Solomon Islands

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With an Eye on China, US Opens Embassy

Solomon Islands post had been shut down in 1993

(Newser) - The US opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands on Thursday in its latest move to counter China's push into the Pacific. The embassy is starting small, with a chargé d'affaires, a couple of State Department staff members and a handful of local employees. The US previously operated...

Caroline Kennedy Meets Kids of Islanders Who Rescued JFK
They Delivered
JFK's Distress
Note on a Coconut.
Now, Thanks
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Aug 13, 2022 5:10 PM CDT

They Delivered JFK's Distress Note on a Coconut. Now, Thanks

US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy meets with kids of Solomon Islanders who saved her dad in WWII

(Newser) - In August 1943, during World War II, a 26-year-old John F. Kennedy and his crew were shipwrecked in the Solomon Islands after a Japanese destroyer rammed into their patrol boat during the Battle of Guadalcanal. On Monday, his daughter, Caroline Kennedy, now a US ambassador to Australia, met with and...

Three Charred Bodies Found in Solomon Islands Unrest

Australia announced Thursday it's sending police, troops, and diplomats to help

(Newser) - Update: Police are investigating after three burned human bodies were found in a building in Honiara, the first to die in the riots. They were found in a burned-out building in the Chinatown section of the capital city, the Guardian reports. Police don’t know who they are or how...

Guy Lost at Sea for 29 Days: 'It Was a Nice Break'

Livae Nanjikana and a companion floated 250 miles off course

(Newser) - Being lost at sea for nearly a month wouldn't be most people's idea of a good time, and it probably wasn't for Livae Nanjikana and Junior Qoloni, but it was still a respite of sorts for at least one of them. The Guardian reports the two men...

WWII Bomb Disposal Workers Die in Explosion

Men were mapping unexploded WWII bombs in the Solomon Islands

(Newser) - In a devastating accident Sunday, two men helping to clear World War II bombs from the Solomon Islands were killed in an explosion. The men, one British and one Australian, were employees of Norwegian People's Aid, which was working to dispose of the unexploded ordnances in the capital of...

Think Common Rats Are Bad? This One Is 4 Times as Big
Scientist's 'Spectacular'
Discovery: a Giant Rat
NEW STUDY
Sep 27, 2017 10:50 AM CDT

Scientist's 'Spectacular' Discovery: a Giant Rat

New species is at risk in Solomon Islands, scientists say

(Newser) - Encountering a foot-and-a-half-long rat might be nightmarish for some, but for Tyrone Lavery, it heralded a once-in-a-lifetime discovery. Back in 2010, the mammalogist was exploring the Solomon Islands when he heard locals describe "vika," a giant tree-dwelling rat with teeth powerful enough to break open coconuts. Reports of...

2 More Big Quakes Hit Tsunami-Ravaged Solomons

But no more tsunami warnings issued

(Newser) - Strong aftershocks rattled the Solomon Islands today, hampering relief efforts to tsunami-ravaged villages and forcing the South Pacific nation's prime minister to forgo a visit to the stricken area, where nine deaths have been confirmed. Officials were already struggling to reach the isolated region when a magnitude-6.6 aftershock...

8.0 Quake Strikes Off Solomon Islands
 Tsunami Kills 4 in Solomons 
UPDATED
Feb 6, 2013 2:49 AM CST

Tsunami Kills 4 in Solomons

5-foot waves spawned from 8.0 quake

(Newser) - At least four people were killed after a powerful 8.0 magnitude quake struck near the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific today, triggering a small tsunami, Reuters reports. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued, but later canceled, warnings for other South Pacific islands, Australia, and New Zealand. Two waves...

Islanders' Blond Hair Is Genetic Quirk

It comes from a gene mutation, not Europeans

(Newser) - A peculiar pairing of dark skin and blond hair in the native population of the Solomon Islands is due to a unique gene and not, as previously thought, the intermingling of Europeans with the inhabitants, finds a new study. About 5 to 10% of the indigenous peoples on the islands...

As Currency, Dolphin Teeth Feel Recession's Bite

In South Pacific, Solomon Islands putting more stock in ancient trading chip

(Newser) - Spinner dolphins had better watch out—their pearly whites are again a fast-growing currency in the South Pacific, the Wall Street Journal reports. Economic troubles in the Solomon Islands have caused many to return to the traditional trading chip. “Dolphin teeth are like gold,” says the governor of...

Tsunami Slams Solomon Islands
Tsunami Slams Solomon Islands
Apr 2, 2007 7:01 AM CDT

Tsunami Slams Solomon Islands

Island of Gizo said to be "entirely washed away and people are floating in the sea"

(Newser) - A tsunami hit the Solomon Islands early Monday morning, killing at least 12 and stranding thousands more. The 8.1 quake brought huge waves nearly a mile inland in some places. "I'm driving down the street -- there are boats in the middle of the road, buildings have completely...

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