The Solomon Islands has temporarily banned visits by foreign diplomats, saying in a letter to development partners which are vying for influence in the Pacific nation that the embargo is in place as officials finalise the national budget. A letter dated Tuesday and addressed to "all development partners", without naming them, said the two month ban on visits would start on September 15, during "a crucial time for government". After signing a security pact with China last year, Solomon Islands has seen an uptick in visits by senior diplomats from Australia, the United States, Britain, Japan, Saudi Arabia and China....