PINA

By Pita Ligaiula in Port Vila Fiji is leading the charge in the Pacific in exporting kava to the Australian market. Last year, Australia launched phase2 of its Kava Pilot programme, where exporters from the Pacific can now export an unlimited amount of kava to Australia for commercial purposes. The Kava Pilot Phase 2 ends Australia’s kava ban imposed over a...

By Pita Ligaiula in Port Vila “The socio-economic fallout of the pandemic, a complex geopolitical environment and the enduring threat of climate change and climate induced disasters – what has been declared by our Leaders as a climate emergency continues to drive and shape our strategic policy considerations for the region, says Forum deputy secretary general Dr Filimon Manoni. Speaking...

By Pita Ligaiula in Port Vila Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna has issued a challenge to the Pacific media to be bold in their reporting on issues affecting the region. Speaking at the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum Ministers Meeting (FEMM) Media workshop Tuesday, Puna encourage local journalists in Vanuatu and the region to be bold. “Be bold...

The 11th National Parliament is yet to get underway, having gone past an hour of the scheduled time of 10 am. About 79 elected members are present in the chamber, of this 15 are in the opposition bench. Leader of PANGU Pati James Marape, National Alliance Party leader Allan Bird, Lae MP John Rosso, and newly elected Wau Bulolo MP Sam...

ONOC is delivering this Digest in partnership with The Reporters’ Academy and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA). OCEANIA’S DAY AT THE GAMES - DAY 10 At Birmingham’s Alexander stadium Vanuatu’s Elstrom Wanemut was in the Men’s Triple Jump final. After a failed first attempt, Elstrom hopped, skipped, and jumped his way across the sand pit to reach a...

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and FIFA have jointly launched a 12-month plan to implement the climate change partnership they signed in April and turn commitment into concrete climate action. Key activities will include employing FIFA Legends to raise climate change awareness and adapting existing infrastructure in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to make it more climate...

The Marshall Islands lost its Covid-free status Monday when tests confirmed six positive cases in the capital, the first known community transmission since the pandemic started in early 2020. It was not immediately clear the source of the Covid spread as Marshall Islands borders have been closed since March 2020 and rules currently require 10 days of government-managed quarantine prior...

The U.S deputy secretary of state said Monday the prime minister of the Solomon Islands “missed an important opportunity” by failing to attend a memorial service to mark the anniversary of a key World War II battle, amid concerns the South Pacific Island nation is building closer ties with China. Wendy Sherman and U.S Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy were...

Papua New Guinea Governor General Sir Bob Dadae has invited the ruling Pangu Pati to form Government in the 11th Parliament. Pangu Pati won the highest number of seats in the 2022 National Election with 36 declared so far. Sir Bob presented the Section 63 Letter to Pangu Pati General-Secretary Morris Tovebae at Government House in Port Moresby. The Vice Regal said...

A top U.S diplomat warned Pacific Islands of a new struggle against violent power-hungry regimes Sunday, as she visited the Solomon Islands to mark the 80th anniversary of World War II's Battle of Guadalcanal. With China's military carrying out war drills around Taiwan and Russia bombarding Ukraine, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman hit out at a new crop of...