Solomon Islands

Prime Minister James Marape announced that the government will be supporting the team with K8.5 million to send the team to the Solomon Islands this month. Marape made the announcement during Team PNG’s farewell event at the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex on Friday 10^th November.

When this support comes through, it will see a full team of 514 athletes and officials line up against the rest of the Pacific in 20 of the 24 sports that are on offer.

The PNG Olympic Committee board in its meeting of 08 November resolved to extend the payment deadline to tomorrow Friday 10 November 

The National Federations (sports) must pay the mandated K2,000 levy per athlete and official for the upcoming Pacific Games. 

PNGOC as of this morning contacted each of the sports yet to pay in full and urged them to meet their obligations to their athletes. This is the fourth and final deadline for payment, the first being May 2023. 

Members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) gathered for the second year in a row at the White House, where President Joe Biden urged leaders to "recommit to each other".

"Because with the past as our proof, we're stronger and the world is safer when we stand together," he said.

The Government is fully committed to assembling a determined and formidable team of athletes.

Prime Minister James Marape, an advocate for the unifying power of sports, emphasized the remarkable ability of sports to unite nations, forge friendships among youth and athletes, and promote healthy lifestyles.

He said the Government wholeheartedly endorsed the PNG team and called upon the athletes, Team PNG management, and the PNG Olympic Committee to prepare diligently, upholding the nation's honour.

This will be the first time the Solomon Islands would host the Pacific Games.

Key points:

• Daniel Suidani has long been a critic of China's relationship with Solomon Islands 
• Mr Suidani was ousted as Malaita's provincial premier after losing a vote of no-confidence 
• The Lowy Institute's Mihai Sora says the dispute between Malaita and Honiara predates the recent geopolitical competition

Daniel Suidani, a fierce critic of his country's relations with China, was ousted as premier of Malaita Province this morning after 17 provincial assembly members voted to remove him.

Key points:

• Australian biosecurity laws allow up to 10kg of betel nut to be imported
• Demand for betel nut in Australia is soaring
• Known for its euphoric and relaxing effect, the nut is highly addictive and causes disease

"When the dog goes to everyone and then stops on you, everyone knows that you're carrying something," he said.

"The worst feeling is that I don't know what's in my bag, like in my pocket … if someone put a drug in there."

On Saturday 30^th July 2022, 16 young men, women, elders and a priest from various dioceses around Port Moresby attended the 4^th Laity Consultation Workshop.

The participants were Fr. John Pulpulio, St. Charles Lwanga Parish together with 5 young men, 4 representatives from the University of PNG Catholic Students Association with their president and others from St. Michaels and St. Joseph’s parishes.

Caroline Kennedy was in Honiara to mark the 80th anniversary of the battle of Guadalcanal, a brutal seven-month land, sea and air fight between allied and Japanese forces that marked a turning point in the war.

During the battle, John F Kennedy – who went on to become the US president – narrowly escaped death when a Japanese destroyer ran over his patrol boat PT-109.

Solomon Islands head coach Felipe Vega-Arango sent out the same starting eleven that overcame Tahiti in their previous fixture. Meanwhile, Marcos Gusmao made just one change from Papua New Guinea’s clutch victory over Fiji, Raymond Gunemba replacing Stahl Gubag in attack.