The annual Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM), held in Suva at the start of August, advanced several initiatives, including the finalisation of the Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development and the development of the Pacific Resilience Facility, which will be headquartered in Tonga. However, what stood out more at this year’s meeting was the call for freer movement of people within the region, endorsed by the new Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Waqa. In his opening address, Waqa emphasised the importance of facilitating greater regional economic cooperation and integration by advocating for the freer movement of people across…
Author: Newsdesk
World Rugby has announced changes to its national team eligibility rules, under Regulation 8, following approval by the World Rugby Council in October 2023. The changes, effective from 1 August 2024, modify the residency requirements for players seeking to represent a national team. Under the revised Regulation 8.1(c), players with a close and credible link to a national union will no longer need to complete five years of unbroken residency in the country before they can represent that union. Instead, the player must demonstrate “rugby registration” over the 60-month period, which includes being registered with a national union or club.…
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla, has been invited to attend the 53rd Pacific Island Leaders Meeting, scheduled from August 26-30, 2024. The invitation reportedly comes from the Tongan government, acknowledging Musk’s previous assistance to the island nation following the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai eruption and tsunami in February 2022. In the aftermath of the disaster, Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink services provided emergency satellite internet terminals to Tonga, aiding in the restoration of communication. This support has proven vital once again, as Tonga faces an ongoing internet crisis after its underwater cable was damaged by an earthquake on June…
The Ministry of Health has launched the Multi-Hazard Risk Communication and Community Engagement Strategy for 2024-2025 (MHRCCES), yesterday. The Strategy was unveiled yesterday in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region. The Acting CEO of the Ministry, Dr. Sisilia Fusi Fifita, was the guest of honor at the event. Dr. Fifita emphasised that the strategy is designed to guide ministry staff in delivering timely and accurate information, engaging media partners, and empowering community leaders to better prepare for disasters. “The aim is to ensure that the public receives reliable information about various hazards and to combat misinformation…
Tonga has been experiencing cool night-time temperatures from August 5 to 13, 2024, with a high-pressure system to the southwest contributing to moderate to fresh southeasterly winds across the region. This trend is expected to continue for the remainder of the week according to the Meteorology Department of the Ministry of MEIDECC. During this period, several locations across Tonga recorded notably low temperatures, with Hango in ‘Eua experiencing the coldest night on August 13th, where the temperature dropped to 11.3°C. This marks the lowest recorded temperature in Tonga for 2024 so far. In Nuku’alofa and Fua’amotu, temperatures also dipped, with…
US Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn is scheduled to visit Tonga on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, as part of her Pacific tour, which includes stops in Fiji and Tonga from August 13 to 23. During her visit, Director Spahn will engage with government officials, volunteers, and community partners to discuss ongoing and future collaborations. In Nuku’alofa, Director Spahn will administer the Oath of Service to 19 new Peace Corps volunteers, marking the beginning of their commitment to working alongside Tongan communities. She will also meet with current Peace Corps volunteers and Blue Pacific Youth Champions to learn about their ongoing…
Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasised Russia’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution during a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow on Tuesday. Abbas is in Moscow for a three-day visit focused on addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Putin expressed deep concern over the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine, citing the significant civilian toll, with the UN reporting nearly 40,000 deaths. He attributed the roots of the Gaza conflict to the failure of international resolutions to establish an independent Palestinian state. “We have long adhered to the position that all United Nations resolutions must be implemented, including the…
People are leaving New Zealand in record numbers as unemployment rises, interest rates remain high and economic growth is anaemic, government statistics show. Data released by Statistics New Zealand on Tuesday showed that 131,200 people departed New Zealand in the year ended June 2024, provisionally the highest on record for an annual period. About a third of these were headed to Australia. While net migration – the number of those arriving minus those leaving – remains at high levels, economists also expect this to wane as the number of foreign nationals wanting to move to New Zealand falls due to…
A Tongan researcher from the University of Waikato has revealed important insights into the impact of climate change on Pacific communities, particularly in Tonga and Samoa. Lora Vaioleti, who conducted this research alongside the University of Auckland and Mana Pacific Consultants, found that while climate change poses serious challenges, many people in these regions are determined to stay in their homeland, despite the growing stigma around climate-induced migration. Vaioleti’s research, which employed Pacific-based methodologies and involved nearly 900 participants across Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, revealed that people in these communities desire real, practical support rather…
Josh Tatofi, the renowned Hawaiian and grammy-nominated musician with Tongan roots, will be performing a free concert in Tonga next Tuesday evening, August 20, at the ‘Atele Indoor Stadium. The event is part of Tatofi’s South Pacific tour, which includes stops in American Samoa, Samoa, Australia, and New Zealand. The free concert in Tonga is made possible by generous corporate sponsors, including Friends Cafe, Five Star, Tonga Tourism Authority, Tonga Communications Corporation, Tali’eva, Office Equipment and Tonga Water. Tonga is the only country on this tour where entrance to the concert will be free, providing a unique opportunity for local…