Even though Vanuatu’s national airline, Air Vanuatu, is going through bankruptcy, it does not take away from the fact that for the second time in 20 years, Vanuatu has been voted in and ranked as the top country on earth according to the 6th edition of the Happy Planet Index, which was issued on 2 May 2024. This recognition was conferred by the Human Development Index based in the United Kingdom. Of the countries in the top 10, Vanuatu is the only Pacific country, followed by Sweden, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Denmark, Spain, Panama, France, and Chile. Vanuatu’s success…
Author: Newsdesk
Air Vanuatu, one of the regions main airlines has filed for voluntary receivership. Problems started becoming so evident last week as the airlines flights from Sydney and Brisbane and Auckland were cancelled. It comes amid reports an administrator has been appointed. Brisbane Airport said it was aware flights had been cancelled on Thursday and Friday, and has warned passengers scheduled to fly with the airline that they should not travel to the airport. Local newspaper Vanuatu Daily Post says it was informed the Air Vanuatu board has been dissolved and an administrator was appointed on May 6. The publication said…
Former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was in hand cuffs and led out of the Suva High Court on Thursday 9 of May, to make his way to Korovou Prison where he will serve his 1 year sentence. The former Fiji Prime Minister has been sentenced to 1 year in prison. Suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho will serve 2 years in prison. They will serve custodial sentences. The duo were sentenced in the High Court yesterday by Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo for charges of perverting the course of justice and abuse of office. Mr Bainimarama was found guilty of one…
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, will attend the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Tonga, set to take place from 26-30 August 2024. The announcement was confirmed by Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku. The Prime Minister extended an invitation to Secretary-General Guterres during a bilateral meeting in New York on 17 September 2023. The participation of such a high-profile figure underscores the significance of this year’s PIF Leaders Meeting, themed “Transformative Resilient Pasifiki; Build Better Now.” Speaking to local media on Friday, 3 May, Prime Minister Hu‘akavameiliku remarked, “Having high profiles coming will attract more people because of the…
‘Oku mahu’inga ‘aupito ke falala’anga ‘a e fakahoko fatongia ‘a e Kautaha Vakapuna Lulutai ki he fonua ni. ‘I he 2021 mo e tō folofola tāpuni ‘o e Fale Alea he ta’uni, ko e tu’o ua ‘aki ia ‘a e folofola tonu ‘a e Tu’i ke tukuange ‘e he Pule’anga ‘a e ngaahi pisinisi natula pehe ni, ke fakalele ‘e ha ni’ihi taukei mo poto ange ‘i honau takitaha mala’e (private sector). Talu hono kamata’i ‘e he Pule’anga ‘a e kautaha ni ‘i he 2020, mo e lele mole. Ko e tokolahi ‘i he Poate lolotonga, fakataha mo e CEO…
Annually observed every year on May 3, this year, in 2024, World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) is celebrated along with the theme “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.” Talanoa ‘o Tonga News joins the Media Association of Tonga in celebrating WPFD today.
In the gracious presence of the Almighty, the Creator of all that exists, we gather today. I extend my deepest respects and heartfelt acknowledgment to the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, past and present, the traditional custodians of this land. With profound humility, I also pay homage to Her Majesty Nanasi Pau’u Tuku’aho, the Queen of Tonga. Your presence here is a profound honor, and we are immensely grateful for the time you have graciously bestowed upon us. I gratefully recognize the President of the Siasi Uesiliana Tau’ataina ‘o Tonga and the President of the Uniting Church in Australia. Your presence…
Evidence over nine months to the end of February 2024 shows a declining demand for Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme seasonal workers — those who used to be under the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP), now absorbed into the PALM scheme as short-term PALM workers. Figure 1 shows the monthly numbers of short-term PALM workers in agriculture and of all PALM workers in agriculture, between 30 June 2023 and 29 February 2024. (Now, under PALM, workers can be hired in agriculture on a multi-year, non-seasonal basis.) The graph shows a decline of 10.2 per cent in short-term workers and 10.4…
A Tongan business man has been sentenced to 28 months imprisonment at the Auckland District Court on 23 charges relating to defrauding the revenue of customs in the shipment of loose leaf tobacco into the country from Tonga. Over a period of 21 months, Mosese Vakapuna, aged 60, smuggled more than 6000 kilograms of what is known as “Tongan Tobacco” into Auckland to be sold and distributed from his store in Auckland. New Zealand Customs busted Mr. Vakapuna, and charged him for smuggling and six tonnes of tobacco, and evading more than $10 million in taxes. Customs investigations manager Dominic…
It is a great pleasure for me to serve as the ninth Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Tonga, which is known as the “Island of Friendship and Love”. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to friends from all walks of life who have long been caring about and supporting the development of China-Tonga relationship. And on behalf of the Chinese Government and the Chinese Embassy in Tonga, I want to take this opportunity to extend my cordial greetings and best wishes to the Royal Family, the Government, the Legislative…