The Government of Tonga and Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) have agreed to end litigation over a contract dispute. While the terms of the agreement are confidential, both parties are satisfied with the outcome and look forward to working together in the future. “We are pleased to have reached a settlement agreement with Kacific and look forward to developing a positive relationship with them,” a Government of Tonga spokesman said. “We believe this settlement is in the best interest of Tonga and its people and are committed to working collaboratively with Kacific to achieve our mutual goals.” Kacific have also…
Author: Newsdesk
Iam Tongi has made it through to the Top 3 of American Idol after making it through to Disney Week on the most magical night of the year on “American Idol”! Iam is coming home Kahuku! We can’t wait to see what the Poly community will put on for him when he goes home this Tuesday (US time) The Top 5 contestants took on fan-favorite Disney hits in hopes of making it to the finale, and they travelled to Disneyland Resort earlier this week to prepare for their Disney Night performances. Iam’s second song was Cat Stevens ‘Father and Son’ from the ‘Guardians…
The four-day PACER Plus Regional Trade in Services Workshop, aimed at enhancing the capacity of government officials from PACER Plus Parties, concluded successfully last Friday. The workshop, held from 8-11 May in Samoa’s capital Apia, provided a platform for participants to delve into the significance of services trade, explore the PACER Plus services chapter and schedules of specific commitments, analyse trade in services statistics, and identity opportunities for Pacific Parties to bolster their service sectors and maximise gains from services trade. The workshop featured world class experts who shared their expertise and knowledge on various aspects of services trade. These…
Today’s signing of the Tonga Health Systems Support Program Phase 3 (THSSP3) marks Australia’s continuing partnership with the Government of Tonga and the Tonga Health Promotion Foundation in the health sector. Since 2009, Australia has invested approximately AUD30 million in Tonga’s health sector. Tongans continue to be at risk of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke, with NCDs accounting for the top four causes of all deaths in Tonga. Delivered through to 2025, Phase Three sees an additional AUD10 million committed to further improve health outcomes for the people of Tonga by focusing on equitable access…
The Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tonga has been elected by the Seventy Ninth Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific as Chair. The Session is being held from 15-19 May 2023 at the United Nations Conference Centre at the UNESCAP Headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Attending the Pacific Governance Conference last week in Auckland, Tonga’s Take The Lead CEO Elizabeth V Kitè joined Hon. Simon Kofe, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Communications, and Mr. Henry Puna, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum to discuss ways forward, in unity, for our Blue Pacific. Elizabeth emphasized the significance of youth understanding the problems we face, such as climate change, corruption, and gender issues in our local context, and formulating solutions from this knowledge rather than following what is frequently pushed on the Pacific by others. She challenged future leaders to understand and uphold our Pacific…
The Deputy Chief of Mission, Tony Greubel, presented Sergeant Alavani Tukunga with the first flag to fly over Embassy Nuku’alofa. SGT Tukunga is a proud Tongan-American member of U.S. Army Pacific’s Oceania Engagement Team. She was raised in Hawaii and returned to Tonga to become fluent in the language and culture. She was the perfect person to raise the flag over the Embassy. Source: US Embassy in Suva, Fiji
American Citizen services in Tonga will continue to be provided by consular staff from the U.S. Embassy in Suva on a quarterly basis. Their next visit to offer consular services to U.S. citizens in Tonga is from June 13 to 16. This includes reports of birth abroad, U.S. passport applications, and notary services for documents for use in the United States. To schedule an appointment please send an e-mail to SuvaACS@state.gov, before close of business Friday June 2nd, 2023. Learn more, including processing times and required documents for U.S. citizen services: https://bit.ly/3p1Txtu Visa applications will continue to be processed in…
“I was very lucky that I was involved at the beginning of this Twinning program. It is a program that supports Vaiola Hospital in a couple of ways. We exchange staff between facilities and we also send over donated goods. I suppose it all started when there was a doctor from Tonga who was out working with my intensive care director, Dr John Oswald. Dr Jeffrey Taliaʻuli Afeaki, the Tongan doctor, was out for 6 months working with John Oswald. I hadn’t met him but I did go to an intensive care conference in Ballarat at Sovereign Park, and it…
Rose Luckin, a professor at University College London Knowledge Lab, has predicted AI applications could takes over most aspects of education, resulting in a cheaper system with limited human interaction – particularly for less privileged students – or an alternative future where technology supports teachers without compromising vital human element of education. She told The Guardian: “There’s a dystopian version where you hand over far too much to the AI. “And you end up with an education system that’s much cheaper, where you have a lot of the delivery done by AI systems.” This version of the future could see…