Sharks were filmed swimming inside Kavachi, one of the world’s most violent underwater volcanoes, leaving scientists questioning how large predators survive heat, acid and eruptions in an environment thought uninhabitable.
Australia has announced a 190 million Australian dollar investment to enhance security in the Solomon Islands, including funding for additional police and the creation of a police training center in Honiara. This initiative is designed to reduce the Solomons' reliance on external security partners over time and build a stronger local police force. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that this investment would ensure the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force can maintain primary responsibility for security in the country. The move comes after concerns over a 2022 security pact between the Solomon Islands and China, which raised fears among U.S. allies, including Australia, about the potential establishment of a Chinese naval base in the region. In response, Australia has signed new security deals with Pacific nations like Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, and Nauru, allowing it to effectively veto any security agreements with third parties, including China.
A powerful 8.0 magnitude earthquake set off a tsunami that killed at least five people in a remote part of the Solomon Islands on Wednesday and triggered evacuations across the South Pacific as island nations issued tsunami alerts.
Japan's Meteorological Agency said on Wednesday it expects a 20 cm (8 inch) tsunami to reach the country at around 4:30 p.m. (0730 GMT) after a strong earthquake struck near the Solomon Islands earlier in the day.