Australia’s Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Senator the Hon Nita Green, will arrive in Honiara on Wednesday to represent Australia at the PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting (PPMM). The PPMM marks five years since the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus came into force. PACER Plus is the region’s most modern framework for rules-based trade,…
The international climate community has concluded COP30 in Belém, Brazil on Saturday — a landmark summit that delivered a comprehensive roadmap aimed at preserving the critical 1.5°C temperature limit and accelerating a global “just transition” away from fossil fuels. For the Solomon Islands and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the outcome signals new momentum…
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury has tabled a $5.6 billion budget in Parliament for the 2026 financial year—an increase of more than $1.4 billion from the $4.2 billion budget presented by the Manele Government for 2024–2025. The 2026 Budget has been framed within an overall deficit of $548 million, equivalent to about 3.5 percent…
An urgent public health alert has been issued to the public following an increase in measles cases across neighbouring countries in the Pacific. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) issued the advisory after cases were reported in Australia and New Zealand. This rise in cases has placed the Solomon Islands at heightened risk…
A police officer of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) who had an accident with a police-marked vehicle has been arrested and placed in police custody on Saturday. RSIPF Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Operation Mr Mathias Lenialu said the accident has occurred further up from the Sape clinic at Guadalcanal Plain Palm Oil Limited…
PRINCIPAL Magistrate Tearo Beneteti has granted strict bail for Moffat Konofilia (MK), who was re-arrested on 29 October for breaching bail conditions on sedition and unlawful assembly charges linked to the November 2021 Honiara riot. Bail was granted with surrender of his passport, cash bail of $10,000, and additional surety cash bail of $5,000. In…
Easter Island — or Rapa Nui in the native language — is known around the world for its massive moai statues. While the physical origins of the statues can be traced to a quarry on the remote island, where did the idea behind them come from? To find out, Binghamton University Anthropology Professor Carl Lipo, University of…
A MAN accused of a murder in East Kwaio has entered a not-guilty plea before the Honiara Magistrates’ Court, with a ruling on his committal to the High Court expected on Monday 24th November 2025. Jimson Safoa, who faces one count of murder, entered his not guilty plea last week before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky…
The Japanese Government is providing funding support valued at US80,679 (SBD665,000) to Ghaobata Primary School in North Guadalcanal to build a new classroom complex. A signing ceremony was held on Friday at the Japanese Embassy in Honiara between the Keiichi Higuchi – Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands and Ms Emillian Papasa, Head of the Ghaobata…
Turkey has been confirmed as the host nation for COP31, ending Australia’s campaign to bring next year’s global climate summit to the Pacific. The decision followed intense negotiations at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, and resulted in a rare dual-leadership compromise granting Australia a central role in steering the 2026 climate negotiations. Pacific nations—many on the…