Tonga is ranked at no. 44 out of 107 countries this year, listed on the Henley Passport Index, which ranks all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Asian countries are now world leaders when it comes to both global economic activity and global mobility, with Japan and Singapore holding the top spot ranked at no.1, while the Pacific Islands states are ranked between 39-62.
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Results for Pacific Islands
Wednesday 2 October 2019
London, United Kingdom
Tuesday 1 October 2019
New York, USA
Two international organisations, UN-OHRLLS and IRENA, will collaborate on activities to support the building of renewables-based energy systems, in order to close the energy access gaps experienced by least developed countries and small island states. UN-OHRLLS Under-Secretary-General Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu and IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera signed an MOU on 27 September in New York.
Saturday 28 September 2019
New York, United States
HM King Tupou VI re-iterated the threat of climate change in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York on September 26. By Finau Fonua.
Sunday 15 September 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Commercially oriented, state-owned banks can help provide much needed financing for Businesses in the Pacific, according to a new Asian Development Bank report, “Finding Balance 2019, Benchmarking the Performance of State Owned Banks in the Pacific.” The report highlighted a financing gap in the Pacific that hinders business growth.
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Friday 13 September 2019
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Brisbane, Australia
The Brisbane Tongan Community have expressed sadness at the passing of the Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon Samuela 'Akilisi Pōhiva in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Thursday 12 September 2019
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Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has extended New Zealand’s condolences following the death of Tonga’s Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva, who passed away this morning in Auckland.
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Thursday 5 September 2019
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Honiara, Solomon Islands
A surveillance operation over 18.4 million square kms of the South Pacific Ocean to detect, deter, report and apprehend potential illegal, unregulated or unreported (IUU) fishing activities last month did not locate any infringements. The operation concluded over 90 days at sea with 272 vessels sighted and 126 boardings at sea and in port, as well as 137 hours of air surveillance.
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Tuesday 3 September 2019
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Suva, Fiji
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor, has called for urgent action to end increasing violence in West Papua (Tanah Papua) along with a human rights investigation in a statement released on 2 September. Her message has been welcomed by a member-led network of global civil society organisations, the Pacific network of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC).
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Tuesday 27 August 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A large pumice raft is slowly drifting in the Pacific Ocean believed to be the result of an underwater volcano eruption in early August near Tonga.
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Monday 26 August 2019
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Pago Pago, American Samoa
Students in American Samoa can now learn from University of Hawaii (UH) lecturers through 3D holograms beamed live into classrooms in real time at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) HoloCampus, in a programme launched last week.
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Tuesday 20 August 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Supreme Audit Institution (the Office of the Auditor General) was reappointed by the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions Congress PASAI as the representative of the Polynesian countries in the PASAI Governing Board for the coming three years, from August 2019 to August 2022.
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Saturday 17 August 2019
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Wellington, New Zealand
A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion has located the last crew member reported overboard from the Jin Xiang 6, a Chinese fishing vessel damaged by fire. The man clinging to a buoy near where the vessel was discovered yesterday, about 400 nautical miles west of Tuvalu.
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Saturday 17 August 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The final day of deliberations by Pacific Islands Forum leaders ended in a disagreement on how they might tackle the issue of climate change. Tonga's PM caught media attention for Tonga’s participation when he was reported to be in tears during tense exchanges between the Tuvalu PM, Hon. Enele Sosene Sopoaga and the Australian Prime Minister, Hon. Scott Morrison.
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Friday 16 August 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Five contestants of Pacific Island heritage, including Tongans are taking part in the 2019 Miss South Pacific Plus Australia (MSPPA) Beauty Pageant to be held in Sydney, on September 13.
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Friday 16 August 2019
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Wellington, New Zealand
A Chinese fishing vessel Jin Xiang 6 which was damaged by fire, was located by a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion on a fisheries patrol about 400 nautical miles west of Tuvalu, the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand reported today.
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Thursday 15 August 2019
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Glasgow, United Kingdom
A world-class and historic collection of barkcloth from the Pacific Ocean is highlighted in a new exhibition opening at the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum on August 29. “Barkcloth: Revealing Pacific Craft” is the result of a major three-year research project.
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Monday 5 August 2019
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Nadi, Fiji
More than 30 Pacific Island environmental practitioners and government officials, from 14 countries, including Tonga, will contribute more to protect biodiversity and ecosystems in their countries after receiving post graduate certificates in Ridge to Reef Sustainable Development from James Cook University, on 1 August, in Nadi, Fiji.
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Thursday 1 August 2019
Nadi, Fiji
A ‘climate crisis’ has been declared by Pacific Island States, including Tonga, after signing the Nadi Bay Declaration earlier this week, calling on developed countries to urgently address climate change including phasing out coal mining and fossil fuel use and production.
Thursday 1 August 2019
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Suva, Fiji
Domestic and sexual violence is costing Fijian employers almost 10 days of work per employee each year, reveals a new study by the IFC. It showed companies can make a real difference with simple, helpful approaches to improve employee well-being.
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Tuesday 30 July 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Lord Chief Justice, Owen Paulsen, has been appointed as an Associate Judge at New Zealand's High Court to preside in Christchurch.
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Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.