Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

All 65 countries where it’s illegal to be LGBTQ+ in 2025, including the UAE and Mali
How many countries is it still illegal to be gay in 2025? More than you’d think, probably. Since we last updated this list, Mali has criminalised LGBTQ+ activity and Trinidad and Tobago have re-criminalised it, although more positively, Namibia...
PNG and Solomon Islands seal policing deal
Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands have signed an agreement to formalise the deployment of Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) members for policing duties there. Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko and his Solomon Islands...

Pacific Islands News Roundup – July 4 – July 10, 2025
Editor’s Note: We are undergoing a web host migration process and may need to make necessary modifications to our format and frequency over the next several weeks. Thank you in advance for your understanding. Political Leadership and Regionalism,...

Immigration New Zealand Extends Longer Visits for Pacific Island Nations Granted Visited Visa
Photo: NZ Immigration New Zealand is welcoming Pacific visitors by making it easier to travel here with changes to immigration settings that will come into effect later this year. From 6 July 2025, people from Pacific Islands forum countries...

Hon. Manemahaga sworn in as Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration
Hon. Manemahaga sworn in as Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration Hon. Trevor Manemahaga was officially sworn in today at Government House as the new Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, completing the latest...

Solomon Islands Students Graduate from Chinese Universities
Eight Solomon Islands students have recently graduated from various universities across China in June 2025. On Friday, 20th June, the Solomon Islands Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Barrett Salato, attended the graduation...

Movers & Shakers: Victoria’s childcare system reviewers, Jones to the OECD
DCCEEW secretary revealed, DAFF secretary takes IPAA ACT presidency, NSW appoints Safe Work commissioner, latest ambassadors get postings. Senior Executive Service Band 2 The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has...

Solomon Islands Prime Minister fires chief of staff over Vietnam deal
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has sacked his chief of staff, Mack Faddean Aoraunisaka, after an "unauthorised" deal with two Vietnamese firms last week. RNZ Pacific understands that Aoraunisaka "coerced" Commerce, Industry, Labour...
Solomon Islands PM fires chief of staff over unauthorised Vietnam deal
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has sacked his chief of staff Mack Faddean Aoraunisaka after an "unauthorised" deal with two Vietnamese firms last week. RNZ Pacific...

First Time Exhibitor Celebrates Culture and Connection at National Trade Fair
BY CHRIS ALEX Glorious Larvie Batimala of Guadalcanal is making her debut appearance at the National Trade Fair, joining Pilopaso Chocolate Haus to showcase locally made chocolate products and celebrate the diversity and creativity of Solomon...
Health, Education, and Infrastructure Likely to Remain Focus of future scholarships
BY INDY MAEALASIA SCHOLARSHIP focus areas in health, education, and infrastructure are expected to remain unchanged in 2027, as skills gaps in these critical sectors are not likely to be filled quickly according SITESA (Solomon Islands Tertiary...

Australia supports SINU with IT equipment
The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Faculty of Education and Humanities (FEH) and Office of Research and Postgraduate studies (ORPS) has received a technology boost with the delivery of ten laptops, one desktop computer, four...

Historic First: SPBD Solomon Islands Businesswomen Awards
A groundbreaking milestone was achieved on the morning of Friday 27th June 2025, as SPBD Solomon Islands successfully hosted its first-ever Businesswomen of the Year Awards at St. Barnabas Cathedral Hall in Honiara. Organized by South Pacific...

Solomon Islands Media Professionals Gain Insightful Experience Of China’s Media, Culture, And Mesmeric Growth
Four media professionals from the Solomon Islands (SI) successfully completed a two-week seminar on Full-Media Communication for “Belt and Road Countries” in China, describing the training program as an eye-opener as cooperation between the two...
Kiwa Empower Project launched in Solomon Islands
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU The KIWA Empower project was recently launched in the Solomon Islands on June 24 in Honiara. Elmah Panisi, Live & Learn Environmental Education’s (LLEE) Solomon Islands Country Manager, stated that the event marks a significant...

Workshop for National Action Plan on Coral Reef Conservation conducted in Isabel Province
Honiara, Solomon Islands – 3rd July 025 – The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources...
Honiara High School rebuilding begins after years of delay
BY INDY MAEALASIA HONIARA High School, which lost several buildings during the 2021 Honiara riots, is finally undergoing reconstruction, an effort welcomed by the school administration. After years of funding delays and stalled progress, School...

WELSI delivers first women executive leadership program
The Women in Executive Leadership Solomon Islands (WELSI) have successfully delivered its first Solomon Islands Senior Executive Women in Leadership Program in Honiara last week. The program was initially devised in partnership with the Solomon...

Pacific women mediators host post-colloquium learning exchange in Honiara
By CHRIS ALEX A landmark Post-Colloquium Learning Exchange hosted by the Pacific Women Mediators Network is underway in Honiara this week, bringing together a dynamic inter-generational group of Solomon Islands women leaders. The event is being...

Australian award helps build Toaki’s legal career
With his world-class Australian tertiary degree in law and a deep commitment to national development, Australia Awards alumnus George Junior Toaki is working to create a stronger and more accountable Solomon Islands. Mr Toaki, a 2024 Australia...