The authorities in the Solomon Islands announced on Thursday the appointment of Jeremiah Manele as a new prime minister. Governor General David Vunagi announced outside parliament house that Manele had won 31 votes to Opposition leader Matthew Wales' 18 votes. Manele praised the fact there was no repeat of past violence. "The people have spoken," he said. "We have shown the world today that we are better than that." The elections in the Solomon Islands, located in the South Pacific Ocean, are usually intense. The archipelago has a population of around 720,000 people. The elections are closely monitored by both China and the United States due to their potential impact on regional security. Source: Qatar News Agency