With most established shipping companies in Solomon Islands competing for the economical routes many parts in the country are left without any shipping service. A new shipping company is promising to serve these remote routes.

For years, many restaurants in Honiara only cater for the taste of Solomon Islanders and Europeans. Recently a number of ethnic restaurants have opened up with an eye on a different culture and a different type of cuisine. Today one news visited a new Kai bar near the YWCA area which caters for people with a taste for Japanese food.

Flour is one of staple food that people in the country depend very much on for food like bread and other wheat based products. But for the past weeks there has been a shortage of bags of flours from wholesalers and retailers of flour

During weekends for the past few months frangipani ice has been setting up a stall in front of their shop to coupe with the numbers of customers. But this weekend frangipani ice also launched a new ice cream flavor to coincide with the valentines celebrations.

We shape buildings and buildings shape us” this common phrase was echoed again during the ground breaking ceremony of the MP’s office complex yesterday. But behind this new proposed office complex is an architect whose architectural ideas has helped to shape what Honiara is like today.

City mayor Andrew Mua says dreamtimes arguments are baseless and not true. Mua says the decision to turn down their occasional licensee was based on the liquor license provision. The city council says all premises granted liquor license by the liquor board must abide by the liquor license provision.

The popular pub and entertainment centre Dreamtime has laid off 17 workers after its liquor license failed to approve its liquor licnese for 2010. The club had been gaining popularity over the past six months as a popular nightspot – but has had to reduce its operations after it failed to get a new license.

The Dreamtime 2 Company owners of the popular Dreamtime Amusement Centre has taken the Honiara city council to court for closing its liquor licence. Dream time 2 was granted commercial business license in September last year, but was disallowed to renew its license because of a decision made by the liquor licensing board.

With the start of another school semester, tailor shops around the capital are jam packed with parents keen to get uniforms for their children. The demand is so great that even some of the shops have run out of stock.

Ten panicked passengers on board the MV Bikoi had to jump into the sea last night around seven PM when it met very rough seas. The ship was on its way to the Shortland Islands when it encountered rough seas and had to stop at Munda following the incident.

Although the Honiara city council has increased vendors fees in council run markets some vendors have stated that they are still paying the same amount of vending fees as last year. The move to increase vendor’s fees was undertaken by the council after in increased taxes on all tax rates collected by the council. The council says that vendors will expect to pay the new rates once they come into effect

Since the burning down of Chinatown, some Chinese shop owners have decided to leave, while others decided to continue to rebuild their businesses in Chinatown. One of those who decide to continue is James Fang who has just opened a new supermarket next to the Coronation School.
One  News went down to the new shop to have a look at the goods on offer.

While most businesses look forward to the New year and the challenges it brings, two Honiara businesses operating within the NPF plaza at Point Cruz are far from happy. The two businesses Plaza Electronics and Solomon Host lost around thirty thousand dollars worth of goods and equipment when they were broken into during the Christmas and New Year period.They are also concerned about losing their businesses because NPF will not be meeting any financial loses caused by the misconduct of security

Yesterday Solomon airlines officially launched the belama VIP lounge at Henderson’s international airports. The launching was a soft launch as the guest of honor was not present to launch the lounge

The police will now work with the Honiara city council to ban all selling of salt fish in Honiara. Vendors who sell salt fish are adviced to stop selling fish taken from fishing boats anchored at point Cruz harbor as of Monday. One News spoke to some fish vendors who expressed disappointment at the ban.

 For many people public transportation is an essential service and is the only way they can get around and for the people of Auki the establishment of a new radio controlled taxi service was an added bonus over the festive season. The railway taxi service is the first radio controlled taxi service in the province and offers services ranging from airport pickups to cab hiring.

Out-board motor transportation from Honiara to the surrounding islands is booming. The festive season is an opportunity for boat owners to make good money. But this is also the time of year when the maritime division will be carefully monitoring transport providers.

Kings taxi services have been very successful in their services in Honiara. Over the past years, providing better services for customers is one of the challenges the fleet are experiencing. Today king’s taxi services are optimistic to deliver best and quality services for its clients next year as they celebrated Christmas with their family.

The music industry in Solomon Islands certainly has the potential to be a big money earner. Solomon Islanders are not only passionate about music but some are actually really talented when it comes to playing music. Since the popularity of Solomon Islands musicians like the late Fred Maedola, music has grown to new heights.

It is the end of the year once again and as usual the lack of shipping services to the nine provinces is all too evident. Year in and year out Solomon Islanders endure the long arduous sea voyages to spend time with their families during the holidays. Earlier this month in Parliament the Member for Short lands Augustine Taneko called on parliamentarians to purchase more ships for their constituencies.