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A massive $85 billion tax discrepancy, reportedly uncovered by auditors investigating the tax affairs of Solomon Islands Tobacco Company Ltd (SITCO), has triggered a sharp internal rift within the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) — the government agency responsible for tax collection. IRD Commissioner Joseph Dokekana dismissed the assessment as unrealistic,…
by Charley Piringi The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan has awarded Honiara-based investigative news outlet In-depth Solomons one of its 2025 Freedom of the Press Awards at a special ceremony held in Tokyo tonight. The club’s Freedom of the Press Committee annually recognises outstanding individual journalists and media organisations that contribute to…
In a strong and united stand, the traditional chiefs and landowners of Bellona Island have formally declared their opposition to all forms of mining activity on the island. The declaration was signed at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara on Sunday, 25th May 2025, marking a historic moment of resistance…
by Charley Piringi Australia is the sixth of the seven continents, vast and mighty. It is so different from my home in the Solomon Islands, yet bound to it by history, culture, and the deep blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Stepping onto this vast continent for the first time…
How a shipment of nickel ore destined for China was diverted to Indonesia and sold there instead. by Charley Piringi On the remote shores of East Choiseul, 55,000 metric tonnes of nickel ore worth millions of dollars were loaded into a bulk carrier destined for China in February this year. Solomon…
Five communities on Tikopia Island in Temotu Province now have access to clean piped water, thanks to the Small Grants Programme funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and administered by UNDP in the Solomon Islands. After more than two decades of hardship and limited access to clean water, the…
Local Malaita business Goshen Enterprise is partnering with Australia to help taro farmers increase production to meet the growing demand for products in Honiara. Australia’s support, in collaboration with Solomon Islands Government ministries, will help Goshen scale up operations creating more local jobs, supporting more farmers, and contributing to the…
Leaders of Papua New Guinea and would-be nation Bougainville are holding moderated talks this week in Port Moresby to clarify the province’s pathway to independence. Bougainville, an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea’s east, has long sought independence, even declaring as much without success in 1975. In 2019, 98 per…
Support Community-Led Planned Relocation; Protect Walande Residents from Climate Impact Key Points: · Intensifying climate impacts have displaced members of Walande and other coastal communities in Solomon Islands, threatening the enjoyment of their economic, social, and cultural rights. · Walande community members relocated from a small island to mainland Malaita due to…
At the heart of the successful Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership is collaboration with local businesses. This collaboration creates jobs and boosts sales and exports, which ultimately generates extra income for households across Solomon Islands. Last year, the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership worked with 50 local businesses across tourism,…
