Activists say Vanuatu political turmoil won't stop climate action move
Civil society groups in Vanuatu will continue to fight for climate action despite the political uncertainly faced by the country.
Vanuatu Climate Action Network (V-CAN) has said the recent political turmoil should not deter the national climate justice initiative calling for an advisory opinion from the world's highest court.
Photo: Vanuatu Climate Action Network
The network's policy officer, Lorenzo Raplili said the caretaker government of Bob Loughman spearheaded the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion campaign to protect the rights of present and future generations from climate change.
Raplili said, despite the dissolution of parliament, V-CAN will continue to fight for the inclusion of the court initiative as one of the most critical resolutions to be tabled by Vanuatu at the UN General Assembly's upcoming session.
He said even if a new government is formed following the snap election, the momentum they had with the previous government must be maintained.
China's gift to Pacific Islands Forum
China has given the Pacific Islands Forum secretariat an annual contribution of $US1.1 million.
In a handover ceremony, the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna, welcomed the funding, done under the Pacific Islands Forum Co-operation Fund.
Puna said China continues to be a long standing and important Forum Dialogue and development partner.
He said most of this latest application will go to supporting the Pacific Trade and Invest China office.
Puna said the office works with the private sector to develop, grow and promote business in the region by facilitating export opportunities with buyers and attracting foreign direct investments.
Budget additions voted down
New Caledonia's anti-independence parties have voted against budget add-ons in the territory's congress.
The add-ons from the pro-independence parties contained measures intended to tackle the rising costs of living.
A member of the opposition in the congress, Nicolas Metzdorf told La Premiere he voted against it because pro-independence parties refused to hear his suggestions.
"One part of the budget increases taxes and does not support the struggle of New Caledonian businesses.
"We've taken it up with the government, they don't want to talk about it, they don't want to share responsibility therefore we have to oppose to the budget proposition."
The ethnic Wallisian and Futunan party, Pacific Awakening, holds the balance of power in the New Caledonian congress.
Brial named as unity candidate in New Caledonia vote
The leader of New Caledonia's MPC party, Gil Brial, has been named as the anti-independence parties' candidate for next week's election of the Congress president.
The position is held by Roch Wamytan of the pro-independence Caledonian Union, who is serving his third one-year term.
Sonia Backes, who is the president of the Southern Province and since June also a junior member of the French government, told La Premiere those who voted to stay with France in last year's referendum need to be represented.
"New Caledonians have expressed themselves three times to stay French. It's important that all the institutions in the territory are not controlled by pro-independence candidates.
"Pro-independence politicians need to understand there needs to be a sharing responsibility and I think our candidate Gil Brial will be able to represent them."
Tahiti hopeful new airline will be in the air before end of year
French Polynesia's Vice president Jean-Christophe Bouissou said two planes to be used by Air Moana could be ready by October or the start of November.
The newest domestic airline, Air Moana was hoping to launch earlier this year but does not yet have an aerial transport certificate.
The planes will fly to the outer islands.
Bouissou told La Premiere they are working with the new company to be ready as soon as possible.
"We are working with the company so that the operations and the freight and passengers will happen in the best conditions. We need to speed up the measures necessary to welcome the company. We are very favourable to competition against Air Tahiti."
Orchids' coach picks youthful squad
The Papua New Guinea Orchids women's squad for this year's Rugby League World Cup in England will feature 11 debutants, as head coach Ben Jeffries looks to nurture new talent.
Two-thirds of the squad, which has an average age of 25, is based in PNG, while four players have current or recent experience in the NRL women's competition.
They are Elsie Albert, Jessikah Reeves, Shellie Long and Therese Aiton.
Jeffries says it's exciting that there are several debutants combined with some experienced Orchids players, including four who plated in the 2017 World Cup.