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Nauru has abolished its death penalty and decriminalised homosexuality after recently amending its criminal code. Tonga and Papua New Guinea remain the only two countries in the Pacific to retain the death penalty for crimes such as murder, while six Pacific countries still criminalize homosexuality, including Tonga.

Tonga has received a $3 million grant and a $3 million loan approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to strengthen long-term economic growth and to have the capacity to respond to external economic shocks such as those caused by natural disasters.

The most serious challenge confronting the Tongan society today is the physical health of our people, HM King Tupou VI said, when he opened the 2016-17 session of parliament this morning, 2 June, in a thoughtful speech that also challenged legislators to educate Tonga's children for global employment, and urged them to engage with all stake holders in the economy and not unilaterally change operating conditions, that may stifle growth.

President ‘Inoke Fotu Kupu (57) is the first Tongan to become Mission President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Zambia Lusaka Mission in Africa, leaving Tonga with his wife Moana on 1 June for a three year posting.

A report on Climate Financing and Risk Governance Assessment CFRGA for Tonga, was launched by Tatafu Moeaki, the CEO for Tonga’s Ministry of Finance and National Planning, at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre, Monday 30 May.

Tonga’s bankers, who fought to stop the imposition of a new Foreign Exchange Levy that came into effect today June 1, say the legislation is poorly drafted and imposes an unfair tax on the financial sector, which will be passed on to the community – particularly affecting remittances.

Laluna Kahuna comments: The whole education system in Tonga needs an overhaul. Starting with the hot shots in Ministry of Education, school Principals, teachers etc. Start by sacking all those teachers who do not turn up for school to teach or for lack of teaching, those who physically, mentally and emotionally abuse the students, eating students lunches, having favourites - just to mention a few of the issues wrong with the education here. Tonga's education is still 30-40 years behind the rest of the world.

Two men have been arrested and charged with a laptop robbery that injured a shopkeeper on By-Pass Road in Pahu on Saturday evening, 28 May.

Tonga, rated as one of the highest smoking countries in the world, where 46% of men and 13% of women smoke - and half are expected to die from it, has launched an intensive anti smoking campaign today.