Results for Pacific Islands

There's a moderate to high risk of Tonga being affected by at least one severe Tropical Cyclone (TC) by the end of the tropical cyclone season for 2025-26, during its peak between February to March 2026, says the latest seasonal outlook from Tonga Met released today.

Over 500 volunteers rallied by TASANOC, picked-up around 50,000 items of plastics from the Nuku'alofa foreshore and two beaches in Tongatapu, concluding the King’s Baton Relay in Tonga from 1-7 February. The clean-up is part of the Commonwealth Games’ Global Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign.

Tongans are among those losing significant amounts of money to a Ponzi-style investment scam, currently circulating in Tonga, New Zealand and the USA, warns New Zealand's Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and the National Reserve Bank of Tonga.

A 50-year-old male from Havelu was arrested following a police operation on Saturday, 7 February, during which authorities say they seized several packages of methamphetamine, drug-related utensils, cash, electronic devices, and the vehicle involved in the incident.

The construction of classrooms and a multipurpose hall for the Free Wesleyan Primary and Middle School in Kolovai will improve the quality of education for students, in a project funded under Japan's Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP), which was officially signed in a ceremony yesterday.

Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Johann David Wadephul, has called for a more flexible, energetic and visible European Union presence in the Pacific, saying island states expect partners to move beyond shared values and deliver concrete action.

Commander Rose Apikotoa has become the first Australian of Tongan heritage promoted to the rank of captain n the Australian Navy at a ceremony in Canberra on 29 January, 2026, and will soon take up a new Canberra-based role as Chief of Staff to the Head of Military Personnel.

Climate change remains the single greatest existential threat to Pacific people, according to SPREP Director General Sefanaia Nawadra, who regrets the United States’ recent withdrawal from the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme. “A lot of questions were asked about the implications, especially in the face of a fiercely contested region, geopolitically,” he said.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, in Tonga today, met King Tupou VI, the Prime Minister, Lord Fakafanua, and Tonga's Foreign Minister, Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala this morning, on a whirlwind high-level visit.