Keeping Coastal Communities at the Heart of the Blue Economy

Image Source: Getty Images This is part of the essay series: Sagarmanthan Edit 2025. For coastal communities across the globe, the ocean is not only a source of income and food security–it is the foundation of their culture, identity, and way of...

WTO Fisheries Agreement: India’s concerns, past opposition, and the road ahead

A significant milestone for multilateralism was reached when the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Fisheries Subsidies Agreement (FSA) came into effect on September 15, 2025. This was followed by ratifications by Kenya, Vietnam, Brazil, and Tonga,...

Tongan lawyer’s alarm as recent NZ court ruling revives RSE exploitation concerns

An Auckland-based Tongan lawyer has raised concerns about the risks facing Tongan workers under New Zealand’s RSE scheme, following a recent court decision that exposed serious breaches of employment law involving workers from the Solomon Islands....

Growing concern for Tonga’s neglected elderly 

Soana Aholelei | Reporter / Director Care for the elderly is a growing concern in Tonga. With its ageing population increasing and family members living abroad, Tongan elders are left with very little support. Holding the hand of 94 year old Mele,...

Police Service Commission Appoints New DIG For North-East Nigeria, Promotes One Commissioner To AIG, 11 DCPs To CP, Others

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Dankwara Adamu Mohammed to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), representing the North-East geopolitical zone. He...

Tonga reaffirms commitment on 30-year Beijing legacy

Tonga has renewed its pledge to advance gender equality at the UN’s Beijing Platform 30th anniversary meeting. Hon. Sinaitakala Tu’itahi, Tonga’s Minister for Internal Affairs, delivered the nation’s address at the United Nations General...

Auckland businessman calls for King’s intervention in Lord Fulivai’s unpaid court-ordered debt

Auckland businessman Chris Brett has called on the King of Tonga to intervene in a long-standing legal dispute involving Lord Fulivai and his wife Helen Fulivai, after the couple failed to repay more than NZ$253,000 (TOP$407,777) as ordered by the...

Video sparks debate about the role of the tou'a in Tonga

Suva (PacNews) —The role of the tou'a has become a topic of hot debate on Tongan social media spaces after a clip from a podcast caused quite a reaction from several Tongan netizens, most of whom were men. Back in August a podcaster and...

Deepfakes on steep rise in South Africa, fintech & banking hardest hit

The Senior Director of Fraud Product Management at TransUnion Africa, Amritha Reddy, has bemoaned the supersonic surge in deepfake cases in South Africa, pointing out that fintech and banking are among sectors with the biggest hits. Speaking on a...

Tonga could face potential financial and legal risks if Deep Sea...

By Marc Ake Tonga is one of the sponsoring states for The Metals Company (TMC), a Canadian deep sea mining company trying to secure rights to mine in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) between Hawai’i and Mexico. It’s been 5 years since TMC first...

New in-country testing advances breast cancer care in Samoa and Tonga

The Pacific Community (SPC) is enhancing breast cancer diagnosis and management in the Pacific Islands, where it stands as the most common cancer affecting women. Through a vital new laboratory strengthening initiative, Samoa and Tonga are now...

York and Toulouse to play in expanded Super League

York and Toulouse's promotion to Super League means that the other Championship applicants - Oldham, Widnes Vikings, Doncaster and London Broncos - are unsuccessful and will play in an expanded second tier next season. The decision not to include...

There's no leader in college football like BYU's Kalani Sitake. One story explains why

Editor’s note: This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk covering leadership, personal development and performance through the lens of sports. Follow Peak here. PROVO, Utah — If you ever need to pique the interest of Kalani Sitake, just show...

Protection of Minors: Second Report proposes restorative measures against abuse

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors publishes its second annual Report, which presents guidelines for “informed listening” and for economic, psychological, and spiritual support to victims, while highlighting the need for more...

Tonga joins WTO pact to end harmful fishing subsidies

Tonga has ratified the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, helping it enter into force on 15 September 2025. The deal bans subsidies that fuel overfished stocks, supports illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and subsidies for...

Tongan royal visit a return to familiar territory

King Tupou VI has regularly visited Australia, living in Canberra before becoming the monarch. (AP PHOTO) By Grace Crivellaro in Canberra While not quite a homecoming, Tongan royalty has returned to familiar territory on a visit to Australia’s...

World Trade Organization passes new ruling that will impact fishing around the globe: 'Without fish, it's game over'

It's a truly global issue that requires a unified response. by Michael MuirSeptember 28, 2025 A landmark agreement on fishing practices by the World Trade Organization recently took effect after the required number of member states signed on. As...

LIVE LIGHT launch targets Tonga’s obesity crisis

Health Minister Dr ‘Ana ‘Akauola has launched the LIVE LIGHT Campaign, aimed at curbing Tonga’s chronic disease burden by tackling obesity. Phase One — “60 minutes a day – stronger every way” — will mobilise youth aged 11–19 to become more active....

Tonga mining deal sparks outrage over transparency

A Tongan advocate says the renewal of an agreement between the island Kingdom and Canadian deep sea mining company, The Metals Company (TMC) contradicts the will of the people. Elizabeth Kite says she’s concerned that the Tongan government has...

Government reforms student loan policy as 400 Tongans in Fiji study without scholarships: Deputy PM

Nuku’alofa, Tonga — Deputy Prime Minister Taniela Fusimalohi has announced a major reform to Tonga Development Bank (TDB) loan policy aimed at supporting families of students studying in Fiji, where only more than 100 out of more than 500 Tongans...