H.E. Va‘inga Tōnē, the Head of the Tonga Delegation, emphasised Tonga’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection at the 29th Session of the International Seabed Authority held in Kingston, Jamaica this week. “Tonga remains committed to a precautionary approach to sustainable development, which balances environmental protection measures with the sustainable use of our natural resources. We look forward to the adoption of the draft exploitation regulations, which will provide a robust system for activities conducted in the Area,” Tone said. However, the Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT) is urging the government to take further action. “In order to…
Author: Newsdesk
As the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) kicks off in Suva today, Tonga’s Finance Minister and FEMM Chair, Tiofilusi Tiueti, highlighted the importance of addressing regional economic challenges and seizing opportunities for growth. He acknowledged the efforts of Secretary General Waqa and his team for their strong leadership in guiding the region towards prosperity. Tiueti emphasised the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent as a crucial guide for future prosperity and sustainability. “Our theme this year, ‘Accelerating Transformative Resilience in the Pacific: Partnerships for Prosperity,’ underscores the need for our Blue Pacific Continent to collectively address challenges and promote…
The Finance Ministers of G20 met earlier this week in Brazil. Collectively, these G20 countries account for over 80 percent of the global economy; wield considerable control over global development financial institutions. Most G20 countries claim to be close friends of the small island developing states (SIDS). Yet their communique does not make a single reference to the plight of the small island developing states. Are SIDS being cancelled? Pacific’s Finance and Economy Ministers meet in Suva this week against that backdrop. This is a hugely important for shaping Pacific’s financing and development agenda and projecting it internationally. When the…
The medical establishment is teeing up for the launch of another “pandemic,” this one centering around H5N8 Influenza, also known as avian influenza or bird flu. The American Medical Association (AMA) made a few changes this past week to its Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) system, described as “the leading medical terminology code set for describing health care procedures and services.” One change is the creation of a new CPT code for H5N8 Influenza virus “vaccine” candidates that “receive emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”You may recall that during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) “pandemic,” the…
The High Court in London has upheld a ban on prescribing puberty-blocking drugs to children. This ban, enacted in March by the previous Conservative government, was challenged by transgender activists but has now been confirmed by Justice Beverley Lang. The government had restricted the National Health Service (NHS) from using puberty blockers outside of clinical trials and banned private suppliers from prescribing them. The NHS had already stopped prescribing these drugs last year, citing insufficient evidence about their benefits and harms. Justice Lang stated that gender care is an area of “remarkably weak evidence” and that young people have been…
Fonomanu Sēkona, the former South Pacific Games silver medalist and New Zealand heavyweight boxing title holder, has died at the age of 72. The news was confirmed via a Facebook post this morning. Sēkona, who had been hospitalised recently in New Zealand, was renowned for his impressive boxing career. The boxing community is mourning the loss of “Young” Sēkona, a fighter known for his speed and agility in the ring. His son, Hano Sēkona, shared his grief on social media: “I really idolise and adore this man. Sorry, Dad. I’ve yet to cry. I’m just trying to stay strong for…
Passengers traveling from Tonga to Fiji are now prohibited from carrying certain food items without a permit. The Ministry of Agriculture’s quarantine division said that only yams are allowed into Fiji without a permit, and passengers are limited to carrying 2 kilograms of kava. Senior quarantine officer Peioneti Lui, speaking to Radio Tonga this week said that, “There have been numerous complaints from Fiji about passengers not adhering to their import policies. We urge everyone to comply with these regulations to maintain good cooperation between our two countries.” In an earlier interview with Radio Tonga, Minister of Trade and Economic…
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga will reconvene today after a month-long break. The session was adjourned on June 26 following the approval of the 2024/2025 Budget Estimates. The session’s agenda includes government bills, committee reports, and government ministry annual reports. The total budget for the financial year 2024-2025, amounts to $899.2 million pa’anga. This budget includes provisions for free schooling for government students from Form 2 to Form 7 to reduce dropouts, a 5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for civil servants, and increased assistance to church schools, except Liahona High School, by 10%. Wages for senior citizens increases by 10%, and…
Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga issued an executive order last week imposing a moratorium on seabed mining in American Samoa’s waters. The moratorium bans the mining, extraction, or removal of minerals, citing significant risks to marine biodiversity. The order highlights the potential for habitat destruction, pollution, and disruption of critical ecological processes, which could irreversibly impact marine life and local communities. Deep-sea ecosystems, crucial for fish stocks, coral reefs, water temperature regulation, carbon sequestration, and nutrient cycling, remain among the least-understood environments on Earth. The Governor said that there is insufficient scientific information and technological development to fully grasp the potential…
The Black Ferns Sevens secured their Olympic gold medal with a 19-12 victory over Canada, marking New Zealand’s first medal of the Paris Games. Trailing 12-7 at halftime, the Tokyo champions rallied with tries from veterans Michaela Blyde and Stacey Waaka to clinch the win. New Zealand initially took the lead with Risi Pouri-Lane’s try, but Canada surged ahead after a yellow card to Portia Woodman-Wickliffe allowed Chloe Daniels and Alysha Corrigan to score. Blyde’s try and Tyla King’s conversion put New Zealand back in front, followed by Waaka’s decisive long-range try with two minutes remaining. The match was a…