Solomon Islands

It hasn't always been easy for members of Papua New Guinea's women's boxing team to forge their way in the sport, and now they need financial support to make it to the Pacific Games.

Commonly known as the region's 'mini Olympics' a grand total of 24 nations, including Australia will compete over the next two weeks.

Seven years in the making — and hundreds of millions of dollars later — this week Solomon Islands officially plays host to the 2023 Pacific Games, the region's "mini Olympics". But there's many other games going on.  

Australia is deploying 500 police and army officers to reinforce its position as the Pacific country's number one security partner.

Pacific leaders including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will descend on the beautiful island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands this week for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting. And the two "big Cs" will be on the agenda.

Six Pacific Island countries have voted with Israel to oppose the UN resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. For many nations in the region, the connection to Israel runs deep.   

China's small police liaison team in Solomon Islands will increase to help provide security for this month's Pacific Games, while the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force gets another donation of equipment from Beijing including metal detectors and drones in a move that's causing concern in Canberra.

A leading think tank is warning the Australian government to be careful not to overload Pacific countries with debt in China's absence. 

The gallery houses artefacts of deep cultural significance to the diaspora in Australia, including a rare 1,000-year-old replica Rotuman headdress. 

The Bureau of Meteorology says there's a 75 per cent chance of cyclone development off the coast of North Queensland on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

The Pacific Engagement Visa will give to opportunity to 3,000 people from the region each year to permanently settle in Australia. 

José Ramos-Horta says Beijing did not want to help develop police and military infrastructure over concerns of an "overreaction" from Australia.

The island of Aorigi is a remote dot on the map south-east of the Solomon Islands' capital. And here on this day of celebration, spears fly.

Mr Sogavare said the US "lecture you and lecture you" about "how good they are" and suggested the Pacific Leaders' Summit — held in Washington this week — needs a rethink.

The United States says it is "disappointed" by the absence of Solomon Islands' prime minister from a summit aimed at improving Washington's ties to the region.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has declined a White House invitation to meet with US President Joe Biden at next week's Pacific leaders' summit.

Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogovare is expected to address security, development and climate change during his trip to New York.

A near-record number of Pacific Islanders are in Australia working on farms and abattoirs. The workforce has kept Australia's agricultural economy afloat and transformed the lives of thousands — but it comes at a cost.

An estimated 3,800 ships were sunk during the conflict and remain on the Pacific Ocean floor. Many carried thousands of tonnes of oil and unknown quantities of unexploded bombs. As they rust through, experts fear a detrimental impact on the marine environment and local livelihoods.

An estimated 3,800 ships were sunk during WWII. Although the war is long over, Pacific island nations fear the lasting impact on the marine environment and their livelihoods.

Australia has handed over a water sports park, while China gifted the Pacific nation with a new national stadium.

The new prime minister of Vanuatu flags he wants to rewrite a security pact his predecessor signed with Australia, saying parliament is unlikely to ratify the agreement in its current form.

The US is questioning the purpose of a shipment of replica firearms for training police, following reports the weapons are actually real.

A leading opposition MP in Solomon Islands is calling for an independent investigation into a contentious shipment of "replica weapons" brought into the Pacific Island country by China after publicly released US diplomatic cables claimed the guns were likely real.

Australian security forces will remain in the Pacific nation until June to assist with an election.