Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Solomons PM Sogavare says foreign base would make it a military target

sogavare

Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the Solomon Islands will not host a foreign military facility. The Solomon Islands signed a secret security deal with China. Pacific leaders met this week to discuss security and competition between the US and China in the region. SUVA, Fiji: Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said Thursday that the Solomon … Read more

Fiji investigates ‘criminal matter’ on Russian superyacht

fiji

SUVA, Fiji: Fiji police said Thursday they had received a “criminal matter” involving the superyacht Amadea, which is purportedly owned by Russian businessman Suleiman Kerimov, a target of Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. Sitiveni Qiliho said the expensive boat arrived in Lautoka, Fiji on Tuesday without customs clearance. In a criminal situation, he added, … Read more

Tonga to enforce hard lockdown due to more COVID-19 cases

tonga

SUVA – Tonga will enforce a week-long hard lockdown on Sunday as the island nation reported 258 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours. According to Tonga’s news website Matangi Tonga Online, Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni announced the lockdown, which will be enforced at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday until 5:00 a.m. local time on … Read more

Samoa reports four new COVID-19 cases

samoa

SUVA – Samoa reported on Thursday four new COVID-19 positive cases in quarantine, bringing to 12 the total number of infections from a flight that arrived in the Pacific island country from New Zealand on Sunday. According to the newspaper Samoa Observer, Samoa’s National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) confirmed on Thursday that the four new … Read more

Vanuatu witnesses increase in COVID-19 community cases

vanuatu

SUVA – The number of COVID-19 community active cases on Efate, part of the Shefa Province in Vanuatu, has increased to 10 since last Saturday with seven cases recorded in the last 24 hours alone. According to Vanuatu’s newspaper Daily Post Tuesday, Vanuatu’s Minister of Health Bruno Leingkone said contact tracing has shown that the … Read more

Samoa reports 8 new COVID-19 cases

samoa

SUVA – Samoa reported on Monday eight new positive COVID-19 cases. According to the newspaper Samoa Observer, chief of  Samoa’s National Emergency Operation Center Agafili Shem Leo has confirmed the eight new cases, saying that they are passengers on board a repatriation flight from New Zealand on Sunday. Currently, the eight cases are in quarantine. … Read more

Fiji sees increase in leptospirosis, dengue fever cases

fiji

SUVA – Fiji has seen an increase in the number of people being admitted to the hospital with leptospirosis and dengue fever, said Fiji’s Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary James Fong. Fong said on Thursday nine children were admitted to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, capital of the island country, over the weekend. … Read more