become more prominent on Guam over the past decade.
Australia - surveillance
Australia plans to boost surveillance of Pacific Islands territorial waters, spending AU$477 million (US$311.5m) on aerial patrols for illegal fishing fleets, tender documents viewed by Reuters show.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Fiji on Friday, local media reported, after the Fiji government approved a maritime security agreement that will see Australia fund a patrol boat for Fiji.
Last week, Reuters reported that China's coast guard is taking further steps towards high seas boarding of fishing boats in the Pacific.
Bougainville - election
A former Papua New Guinea Cabinet minister is heading back to parliament after winning the Central Bougainville seat.
Jimmy Miningtoro was declared the winner on Sunday after a by-election resulting from the death of Father Simon Dumarinu ten months ago.
Miningtoro had previously held Central Bougainville until the election of 2017 when he lost to Dumarinu.
Papua New Guinea - tax
A Papua New Guinea business official is urging businesses to comply with the goods and services tax (GST) zero policy or risk the consequences.
Independent Consumer and Competition Commission CEO Paulus Ain made the call during the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Inland Revenue Commission (IRC).
He said business houses need to cooperate with the policy.
He said everyone must work together in the interests of the country, and both organisations will make sure businesses do comply.
Ain is calling on consumers around the country to report to the IRC and the Commission offices if retail outlets do not comply.
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