Wale criticises foreign minister's trip to Suva
Solomon Islands opposition leader Matthew Wale said a trip to Suva by the foreign minister to explain the security deal with China is a disgrace.
The leader of the Solomon Islands' opposition party, Matthew Wale Photo: Supplied
Wale said the explanation tour is a contradiction of what the government has previously claimed, that the matter is a sovereign one and has nothing to do with the country's regional friends.
Wale said such an explanatory tour should have been done before the deal was signed.
He said the same goes for the Solomon Islands public.
Wale said if the deal is about sovereignty then the government should be touring the nine provinces first to let the people know what it is about.
The opposition leader said he wouldn't be surprised if regional countries turned their back, which, he said, would be very shameful for the Solomons, given that Fiji is the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Samoan rugby player dies in France
Samoan back-row forward Kelly Meafua died on Friday night in the south of France.
AFP reported the 31-year-old had played in his side Montauban's 48-40 win over Narbonne in the French second division.
According to several testimonies, Meafua had been celebrating with his teammates during their last home game of the season in a downtown nightclub before he was seen jumping from the Pont-Vieux.
One of his teammates, French prop Christopher Vaotoa, jumped into the water to help him.
Rescued by firefighters, Vaotoa was taken to hospital in a state of hypothermia before Meafua's body was found early Saturday morning.
Meafua played Sevens for Samoa and first came to France to play for Narbonne in 2015. He returned to play for Beziers in 2018 before switching to Montauban last season.
Search begins for NZ's National Director Pacific Health for Hauora Aotearoa
The search is on for the newly created position of National Director Pacific Health for Hauora Aotearoa.
The role is part of a once-in-a-generation health care reform following the New Zealand government's move to combine district health boards and create HealthNZ to serve the health needs of the whole population.
The candidate will lead a new arm of Pacific healthcare catering to the needs of Pacific people living in Aotearoa.
Responsibilities also include highlighting health equity gaps, making sure Pacific people are well represented by HealthNZ as well as developing and supporting Pacific providers in communities.
Applications for the role close at the end of this month.
President of IOC visits Tonga
The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach has visited Tonga for a short visit to show solidarity after the devastation caused by the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai volcanic eruption and tsunami
Bach and his delegation arrived by private jet utilising Tonga's Covid-19 protocols for short-term high-level visits (MIQ Zero).
Tonga's international borders are closed at the moment due to Covid-19.
The IOC President attended a function at the Tonga Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC) office which had limited attendees, before meeting the Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni at his office in Nuku'alofa.
Bach said the purpose of the visit is to show solidarity to the Olympic community in Tonga and the people of Tonga after the natural disasters and help sports recovery.
During a tour of Tongatapu they visited some of the sports infrastructure affected by the natural disasters.
Bach said the IOC wants to assist in rebuilding the sports infrastructure and help get the sports equipment washed away by the tsunami.
"We will talk and assess what kind of equipment is needed the most to continue in the sports activities and to allow athletes to prepare for their next competition," he said.
He also expressed great appreciation for TASANOC and the Olympic team of six Tongan athletes who overcame so many obstacles to get to the Olympics last year.