Author: Newsdesk
The British High Commission in Tonga has sent three officers of His Majesty’s Armed Forces to part-take in the procession ceremony of His Majesty King Charles III Coronation. SSGT Viliami Taufa, CPL ‘Uheina Hala’api’api, and LCPL Benjamin Finau are proud to have been selected to represent Tonga at the Coronation this Saturday. Source: British High Commission
The Honourable Hu’akavameiliku, Prime Minister of Tonga, met with his New Zealand counterpart, the Right Honourable Chris Hipkins, at the New Zealand High Commission yesterday. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss important issues for both countries while attending the coronation of His Majesty King Charles 3. During the meeting, the two Prime Ministers engaged in discussions on critical topics such as climate change, education, and sports, which are significant areas for both nations. Source: Government Press
The latest press freedom index shows that the US has slipped three spots and now shares the same rank as Tonga and Gambia. This comes as local news organizations close down and major networks become more partisan, leading to a decline in press freedom. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a global media watchdog, rated the US as 45th out of 180 countries, a far cry from its European allies and just managing to maintain a “satisfactory” rating. Meanwhile, a Pew Research Center survey found that 60% of US-based journalists, regardless of political affiliation, were deeply concerned about the erosion of press…
Senior officials from the Pacific Islands, Australia, and New Zealand Electoral Administrators (PIANZEA) Network held their first in-person meeting this week in Nadi, Fiji since the COVID pandemic began. The meeting celebrated the Network’s 25 years of collaboration and mutual assistance in supporting free, fair, and credible elections. During the opening remarks, PIANZEA Chair and Australian Deputy Electoral Commissioner Mr Jeff Pope expressed pride in the Network’s enduring partnership between Election Management Bodies and Australia’s role in supporting the Network. Through PIANZEA, the Pacific region has a robust network of Electoral Administrators who promote democracy and good governance. The Network…
This week, the possibility of declaring an end to the Covid-19 pandemic will be discussed by a group of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO’s emergency committee for Covid-19, responsible for declaring a public health emergency of international concern in 2020, will convene for their 15th meeting, which will be presided over by the WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Once the meeting concludes, the committee will provide guidance to Tedros on whether Covid-19 continues to pose a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). This decision is expected to attract global attention. Source: Independent
The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla is set to take place this Saturday, marking the first coronation in more than 70 years. The United Kingdom is preparing for a three-day celebration with street parties and a grand public procession. However, there is a question that is on many people’s minds: what will the coronation cost, and who will be responsible for paying for it? The answer to this question is not straightforward. Typically, the total cost of such events is only available months or even years after they have taken place. However, the estimated cost of the…
The United States is on track to open a new embassy in Tonga this month, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday, part of efforts to step up its diplomatic presence in the Pacific region to counter China. Daniel Kritenbrink told a subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the United States was also continuing to engage with Vanuatu and Kiribati about opening proposed new embassies in those countries. The State Department said in March it plans to open an embassy in Vanuatu. The United States has diplomatic relations with the South Pacific island nation, but…
On Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at approximately 6:45 pm, the Police received reports of a road fatality in Navutoka. The incident involved a 66-year-old male driver who was traveling northbound on Halatahi Road in Navutoka with three passengers. The passengers included a 69-year-old male from Kolofo’ou and his two daughters, aged five and two. Unfortunately, due to reckless driving, the driver lost control of the wheel, resulting in the car swerving to the right side of the road and colliding with a ‘toa’ tree. The driver, who was intoxicated at the time, and his passengers sustained injuries and were taken…
Mr. Viliami Takau, CEO of the Ministry of Tourism and Acting General Manager of Tonga Tourism Authority (TTAB), attended the South Pacific Sailing Network Conference: Reviving South Pacific Cruising held on 26th-27th April 2023 at Orams Marine Boat Park in Auckland, New Zealand. The conference aimed to build a resilient sailing industry amidst the reopening of borders across the South Pacific, and was attended by marine authorities, individuals, organizations, and businesses involved with yachting in the region, including representatives from Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), Vanuatu Tourism, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand, Tonga Tourism, Market Development Facility (MDF), and Customs. Mr. Takau,…