Unless rescinded, Donald Trump’s executive order greenlighting deep-sea mining in direct violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea will almost certainly unleash a lawless gold rush among major powers. Beyond the clear environmental risks, the scope for armed conflict is obvious. The first flash point will be the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a six million km2 area in the Pacific with billions of tons of polymetallic nodules containing nickel, cobalt, and other valuable minerals at a depth of up to 4,000 meters. - Guy Standing
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Tuesday 28 October 2025
London, United Kingdom
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A national workshop to strengthen Tonga’s legal and technical capabilities in maritime boundaries and extended continental shelf (ECS) work was opened at Vava’u on Monday, 20 October 2025.
Saturday 25 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga XIII formally known as Mate Ma’a Tonga is set to take on the Toa Samoa in a highly anticipated match at Suncorp Stadium in Australia this Sunday, 26 October 2025.
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Thursday 23 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM King Tupou VI today reminded voters that, "Economically, there is much to do in the near future, so vote wisely in this coming election.” The royal address read to the House concluded the 2021-2025 parliamentary term ahead of the general election to be held in November.
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Thursday 23 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga will observe an additional public Holiday on 4 November 2025, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Constitution.
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Thursday 23 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Kaufusi won his case as rightful heir to a tax allotment in Leimatu’a, Vava’u, and succeeded in his bid to evict Mano Lisala and his descendants who, the court found, were unlawfully occupying and farming on his land.
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Tuesday 21 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga will observe a one-off public holiday on Monday, 27 October to mark the 50th anniversary of a “mystery cross” appearance in Ha’apai.
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Monday 20 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Dr. Paula Vivili is the first Tongan to be appointed Director-General of the Pacific Community (SPC), the Chair of the SPC’s 14th Pacific Community Conference, HRH Crown Prince, Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, announced at the conclusion of the 14th Conference of the Pacific Community on Friday, 17 October, in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
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Friday 17 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM King Tupou VI welcomed Mate Ma'a Tonga to the Royal Palace today granting an audience followed by a luncheon, ahead of their match against Toa Samoa on Sunday, 26 October at Suncorp Stadium, in Brisbane Australia.
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Wednesday 15 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is hosting the Pacific Community's (SPC) 55th Meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) and the 14 Conference of the Pacific's Community meeting this week, under the theme "Pasifiki: Rooted in heritage, honouring the past, united for a resilient future."
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Wednesday 15 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
China's new naval hospital ship, Ark Silk Road, arrived in Nuku’alofa this week to provide free medical services for Tonga.
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Monday 13 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Jason Taumalolo will be leading the Tonga XIII team, better known as Mate Ma'a Tonga (MMT) on a visit to Tonga this week. The team is scheduled to arrive tomorrow afternoon, 14 October, at 3:25 pm.
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Monday 13 October 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Pesi Siale Fonua (78), well known Pacific Islands journalist, publisher of Matangi Tonga Online, and beloved husband, father and grandfather, who died on 12 October 2025, at Vaiola Hospital in Tonga. The funeral service will be held at the SDA Church Mangaia, Nuku'alofa 1:00pm Saturday 18 October 2025. The burial will take place at the cemetery "Mala'e ko Fala Oloveti 'o Nukuleva" at 3:00pm Saturday. A farewell viewing will be held on Friday afternoon.
Saturday 11 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan students at the University of the South Pacific graduated on Friday, with a colourful ceremony held at the Tonga High Stadium in Nuku’alofa. The graduate speaker, Miss Fuatino Tangitau recalled how students had overcome the challenges of covid lockdows and the HTHH eruption in pursuit of their degrees.
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Friday 10 October 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Supreme Court in its ruling on Friday 3rd October 2025 dismissed the claim for judicial review filed in May 2024 by former Tonga Development Bank CEO Mrs Emeline Tuita and former Chairman Mr Penisimani Vea against the National Reserve Bank of Tonga imposition of supervisory directives. The Supreme Court also struck out the claim against the NRBT, the Governor and two other journalists as defective and necessitating it be struck out with liberty to replead. Costs were reserved.
Friday 10 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 71 candidates have registered for Tonga's general election in November, with all 17 incumbents standing, when registration closed yesterday, 9 October at 3:00 pm.
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Friday 10 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fourteen nobles are standing for election to the nine noble's seats in the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. They vote among themselves. HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, the incumbent noble for the Niuas, was the sole candidate for the Niuas, and has therefore been declared elected by the Electoral Commission Office.
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Thursday 9 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The registration for candidates running in the 2025 General Election in Tonga closed today, 9 October.
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Wednesday 8 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The opening day of candidate registration for the general election saw a mix of new candidates and incumbent members in Tongatapu, running for the ten Tongatapu seats of the People's representatives in Tonga's Legislative Assembly.
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Wednesday 8 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The registration of candidates for the Noble’s Representatives seats in the Legislative Assembly opened this morning, 8 October at 10:00am at the Palace office, Nuku'alofa. There were five early registrations for the nine seats.
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