Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong |Stephen Dziedzic

The Solomon Islands prime minister has pushed back on Australia's attempts to extract strategic concessions from his country in return for a $190 million policing package announced late last year, saying officials are trying to hammer out a "compromise" on the issue. In an exclusive interview, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele spoke to the ABC's The Pacific program in Honiara this week — the first time a sitting Solomon Islands leader has sat down with the ABC in almost six years.

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong |Evan Wasuka |Erin Handley

The people of Rennell Island remember the dark day when an inky black bloom spread across the sea near their homes. Located in the Solomon Islands, the bay was once famed for dolphin calling — a traditional practice where locals would lure the mammals to the shore. "Rennell is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. It's a very unique island … very special," said Richie Pautangata, president of the West Rennell Landowners Association.

Oct 18, 2024 | abc.net.au | Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong |Gabriella Marchant |Nick Sas

Flying across the hundreds of islands that make up Solomon Islands, it's almost impossible not to see them.  Patches of muddy and desolate ground in an otherwise lush and pristine green forest. They are logging zones, and in Solomon Islands they are everywhere. For the developing country, it is a catch 22: Logging is its lifeblood; the country's biggest export and a source of income for thousands.

Aug 9, 2024 | abc.net.au | Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong |Nick Sas

It was one of the moments of the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Eric Moussambani, better known as Eric the Eel, willing himself through the pool in the 100m freestyle. The athlete from Equatorial Guinea trained in a hotel swimming pool and had never seen, let alone swam in, an Olympic-sized pool before competing in the sport's pinnacle competition. It was a story of overcoming adversity; a different kind of Olympic triumph. So, with that, the comparisons with Solomon Islands' Sharon Firisua were inevitable.

Aug 7, 2024 | abc.net.au | Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong

Tomorrow, the people of Hawaii will mark the one-year anniversary of the Maui wildfires which destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, killing 97 people and leaving over 7 thousand homeless. A 'paddle out' in Maui will honour the victims who perished in the tragedy. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is expected to travel to East Sepik province, after a surge of violence in recent weeks. First, there was the massacre of more than 20 people in remote villages in Angoram district last month.