Results for Pacific Islands

Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, are being offered 12 fully-funded scholarships under an Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) that opened mid-September. Hosted by the University of the South Pacific (USP), this first set of scholarships will focus on tackling marine pollution.

A new studio building for Tonga Broadcasting Commission was commissioned by Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala, on the completion of a Nationwide Early Warning System Project (NEWS) on Tuesday, at Fasi-moe-Afi. The NEWS project, worth about USD30 million in total, funded by Japan, will strengthen Tonga’s capacity for risk management and its resilience against disasters through the improvement of three systems: Emergency Radio Communication System, Early Warning Sound Alert System and Medium Wave Radio Broadcasting System.

Two families have moved into their new houses constructed on Nomuka and Tungua in Ha’apai, after being displaced by the volcanic eruption and tsunami disasters of 15 January this year. The proud new homeowners are Sepeti Haikeni of Nomuka and Papaea Tau (76) of Tungua.

Around 40,000 doses of the COVID-19 MRNA Moderna vaccine donated by the Government of Spain arrived in Tonga on 22 September.

The Kingdom of Tonga has formally established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Bahrain, with the signing of a Joint Communiqué in New York on 19 September 2022 in New York.

Eight members of Tonga’s table tennis players made good progress in honing their skills at the 2022 International Table Tennis Federation - Oceania Senior and Youth Championships in Melbourne, on 12 September

In Tonga, the price for petroleum has decreased starting from yesterday,19 September, 2022. The Competent Authority (TCA) approved the new retail petroleum prices for September – October. Government has extended a subsidy of 20 seniti for three and a half months.

Tonga's Home Reef Volcano erupted again early this morning, with eruption events increasing over the last 24 hours, sending steam vents 1km into the atmosphere. A volcanic submarine island has re-emerged 10m above sea level and continues to grow larger, Tonga Geological Services said. The volcanic activity poses low risks to aviation, but all mariners are warned to keep away from the area.

Chief Dental Officer, Dr. Fakakovikaetau and Dr. Sisilia Fusi Fifita, Oral Pathology Specialist, became the first Tongan dentists to be inducted as Fellows of the International College of Dentists in Christchurch, New Zealand.