Solomon Islands

The Solomon Star newspaper reported 10 people had been arrested and charged by police after failing the country's first breathalyzer tests.

First time offenders can be imprisoned for up to a year and/or be fined more than $US1200 which is equivalent to about four months income for the average family in Solomon Islands.

Repeat offenders can be imprisoned for up to two years and/or be fined more than $US2400.

The tougher laws were introduced last June with the aim to to curb the high number of alcohol related crashes and fatalities.

An Australian company Pacific Bauxite has secured a licence to prospect the island and its representatives are in the island's capital Lata this week.

Some local people are opposed to their presence and have set up roadblocks to stop them from travelling around the island.

A spokesperson for the community, Sir John Ini Lapli, who is also a former governor general of Solomon Islands, said the issue had divided families and tribes, making the situation very tense.

Court fines of $US100 each for illegal entry into Solomon Islands will also be paid by their family members.

The Solomon Star newspaper reports that a total of $US4,300 has been given to the Vietnamese Embassy in Canberra by the men's families to be wired to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Honiara.

Local courts have extended their remand in custody to the 22nd of this month pending the payment of their fines and repatriation costs.

PNG will play Solomon Islands twice in June - on the 9^th and again on the 13^th - in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifier - OFC Stage 3.

“Solomon Islands for sure is a strong team, I watched their match when they played Tahiti beating them 1-0.

“They have good individual players. Maybe we are playing a bit more team related where as they play more individual related.

“To win in the Solomon Islands, we have to do our very best,” said Serritslev.

The label has been working with Shefram studios from the Solomon Islands for its recent projects.

Being the oldest recording label and producer in the country, CMH wishes to continue being the trend setter in the PNG’s music industry.

“So we review the stuff that they produce and then they work in collaboration with our producers to either refine it, fine-tune it or we leave as it is, it depends.

The orientation sessions at APTC campuses in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu on January 16 and 17, provided valuable information to new students on APTC facilities, student support services, regulations, and their responsibilities.

APTC is an innovative development program funded by the Australian Government, delivering internationally-recognised Australian skills and qualifications for a wide range of vocational careers for skilled workers across the Pacific.

An alert from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) says widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible for parts of the Pacific.

Areas issued tsunami warnings include Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea , Pohnpei , Vanuatu , Chuuk, Indonesia, Nauru and Kosrae.

Initial reports suggest the earthquake struck at a depth of 154km.

The quake was initially recorded at 8.0M.

More to come.

- NZ Herald

Another powerful quake struck near Kirakira this morning - a 6.7 magnitude quake at a depth of 33km.

The undersea quake hit 71km west of the city of Kirakira, which is on the country's biggest island, Makira.

Director of the National Disaster Management Office Loti Yates said there was no tsunami threat from this morning's quake but he was expecting more reports of damage.

Mr Yates said multiple quakes of magnitude 5 and above have hampered relief operations still underway in the Makira area.

No tsunami warning has been issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii following the quake.

Photo: USGS Earthquake of magnitude 6.7 strikes west of Solomon Islands at depth 33 kilometres. 

Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga who is also the Minister for Home Affairs says the stadium venue is expected to cost more than $US28 million.

Mr Maelanga said the country's official preparations will kick off next month once the 2023 Pacific Games Bill is passed by parliament.

But he said a Taiwanese team has already been to look at the proposed sites for the games venues and have returned to Taipei to work out the full details of the project.