All articles tagged with #south pacific
Originally Published 5 days ago — by CNN
A travel writer spends a week on the remote island of Niue with her ex-boyfriend's best friend, Jake, exploring the island's natural beauty and whales, while reflecting on friendship, love, and personal growth during her milestone 50th birthday.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Associated Press
Solomon Islands' upcoming elections could impact China's influence in the South Pacific as current Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare seeks a second consecutive term, with concerns about China backing pro-Beijing candidates. The electoral process is marred by underhand tactics like vote buying, and the 50 newly elected lawmakers will decide the prime minister. Sogavare's rule has seen a shift from Taiwan to Beijing, a leaked security pact with China, and allegations of China providing funds to support his government.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Atlas Obscura
Point Nemo, located in the South Pacific, is the remotest place on Earth, farthest from any land. It serves as a "Spacecraft Cemetery" for the controlled descent of decommissioned space vessels. The area's eerie reputation is furthered by its proximity to the fictional city of R'lyeh from H.P. Lovecraft's works and the mysterious Bloop sound, potentially linked to an unknown underwater creature.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Newsweek
The US Coast Guard, in collaboration with Kiribati police officers, boarded two Chinese fishing vessels in Kiribati's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as part of routine maritime law enforcement activities. The inspection aimed to ensure compliance with Kiribati's EEZ regulations, as the South Pacific becomes a focal point for the geostrategic rivalry between China and the United States. Kiribati, which switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 2019, has been hosting Chinese police officers as part of a training program, reflecting Beijing's efforts to increase its security presence in the region.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NPR
Feleti Teo, Tuvalu's former attorney general, has been named as the new prime minister of the small South Pacific nation after being the only candidate nominated by his 15 lawmaker colleagues. The swearing-in ceremony for Teo and his Cabinet will be held later this week, and it remains to be seen how the new government will impact China's influence in the country.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NBC News
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare visited Beijing, where he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to expand relations between the two countries. The Solomon Islands, which switched official recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, has become China's biggest success in its campaign to increase influence in the South Pacific. The visit highlights the ongoing U.S.-China rivalry in the region, with the Biden administration announcing plans to reopen an American Embassy in the Solomon Islands. China aims to strengthen relations and trade through its Belt and Road Initiative, while the U.S. focuses on cooperation in climate change and maritime security.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by KGO-TV
The US Tsunami Warning Center lifted the tsunami alert for the South Pacific after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near the Loyalty Islands of the French territory New Caledonia. The center initially issued a tsunami alert for coasts within 1,000 kilometers of the epicenter, but later withdrew it. The South Pacific is one of the most seismically active areas of the world due to high rates of convergence between the Australia and Pacific tectonic plates.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Independent
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake hit the South Pacific, triggering brief tsunami warnings for Vanuatu, Fiji, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Kiribati. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially forecasted 3m waves, but the warning was later revised down to 1m. Small tsunami waves were observed in Vanuatu, and New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency warned of strong and unpredictable surges at the shore. The Bureau of Metrology issued a marine tsunami warning for Lord Howe Island, and Hawaii is not expected to be affected.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by AOL
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake caused a small tsunami to wash ashore on South Pacific islands, with waves 60 centimeters above tide level measured off Lenakel, Vanuatu. No damage has been reported, and the threat passed in a few hours. The quake's epicenter was near the Loyalty Islands, a province in the French territory of New Caledonia. The region is part of the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's earthquakes occur.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by KABC-TV
The US Tsunami Warning Center lifted the tsunami alert for the South Pacific after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near the Loyalty Islands of the French territory New Caledonia. The center initially issued a tsunami alert for coasts within 1,000 kilometers of the epicenter, but later withdrew it. The South Pacific is one of the most seismically active areas of the world due to high rates of convergence between the Australia and Pacific tectonic plates.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CBS News
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake in the South Pacific caused a small tsunami to wash ashore on islands in the region, but no damage has been reported. Waves 2 feet above tide level were measured off Lenakel, a port town in Vanuatu, and smaller waves were measured elsewhere off Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and New Zealand. The tsunami danger passed within a few hours, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said small sea level changes may continue. The earthquake's epicenter was near the Loyalty Islands, a province in the French territory of New Caledonia, and the region is part of the "Ring of Fire," an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's earthquakes occur.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Reuters
The risk of a tsunami in the South Pacific has passed and national warnings have been downgraded after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake southeast of the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had earlier warned of waves up to 1 metre above tide level across 26 locations in the South Pacific. Vanuatu retracted its warning and said a destructive tsunami is no longer expected. Australia's meteorology bureau issued a tsunami threat for Lord Howe Island, which was later downgraded to a marine warning.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CNN
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the South Pacific triggering a tsunami warning for Vanuatu, Fiji, Kiribati and the northern tip of New Zealand. The US National Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for coasts located within 1,000 kilometers of the epicenter. Tsunami waves reaching up to 3 meters are possible along some coasts of Vanuatu, while waves between 0.3 to 1 meters might be expected in Fiji, Kiribati and New Zealand. The earthquake had a depth of 38 kilometers.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Space.com
The rare hybrid solar eclipse occurred on April 19, 2023, with the moon's shadow passing over western Australia, East Timor, and Indonesia. The eclipse changed from a total solar eclipse to an annular one as the moon's shadow moved across the Earth's surface. Skywatchers from across the South Pacific shared their experiences online, and we have rounded up some of the best photos and videos. The next hybrid solar eclipse will occur in 2031, and only seven of this type of eclipse will occur in the entire 21st century.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Business Insider
A rare hybrid solar eclipse will occur over the South Pacific today, and NASA and Space.com are both hosting livestreams of the eclipse starting at 9:36pm EDT tonight. Hybrid solar eclipses are the rarest type of eclipse and look different depending on your location. This event won't happen again until 2031.