For Sharon Firisua of the Solomon Islands, the Olympics are not a marathon, they’re a sprint. In a turn of events that could only happen at the Olympics, the Solomon Islands have placed the 30-year-old marathon runner into its lone spot in the women’s 100 meters. On Friday, the preliminary heat of the Olympics will mark Firisua’s first — and probably last — 100-meter race. Firisua finished 72nd in the marathon at the Tokyo Games and was hoping to make Paris her third Olympic marathon. When she didn’t qualify, her country’s Olympic officials decided to award her the wild-card spot…
Author: Newsdesk
The Hinemoana II, a waka hourua (double-hulled canoe), with an all-female crew, made history as it sailed into the Nuku’alofa harbour yesterday evening after a 10-day journey from Auckland, New Zealand, a trip that typically takes up to two weeks depending on weather conditions. The canoe, a traditional Polynesian double-hulled vessel, is Tonga’s first and was gifted by the Māori people through Te Whānau a Apanui to strengthen cultural connections. The vessel will advance marine research and ecotourism initiatives in Tonga, focusing on whale population monitoring and eDNA mapping. Skippered by Aunofo Havea Funaki, the first Tongan woman to become…
Following unrest among pro-independence Kanaks in New Caledonia, Australia needs to back the diplomatic intervention of other members of the Blue Pacific. And it should tell France, for France’s own good, to hold a replacement for a discredited referendum that overwhelmingly rejected independence in 2021. Australia faces a choice between, on one hand, demonstrating its attentiveness and commitment to its Pacific family and, on the other, staying silent for the sake of preserving relations with France and hoping to offend no one. Violence broke out in New Caledonia on 13 May as the French parliament was about to vote on…
China and democratic countries, including Australia and Japan, have increased their efforts to deepen engagement with Pacific Island countries in recent weeks, intensifying what some regional politicians and analysts describe as great power competition, especially in the security sector. “Geopolitical competition continues to intensify in the Pacific region as traditional partners [roll out] new activities while new partners continue to show new interests,” said Mihai Sora, director of the Pacific Islands Programme at the Lowy Institute in Australia. Last month, Jeremiah Manele and Charlot Salwai, the prime ministers of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, made high-profile trips to China, during…
The obscure UN organisation attempting to set rules for the exploitation of deep-sea metals is facing a potential shake-up as more nations call for a mining moratorium and a new candidate for its leadership vows to address perceptions of corporate bias. The number of countries against the imminent start of mining for metallic nodules on the seafloor has jumped to 32 during the International Seabed Authority’s annual assembly this week in Kingston, Jamaica after Austria, Guatemala, Honduras, Malta and Tuvalu joined their ranks. “We are running ahead of ourselves trying to go and extract minerals when we don’t know what’s…
New research from a collaborative team, including Texas A&M University atmospheric scientist Dr. Andrew Dessler, is exploring the climate impact of the 2022 Hunga Tonga volcano eruption and challenging existing assumptions. The mid-January 2022 eruption injected vast amounts of volcanic aerosols and water vapor into the atmosphere, presenting a unique scenario as a submarine volcano. It increased total stratospheric water content by about 10%. Historically, large volcanic eruptions have led to significant cooling effects on the global climate by blocking sunlight with their aerosols. Initially, scientists speculated that the water vapor might account for the extreme global warmth in 2023…
Dr. Siobhan Tu’akoi and Dr. Samuela ‘Ofanoa, are spearheading significant health initiatives in South Auckland, addressing rheumatic fever and gout among Pacific and Māori populations. Their projects, funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, aim to create impactful, community-driven solutions. Dr. Tu’akoi, from Holonga, Tongatapu, received a $487,000 fellowship to address rheumatic fever inequities. Her research will focus on developing community-led, social-media-based interventions to improve health literacy and awareness. The project will involve workshops and community input to tailor strategies that address the high rates of rheumatic fever among Pacific children, who are 80 times more likely to…
After a delay in Fiji due to a propeller issue, the cable-laying ship CS Lodbrog is set to arrive in Tonga on Tuesday, August 6 according to Tonga Cable CEO, Semisi Panuve. The ship was held in Fiji for over a week as a component for the right-hand propeller was shipped in and replaced. Telephone and internet services to Vava’u and Ha’apai have been disrupted for over a month following a submarine cable blackout caused by an earthquake on June 29. CEO Panuve said that the ship will head directly to the cable sites upon arrival. The repair, initially expected…
The Panguna mine made a fortune but left war and pollution in its wake. A new lawsuit backed by anonymous investors is now seeking billions in compensation – and raising concerns about who stands to benefit High in the forested mountains of Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville Island lies an abandoned, kilometer-wide crater cut deep into the earth. Formerly one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines, the open pit now serves as an unsightly monument to the environmental and social chaos that underground riches can create. Run for years by a subsidiary of Anglo-Australian giant Rio Tinto, the Panguna…
The Pacific Resilience Program (PREP) has completed the installation of Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) systems across selected locations in Tonga, strengthening communication capabilities and resilience to natural disasters and climate change impact. The Tonga Meteorological Service office at Fua’amotu, Tongatapu, and the Ministry of MEIDECC in Neiafu, Vava’u, are amongst the key locations that are now equipped with VSAT systems, and recently islands in Ha’apai. VSAT technology, which enables the transmission and reception of data, voice, and video signals via satellite, was set up to ensure reliable connectivity even during disruptions. The VSAT installations across Tonga are important for…