Results for Pacific Islands

Two new additional annual scholarships for Tonga’s high-achieving students were announced by the Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Brek Batley, during celebrations marking 55 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Kingdom of Tonga.

The last minute postponement of a national child protection policy launch this week is frustrating a women's rights advocate and Director of Women and Children's Crisis Center (WCCC) ‘Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, who fears the policy endorsed by Cabinet in October, may now be rescinded, after new submissions were presented to Cabinet today.

Tonga's Foreign Minister, HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala attended the 6th Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers Meeting held this week, 8-9 December, in Seoul, South Korea.

A healthy democracy is often measured by how well it enables citizens to take part in the political process, with voter turnout and participation in civil-society groups serving as key indicators of public engagement. Yet as Tonga’s parliament elects its prime minister on 15 December 2025, democratic gains risk being diluted if executive power consolidates around nobility rather than the people’s representatives. By Ema Ivarature, ‘Akanesi Katoa, Henry Ivarature / EAF.

A Tongan-designed King’s Baton for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games was revealed in Nuku'alofa this week, ready for Tonga to take its turn in the worldwide relay, which leads up the Games opening in July. The relay is associated with a global Clean Ocean Inititiative, which starts next week on Tongatapu.

Three Tonga XIII officials, including the head doctor, assistant doctor and head trainer, are facing a two-year ban from the National Rugby League after an investigation into player Eliesa Katoa’s head injury last month.

Repeat offender, Funaki ‘Otuhouma (32) is serving two years in prison on serious housebreaking, theft of goods valued at around $15,806 and serious wilful damage. He also breached a suspended sentence which was added to his sentence.

A second written nomination for the position of Prime Minister Designate was received today, 10 December, by the office of the Interim Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.

Tonga Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed a Bank Guarantee Agreement in Nuku’alofa yesterday, 9 December. The agreement is designed to help small businesses loan money from the bank more easily.