Results for Pacific Islands

Disaster preparedness equipment will be sent to 13 islands in Tongatapu and Ha’apai, to help communities better respond and cope with the aftermath of natural disasters.

In the fight against a continuing Dengue Fever outbreak in Tonga, the Ministry of Health is urging every Tongan family to take responsibility and halve dengue cases before the next rainy season. Dr. Reynold Ofanoa, outlined a community-centred action plan, during the release of the first Dengue Study this week.

A Cabinet minister and a Noble were suspended from Parliament this morning, 4 August, after a heated argument in the House boiled over. The Minister for Police, Hon. Piveni Piukala, and Vava’u Noble’s Representative no. 2, Lord Tu’ilakepa have been suspended from the Legislative Assembly for five days.

A new Commissioner of Prisons, Mr Laini Koula ‘Univesiti Manuofetoa (42), was appointed on 29 July 2025. He has served as the Deputy Commissioner of Prisons since 2019.

Three urgent Government Bills, including a Constitutional amendment, were passed by the Legislative Assembly of Tonga this week, in Nuku’alofa. The Constitutional amendment introduces the word “customs”. People’s Representatives Vaipulu and Sovaleni expressed concerns about the future limitations of using “customary law” and potential confusion in court.

The ‘Ikale Tahi and Queensland Reds from Australia are set to face off at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku’alofa on 15 August.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI’s Sam Altman have been aggressively promoting the idea that everyone – children included – should form relationships with AI “friends” or “companions.” Meanwhile, multinational tech companies are pushing the concept of “AI agents” designed to assist us in our personal and professional lives, handle routine tasks, and guide decision-making. But the reality is that AI systems are not, and never will be, friends, companions, or agents. They are, and will always remain, machines. The most deceptive term of all is “artificial intelligence”. By Peter G. Kirchschläger

Tonga’s National U16 women’s football team, Young Mataliki will compete in OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2025 in Samoa from 1-14 August.

Scammers who targeted a Tongan Public Enterprise have succeeded in taking $270,000 panga, Tonga's Minister of Public Enterprises, Hon. Piveni Piukala has revealed.