Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles explained in an interview on Tuesday that the extent of Australia’s security partnership with the Solomon Islands is unknown due to the islands’ government undertaking a security review. The Australian defence minister confirmed both governments want to continue their security partnership. The newly elected Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele, [...]

French President Emmanuel Macron declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia Friday for the violent protests breakout. The protests have resulted in almost 200 arrests, dozens of injuries and at least four deaths since Wednesday. Protestors have been setting businesses and cars on fire, and shooting rifles to cause widespread panic.  Reuters reports that [...]

The Budapest Capital Regional Court of Appeal announced it will grant house arrest in Budapest to Ilaria Salis, a 39-year-old elementary teacher and left-wing activist from Monza, Italy due to the conditions of her imprisonment, local media confirmed on Wednesday. This defense motion was initially rejected by the Budapest Capital Regional Court on March 28.  [...]

The Australian High Court passed a judgement on Friday that dismissed an Iranian asylum seeker’s plea to be released from immigration detention and enter the country.  The Iranian asylum seeker, applicant ASF-17, applied to the Federal Court of Australia for a writ of habeas corpus in 2023 on the basis that his continuing detention exceeded [...]

Australia and Tuvalu released a joint statement Thursday announcing new commitments to improve security relations and remove the veto power Australia previously had over the tiny island nation’s security relations with other countries. The announcement addressed the implementation and interpretation of the Falepili Union, a bilateral treaty which was entered into on November 9, 2023 [...]

The Parliament of the Australian state of Queensland passed a bill on Thursday to decriminalise sex work. The Criminal Code (Decriminalising Sex Work) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 also includes new offences against child prostitution and coercion to perform sex work. The Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath stated that “sex workers should not have to [...]