PINA

UK-funded aid is being sent to Tonga, almost a week after parts of the island nation were devastated by a volcanic eruption and tsunami. The Australian naval ship HMAS Adelaide was expected to set sail on Friday carrying British aid, including 90 family-sized tents, eight community tents, and six wheelbarrows requested by the Tongan government. At the same time, the Royal...

The World Bank has disbursed an initial US$8 million in emergency financing to support the Kingdom of Tonga's response and recovery following the devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami on 15 January. The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai undersea volcano, located approximately 65 kilometers north of Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, erupted on 15 January creating an ash plume at least 30 kilometers high and...

Journalist Marian Kupu recounts the moment of the eruption and the panic that followed By Kate Lyons Tonga is used to natural disasters, but they have never experienced anything like the last week. “We’ve experienced tropical cyclones, but this is so new and no one will ever forget this, ever,” says Marian Kupu, a journalist for BroadCom Broadcasting FM87.5 in Tonga. “We didn’t...

The inaugural HSBC Spain Sevens provided a weekend to remember in Málaga as South Africa needed a late try to come out on top in an engrossing men’s final and the USA clinched their first Series title since 2019. South Africa pipped Argentina to the gold medal thanks to the efforts of player of the final Selvyn Davids, who surged...

The Honiara Emergency Zone is in lockdown for 60 hours effective from 6pm last night to 6am Saturday 22 January 2022. The Honiara Emergency Zone boundary is from Alligator Creek in the East to Poha in the west end of Honiara. At its meeting, Cabinet endorsed the lock down after an urgent special address to the nation by Prime Minister Manasseh...

It is expected that around six million eligible voters in Papua New Guinea will take part in this year’s general election, with an updated common roll to be completed next month, says Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai. It includes around 750,000 new voters who have just turned 18. In 2017 when the general election was held, there were 5,062,298 registered voters. “(So) with...

The Samoa Cabinet has approved the medical transfer to New Zealand of opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegoai. A Cabinet minister said the former prime minister will travel on the next available flight. The 76-year-old former prime minister was admitted to intensive care last Thursday and stayed in the hospital for five days. Health officials told Radio Polynesia last week that Tuilaepa had...

Vanuatu’s right to vote in the 193-member United Nations (UN) General Assembly has been suspended over unpaid dues. It still owes VT90,000 to the UN. This was confirmed by the Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Yvon Basil to the Vanuatu Daily Post. Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea are among eight nations losing their voting rights. The other countries are Venezuela,...

Communication with Tonga remains intermittent after the weekend’s volcanic eruption severed the kingdom’s undersea cable connection with the rest of the world. The lack of a backup service has reignited debate over previous government decisions which have been the subject of controversy and court cases. It could be weeks before services are fully restored. The 827km cable between Tonga and Fiji was...

By Rick Perez Guam remains a key target for the Chinese military. During the Cold War Guam was a target of the Soviet military in part because Sumay was home to Navy submarines that carried intercontinental ballistic missiles containing nuclear warheads. Guam was also a choice Cold War military target because long range Air Force bombers responsible for nuclear attack...