Tonga’s strategic crossroads: navigating a new era under Trump’s shadow

Dr. Hook’s 1978 refrain that “Storms never last” offers little solace as Tonga faces the tempest of a resurgent Trump administration. While storms may pass, the policy upheavals and geopolitical tremors unleashed over the next four years could...

No debt forgiveness from China, analyst warns as Tonga faces repayment pressure

A research fellow warns that China will not take a haircut on Tonga’s debt after Beijing took to Facebook to defend its lending practices. Riley Duke from the Lowy Institute's Pacific Aid Map unit highlights China’s firm stance amid rising...

Reserve Bank of New Zealand hosts 40th Meeting of South Pacific Governors – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua

The 40th meeting of the South Pacific Central Bank Governors took place on 22-24 October 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand, bringing together the Governors and senior representatives of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Reserve Bank of Fiji, Reserve Bank...

EU's Von der Leyen Announces 500 Mln Euro Package to Lure Top Researchers to Europe

There is no rule that cardinals electing a new pope vote a certain way according to their nationality or region. But understanding their makeup in geographic terms can help explain some of their priorities as they open the conclave Wednesday to...

Antarctic sea ice extent is 17% HIGHER today than in 1979 – Ice doesn’t LIE, but climate scientists do

Antarctic sea ice extent is 17% HIGHER today than in 1979 – Ice doesn’t LIE, but climate scientists do The Climate Change Apocalypse is over folks. It’s getting colder, slowly but surely. Need some ice for your drink while you laugh at the climate...

Jade Cargill, Tonga Loa, The Rock's daughter Ava, and more react after 27-year-old star gets fired from WWE

The news of the latest bunch of WWE releases has stunned fans as several high-profile and talented youngsters have been shown the door from the company. One such performer is Dani Palmer, whose recent message about her firing has generated tons of...

How Atubandike’s Content Committee turns farmers’ questions into trusted advice

Small-scale farmer Elosiya Moono shares her experience with traditional pest control methods in her field (Photo: Moono Sekeleti/CIMMYT) Listening First: Farmers at the Center When farmers in Zambia call Atubandike’s toll-free number (667), they...

Huge volcanic eruption that blew whole island to smithereens was so big it sent shockwaves into SPACE, scientists reveal

A VOLCANO in the South Pacific erupted with such force that it sent shockwaves into space, scientists have revealed. The enormous underwater eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai in January 2022 was one of the biggest in modern history. 3 The...

Tongan Parliament rejects Police Minister’s bid to take oath in English

Cook Islands government is misleading the public into believing the country is undecided on whether to allow deep seabed mining, claims an advocate for ocean conservation and protection. Louisa Castledine’s comments come following a letter sent to...

Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption was so large its shockwave reached space, satellites orbiting Earth: report

A volcanic eruption in the South Pacific was so powerful that its shockwaves left the planet and reached space, new research shows. The 2022 underwater Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai eruption, one of the most powerful in modern history, reached all the...

China defends Tonga loans amid rising debt concerns

China has defended its concessional loans to Tonga, calling them acts of “friendship and equal cooperation,” following media scrutiny over the country’s debt burden. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Tonga rejected suggestions that its loans...

Scientology, teaching methods and low literacy rates questioned in Parliament

Staff Reporters/ Apia, Samoa – 25 January 2025 – Scientology as a belief system and its impact on teaching methodology in Samoa’s education system came under scrutiny in Parliament over the last two days. The impact of scientology in the local...

BACKTRACKS | Paks’ beacon of hope

This week on Backtracks, we catch up with Pakelo Morris, better known as Paks, a former founding member of the band Rootstrata. Paks plays keyboard and guitar and continues to jam occasionally in the Burning West. The former Marist Brothers...

4 Directions for Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu now that Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are injured

Despite the lingering tension between Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu in the past few months, they have no choice but to rely on each other, as it seems Tama Tonga has also joined the injury list alongside Tonga Loa. In the absence of the 42-year-old,...

Honed by Tuilagi and now on England’s radar — meet Sale’s Tongan powerhouse

Saracens are heading to Sale Sharks on Friday night for a Premiership showdown with significant play-off implications. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, the latest Anglo-Tongan to burst on to the English rugby scene, was ready for battle the moment he stepped...

China defends Tonga loans amid rising debt concerns: A call for fair representation

China’s embassy in Tonga has taken to Facebook to defend its loans to the Kingdom, following fresh media coverage and concerns about the country’s rising debt. The Facebook post, shared on 24 April, says China gave the loans to help Tonga during a...

Tonga eyes strategic Vava'u site for new humanitarian warehouse

When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted in 2021-2022, creating the largest underwater explosion ever recorded by modern science, it highlighted a crucial challenge for Tonga: getting emergency supplies quickly to communities spread...

Examining the roster ties between Patriots, Falcons ahead of Week 9

The connections between head coach Mike Vrabel’s New England Patriots and head coach Raheem Morris’ Atlanta Falcons remain strong this fall. Between the active rosters, practice squads and reserve lists, nine players currently in the fold have...

Sir Michael Hill’s superyacht The Beast listed for US$14.5m sale

“I love the fascination of being on the water and the sense of adventure,” Hill told Boat International in 2023. He was a keen angler and Northland, where he grew up, was home to one of his favourite fishing spots, in the Far North. “At the tip of...

‘One of the most remarkable’: Sir Michael Hill’s superyacht hits market

Iconic superyacht The Beast, belonging to the late Sir Michael Hill, has hit the global market with a price tag of US$14.5 million. The Beast was listed for sale by Florida-based superyacht brokerage Ikonic Yachts. It is the first time the...