USP welcomes new Chancellor
In a historic moment, Sir David Okete Vuvuiri Vunagi, Governor General of the Solomon Islands, was officially installed as the 30th Chancellor of The University of the South Pacific (USP). The installation ceremony took
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands granted three years LDC graduation extension by UN
Solomon Islands has been granted three years’ extension by the United Nations to prepare for least developed countries (LDCS) graduation. This was made possible through a Resolution which was adopted by the General
Vanuatu’s National Ocean Policy addresses some outstanding ocean related territorial disputes
The government of Vanuatu hopes the long-standing joint submission with Fiji and Solomon Islands to extend their outer limits of the continental shelf in the North Fiji Basin will be resolved soon. In 2009, the three
2023 Pacific Games Stadium project handover, a testimony of genuine partnership
Solomon Islands Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the Pacific Games 2023, Manasseh Sogavare has termed as “totally appropriate” the 2023 Pacific Games investment. Sogavare made the statement while
West Papua high on agenda as MSG leaders set to convene in Port Vila
The Pacific region’s focus will shift briefly to Port Vila this week when Vanuatu hosts the heads of governments from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and the leader of the FLNKS of New Caledonia for the
Solomon Islands Opposition leader outlines weaknesses in Truth and Reconciliation Commission report
Solomon Islands leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has revealed weaknesses in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Act. Speaking in Parliament in Honiara this week, Wale said firstly there is a lack of a
Tonga and Solomon Islands make bid for WHO Regional Director post
Tonga and Solomon Islands have nominated medical experts for the position of World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific. Tonga has nominated Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, and Solomon Islands has
Opinion: The costs of logging in Solomon Islands
In the years following the 1998-2003 ethnic tensions in Solomon Islands, the World Bank assisted the Solomon Islands government in planning a project to support rural communities. This resulted in the Rural Development
U.S. Ambassador Kennedy arrives in Honiara
United States Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy has arrived in Honiara Monday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the sinking of President Kennedy’s Patrol Torpedo Boat and his rescue by Solomon Islands
Opinion: A call for medical détente in the Pacific Islands
Pooling the expertise and resources of development partners is a win not only for regional healthcare but soft diplomacy, Eileen Natuzzi writes. As U.S. and China competition increases in the region, perhaps it is time
Solomon Islands newspaper promised to ‘promote China’ in return for funding: OCCRP
A major newspaper in Solomon Islands received nearly US$140,000 in funding from the Chinese government in return for pledges to “promote the truth about China’s generosity and its true intentions to help develop”
Opinion: Reflecting on the 20th anniversary of RAMSI in Solomon Islands
A significant milestone in the history of Solomon Islands and the South Pacific was marked this week, on 24 July 2023. It was the 20th anniversary of the start of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands
New Solomon Airline airbus arriving on Thursday
Solomon Islands second airbus will touch down at Honiara International Airport on Thursday this week. The country’s national flag carrier, Solomon Airlines, is acquiring the second airbus through an eight-year lease.
Opinion: Geopolitical competition and Solomon Islands: navigating the middle ground
Geopolitical competition can have adverse impact on third-party countries. We are seeing this in Solomon Islands, where domestic political discourses – at least in Honiara and on social media – are dominated by the
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu consider forming militaries
Pacific Islands nations, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are considering forming defence forces and have discussed the matter with Australia, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday. Security partnerships in the
Solomon Islands Stadium funding is a grant, not loan from china: Dr Rodgers
Chair of the National Hosting Authority (NHA) of the Sol2023 Pacific Games, Dr Jimmie Rodgers has clarified that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) stadium funded project is a grant, not a loan. He made the
80 Solomon Islands athletes bound for China
Eighty Solomon Islands athletes selected to undertake intensive training in China departed the Solomon Islands last week. The athletes will spend 90 days intensive training in China to prepare them physically and
Seoul back Fukushima water plan, PIF panelist hits back at IAEA decision
South Korea says it believes Japan’s plan to release treated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant will meet international standards, days after a United Nations atomic agency review of the
Australian diplomats convinced ICAC to censor Pacific nations where Maguire schemed. It didn’t work.
Federal Australian officials successfully persuaded the NSW corruption watchdog to “de-identify” a group of Pacific countries mentioned in last week’s report on Gladys Berejiklian’s and Daryl Maguire’s
Employment in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands has a serious unemployment challenge, with now more than 15,000 job seekers and less than 4,000 new jobs per year being created (based on National Provident Fund data). We have a serious unemployment
Latin America leads resistance to global shipping emission tax
At crunch talks in London, Latin American nations led by Brazil have fought against a tax on the emissions of the global shipping sector. The media is not allowed to watch the talks, hosted by the United Nation’s
Gulf oil states on a Pacific charm offensive
Gulf oil states are using their vast wealth to build influence across the far-flung South Pacific, experts have told AFP, tearing a page straight out of China’s Belt and Road playbook. Saudi Arabia and the United
Solomon Islands Maritime Association wants justice on tax levy for shipping industry
Solomon Islands Maritime Association (SIMTA) wants justice in the Solomon Islands Government’s (SIG) tax levy on fares and freights imposed on seafarers and the shipping industry. It was reported the tax levy is very
