Iguanas Pulled Off ‘Crazy’ Record-Breaking Ocean Voyage, Scientists Say

Iguanas on the remote islands of Fiji may appear to live chill lives, but according to new research they had to work for it: by floating across thousands of miles of ocean on vegetation in the last 30 million years or so. That’s right. A new...

Minister reports on Tonga infrastructure at Auckland Seminar

The Minister for Infrastructure provided a high-level report on Tonga’s infrastructure project’s progress at the Strategic Transport Infrastructure Advisory Program (STIAP) Seminar in Auckland last week. Hon. Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi, led a...

Students showcase tech innovations in national contest

Six secondary schools in Tonga participated in the semi-finals of the ‘Samsung Solve for Tomorrow’ competition today, presenting innovative technological solutions to local challenges. The event, managed by Tonga National University (TNU),...

Leica Store & Gallery New York Presents "Within One Breath:" A Solo Exhibition by Matt Draper

A decade in the making, Draper's breathtaking black-and-white photographs reveal the silent beauty of marine life and celebrate Leica's enduring legacy of craftsmanship and innovation. NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Leica Gallery New York...

Tonga Police Cybercrime Unit and gym opens

This morning, Tonga Police inaugurated its refurbished Cybercrime Unit and gym facilities, marking a significant step toward technological and personal wellbeing advancements within the force. Commissioner of Tonga Police, Shane McLennan,...

Million dollar climate funding to protect Tonga’s tuna stocks

Tonga is among 14 Pacific nations to receive a US$107 million Green Climate Fund (GCF) grant to safeguard their tuna industries from climate change impacts. Announced at the Honiara Summit 2025, the funding—one of the largest ever to the Pacific...

Tonga’s PM Hu ‘akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni faces another no-confidence vote

Rich nations pledged to contribute at least US$300 billion annually to the global fight against climate change as UN climate talks came to a contentious end early Sunday morning in Baku. UN News Center reports that developing nations who had...

Dengue cases in Tonga pass 200

Photo: AFP / Sebastian Kaulitzki / Science Photo Library Tonga's Ministry of Health says total dengue fever cases in the kingdom have reached 215. In an update on Tuesday, the Ministry said 12 people were in hospital. It says just over half of...

Scientists Baffled by 2024’s Unprecedented Heat

Global Temperature Anomaly September 2023 In a groundbreaking development, 2024 recorded the hottest June through August on record, continuing a staggering streak of record-breaking global temperatures that began in June 2023. This unexpected...

Satellite device could transform sea rescues

Imagine you’re on a boat lost at sea, too far from the coast for a VHF radio or mobile phone to work. Maybe you’ve got a personal locator beacon, but you forgot to check the battery and it’s dead. Drifting at night, you can see pinpoints of light...

China’s Silk Road Ark wraps major health mission

The Chinese naval hospital-ship Silk Road Ark has departed Tonga after a week providing extensive free medical care and cultural exchange. The ship’s seven-day visit under the “Mission Harmony 2025” banner delivered services to over 5,000...

Melemafi Porter: 'We need more Pasifika in clinical research’

Melemafi Porter, a clinical researcher at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ), is conducting a critical study that examines the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines in individuals with larger body sizes, particularly among Māori...

Palau media struggles to be financially stable- State of the Media: Pacific Research says 

Palau’s media organizations still struggle to find ways to financially stable and although the Constitution guarantees media freedom, accessing information is still a challenge. This is according to the The State of the Media: Pacific research...

Tonga visitor survey finds “People and culture” most appealing aspect

Tongan culture, friendly locals, natural sites and plentiful BBQ, were listed among the “most appealing aspects” of Tonga in a survey of international visitors released by the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) this week. The international...

Tonga joins Sentinel Asia, boosting disaster preparedness and response

The National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) has announced Tonga’s official membership in Sentinel Asia as of September 19th. This milestone makes Tonga the second Pacific Joint Project Team (JPT) member, alongside the SPC and Fiji’s NDMO,...

Unprecedented pressure and resilience in Pacific media sector, new research reveals

Despite progress in the Pacific’s media sector, new research reveals it remains fragile due to digital disruption and continued loss of advertising revenue following the COVID-19 pandemic. The State of the Media: Pacific research study involved...

Auckland family plead for compassion amid proposed deportation to Tonga

Tina Veaila said the family had visited Tonga only once, briefly, when the children were young, and New Zealand is all her boys know. “My boys grew up here [in New Zealand]. They want to be here with their friends. They want to go to school, and I...

Minister welcomes geohazards community of scientists, experts and researchers to Samoa

Opening Remarks by the Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, Minister of Natural Resources, Lands and Environment. Regional Technical Workshop on Science and Partnerships for Geohazard Resilience in the Pacific • Reverend • Director of...

Scientists Are Crafting Fake Whale Poop and Dumping It in the Ocean

A sperm whale swims away, leaving a cloud of feces. Blue Planet Archive/Alamy In the 20th century, people’s demand for whale blubber and baleen drove industrial whalers to kill roughly three million whales—a whopping 99 percent of the world’s...

Half of Australian children, adolescents might be overweight by 2050: research

SYDNEY, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Half of Australian children and adolescents aged five to 24 are forecast to be obese or overweight by 2050, with a third expected to fall into the obesity category, according to new research published on Tuesday, the...