PINA

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga Wednesday unseated three Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament, after they were unsuccessful in their appeals against bribery convictions in the lead up the November 2021 General Election. They are Poasi Tei (former Deputy Prime Minister/Tongatapu 6 People's Representative), Tatafu Moeaki (former Finance Minister/Tongatapu 4 Representative and Sangster Saulala (former Minister of Internal Affairs and...

By Pita Ligaiula in Port Vila With the high rise in fuel prices across the region due to the Russian war in Ukraine, the Pacific can be a leader in carbon trading. That's the view of Pacific Trade & Investment Commissioner to Australia, Caleb Jarvis who told journalists in Port Vila on the side-lines of the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM)...

By Pita Ligaiula in Port Vila The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has submitted its application to become a technical observer at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM). This was revealed by Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Climate Change Finance adviser, Exsley Taloiburi during a media briefing with regional journalists covering FEMM. "There are clear benefits of having key funding mechanisms such as...

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...