PINA

Graphic footage of a West Papuan man bound in a water-filled barrel and being beaten and cut with knives by Indonesian soldiers has drawn a rare apology from the commander of Indonesia’s military in the province. Major General Izak Pangemanan confirmed 13 military personnel had been detained and more than 40 questioned as part of an investigation into the torture...

The U.S Indo-Pacific Command will soon establish a new military command on Guam that will form the nucleus of defence operations in the surrounding islands in the region. The Department of Defence’s budget request for fiscal 2025 includes US$40 million to fund the creation of Joint Task Force Micronesia, which will integrate “posture plans, military construction projects, land use negotiations...

Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins Monday announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request of Solomon Islands’ Electoral Commission,” Collins says. “They will help transport...

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nauruan President David Adeang held talks in Beijing on Monday. Xi noted that Nauru's political decision to adhere to the one-China principle and restore diplomatic ties with China in January is a move that conforms to the trend of history and the times. Friendship, no matter its beginning, will have a bright future, and cooperation, regardless...

While both Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have endorsed their new Compacts of Free Association with Washington, the Marshall Islands just launched its review process Thursday with the first of a series of public hearings to engage islanders living in Majuro and Ebeye, the two main urban centers. The Palau and Micronesia congresses passed legislation earlier adopting...

Papua New Guinea’s East Sepik Provincial Administration has declared a state of emergency, effective Monday, until further notice. Mother nature in the last few days had caused flooding and destruction in Middle-Sepik and on Sunday an earthquake with a magnitude 6.9 hit the province according to the United States Geological Survey. Samson Torovi, Chairman of the Provincial Disaster Committee and Provincial...

The majority of kava farmers in Fiji are facing issues with the dieback disease. This was highlighted during the Regional Kava Development Strategy and Geographical Indication (GI) for Kava meeting currently held in Nadi. Lami Kava General Manager Edward Hoerder explained the gravity of the situation, noting that dieback disease poses a significant challenge to local farmers, particularly those engaged in...

By Amy McLennan Fifty years ago, a diabetes survey in the Republic of Nauru concluded that a third of Nauruans had type 2 diabetes. It was the first time the relatively uncommon disease was found to be widespread in a national population, and it led researchers to raise the alarm about a potential “global diabetes epidemic”. At the time, there was...

Fijian Drua are not taking the Western Force lightly in their clash this weekend. The Force pulled off an upset 40-31 win over the Queensland Reds last week, which was their first win of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season. Coach Mick Byrne said despite being the last-ranked team on the points standings, the Western Force have sounded out a warning...

Fiji 7s coach Osea Kolinisau says with all eyes on the Paris Olympics in July, his focus still remains on the World Sevens Series. Kolinisau said the Hong Kong 7s next weekend is the perfect setting to gauge where his team is at and how to move forward. The former national 7s captain said he wants to do justice to Fiji’s...