Results for Australia

New York Times reporting: They used to call it “the tyranny of distance.” Australia’s remoteness was something to escape... until the pandemic. The virus has turned this outgoing nation into a hermit. Australia’s borders are closed, internationally and between several states. Its economy is smaller, and its population growth has fallen to its lowest rate in more than 100 years. Island living looks like a privilege when the world is pestilent. By Damien Cave.

The stoppage of Tongan watermelon exports to New Zealand and kava exports to Australia is having a drastic impact on the Tongan economy, Lord Tu'i'afitu told the Tongan Parliament this week. Desperate growers are now trying to sell thousands of export quality watermelons along Tonga roadsides for only a few pa'anga each. Quality control was lost when Tonga's expert agricultural advisers left the country, and with a continuing border closure it will take a long time to replace them. From the House by Pesi Fonua

The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Agreement will come into force on 13 December after the Cook Islands became the eighth signatory state to ratify it to be able to come into effect.

To date, all Pacific nations have abolished the death penalty entirely except for two, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. The World Day against the Death Penalty was jointly marked by the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions on October 9 in Nuku'alofa.

A Tongan fruit-picker was fined $650 after punching a backpacker from Vanuatu in a consensual fight in Australia.

An agreement to improve training and employment opportunities for students at the Tonga Institute of Science and Technology (TIST) was signed with the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) on 4 September, in Nuku’alofa.

The Pacific Network on Globalization (PANG) has called on Australia to rethink its current approach to trade and investment with the Pacific Islands and instead promote genuine avenues for development.

Feletoa and Taoa students celebrated the commissioning of their new classrooms at two Government Primary Schools in Vava'u on August 19.

A Joint Operations Room at His Majesty’s Armed Forces was refurbished with $25,000 pa’anga by the Australian Defence Cooperation Program.