Photo : AFP
Photo : AFP
China Reader Daily Wire | 02 May 2024, Thursday | Vol.1 No. 71
Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele was selected as the new PM of Solomon Islands
On 02 May, the lawmakers selected Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele was selected as the new prime minister of Solomon Islands. Governor General David Vunagi announced that Manele had won 31 votes compared to opposition leader Matthew Wale’s 18 votes. The general saw the incumbent PM Manasseh Sogavare’s government losing the majority in the parliament, leading to intensive lobbies for independent candidates to select prime minister. Australian PM Anthony Albanese congratulated new PM Manale for his election victory. The election victory comes as former PM Sogovare did not seek re-election and supported Manale for the PM post. His party had built close ties with Beijing in the last five years, and PM Sogovare had signed a security agreement with China in 2022. On 29 April, Malanle said to reporters that he would ensure the “same foreign policy basis – friends to all and enemies to none.” (“Solomon Islands picks China-friendly Manele as new prime minister,” The Straits Times, 02 May 2022)
China Reader Daily Wire | 01 May 2024, Monday | Vol.1 No. 70
Sogavare informs that he will not stand for re-nomination reasoning “Geopolitics is at play after we made a very important decision in 2019”
On 30 April, The Straits Times reported that the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare informed that he will run as a candidate when the lawmakers vote for the new Prime Minister this week. Rather his political party will back the former Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele. After the elections showed no clear winner two opposition parties struck a deal to form a coalition. The elections were being closely watched by external parties like China, the US and the Pacific neighbourhood. Sogavare said that his government has been pressurized by the Western state and its allies as they are being “accused of many things.” Sogavare said: “Geopolitics is at play, after we made a very important decision in 2019,” referring to the switch to diplomatic relations with China and away from Taiwan. (“Solomon Islands’ pro-China PM Sogavare won’t stand for re-nomination,” The Straits Times, 30 April 2024)
Australian Qantas Airlines data breach being investigated
On 01 May, Australian Qantas Airways informed that they are investigating the data breach where users had access to other passengers' travel details, which has impacted the frequent Flyers application. There are multiple reports to the media outlets that customers are able to access strangers travel information and the users are being able to cancel someone else’s tickets. Qantas is currently investigating the matter and is checking if this has been caused by the recent system change. (“Australia's Qantas probing reports of the data breach at loyalty app,” The Straits Times, 01 May 2024)
