THE man who confessed to stabbing the head of a Bangladeshi with a kitchen knife in May will be sentenced on October 23. This followed the sentencing submissions and mitigation on Thursday before Magistrate Emily Zazariko Vagibule Pakoa. Nigel Haibagau had pleaded guilty to one count of Acts Intended to Cause Grievous Harm, an offence…
THE matter of the man accused of raping his 14-year-old nephew in June this year has been committed to stand trial in the High Court. This was after the presiding magistrate found sufficient evidence to sustain the charge of Rape against the defendant to be tried in the High Court. Having found strong evidences from…
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka, has defended the recent overseas travel of his spouse, which has sparked public debate. His wife accompanied him to the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, United States of America. From New York, they flew across to join Prime Minister…
THE Bina Harbor Tuna Processing Project in West Kwaio, Malaita Province, is free of land disputes, according to the Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination, Rexon Ramofafia. Minister Ramofafia made this announcement while opening a one-day Solomon Islands Government (SIG)/Donor roundtable in Honiara on Wednesday 9 October. The event gathered officials from the Ministry…
THE University of the South Pacific (USP) has climbed up 200 places in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. The University is now in the 801–1000 band of ranked universities, reinforcing its reputation as the premier institution for higher learning in the region. With over 20,000 universities across the globe that are…
The Office of the Leader of the Independent Group in the National Parliament of Solomon Islands has been briefed on the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) Audit Report this week. The opportunity to hear directly from the Auditor General David Dennis and to have the findings of the report expanded upon was greatly appreciated, a statement…
PM expresses shock over ESP Audit Report upon return from Saudi Arabia and UAE PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele is shocked to hear the revelation of the COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) audited by the Office of Auditor General. The audit report reveals major fraud risks, poor to non-existent administrative controls and almost zero transparency in…
THE Luapel House of Chiefs have renewed their call on the government to lift the ban imposed on the harvesting and trading of beche-de-mer. The renewed call followed reports that the Member of Parliament (MP) for Malaita Outer Islands, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Survey, Polycarp Paea at a Caucus meeting on Tuesday spoke…
A MAN accused of pretending to be a recruitment agent under Seasonal Workers Scheme and obtaining over $4,000 from two people appeared in the Honiara Magistrate Court yesterday but was released on bail. Joe Rex Raukaniu, 38, who is facing two counts of False Pretence, was released on a cash bail of $1,000 with strict…
THE man accused of the murder of a man at the Nazareth Apostolic Centre (NAC) area in Central Guadalcanal in August will take his plea to the allegation next Monday. A comitial hearing will be also conducted that day. The defendant Michael Manei is facing one count of Murder. He was studying Theology at NAC…