Solomon Islands

The outbreak which started in New Zealand has hit Samoa the hardest with 76 people killed as of Wednesday and more than 5,300 cases recorded since October.

A statement from the Solomon Islands health ministry issued on 11 December said everyone travelling to Solomon Islands must present a traveller's public health declaration card on arrival.

Anyone travelling from countries affected by measles must show certified proof that they have received a measles vaccination at least three weeks prior to arriving in Solomon Islands.

The ceremony, which will take place at Lawson Tama Stadium in the capital Honiara this afternoon, is one of the main events of Prince Charles' final day in the country.

Earlier this morning, the British royal addressed the Solomon Islands Parliament before attending a luncheon hosted by the Governor General at the Mendana Hotel.

He will also be visiting the headquarters of the Forum Fisheries Agency, which drives the sustainable fisheries management agenda for its 17 Pacific Islands member countries.

Mr Aqorau, who until Friday had been a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in Canberra for two three-month periods, said the appointment will be effective with the beginning of 2020.

He was CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, the nine-island tuna cartel, from 2010 to 2016.

During this time, PNA implemented a tuna management programme known as the "Vessel Day Scheme" that reshaped the purse seine industry, generating a huge increase in revenue to participating islands.

During Prince Charles' trip next month, he will launch a national ocean policy and a malaria elimination roadmap.

The prince will also learn about sustainable fisheries management in the Pacific.

A statement from the Solomon Islands government said the prince would also meet with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and other leaders in Honiara.

Prince Charles will be in Solomon Islands on the 24 and 25 of November, following his visit to New Zealand and Tuvalu.

The prince last visited Tuvalu in 1970.

The Europeans dominated the game taking 33 shots on goal and enjoying 61 percent of ball possession.

Inter Milan U-18 striker Degnand Ngonto opened the scoring for the Italians in the 24th minute and added a second later in the second half for a brace with his teammates Nicolo Cudrig (AS Monaco), Franco Tongya (Juventus), and Andrea Capone (Hellas Verona) also getting on the scoresheet.

The Solomon Islanders played much better in the second half than in the first, with striker Raphael Leai having a couple of decent stabs at goal.

Manasseh Sogavare attended high-level talks in Beijing during the first ever official visit to China by a Solomons' prime minister.

His visit follows last month's controversial move by the Solomons to switch its diplomatic recognition to China, ending a long relationship with Taiwan.

While in Beijing, Mr Sogavare met China's President Xi Jinping, with the two leaders signing various agreements.

According to the ABC, one of the agreements was for co-operation under China's sprawling Belt and Road initiative.

The move was announced in a statement released on Monday by Taiwan's ministry of foreign affairs.

"The government hereby declares the termination of diplomatic relations with Solomon Islands with immediate effect, the end of all bilateral co-operative projects, as well as the recall of the staff of its Embassy, technical mission, and medical mission stationed in Solomon Islands," the statement said.

"The Taiwan government also demands that Solomon Islands immediately recall its government personnel from Taiwan."

The slip occurred near the island's corrections facility partially covering some of the staff housing there.

According to police one house was severely impacted with two people still buried under the rubble.

One of them has been located in the bathroom of the house and rescuers are working to dig them out but the other has yet to be found.

Three other family members who were in and around the house at the time managed to escape relatively unscathed.

The two men were arrested on Friday after the buildings in Tigoa were burned down last month.

The men have been flown to Honiara as the investigation continues.

In a statement police said the arson may have been linked to the election of the provincial premier in July.

Nauru Coach Dominic Tabuna said that their first game against Papua New Guinea has provided them with a lot of experience and motivation for the tournament.

“When I think of all the nations here playing here, I would assume PNG would be the toughest to beat with the fact that this is their home ground and their own weather and their own crowd. It all adds up with the experience they have over us, which is immense,” Tabuna said.