Solomon Islands

The earthquake hit less than 30 kilometers off the island of Makira -- and 70 kilometers southwest of the island's city of Kirakira -- about 4:38 a.m. local time Friday (12:38 p.m. ET Thursday), the US Geological Survey said.

A number of tsunami warnings issued not long after the quake have been canceled, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The largest observed wave, according to sea level gauges, was only 0.12 meters near Honiara on the island of Guadalcanal, some 200 kilometers northwest of the epicenter

RNZ reports a tropical low is about 600 kilometres west-southwest of Rennell, and is moving southeast.

A heavy rain warning is in force for all provinces.

The meteorological service says people in low lying areas by rivers and streams should prepare for possible flooding and landslides.

Disaster officials say there are no confirmed fatalities after landslides in the capital, Honiara.

Photo by Solomon Islands Met  

The pageant week begins with a church service and over the course of the week will assess each contestants through various activities planned.

Contestants representing eight Pacific Islands - American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Tonga have all gathered in Apia, Samoa.

Contestants and their teams started arriving in Samoa last week for the 30^th anniversary of the Miss Pacific Islands.

Manasseh Sogavare's office has confirmed receiving a letter from the United Democratic Party president revoking his membership.

An article in relation to the incident, posted on the Forum Solomon Islands International Facebook page, is attributed to local journalist and former MP, Alfred Sasako.

According to the report, the UDP President Tommy Chan made his decision after receiving formal complaints from coalition partners about Mr Sogavare's leadership style and performance since taking office two years ago.

Fiji's Defence Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola has invited his Indonesian counterpart General Ryamizard Ryacudu to an official visit to Fiji.

This follows a meeting between the two in Jakarta on Saturday when their two governments reaffirmed development ties and discussed defence co-operation.

The Fiji Times reports that areas of strategic interest, including peacekeeping and counter terrorism, were discussed.

In a meeting with prime minister Manasseh Sogavare on Friday, premiers of the nine provinces and the mayor of the capital Honiara signed an agreement to pursue the introduction of a federal system of government.

The idea for a federal constitution and a new system of government has been supported by successive Solomon Islands governments for almost a decade now.

But Mr Sogavare's administration is the first to make its adoption a priority.

The Parliamentary Entitlements Committee, which has MPs sitting on it, voted last year to make MPs' salaries tax free.

RNZ reports the men, one of whom was allegedly brandishing the gun, threatened construction workers at the Taba'a bridge in North Malaita.

Malaita Provincial Police Commander, David Wate, praised local chiefs and elders for helping police to quickly catch the men involved and confiscate the gun.

The multi-country mission has spent the last 13 years working to rebuild the Solomons which was brought to its knees by a bloody ethnic conflict which began in 1998 and ended with the mission's arrival.

The mission, which is due to depart the country in June next year, accepted an invitation from the people of Small Malaita to take part in the inaugural launch of their Yam Cultural Festival on Sunday which coincided with the RAMSI anniversary.

They are also in support of full membership of ULMWP to the Melanesian Spearhead Group .

The MSG members said they are committed to advocating for West Papua and strongly adhere to the principles that are at the core of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, which is the ‘Political aspirations of self- determination of our Melanesian people.’

There is recognition that such a commitment will require bold and ethical leadership and a clear understanding of our Melanesian values.