Auckland businessman calls for King’s intervention in Lord Fulivai’s unpaid court-ordered debt

Auckland businessman Chris Brett has called on the King of Tonga to intervene in a long-standing legal dispute involving Lord Fulivai and his wife Helen Fulivai, after the couple failed to repay more than NZ$253,000 (TOP$407,777) as ordered by the...

Tonga co-hosts Global Summit on Living Systems

Tonga co-hosted the Summit on the Future of Living Systems during UNGA 80 in New York. Tonga has strengthen its climate diplomacy credentials by co-hosting the Summit on the Future of Living Systems, held on 24 September alongside the 80th session...

Video sparks debate about the role of the tou'a in Tonga

Suva (PacNews) —The role of the tou'a has become a topic of hot debate on Tongan social media spaces after a clip from a podcast caused quite a reaction from several Tongan netizens, most of whom were men. Back in August a podcaster and...

Tonga biometric passport part of border enhancement project funded by Japan

Tonga is getting grant assistance of about 882 million yen (about US$6 million) from the Japanese government for the putting in place of a biometric passport system. A signing ceremony for the exchange of notes on the project took place recently...

Deepfakes on steep rise in South Africa, fintech & banking hardest hit

The Senior Director of Fraud Product Management at TransUnion Africa, Amritha Reddy, has bemoaned the supersonic surge in deepfake cases in South Africa, pointing out that fintech and banking are among sectors with the biggest hits. Speaking on a...

Economy forecast up by 2.5% in 2025, says ADB report

Tonga’s economy is set to grow by 2.5 per cent in 2025, easing to 2.3 per cent in 2026. The Asian Development Bank’s Asian Development Outlook September 2025 projects Tonga will benefit from sustained expansion in tourism and construction. This...

New in-country testing advances breast cancer care in Samoa and Tonga

The Pacific Community (SPC) is enhancing breast cancer diagnosis and management in the Pacific Islands, where it stands as the most common cancer affecting women. Through a vital new laboratory strengthening initiative, Samoa and Tonga are now...

Tongan lawyer’s alarm as recent NZ court ruling revives RSE exploitation concerns

An Auckland-based Tongan lawyer has raised concerns about the risks facing Tongan workers under New Zealand’s RSE scheme, following a recent court decision that exposed serious breaches of employment law involving workers from the Solomon Islands....

COP is 'heartbreak' for the Pacific. Here is why they still want to host

Joseph Sikulu's long-haul journey home to the Pacific has felt fruitless after the recent world climate talks. It has become a "heartbreaking" exercise seeing the annual United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) summit achieve so little of...

Tonga reaffirms commitment on 30-year Beijing legacy

Tonga has renewed its pledge to advance gender equality at the UN’s Beijing Platform 30th anniversary meeting. Hon. Sinaitakala Tu’itahi, Tonga’s Minister for Internal Affairs, delivered the nation’s address at the United Nations General...

World Trade Organization passes new ruling that will impact fishing around the globe: 'Without fish, it's game over'

It's a truly global issue that requires a unified response. by Michael MuirSeptember 28, 2025 A landmark agreement on fishing practices by the World Trade Organization recently took effect after the required number of member states signed on. As...

LIVE LIGHT launch targets Tonga’s obesity crisis

Health Minister Dr ‘Ana ‘Akauola has launched the LIVE LIGHT Campaign, aimed at curbing Tonga’s chronic disease burden by tackling obesity. Phase One — “60 minutes a day – stronger every way” — will mobilise youth aged 11–19 to become more active....

Morning Mail: Nauru asylum seekers ‘going hungry’, ATO hunt for old debts, UK synagogue attack

Morning everyone. It seems the vast cost of holding refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru – about $1.5m paid out per year to an American prisons operator for every detainee – is not enough to keep hunger at bay, with many telling us they can’t...

Pacific makes powerful impact at World Expo

The Pacific region is making a strong impression at this year's World Expo in Japan. Countries represented include Papua New Guinea, Sāmoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, the Solomon...

Tonga could face potential financial and legal risks if Deep Sea...

By Marc Ake Tonga is one of the sponsoring states for The Metals Company (TMC), a Canadian deep sea mining company trying to secure rights to mine in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) between Hawai’i and Mexico. It’s been 5 years since TMC first...

Government reforms student loan policy as 400 Tongans in Fiji study without scholarships: Deputy PM

Nuku’alofa, Tonga — Deputy Prime Minister Taniela Fusimalohi has announced a major reform to Tonga Development Bank (TDB) loan policy aimed at supporting families of students studying in Fiji, where only more than 100 out of more than 500 Tongans...

China–Tonga ties marked at 76th PRC anniversary event

The Chinese Embassy held a celebration yesterday evening for the 76th anniversary of of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. HRH Crown Prince Tupouto‘a ‘Ulukalala attended, along with distinguished guests and local dignitaries. The...

King Tupou VI of Tonga arrives

His Majesty King Tupou VI of Tonga, Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific (USP), arrived in Honiara on Wednesday afternoon. He is an official three day visit to Solomon Islands where he will officiate at the University of the South...

Video sparks debate about the role of the tou’a in Tonga

By Jean Marc ‘Ake The role of the tou’a has become a topic of hot debate on Tongan social media spaces after a clip from a podcast caused quite a reaction from several Tongan netizens, most of whom were men. Back in August, a podcaster and...

Nauru ratifies Pacific Resilience Facility, calls climate finance a “lifeline” for…

Nauru has deposited its instrumental of ratification for the historic Pacific-led climate initiative – the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), during the partners roundtable talanoa, at the United Nations headquarters in New York Tuesday. During...