PINA

Australia’s reinvigorated Pacific presence has taken another step forward, with the Navy activating a specialist deep-water relief and logistics vessel for deployment to the region ahead of the annual cyclone season. Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, a 102-metre-long ship with a large cargo deck, crane and helipad, is being sent into the region for up to 300 days in anticipation of...

-Tonga Police responded to a shooting incident at a residence at Ha‘ateiho that claimed the life of a seven-year-old boy last Friday. The seven-year-old male deceased was playing with his 4-year-old brother in their family vehicle where they had found a .22 rifle. When the 4-year-old got hold of the gun, he fired four shots at his seven-year-old brother, which...

Australia has made an offer to fund Solomon Islands National General Elections. In an interview with ABC RN Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the offer reflects Australia’s long-standing and historic commitment to supporting democracy and the democratic processes in Solomon Islands. “We have made an offer for assistance and it’s a matter for Solomon Islands as to whether they will...

Chairman of the Solomon Islands Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee Peter Kenilorea Junior has slammed the Prime Minister’s response to Australia’s offer to fund the National General Elections next year. In a statement , the Opposition MP said the response by the Prime Minister in an official statement from his office only proved the Prime Minister’s real ambition; to simply hold...

Australian foreign Minister Penny Wong said she looked forward to Australian ships continuing to visit the Solomon Islands amid an exemption from a ban on foreign vessels. The Solomon Islands last week announced a moratorium on naval ships entering the nation's ports but Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Monday removed Australian, New Zealand and Fijian military vessels from the ban,...

France coach Fabien Galthié could not hold back tears as Racing 92 confirmed that star centre Virimi Vakatawa had been forced to end his rugby career "for cardiological reasons". At an emotional press conference on Tuesday, Galthié saluted the 31-cap France international as “formidable” and as someone who “made children dream”. “I wanted to come here today to pay homage, in...

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that China's assistance to South Pacific island countries never attaches any political conditions, and many projects aided by China have progressed well. The remark was made by Mao Ning, a spokesperson of the ministry. In developing relations with South Pacific island countries, China has always adhered to mutual respect, equal treatment, win-win cooperation,...

Kiribati's government has dramatically escalated its campaign against the judiciary, suspending the country's three remaining senior judges after they blocked the deportation of High Court justice and Australian citizen David Lambourne. The decision effectively leaves Kiribati without any functioning high-level courts, deepening its legal and constitutional crisis. The office of Kiribati President Taneti Maamau responded furiously when the Kiribati Court of...

Regional authorities in Egypt, the host country of the 2022 UN climate conference (COP27), are ramping up initiatives designed to improve the country’s environmental credentials, and speed up its transition to a low carbon economy. The event will begin on 04 November, in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. Several COP27-related initiatives are underway in Egypt: they include projects related...

The leader of the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu has promised to “stand firm” on its ties with Taiwan, as China expands its influence in the region. Speaking at a welcome ceremony in Taipei hosted by Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano said “decent and common values” had always been an added strength to their bond. Tuvalu...