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Tuesday 3 June 2025 2:11pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Legislative Assembly began its session today with a moment of silence in remembrance of the late Lord Lasike, the former Speaker of Parliament, who died at the age of 67, due to illness, on 28 May.
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Monday 2 June 2025 10:45pm
Canberra, Australia : Tonga is committed to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and to the wellbeing of its citizens working in Australia, HE Curtis Tu‘ihalangingie, the Acting Tonga High Commissioner, told a workshop and exhibition day held in Canberra recently. The event held at the Australian National University showcased the positive impacts of the PALM scheme from a Tongan perspective and addressed the challenges. Premium content -
Friday 30 May 2025 9:33pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga will observe a public holiday on Monday, 2 June to commemorate Emancipation Day, the day King Siaosi Tupou I officially abolished serfdom in Tonga in 1862, as part of his 1862 Code of Laws. Premium content -
Friday 30 May 2025 9:29pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A new ‘Digital Public Infrastructure’ system was launched by the Tongan Government, yesterday, 29 May in Tongatapu. The new system will make public services easier and faster to access by Tongan citizens. Premium content -
Friday 30 May 2025 9:25pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : ‘Okusitino Tae (Tino), graduated on 9 May, from Northern Illinois University in the United States, with a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology, Linguistics and Cognitive Studies. Back in 2020 he was the ‘Atenisi Institute dux graduate, and at the time it took 21 months of navigating through COVID-19 restrictions for him to get a student visa to begin studying in the USA. Premium content -
Friday 30 May 2025 9:19pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Twenty two new dengue fever cases reported with positive rapid test, has brought up the total cumulative cases to 815 since the outbreak began in February, the Ministry of Health reported today. Premium content -
Friday 30 May 2025 7:33pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Toni ‘Alatini (23) is serving 15 months in prison for striking Sosefo Taufa with a machete on his left arm, resulting in serious injuries in an unprovoked attack in Veitongo. Premium content -
Friday 30 May 2025 7:21pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Epuefi Laimani was found guilty of three charges that included possession of 13.27 grams of methamphetamine in Sopu, after being caught by police officers, who received information that he was selling illicit drugs in the area. Premium content -
Thursday 29 May 2025 10:55pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A solar-powered desalination system to provide water for agriculture was launched on Monday, 26 May, at the Nishi Trading Farm, Vaini, Tongatapu, during the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry. This new technology in Tonga aims to combat drought and seawater intrusion on agricultural land. Premium content -
Thursday 29 May 2025 5:25pm
Honiara, Solomon Islands : Nine vessels of interest were listed during the Operation Tui Moana 2025, including one confirmed apprehension for suspected illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, during a two week regional operation by 10 members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency that concluded on 23 May. Premium content -
Thursday 29 May 2025 12:28am
Canberra, Australia : Naʻe fakafiefia ‘eku toe foki ki Tonga he uike kuoʻosi, ‘o fakataha ai mo e Tama Pilinisi Kalauni Tupoutoʻa ‘Ulukalala mo e ‘Eiki Palēmia Aisake Eke ‘o vakai ki he hāsino mai e kaukaua, mālohinga mo e ngaahi talēniti ‘o e kakai Tonga. ‘Oku mau laveʻi heʻikai lava ‘e ha fonua ‘o tuʻu tokotaha ke aʻusia ‘a e kahaʻu ‘oku tau fiemaʻu. ‘Oku tau kaukaua ange ‘i heʻetau tuʻu fakataha. Ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku mau ngāue vāofi ai mo hotau ngaahi kupu fekauʻaki fakafeituʻu ke tokoni ke faaitaha ‘etau fāmili Pasifiki, pea ‘e hokohoko atu ‘emau hoko ko e hoa ngāue falalaʻanga, ‘o ngāue ‘i he founga fakaPasifiki ke poupou ki he feituʻu ‘oku melino, maʻumaʻuluta pea koloaʻia. Fakamālō atu ki he kakai mo e puleʻanga ‘o Tonga ‘i hoʻomou talitali māfana mo vahevahe mai hoʻomou ‘ulungaanga fakafonua. - Mei he Minisitā Kimuli ‘a ‘Aositelēlia - Kongatohi -
Thursday 29 May 2025 12:22am
Canberra, Australia : What a pleasure it was to be back in Tonga last week, meeting with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and Prime Minister Eke and to see the strength, pride and talents of Tonga on full display. We know that none of our nations can achieve the future we want on our own. We are stronger together. That’s why we have worked closely with our regional counterparts to help the Pacific family stay united, and will continue to be your reliable partner, working in the Pacific way to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. Thank you to the people and Government of Tonga for your warm welcome. - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. -
Wednesday 28 May 2025 3:45pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Mano Totau (76), one of six Tongan boys who were stranded for 15 months on the uninhabited 'Ata in 1965-66, returned to the island for the first time this month, for the filming of a new documentary about their famous story of survival. Although he did not want to return, Mano told Matangi Tonga he did so because their story is important. Premium content -
Tuesday 27 May 2025 5:27pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Nine Members of Parliament are drafting the Legislature's official response to the address by King Tupou VI on the opening of parliament’s 2025 session on Friday. Premium content -
Tuesday 27 May 2025 3:04pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A party involving over 100 individuals engaging with alcohol and loud music in a bush allotment in Mataki’eua was disrupted by Tonga Police during the early hours of Saturday, 17 May. In response, Police closed parts of Mataki’eua Road, expressing concerns of potential risk to agricultural crops, livestock, and the safety and well-being of the participants themselves. Premium content -
Tuesday 27 May 2025 2:58pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A 79-year-old Fijian woman died at a hotel in Nuku'alofa on 17 May. There are no suspicious circumstances. Premium content -
Tuesday 27 May 2025 9:58am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Pacific Farmer Organizations (PFO) will receive AUD$3 million in funding from the Australian Government to support climate-resilient farming initiatives in seven Pacific countries, including Tonga, over the next four years. Premium content -
Monday 26 May 2025 1:24pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tongan farmers, growers, and exporters will have the opportunity to build stronger trade relationships with New Zealand and enhance their export readiness through two workshops to be held this week in Nuku'alofa. The Path 2 Market workshop, and the Mini Trade Forum will be held on 27-28 May. Premium content -
Sunday 25 May 2025 5:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Unlocking new opportunities for Tongan businesses, ANZ Tonga and the Palladium Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance access to ANZ eGate, the country’s first international payment gateway. David Dudley, Country Head of ANZ Tonga, said: “This partnership is about empowering local businesses with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy. With the support of Palladium and MDF, we’re helping to remove a key barrier to growth for Tongan entrepreneurs—access to secure, reliable international payment solutions.” -
Saturday 24 May 2025 2:39pm
Cambridge-MA, USA : Power is the ability to get others to do what you want. That can be accomplished by coercion (“sticks”), payment (“carrots”), and attraction (“honey”). The first two methods are forms of hard power, whereas attraction is soft power. Soft power grows out of a country’s culture, its political values, and its foreign policies. In the short term, hard power usually trumps soft power. But over the long term, soft power often prevails. ...When you are attractive, you can economize on carrots and sticks. If allies see you as benign and trustworthy, they are more likely to be open to persuasion and follow your lead. ...But once trust is lost, it is not easily restored. By Joseph S. Nye, Jr.
