AGP Executive Report

Football: Solomon Islands men’s team showed grit in the MSG Cup, rescuing a 3-3 draw with Fiji after being 3-1 down, then later beating New Caledonia 2-0 in Suva to move to four points from two matches. Football (next up): Solomon Islands are set to face New Caledonia again in the MSG Prime Ministers Cup campaign after their comeback opener, with both sides chasing a first win. Darts (Honiara): The Canoe Lager Honiara City Dart League 2026 is underway after a launch at Pacific Crown Hotel, with a record 43 teams and Week One fixtures across multiple venues. Rugby 7s & sponsorship: Solomon Ports reaffirmed support for youth and rugby development following three days of National Rugby 7s at Town Ground. Chess: Team Solomon departed for the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand after a tough opening 4-0 loss to Kosovo, with plans to regroup for Senegal. Culture & sport spotlight: Tattoo artist Nai Taika shared how traditional Malaitan tattooing is being revived through a planned artists’ association. Tech & health (global): Qure.ai’s AI clinical support system Aira received EU Class IIb certification, aiming to ease pressure on frontline primary care.

MSG Cup Football: Solomon Islands staged a dramatic comeback to draw Fiji 3-3 in their MSG Prime Ministers Cup opener, after a red card and late pressure flipped the contest; coach Ben Cahn called it frustrating but said the team must tighten up ahead of the next match. National Sports Sponsorship: Solomon Ports reaffirmed its major sponsorship of the Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s, backing youth and rugby development after three days at Town Ground Rugby Stadium. Regional Football Build-up: Prime Minister Matthew Wale sent the men’s and women’s national teams off to Fiji with a message to play with courage, discipline, and pride. Women’s Football Spotlight: New Zealand won the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 4-0 over New Caledonia in Honiara, with captain Bonnie Rice scoring twice. Arts & Culture: Tattoo artist Nai Taika shared how Solomon Islands tattooing can preserve identity and culture, while local artists push to form an association. Tech & Health (Global): Qure.ai’s AI clinical support system Aira received EU Class IIb certification, aiming to reduce paperwork burdens in primary care. Earthquake Alert (Regional): A 6.4 quake rattled Papua New Guinea, felt across the country.

Sports & Community: Solomon Ports reaffirmed its major sponsorship of the Solomon Islands National Rugby 7s, backing youth development and rugby growth after three days at Town Ground Rugby Stadium. Football (Regional): Fiji’s MSG Cup opener saw Solomon Islands fight back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3, with coach Ben Cahn calling for tighter tactics and finishing ahead of the next match. Football (National Teams): Prime Minister Matthew Wale sent the Solomon Islands men’s and women’s national teams off to Fiji for the MSG Prime Ministers Cup, urging courage, discipline, and pride in representing the country. Arts & Culture (Film): The People of Pasifika 48-hour Film Challenge (POP48) brought teams from the region, including Solomon Islands, to write, shoot, and edit short films under tight rules and fast-changing conditions. Culture (Tattoo): Nai Taika shared how tattooing can preserve Malaitan identity, with local artists pushing to form an association to create opportunities for young tattoo artists. Tech & Media (Local relevance): Apple is expanding iCloud+ in over 100 countries to include Apple TV and Apple Arcade at no extra charge, with Solomon Islands listed among the rollout markets. International Sports (Chess): Team Solomon departed for the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, aiming to gain experience and bring knowledge back to grow the local chess community.

Football & National Pride: Prime Minister Matthew Wale sent Solomon Islands’ men’s and women’s teams off to Fiji for the MSG Prime Ministers Cup, urging courage, discipline, and respect as they carry the nation’s hopes. Regional Youth Football: New Zealand beat New Caledonia 4-0 in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship final at Honiara’s National Stadium on 19 September, with captain Bonnie Rice scoring twice. Chess & International Exposure: Team Solomon departed Honiara for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand after a tough 4-0 opening loss to Kosovo, with plans to regroup for Senegal. Local Sports Spotlight: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s was officially opened, setting up three days of action at Town Ground Rugby Stadium (16–18 September). Culture on Skin: Tattoo artist Nai Taika shared how tattooing can preserve Malaitan identity, with plans to build a local tattoo artists’ association. Tech & Health (Global): Qure.ai says its AI clinical support system Aira has received EU Class IIb CE certification, aiming to ease frontline primary care workloads. Streaming Access (Global): Apple is bundling Apple TV and Apple Arcade into iCloud+ in 100+ countries, including Solomon Islands.

Football (OFC U-16 Women): New Zealand sealed an eighth OFC U-16 Women’s Championship title in Honiara on 19 September, beating New Caledonia 4-0. Captain Bonnie Rice scored twice, with goals also from Kodi Wilson and Louisa Egley-Turner, as the Young Football Ferns kept a perfect record in the tournament. Health & Tech: Qure.ai says its AI clinical decision support system, Aira, has received EU Class IIb CE certification—built for frontline primary care with local-language support and designed to reduce paperwork burdens. Regional Sport (MSG Prime Ministers Cup): Solomon Islands’ national men’s and women’s teams have departed for Fiji, with Prime Minister Matthew Wale urging them to play with courage, discipline, and pride. Entertainment/Media (Streaming): Apple is rolling out iCloud+ bundles in 100+ countries, adding Apple TV and Apple Arcade at no extra charge—Solomon Islands is listed among the included markets. Arts (Culture & Identity): Tattoo artist Nai Taika shared plans to strengthen traditional Malaitan tattooing in Honiara, including efforts to form an artists’ association and promote custom designs rooted in local identity. International Chess: Team Solomon has left for the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand after an opening 4-0 loss to Kosovo, with plans to regroup ahead of Senegal.

Football & National Pride: Prime Minister Matthew Wale sent off Solomon Islands men’s and women’s teams for the MSG Prime Ministers Cup in Fiji, urging courage, discipline, and respect as they carry the nation’s hopes. Regional Sport Spotlight: The MSG Prime Ministers Cup is set to bring Melanesia together through men’s and women’s football, with Fiji hosting and using the tournament to tackle shared youth challenges. Local Rugby: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s has officially opened at Town Ground Rugby Stadium, with men’s, women’s, and elite school teams set for three days of high-intensity action. Chess on the World Stage: Team Solomon departed Honiara for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand after a tough opening loss to Kosovo, with plans to regroup for Senegal. Culture & Craft: Honiara tattoo artist Nai Taika shared his push to rebuild Malaitan tattoo traditions and form an association to support young artists. Tech & Entertainment Access: Apple is expanding iCloud+ in over 100 countries to include Apple TV and Apple Arcade at no extra charge, with Solomon Islands listed among the supported markets.

Football Send-Off: Prime Minister Matthew Wale gave Solomon Islands’ men’s and women’s national teams a tarmac rally in Honiara before they fly to Fiji for the MSG Prime Ministers Cup, urging courage, discipline, and pride in the national jersey. Regional Tournament Buzz: The MSG Prime Ministers Cup is set to bring Melanesian nations together in Suva, with both men’s and women’s teams competing as Fiji hosts the fifth edition. PNG Spotlight: Papua New Guinea’s Kapuls and Bilums arrived in Fiji for the same MSG Cup, with the Bilums defending champions and the Kapuls aiming to go one better after last year’s final. Local Rugby: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s officially kicked off at Town Ground Rugby Stadium, featuring clubs, women’s teams, and elite school sides over three days. Arts & Identity: Tattoo artist Nai Taika shared how Malaitan-inspired tattooing is being used to preserve culture and push for a local tattoo association. Chess on the Move: Team Solomon departed for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand after an opening-round loss to Kosovo. Film Race in the Pacific: A Pasifika 48-hour film challenge in Fiji tested crews from Solomon Islands and beyond with fast shoots, tight logistics, and culture-led prompts. Tech for Entertainment: Apple is bundling Apple TV and Apple Arcade into iCloud+ in more than 100 countries, including Solomon Islands, at no extra charge. Water Disruption: Solomon Water warned east Honiara customers of low pressure or outages due to issues at the Panatina Tank system.

Apple Services Boost for Solomon Islands: iCloud+ is now bundling Apple TV and Apple Arcade at no extra charge in 100+ countries, with rollout over the month and Solomon Islands listed among the eligible markets. MSG Prime Ministers Cup Build-Up: Prime Minister Matthew Wale sent off Solomon Islands’ men’s and women’s national football teams in Honiara ahead of the Fiji tournament, urging courage, discipline, and pride in the jersey. Regional Football Spotlight: Papua New Guinea’s Kapuls begin their MSG Cup campaign in Suva against Vanuatu, while Fiji prepares to host the event and highlights the tournament’s role in bringing Melanesian nations together. Solomon Islands in Chess: Team Solomon has departed for the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand after an opening 4–0 loss to Kosovo, with the squad set to regroup for Senegal. Local Sports: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s has been officially opened, with three days of action at Town Ground Rugby Stadium. Arts & Culture: A Malaitan tattoo artist at the National Annual Trade Fair shared plans to organize tattoo artists and revive traditional identity through modern tribal designs. Tech & Health (Global): Qure.ai’s AI clinical decision support system Aira received EU Class IIb CE certification.

Trukai & Rugby League: Jarome Luai is now the new face of Trukai Industries in a major four-year partnership, with the rice giant backing brand, community and sporting work across Papua New Guinea and the wider Pacific. Football in the spotlight: Prime Minister Matthew Wale sent Solomon Islands national men’s and women’s teams off to Fiji for the MSG Prime Ministers Cup, urging courage, discipline and pride in the national jersey. Regional tournament build-up: Fiji is set to host the MSG Prime Ministers Cup (men and women) from Sept 17 to Oct 3, with Melanesian nations using the event to connect communities and tackle youth challenges. Chess on the world stage: Team Solomon has departed Honiara for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand after a tough opening loss to Kosovo, with plans to regroup for Senegal. Local sport event: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s has been officially opened at Town Ground Rugby Stadium, running Sept 16–18 with men’s, women’s and elite school teams. Culture & creativity: Tattoo artist Nai Taika shared how he’s using modern tribal tattooing to preserve Malaitan culture and push for a local tattoo artists’ association. Water update: Solomon Water warned east Honiara customers of possible low pressure or outages due to critically low levels at the Panatina Tank.

Football Spotlight: PM Matthew Wale sent Solomon Islands’ men’s and women’s national teams off from Honiara to Fiji for the MSG Prime Ministers Cup, urging courage, discipline, and pride in the national jersey. Regional Sport: Fiji hosts the MSG Prime Ministers Cup (Sept 17–Oct 3), with men’s and women’s teams from MSG countries using football to tackle youth challenges together. Local Rugby: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s officially opened in Honiara, running Sept 16–18 at Town Ground with senior men, women, and elite high school teams. Chess on the Move: Team Solomon departed for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, with five players aiming to gain international experience for the next generation. Culture Through Ink: Nai Taika shared how tattooing is preserving Malaitan and wider Solomon Islands identity, while pushing for a future tattoo artists’ association in Honiara. Tech & Entertainment: Apple is bundling Apple TV and Apple Arcade into iCloud+ in 100+ countries (including Fiji), boosting streaming and gaming access without extra cost. Film & Creativity: A Pacific 48-hour film race (including Solomon Islands teams) highlighted the pressure, logistics, and quick thinking behind short-form filmmaking. VR at Venice Immersive: A look at Venice’s immersive VR installations shows how virtual reality is being used to confront real-world crises and global anxieties.

Football Spotlight: PM Matthew Wale sent Solomon Islands’ men’s and women’s national teams off from Honiara to Fiji for the MSG Prime Ministers Cup, urging courage, discipline, and pride in the national jersey. Regional Sport: Fiji is set to host the MSG Prime Ministers Cup (men and women) from tomorrow to Oct 3, with the tournament framed as a way for Melanesian nations to tackle youth challenges through sport. Local Rugby: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s officially kicked off in Honiara, running 16–18 September at Town Ground, with men’s, women’s, and elite high school teams plus international referees. Chess on the Move: Team Solomon departed for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, carrying a five-player squad and weeks of local training. Arts & Tech: Venice Immersive at the film festival spotlighted VR installations tackling real-world crises, including work linking personal trauma to global anxieties. Tech for Islanders: Apple expanded iCloud+ in 100+ countries by bundling Apple TV and Apple Arcade at no extra charge, with Fiji listed among the included markets. Community Update: Solomon Water warned east Honiara customers of low pressure/no water due to issues at the Panatina Tank borehole pumps, with repairs underway.

Film & Culture: Fiji’s Team Tideframe battled bad weather, risky location changes, and just three hours of sleep to finish a 48-hour short film for the People of Pasifika POP48 challenge, with teams from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands. Football (Honiara): Fiji U16 women take on New Caledonia in an OFC U16 Women’s Championship semi-final in Honiara, aiming to keep cool and stick to tactics. Regional Sport (MSG): Fiji will host the Melanesian Spearhead Group Prime Ministers Cup, with men’s and women’s football teams and a focus on using sport to tackle youth challenges across Melanesia. Rugby (Solomon Islands): Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s is officially opened for 16–18 September, featuring senior clubs, women’s teams, and elite high school sides. Arts (Tattoo): Nai Taika shared how tattooing can preserve Malaitan culture and identity, and how local artists are working toward forming an association. Chess (Solomon Islands): Team Solomon has departed for the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan, led by a five-player squad representing the Solomon Islands on the world stage. Tech (Pacific access): Apple expands iCloud+ in 100+ countries by bundling Apple TV and Apple Arcade (and a limited Apple Music Select tier) at no extra charge, with Fiji included. Water (Honiara): Solomon Water warns east Honiara customers of low/no supply from the Panatina Tank due to borehole pump problems, with repairs underway.

Rugby Spotlight: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s is officially underway, with the Town Ground Rugby Stadium hosting three days (16–18 Sept) of men’s, women’s and elite high school action, plus international players and trained referees. Football & Regional Sport: The MSG Prime Ministers Cup is framed as more than rivalry—Fiji’s hosting role (as Melanesian Spearhead Group chair) is set to bring Melanesian nations together, with women’s teams included and Solomon Islands named among recent hosts. Chess on the World Stage: Team Solomon has departed Honiara for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan, led by Simon Chottu (head of delegation) and coached by Kiki Chen, after weeks of local preparation. Culture Through Ink: Nai Taika shared how tattooing is being used to preserve Malaitan culture and identity, while local artists work toward forming an association to create opportunities for young tattooists. Community Sport Development: SINIS hosted an inclusive “Play for Equity” open day for people with disabilities, and Makira-Ulawa launched its first Oceania Sport Education Programme training for school and sports representatives. Water Disruption: Solomon Water warned east Honiara customers of low/no supply risk due to critically low levels at the Panatina Tank while borehole pump issues are being resolved. US Peace Corps Returns: Solomon Islands and the US have signed to renew the Peace Corps programme, with volunteers set to resume after more than 20 years.

Chess & Culture: Team Solomon has departed Honiara for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, with five boards and a full support team after weeks of local training at SINIS. Rugby Spotlight: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s is officially underway at Town Ground Rugby Stadium (16–18 Sept), featuring eight men’s clubs, women’s teams, and elite high school sides, plus international referees. Tattoo as Heritage: Nai Taika is using tattoo art to preserve Malaitan culture and identity, while pushing for a Honiara tattoo artists association to create opportunities for young artists. Football Results: New Zealand’s U-16 Women edged Fiji 1-0 in Honiara, with a late winner sending them into the semi-finals. Community Sport: Makira-Ulawa’s first Oceania Sport Education Programme trained 60 school and sports representatives, and SINIS hosted an inclusive “Play for Equity” day for people with disabilities. Water Disruption: Solomon Water warned east Honiara customers of low/no supply from the Panatina Tank due to borehole pump problems, with repairs underway. Regional Sports: Solomon Islands is listed among women’s teams for the Oceania 7s Cup in Rotorua, with SVNS 3 qualification places on the line. US Partnership: Solomon Islands and the US have signed to renew the Peace Corps programme, setting up volunteers to return after more than 20 years.

MSG Prime Ministers Cup: Papua New Guinea’s Kapuls and Bilums have arrived in Fiji ahead of the 2026 tournament in Suva (Sept 17–Oct 3). The Bilums return as defending women’s champions after winning the inaugural title, while the Kapuls aim to go one better after last year’s runners-up finish. Rugby 7s: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s has been officially opened at Town Ground Rugby Stadium (Sept 16–18), with eight men’s clubs, four women’s teams, and elite high school sides set to compete. Chess: Team Solomon has departed Honiara for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with five players and a delegation led by Simon Chottu. Tattoo & culture: Nai Taika shared how tattooing is being used to preserve Malaitan identity and rebuild traditional ideas, while also pushing for a future tattoo artists’ association in Honiara. Inclusive sport: SINIS hosted a Play for Equity Open Day, bringing together 180+ participants from disability organisations for adapted games, including seated volleyball. Trade fair: Honiara’s 2026 Annual National Trade Fair runs Sept 9–16 at FOPA Village, with culture, innovation, performances, and a grand float parade. Water update: Solomon Water warned east Honiara customers of low/no supply from the Panatina Tank due to borehole pump problems, with repairs underway. Peace Corps: Solomon Islands and the US have signed to renew the Peace Corps programme, setting up volunteers to return after more than 20 years.

Rugby Spotlight: Solomon Ports National Rugby 7s has been officially opened at Town Ground Rugby Stadium, with three days of action from 16–18 September featuring eight men’s clubs plus four leading local sides, a women’s category with four teams, and elite high school competition; international players and trained referees are set to raise the standard. Sports Development: Makira-Ulawa’s first Oceania Sport Education Programme and Physical Education training wrapped in Kirakira, equipping 60 school and sports representatives with coaching, governance, child safety, and sustainable club planning skills. Inclusive Sport: SINIS hosted a Play for Equity Open Day bringing 180+ participants from seven disability organisations together for adapted games, with seated volleyball a highlight. Community & Culture: Honiara’s Annual National Trade Fair runs 9–16 September at FOPA Village, mixing local products, enterprise, and cultural performances with a grand float parade. International Links: The Solomon Islands and the US have signed to renew the Peace Corps programme, paving the way for volunteers to return after more than 20 years.