PINA

The Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) has officially opened in Palau, led by Pacific Ocean Commissioner Dr Filimon Manoni. A core mission of the OPOC is advancing the oceans agenda. The office collaborates with CROP agencies and partners, prioritising gender equality in ocean-related initiatives. “Our primary function is assisting our members with their ocean initiatives, working alongside CROP agencies...

The appeal case involving former Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho was called before the Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo today. Last month, the Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo presided over the appeal initiated by the state after the Magistrates Court acquitted the two of their charges. The former Prime Minister faced allegations of perverting the...

The 18th Niue Assembly voted in favour of the four Constitution Amendment Bills it the first reading of the Bills in last week sitting of the Fono Ekepule. Premier Dalton Tagelagi introduced all four Bills and initially asked to proceed to the second reading but the Fono Ekepule referred the Bills to the Constitution Review Committee. The four Bills are: *Constitution of...

The French Senate on Tuesday endorsed a Constitutional review project bearing significant modifications to the local electoral rules for New Caledonia, but with amendments. The text passed with 233 votes in favour and 99 against. It aims at modifying the conditions for French citizens to access a special list of voters for the elections in New Caledonia's three provinces and the...

Almost a hundred representatives from Aotearoa, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands gathered in Suva, Fiji last week for the Oceania First Voices Regional Forum, where indigenous voices shared their experiences about the accelerating climate, ocean and nature crises. The forum was organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Pacific on the basis that the...

King Charles III has approved the appointment of Samantha Mostyn as Australia’s next Governor-General. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Mostyn will succeed General David Hurley (ret’d) and will be Australia’s 28th Governor-General when she is sworn in on 01 July 2024. Mostyn is known for her exceptional service to the Australian community. She is a businesswoman and community leader with...

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Patricia Scotland, has expressed her admiration for Samoa's preparations for the upcoming event, highlighting the beauty of the venues and the enthusiasm of the local community. The Secretary-General visited Samoa last week and took to social media to share her feedback about the trip which she believed ensured the...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says he is concerned with the number of investigations going on against key Cabinet members by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Fiji Police. Speaking to FijiLive, Rabuka said he had not been informed personally on the ongoing investigations . It is understood that pending matters are ongoing against the Attorney-General Siromi Turaga, Deputy...

By Dionisia Tabureguci The rise of a kava extract market overseas has increased the urgency of protecting the word “kava” as a product known by Pacific islanders and defined in the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius, said Timothy Tumukon, director general of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity and chair of the Regional Kava Development Strategy Working Group under...

Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne is under no illusion about the challenges that lie ahead for his team as they prepare to take their game on the road. Following a 31-13 win over the Western Force in a drenched Churchill Park last weekend, Byrne emphasizes the need for his squad to replicate their home form in away fixtures in order...