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A special memorial Mass for the late Holy Father, Pope Francis, will be held this Saturday at 6:00pm, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary in Ma'ufanga, Tongatapu. His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala, is expected to attend.

The Papal flag and diplomatic flags were flown at half staff in Nuku'alofa today following the passing of Pope Francis on Monday at the Vatican. His Eminence Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, Bishop of Tonga and Niue, is scheduled to depart for Rome this week. The date and time for Pope Francis's funeral has yet to be confirmed by the Vatican.

Tonga's enrolment rate for girls in primary education stands at 99%, with 68% in secondary education. "The numbers reflect the ambition and capability of Tongan women, yet they also remind us that there is still work to be done," said The Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. Sinai Tu'itahi, yesterday on International Women's Day.

It's a tradition for festive Brass Bands to play around Tonga homes over Christmas and New Year. Out spreading joy for New Year's Eve was Tailulu College's brass band from Havelu who were performing all day and finished up at Ma'ufanga. Swimmers flocked to the beaches to cool off in the sea.

An ANU Masters graduate in Public Administration, Vika ‘Unga, completed a leadership program in Ngunnawal, Australia, this week. The Tongan participant was among 19 participants who are learning how leadership can make a positive difference in their communities.

A New Zealander of Tongan descent, Associate Professor Dianne Sika-Paotonu from the University of Otago, Wellington, has been awarded the Royal Society Te Apārangi’s Callaghan Medal for science communication.

Twelve youth members from Tongatapu 7 and 8 districts participated in a basic business training yesterday, 6 November, in Veitongo. The training is one of two programs implemented by the Youth Development division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

A Farewell Parade was held by Tonga Police today for Superintendent Siaosi Paseka who is retiring after 37 years of service. He was celebrated by the police force and police partners from Australian Federal Police and New Zealand Police, families and friends at the Tonga Police College, in Longolongo.

South Auckland actor and musician JP Foliaki, winner of New Zealand's Celebrity Treasure Island television show for 2024, said that he called on his Tongan values to come through 18 days of the tough contest. The 30-year-old competed against 17 other New Zealand celebrities on location in the Coromandel, North Island, to claim the $100,000 prize for his chosen charity, Childfund, in Wednesday’s final.