PINA

A jubilant Julian Assange has embraced his wife Stella on his emotional return to Australia as a free man and convicted US criminal. Assange arrived in wintry Canberra accompanied by U.S ambassador Kevin Rudd and UK High Commissioner Stephen Smith. After more than a day of travel and a court hearing in Saipan he raised his fist as he emerged from...

The Pacific Islands leaders are set to meet in Tokyo next month, 16 - 18 July, for the tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting 2024 (PALM10), with the Government of Japan. Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku will attend the meeting. PALM is a summit meeting held every three years since 1997 with the aim of contributing to regional stability and to strengthen the...

The effect of climate change on vulnerable populations among the Pacific Island nations was the subject of “Oceania Speaks,” a conference held in Rome this week attended by the Holy See diplomatic corps, religious communities, and charitable organiSations. Organised by the Australian Embassy to the Holy See, the 23 June event aimed at raising awareness of the impacts of climate...

Fiji's acquisition of 14 Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) from Australia will bolster its UN peacekeeping capabilities, with the vehicles set to arrive at Lautoka Wharf today. The Protected Mobility Vehicles(PMVs) will be used to form a UN Standby Company at RFMF Headquarters Joint Task Force Command in Blackrock Camp in Nadi. The PMVs will increase the deployability of Fiji’s peacekeepers and...

Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Members are convening in Honiara to assess the recently launched electronic Port State Measure (e-PSM) system, which enables real-time sharing of port-state information. Since its launch three months ago, three Members - Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Tonga - have successfully adapted the e-PSM as their national system. Other Members are currently trialling the system with expectations...

The man who masterminded Fiji’s historic triumph over the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup has been recruited to help rebuild the Waratahs and take the battered team back to the pointy end of Super Rugby. Simon Raiwalui, a former Wallabies assistant coach who steered Fiji as head coach to the quarter-finals last year in France, is set to...

Australia will help prop up the Solomon Islands police force after a request from its prime minister as the federal government works to increase its role in addressing the nation's security needs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed his counterpart Jeremiah Manele with a guard of honour at Parliament House on Wednesday ahead of high-level meetings. The Australian Federal Police commissioner took...

In response to the petition presented to the deputy French Ambassador during a solidarity march led by the Vanuatu President of the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs (MCC), Chief Paul Robert Ravun, French Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer has issued a comprehensive Opinion-Editorial addressing key concerns regarding New Caledonia’s indigenous recognition, decolonisation process, discrimination, military operations, and calls for independence. Ambassador Vilmer...

Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, welcomed Jeremiah Manele, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands to Canberra on 26 June 2024 on his first international visit as Prime Minister. This was their first meeting as Prime Ministers. The meeting followed recent visits to Honiara by Australian Deputy Prime Minister Marles and Foreign Minister Wong, highlighting the importance of our relationship. Australia and...

The Pacific Regional and National Security Conference (PRNSC) wrapped up today with a key panel discussion this week focused on national security. The panel emphasised the vital role of inclusive stakeholder management in crafting effective national security strategies. Moderated by former senior diplomat and police officer Ross Ardern, the ‘National Security Panel’ included the Cook Islands National Security Advisor, Maara Tetava,...