More Australians, Solomons, Vanuatu, return from Israel
About 200 Australians and their family members are back in the country after leaving Israel and arriving on a government-assisted flight. A Qantas flight landed in Sydney on Wednesday evening with 126 Australian
WHO vote today: 2 Pacific Islanders in the mix
Western Pacific members of the World Health Organization are meeting this week, and today they will be voting to nominate the next WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. There are two Pacific Island nominees in
Iroga optimistic on Solomon Islands media sector
A veteran Solomon Islands journalist says the country’s media industry is vibrant and amongst the most independent in the region. Robert Iroga, founder and publisher of Solomons Business Magazine recently told
New York man caught smuggling butterflies from Solomon Islands
A New York man from Long Island was charged Tuesday with smuggling more than US$200,000 worth of wildlife in and out of the Solomon Islands. This included deceased butterflies known as “birdwings,” which are known
De-banking having a ‘severe impact’ on Pacific Islanders
The region’s economic ministers say the expiry of correspondent banking relationships (CBR) is having a severe impact on the lives of Pacific Islanders, including seasonal workers, micro, small, and medium
Building a social entreprise
A London-based design and construction social enterprise responsible for innovative community-based buildings in Fiji and Vanuatu, is looking to expand its regional footprint. In Fiji, Caukin Studio has partnered with
The science we need for the ocean we want
Ocean scientists, technical experts, policymakers, donor agencies, traditional knowledge holders, and young people gathered at the Pacific Islands Conference on Ocean Science and Ocean Management in Fiji last
SPBD businesswomen lauded at annual awards
The Vodafone Arena in Suva last week was full-packed with radiant businesswomen celebrating their efforts at the 12th annual South Pacific Business Development awards. SPBD Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Greg
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu to miss Pacific leaders’ meeting with President Biden
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has declined a White House invitation to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at this week’s Pacific leaders’ summit. In a move that will further stoke
FSM becomes first country to sign oceans treaty
The Federated States of Micronesia has signed a global treaty that aim to protect oceans that lie beyond national boundaries, becoming the first country in the world to do so. The new Biodiversity of Areas beyond
Human rights violations in Pacific fishing industry ‘ignored’
Very little attention has been given to addressing human rights violations within the fishing industry in the Pacific, according to new research unveiled at a first-of-its-kind ocean science meeting underway in Nadi,
Opinion: What happens now that MEPC80 is behind us?
Next year the delegates of the 6PAC Plus will be back in London to determine the basket of measures that will accompany the newly adopted strategy to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of international shipping. The
Solomon Islands opposition MP calls for investigation after U.S. cable says ‘replica’ Chinese guns were likely real
The Solomon Islands opposition is calling for an independent investigation into a contentious shipment of “replica weapons” brought into the Pacific Island country by China after publicly released U.S.
Solomon Airlines inks partnership agreement with Air Vanuatu
The flag carrier of the Solomon Islands, Solomon Airlines has confirmed that it has inked its partnership with Air Vanuatu from Monday 30 October 2023 to further expand their mutual support. This shows why cooperation
Australian police to stay in Solomon Islands until 2024 election
Australian police will stay in the Solomon Islands to provide security for a regional sporting event in November and national elections in 2024, the Pacific Island nation’s government has said. The number of
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 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