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Rioting in Solomon Islands due to revelations of bribery inducing their exec to dump Taiwan for Beijing, whistle blower uncovers it all. Much else of great importance.

8.3 earth quake Solomon Islands tsunami warning issued 1437 UTC

A magnitude 8.0 earthquake off the Solomon Islands has sparked a tsunami warning for the island nations of the south Pacific, with houses reported damaged in the Solomons. Local officials reported two 1.5-metre waves hitting the western side of Santa Cruz Island in the Solomons, damaging about 50 homes and properties. There were no reports of injuries or deaths. Villagers had gone to higher ground as a precaution. The tsunami formed after the earthquake hit near Lata on Santa Cruz in Temotu province, the easternmost part of the Solomons a three-hour flight from the capital, Honiara. The region has a...

The seismic jolt that unleashed the deadly Solomons tsunami this week lifted an entire island metres out of the sea, destroying some of the world's most pristine coral reefs. . . . . . .Submerged reefs that once attracted scuba divers from around the globe lie exposed and dying after the quake raised the mountainous landmass

The force of this week's Solomons earthquake has lifted an island in the South Pacific archipelago and pushed out its shoreline by tens of metres, exposing surrounding reefs. The remote island of Ranongga in the western Solomon Islands used to have submerged coral reefs that attracted scuba divers from around the world. But since Monday's massive earthquake in the Solomon Islands, the reefs are now exposed above the water and are dying, an AFP reporter and photographer have seen. The AFP team, which travelled to Ranongga on a chartered outboard after the quake, saw exposed reefs bleaching in the sun,...

Australia issues Solomons threat Mr Sogavare became prime minister after riots in April Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has threatened to withdraw some visa privileges for Solomon Islands politicians, local media said. The threat came in retaliation for the Solomons' expulsion of Australia's top diplomat, in a growing row over a police investigation into April riots. High Commissioner Patrick Cole was officially told to leave on Tuesday. A senior Australian envoy is in the Solomons' capital, Honiara, to protest against the decision. Mr Downer told Sky News that the government was seeking a measured response. "We can't just have our...

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Posted on Sat, Sep. 04, 2004 King Solomon’s name lingers at ‘Armageddon’ digging site By Bill Broadway Washington PostGeorge Washington University student Sarah Loyer, left, and Mariana Litvin, a student from Buenos Aires, Argentina, excavate a portion of what is called Solomon’s Palace in Megiddo, Israel. Five George Washington University students and their archaeology professor went to Armageddon this summer, not to search for clues to a cosmic battle yet to come between good and evil, but to seek understanding of civilizations past. One of the most important issues they addressed was whether a palace attributed to King Solomon in...

December 31, 2002 Two Pacific islands 'lost' after cyclone From Roger Maynard in Sydney FEARS are growing for the safety of the 3,000 residents of two of the most remote inhabited islands in the South Pacific. Tikopia and Anuta, in the Solomon Islands, are believed to have been devastated by hurricane-force winds. Radio contact was lost after cyclone Zoe reached the maximum category five as it swept across the region, generating 200mph winds and 30ft waves. Loti Yates, the region’s national disaster management director, said there was concern for the islanders. “For 11 hours the islands have come under direct...