CHINA

Premier congratulates Solomon Islands' PM

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday congratulated Jeremiah Manele on assuming office as prime minister of the Solomon Islands. In his congratulatory message, Li said that China and the Solomon Islands are comprehensive strategic partners featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations five years ago, Li said, bilateral ties have developed rapidly, political mutual trust has been continuously deepened, and practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results, becoming a model for South-South cooperation among developing countries. He added that the Chinese government attaches great importance to its relations with the Solomon Islands and is ready to work with Manele and the new government under his leadership.

PANAMA

Mulino wins country's presidential elections

Panama's Electoral Tribunal late on Sunday declared Jose Raul Mulino, the candidate of the opposition alliance made up of the Realizing Goals party and Alianza movement, as the winner of the presidential elections after a preliminary count of more than 85 percent of voting stations. Mulino entered the race as the running mate of former president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-14) but became a candidate in his own right after Martinelli was disqualified from running in March due to a conviction related to money laundering. On Sunday, the head of the Electoral Tribunal Alfredo Junca confirmed via a video call to Mulino that he was the preliminary winner of the presidential race.

MEXICO

Bodies of murdered surfers identified

Relatives on Sunday identified the bodies of two Australians and a US citizen shot dead in a suspected robbery in Mexico, authorities said, marking a tragic end to the search for the missing surfers. The corpses were found with bullet wounds to their heads, according to officials in crime-hit Baja California State, suggesting an execution-style triple homicide. The news confirmed the worst fears of the families and friends of Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson, and their US friend Jack Carter Rhoad, who were on a surf trip to Mexico's Pacific coast. The trio were believed to have been murdered during an attempt to steal their pickup truck.