Tag: Pacific

Tongans share stories of how they survived the volcano eruption and tsunami

It was world’s strongest volcanic explosion in over 30 yearsOriginally published on Global VoicesAn area of Tonga that shows the heavy ash fall from the recent volcanic eruption within the Tongan Islands. Source: Wikipedia. Photo by NZ Defence Force, (CC BY 4.0) The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai underwater volcano erupted on January 15 spewing ash into the atmosphere … Continue reading “Tongans share stories of how they survived the volcano eruption and tsunami”

Tongans share stories of how they survived the volcano eruption and tsunami

It was world’s strongest volcanic explosion in over 30 yearsOriginally published on Global VoicesAn area of Tonga that shows the heavy ash fall from the recent volcanic eruption within the Tongan Islands. Source: Wikipedia. Photo by NZ Defence Force, (CC BY 4.0) The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai underwater volcano erupted on January 15 spewing ash into the atmosphere … Continue reading “Tongans share stories of how they survived the volcano eruption and tsunami”

Tongans share stories of how they survived the volcano eruption and tsunami

It was world’s strongest volcanic explosion in over 30 yearsOriginally published on Global VoicesAn area of Tonga that shows the heavy ash fall from the recent volcanic eruption within the Tongan Islands. Source: Wikipedia. Photo by NZ Defence Force, (CC BY 4.0) The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai underwater volcano erupted on January 15 spewing ash into the atmosphere … Continue reading “Tongans share stories of how they survived the volcano eruption and tsunami”

Tongans share stories of how they survived the volcano eruption and tsunami

It was world’s strongest volcanic explosion in over 30 yearsOriginally published on Global VoicesAn area of Tonga that shows the heavy ash fall from the recent volcanic eruption within the Tongan Islands. Source: Wikipedia. Photo by NZ Defence Force, (CC BY 4.0) The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai underwater volcano erupted on January 15 spewing ash into the atmosphere … Continue reading “Tongans share stories of how they survived the volcano eruption and tsunami”

We Are in Unknown Territory — Russia Is Acting in Unprecedented Ways

On the diplomatic front Russia has adopted a posture that is most un-Russian. One thing Moscow always had in abundance was patience, especially for Putin’s “Western partners”. Never has it opened negotiations by declaring that the window for them to succeed was extremely brief. Never has it opened negotiations by making its opening demands public. … Continue reading “We Are in Unknown Territory — Russia Is Acting in Unprecedented Ways”

Air and water under threat as SCOTUS targets environmental laws

This story originally appeared in Common Dreams on Jan. 25, 2022. It is shared here with permission under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) license. Environmental advocates and congressional Democrats are raising alarm after the US Supreme Court this week agreed to hear arguments in two cases regarding bedrock regulations designed to protect the quality … Continue reading “Air and water under threat as SCOTUS targets environmental laws”

A Large War in Europe Is Now the Most Probable Outcome

  A large war in Europe is likely in the coming weeks. The current security architecture of the continent, the future of NATO, and America’s role in shaping security outcomes there are all at stake. Beyond Europe, this conflict would have profound implications for U.S. defense strategy, and may upset America’s best-laid plans to focus … Continue reading “A Large War in Europe Is Now the Most Probable Outcome”

Taiwan donates medical supplies to Palau

A total of 10,000 rapid antigen tests, 62,500 adult masks and 10,000 children’s masks among other medical supplies were donated by Taiwan to Palau Jan. 22, underscoring the government’s commitment to helping the Western Pacific country combat COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   In a statement, the MOFA said the donation was … Continue reading “Taiwan donates medical supplies to Palau”

Foreign Minister Wu gives ASPI interview

Taiwan is deepening economic and security relations with fellow forces for good such as Australia while contributing more to the international community, according to Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu. The country is faced with increasing pressure from China, Wu said. This includes around 1,000 sorties by warplanes last year and ongoing efforts to block Taiwan’s … Continue reading “Foreign Minister Wu gives ASPI interview”

“The Whole Country Is Covered with Ash”: Tongan Journalist Describes Devastation from Volcano

We go to Nuku’alofa, capital of Tonga, to speak with Tongan journalist Marian Kupu on the humanitarian relief efforts underway after an undersea volcano erupted on January 14, blanketing the South Pacific island nation with ash and triggering a tsunami. Kupu was able to flee the worst effects of the initial eruption by driving to … Continue reading ““The Whole Country Is Covered with Ash”: Tongan Journalist Describes Devastation from Volcano”

MOFA thanks Czech Senate committee for supporting Lithuania

A resolution by the Senate of the Czech Republic’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security supporting Lithuania and urging close attention to China’s economic coercion against the Baltic state is welcomed by the government and people of Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jan. 21.   Proposed by committee chair Pavel Fischer … Continue reading “MOFA thanks Czech Senate committee for supporting Lithuania”

Accès au crédit : les lois protègent-elles (vraiment) les femmes dans le monde ?

L’écart entre les parts d’hommes et de femmes disposant d’un compte bancaire reste stable depuis une décennie. Flickr / UN Women Asia and the Pacific, CC BY-SAEn dépit d’un nombre croissant d’initiatives juridiques, la discrimination contre les femmes demeure omniprésente dans le monde, et ce plus spécifiquement dans l’accès aux services bancaires. En 2008, la … Continue reading “Accès au crédit : les lois protègent-elles (vraiment) les femmes dans le monde ?”

NDC responds to AmCham Taiwan business climate survey

The government is working to bring Taiwan’s regulatory and business environment more in line with international standards and join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, according to the Cabinet-level National Development Council Jan. 19.   The NDC’s remarks follow the release of the 2022 Business Climate Survey earlier the same day by the American … Continue reading “NDC responds to AmCham Taiwan business climate survey”

Media crackdown continues ahead of coup anniversary in Myanmar

Three journalists were killed, 49 remain in detention across the countryOriginally published on Global VoicesFrom left to right, the journalists killed in Myanmar last month: Soe Naing, Sai Win Aung, and Pu Tuidim So far, three journalists have been killed this January, and three more journalists were arrested on January 20, as Myanmar’s military authorities … Continue reading “Media crackdown continues ahead of coup anniversary in Myanmar”

Allumons la lumière !

Par James Howard Kunstler – Le 10 janvier 2022 – Source kunstler.com Nous sommes à un moment étrange de la saga Covid. Il semble que le virus de pointe veuille quitter le devant de la scène… qu’il soit fatigué de toute l’attention… qu’il veuille se fondre dans l’éternel défilé des micro-organismes qui coexistent agréablement dans … Continue reading “Allumons la lumière !”

Australian town of Onslow hits record 50.7 degrees Celsius, as global warming rolls on relentlessly

Global ocean and air temperatures at record levelsOriginally published on Global VoicesOne prediction of where rising sea levels will end up at Cottesloe Beach, Perth Western Australia – Photo courtesy Flickr user go_greener_oz (CC BY-ND 2.0) When the coastal town of Onslow in Western Australia hit a record-setting 50.7 degrees Celsius (123.3 degrees Fahrenheit) on … Continue reading “Australian town of Onslow hits record 50.7 degrees Celsius, as global warming rolls on relentlessly”

Water protectors in Hawaii confront dangerous environmental polluter: the US military

As Director for the Sierra Club of Hawai’i Wayne Tanaka recently wrote in The Guardian, the US Navy’s Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility is “a massive underground ‘farm’ of 18-million liter fuel tanks and pipes just 100 feet above metropolitan O’ahu. Its construction began before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Since then, it has leaked over 180,000 gallons of petroleum into the … Continue reading “Water protectors in Hawaii confront dangerous environmental polluter: the US military”

The US military is poisoning the water in O’ahu

As Director for the Sierra Club of Hawai’i Wayne Tanaka recently wrote in The Guardian, the US Navy’s Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility is “a massive underground ‘farm’ of 18 million-liter fuel tanks and pipes just 100 feet above metropolitan O’ahu. Its construction began before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Since then, it has leaked over 180,000 gallons of … Continue reading “The US military is poisoning the water in O’ahu”

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre crowned Asia’s Best with 44 accolades attained in 2021

Jan 15, 2022 Picture:  (13 Jan 2022, Hong Kong) The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (“HKCEC”) scooped a record-breaking total of 44 awards and certificates in 2021 despite being seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining its leading position in the Asia-Pacific region. This remarkable achievement is attributed to the concerted effort by the … Continue reading “Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre crowned Asia’s Best with 44 accolades attained in 2021”

Covid-19: Hong Kong to ban transit passengers from some 140 regions; local Omicron cases spread

Travellers from more than 140 “high-risk” countries or regions will be temporarily banned from transiting through Hong Kong’s airport, as cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant continue to spread internationally and within the city. According to a notice released by the city’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific on Thursday, the Hong Kong Airport Authority announced the … Continue reading “Covid-19: Hong Kong to ban transit passengers from some 140 regions; local Omicron cases spread”

Let’s Look Up

Don’t Look Up quickly broke  Netflix viewing records upon being released late in December, and the film has become a lightning rod for opinions about global heating, AKA climate change. The film by Adam McKay (The Big Short, Vice) stars Jennifer Lawrence as grad student Kate Dibiasky and Leonardo DiCaprio as Dr. Randall Mindy, two … Continue reading “Let’s Look Up”

VP Lai vows to make Taiwan integral part of global supply chains

The government is committed to making Taiwan an integral part of global supply chains, cementing the country’s position in the world economy, according to Vice President Lai Ching-te Jan. 11.   The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world economic landscape profoundly, Lai said. This is illustrated by the restructuring of global supply chains and new … Continue reading “VP Lai vows to make Taiwan integral part of global supply chains”

Taiwan commits to advancing Summit for Democracy objectives

A total of 62 pledges aimed at combating corruption, promoting human rights and resisting authoritarianism were released Jan. 11 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of Taiwan’s commitment to advancing the objectives of the Summit for Democracy hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden.   Such measures include supporting passage of the Whistleblower Protection … Continue reading “Taiwan commits to advancing Summit for Democracy objectives”

Cathay Pacific chair defends airline’s compliance with Hong Kong’s Covid rules amid two gov’t probes

Cathay Pacific’s senior management has said that the city’s flagship carrier operated in accordance with government regulations, after Hong Kong’s leader declared on Tuesday that investigations were underway into alleged non-compliance with Covid-19-related rules by the airline. In a video message seen by HKFP, the carrier’s chairperson Patrick Healy said that the company would “cooperate … Continue reading “Cathay Pacific chair defends airline’s compliance with Hong Kong’s Covid rules amid two gov’t probes”

Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Conference gets underway

The 45th Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Conference kicked off Jan. 11, underscoring the commitment of both sides to further strengthening robust relations, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   Chiou I-jen, chairperson of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, said during his opening remarks that the virtual conference is particularly significant as the two sides continue … Continue reading “Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Conference gets underway”

Covid-19: Hong Kong to extend Sinovac jabs to children aged 5, invisible Omicron transmission chains suspected

Hong Kong will lower the age threshold for the China-made Covid-19 vaccine Sinovac from 12 to five, and pupils will be able to receive jabs at schools when they return from the Lunar New Year holidays, the city’s leader Carrie Lam announced on Tuesday. Sinovac vaccines. Photo: Alexander Zhadan, via Flickr. At her weekly meeting … Continue reading “Covid-19: Hong Kong to extend Sinovac jabs to children aged 5, invisible Omicron transmission chains suspected”

A dangerous myth: The US has never been ‘a nation of immigrants’

In her latest book, Not “A Nation of Immigrants”: Settler Colonialism, White Supremacy, and a History of Erasure and Exclusion, world-renowned scholar and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz writes, “The United States has never been ‘a nation of immigrants.’ It has always been a settler state with a core of descendants from the original colonial settlers, that … Continue reading “A dangerous myth: The US has never been ‘a nation of immigrants’”

Taiwan, Canada set to start exploratory talks on bilateral investment agreement

Taiwan and Canada are set to start exploratory talks on a bilateral foreign investment promotion and protection agreement, according to the Executive Yuan Jan. 10.   The decision was reached during a virtual meeting earlier the same day between Minister without Portfolio John C. C. Deng and Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business … Continue reading “Taiwan, Canada set to start exploratory talks on bilateral investment agreement”

Hong Kong’s leader threatens ‘legal action’ for Cathay Pacific over Omicron outbreak

Cathay Pacific is being investigated and faces possible legal action over an Omicron variant coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong that began with the airline’s employees, the city’s leader said Tuesday. The revelation came as chief executive Carrie Lam announced the suspension of all kindergarten and primary schools until after the Lunar New Year in early … Continue reading “Hong Kong’s leader threatens ‘legal action’ for Cathay Pacific over Omicron outbreak”

Refugee Stuck In Australian Detention Centre Really Regretting Not Taking Up Tennis

IF THEY HAD known the media attention hitting tennis balls could had garnered them, and what such coverage could have done for their hopes of exiting detention, one refugee based in a detention centre on a remote pacific island would have taken up tennis a long time ago. “We’re not allowed access to TV, but… … Continue reading “Refugee Stuck In Australian Detention Centre Really Regretting Not Taking Up Tennis”

How one birthday party sparked an outpouring of anger and resentment in Hong Kong

A dozen officials attended the party, in violation of pandemic-control rulesOriginally published on Global VoicesWitman Hung’s birthday party poster via inmediahk.net 2022 has kicked off with a scandal in Hong Kong involving 13 government officials and 20 newly elected Legislative Council members who violated the city’s pandemic control policies by attending a birthday party with … Continue reading “How one birthday party sparked an outpouring of anger and resentment in Hong Kong”

Heavy floods leave over 30,000 displaced in northern Sumatra, Indonesia

Continual rainfall has worsened the situation since the flash floods on December 31Originally published on Global VoicesAn aerial photo of flooding in the Aceh region last week after days of heavy downpour. Via YouTube. After a week of heavy rain on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, more than 32,000 people have been displaced, and … Continue reading “Heavy floods leave over 30,000 displaced in northern Sumatra, Indonesia”

More Kids and Overwhelmingly Black: New Records Show Concerning Trends in D.C. Gang Database

The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department’s gang database almost tripled in size over eight years, and nearly nine out of 10 entries with a race listed are Black people, who make up 46 percent of D.C.’s population, according to internal records obtained by The Intercept. The records also include a breakdown of gang database entries … Continue reading “More Kids and Overwhelmingly Black: New Records Show Concerning Trends in D.C. Gang Database”

Refugees Detained With No-Vax Djokovic in Australia Suddenly Have World’s Attention

The global media frenzy over Australia’s temporary detention of anti-vaccine tennis star Novak Djokovic has inadvertently drawn attention to the cruel mistreatment of refugees imprisoned in the same run-down, bug-infested facility in Melbourne. News reports showing Djokovic’s fans, and local anti-vaxxers, rallying in his support outside the Park Hotel, a makeshift detention center, have included … Continue reading “Refugees Detained With No-Vax Djokovic in Australia Suddenly Have World’s Attention”

‘A big blow’: Tough new Covid restrictions kick in, as Hong Kong firms brace for another beating

Hong Kong awoke to a new round of Covid-19 social distancing measures on Friday, a response that authorities have called their most “ruthless” yet amid fears of an Omicron outbreak in the city. But on the eve of the new curbs coming into force, restaurants, gyms and other affected businesses said told HKFP that they … Continue reading “‘A big blow’: Tough new Covid restrictions kick in, as Hong Kong firms brace for another beating”

Covid-19: Hong Kong identifies source of mystery infection, as health chief backs ‘quick, ruthless and precise’ response

Hong Kong health authorities have identified the source of infection of a previously untraceable local Covid-19 case, after it prompted the government to roll out “the most stringent” social distancing measures yet amid fears of a community outbreak. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Wednesday that it traced the Octopus card transaction history … Continue reading “Covid-19: Hong Kong identifies source of mystery infection, as health chief backs ‘quick, ruthless and precise’ response”

AUKUS and the West’s dangerous war games with China

Announced on Sept. 15 2021, AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which involves the US and UK sharing nuclear propulsion technology with Australia. As Michael Safi of The Guardian notes, “When Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and Scott Morrison announced a new deal that would provide Australia with the technology to run … Continue reading “AUKUS and the West’s dangerous war games with China”

Covid-19: Hong Kong tightens social distancing – bars, gyms, pools closed, dine-in ends 6pm

Hong Kong’s Covid-19 social distancing measures will be tightened over fears of a community outbreak, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Wednesday, as she said the city was on “the verge” of a fifth wave of infections. The decision came after Hong Kong recorded the first suspected “silent” local Covid-19 transmission in months on Tuesday. … Continue reading “Covid-19: Hong Kong tightens social distancing – bars, gyms, pools closed, dine-in ends 6pm”