Tonga News & Stories
Overdue Last read · last published · next check
Last read 6 hours ago, longer than this feed's 1 hour schedule.
Airlines servicing Fiji are being forced to fly in fuel to the island nation as a fuel contamination issue hits the country’s international airport. Virgin Australia yesterday cancelled two services on its Fiji route and confirmed planes are being forced to stop halfway at airports such in New Caledonia and Vanuatu to make the journey [...] The post Fiji fuel contamination issue hits Virgin,…
The Pacific has a communications problem that extends well beyond social media. The region covers almost one-third of the Earth’s surface, with small populations scattered across vast distances. Individually, Pacific Island countries have limited global economic and political influence. For these countries, reliable communications are both critical and difficult to control. At both ends of [...]…
Groundwater monitoring across Ha’apai has identified higher levels of salt in Foa and central and northern parts of Lifuka, raising concerns about the long-term pressure on freshwater supplies as climate change affects Tonga’s water resources. Tonga Geological Services said testing carried out in March 2025 measured electrical conductivity (EC), an indicator used to assess the [...] The post…
A Tongan worker’s experience after suffering a serious workplace injury in Australia has raised fresh questions about protections for workers recruited under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. Davis Lausi’i, a mechanic from Tonga, was injured in March 2024 while repairing machinery at an orchard in New South Wales. His left wrist was crushed [...] The post Tongan PALM worker’s…
Seventy-eight organic farmers in Tongatapu and Vavaʻu have received new farming equipment to strengthen agroecological practices and improve productivity as seasonal migration continues to affect communities. The equipment, distributed through the Pacific Organic Learning Farms Network (POLFN), includes machetes, soil augers, drip irrigation systems, chainsaws and weed eaters. For farmers in some…
Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest living person, has celebrated her 117th birthday with family and friends at a care home in Surrey, England. Caterham, who was born on 21 August 1909, became the world’s oldest living person in April 2025 following the death of Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, aged 116. Guinness World Records has [...] The post World’s oldest living person celebrates 117th…
UNAIDS projections show Fiji will have about 25,000 HIV cases by the year 2030 if current interventions are ineffective, says Ministry of Health and Medical Services principal medical officer Sexual Reproductive Health, and HIV Unit Harm Reduction lead Dr Sailosi Soqo. Speaking at the 2026 Pacific HIV Symposium at the Sheraton Fiji Golf Resort and [...] The post Fiji HIV cases could hit 25k…
A juvenile long-nosed fur seal has been successfully returned to the open ocean after being found on an island in Tonga and taken into the care of local community members. The rescue involved the Government, Tonga Animal Welfare Society (TAWS), Whale Discoveries in Tonga and members of the local community, with specialist advice provided remotely [...] The post Rare fur seal returned to open ocean…
Research by Tongan oceanographer Dr Moleni Tu’uholoaki is helping strengthen coastal inundation early warning systems, with findings that could improve how communities prepare for cyclones and coastal flooding. Dr Tu’uholoaki, an oceanographer with the Pacific Community (SPC), spent 19 years with the Tonga Meteorological Service, including more than a decade as Lead Forecaster. His interest [...]…
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has criticised plans to put the 2026 Rugby League World Cup behind a subscription paywall, as Tonga prepares to compete in the tournament in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Nandy said fans should be able to watch the tournament on free-to-air television and urged the International Rugby League [...] The post Rugby League World Cup paywall criticised as…
South Korea’s long-standing security alliance with the United States has come under renewed strain after US President Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction in joint military exercises, linking the decision to Seoul’s refusal to join the US-Israel war on Iran. Trump’s order came through social media shortly before the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises were [...] The post Trump move…
Pacific civil society and regional leaders have called for stronger Pacific control over decisions affecting the ocean, rejecting deep-sea mining and warning against growing militarisation, economic exploitation and external pressures on the region. The call was made at the inaugural State of the Pacific Ocean Convening (SOTPOC) in Suva, where Pacific leaders, parliamentarians, academics,…
Teenagers will be warned that artificial intelligence chatbots are not human, cannot feel emotions and cannot fall in love under safeguards designed for underage users. The reminders will be one of several changes launched by OpenAI as part of its ChatGPT for Teens service, which began rolling out to users late on Tuesday night. Other [...] The post I’m not human: ChatGPT warns teens about AI…
The Tonga Meteorological Service has expanded meteorological drought declarations across Tonga as a strong to very strong El Niño is forecast to bring prolonged dry conditions over the coming months. In its latest Meteorological Drought Outlook, issued yesterday, the Service said drought declarations are in place for Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua, while Niuatoputapu is under [...] The post Drought…
A second deadly shooting involving members of Utah’s Tongan community this year has left one young man dead and two others critically injured, deepening concern among families following January’s fatal church shooting. The latest shooting happened on Monday outside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Kearns, where mourners had gathered for [...] The post Tongan community…
Take The Lead Tonga (TTL) has opened a new office and launched a Social Impact Incubation Hub aimed at helping young Tongans develop ideas into initiatives that can benefit their communities. The hub was opened in Nuku’alofa on Monday by Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, during International Youth Month. Take The Lead says the new space [...] The post New hub aims to turn young Tongans’ ideas into…
