Tonga’s Lulutai Airlines can cover its debts, former PM Hu’akavameiliku says

A former Tongan prime minister says that the country’s troubled government-owned airline, Lulutai, has enough assets to cover its debts. Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, who resigned last December ahead of a

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Tongan airline Lulutai seeking $7 million subsidy

The Tongan government is assessing the possibility of ceasing Lulutai Airlines services due to its inability to meet financial obligations, the Minister for Public Enterprises says.  The news follows serious

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Scotland and Samoa lead the PacificAus Netball series

The PacificAus Sports Netball Series is heating up, with Scotland and Samoa emerging as the dominant teams after the first three rounds of matches at Nissan Arena in Brisbane. As the competition progresses towards its

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Pacific must get deep-sea mining decisions right, says Tongan Minister

Tonga’s Minister of Lands, Survey, Planning, and Natural Resources, Dr ‘Uhilamoelangi Fasi, has called for a responsible and collaborative approach to deep-sea mining (DSM), warning that decisions made today

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Tongan community mobilises against US deportation action

The National Tongan American Society (NTAS) in Utah is proactively offering legal assistance to community members facing potential actions from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Executive Director O. Fahina

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Dr Masasso Paunga first TNU Vice Chancellor

The Tonga National University (TNU) has appointed Dr Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Paunga as its inaugural Vice Chancellor, effective this month. Talanoaotonga reports that this milestone coincides with the

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An uneasy crown: King Tupou VI seeks greater role

For 15 years, the Kingdom of Tonga has gone through a political experiment that was supposed to make the governance system “more democratic”. This was the declared will of the former Monarch, King George Tupou V,

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Guided by the stars: Kakala Tevi dares to save the ocean

The sun climbs gently into the sky as the ocean-going canoe Uto Ni Yalo ploughs towards Vava’u through a surging swell. About 200 metres to the stern, the first rays of the sun glint off the back of a large, black

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

The Tongan Legislative Assembly, during its swearing-in of the new Cabinet ministers last Friday, denied a request by new Police Minister Piveni Piukala to take his oath of office in English rather than the Tongan

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Tonga unprepared for deportee crisis, lacks legislation says ministry leader

Tonga is unprepared for the increasing number of deportees arriving from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, says Reverend Semisi Kava, Chaplain for the Tonga Prison Service, warning that the lack of

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Hundreds of Fijians, Tongans among 1.4 million facing deportation from US

A total of 151 Tongans is currently among the estimated 1.4 million people in the United States who are at risk of deportation, reports said. It comes after President Donald Trump held firm to his campaign promise of

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New Tonga PM unveils Cabinet

Tonga’s Prime Minister, Dr ‘Aisake Eke, has announced a new Cabinet which includes four unelected representatives.  According to the constitution, the Prime Minister can nominate no more than four unelected

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No changes to Tonga cabinet – PM

Tonga’s Prime Minister, Dr Aisake Eke, has announced that his new Cabinet will comprise the same ministers from the previous administration until his new ministers are officially appointed. Eke was officially

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Tonga’s new Prime Minister, Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke

Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke was elected Prime Minister of Tonga on 24 December 2024, defeating Dr Viliami Uasike Latu, the other candidate, by 16 votes to 8 in a secret ballot. The election resulted from the shock

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Starlink approved to revolutionise Tonga’s Internet access

Tonga’s Ministry of MEIDECC has granted official approval for Starlink to deliver high-speed internet across Tonga. The move is expected to transform connectivity and boost digital inclusion throughout the

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Opinion: Tonga’s PM Hu’akavameiliku throws in the towel

In a highly anticipated session of the Tongan parliament to debate and vote on the second vote of no confidence (VONC) scheduled for Monday 9th December, Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni Hu’akavameiliku surprised

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Tonga to name new PM on Christmas eve after Sovaleni’s resignation

Tonga will select a new Prime Minister on Christmas eve, 24 December following the resignation of Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, which was accepted by King Tupou VI Monday. During Monday’s Parliament session,

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Speaker grants Tonga PM request to postpone reply to no confidence motion

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has postponed the session to table the motion for a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni from 3 December to 9 December, 2024. TALANOAOTONGA reports that the

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

Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni is facing a new no-confidence vote following recent political tensions and concerns raised by the King. Kaniva Tonga News reports the Speaker of Parliament, Lord

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Tonga’s Pacific Championships success raises questions about International Rugby League’s tier system

For decades, there was an understood hierarchy in men's rugby league that went something like: Australia, New Zealand, England, a bit of daylight, then everyone

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Kangaroos hold off Tonga to claim Pacific Cup title

The Kangaroos have won the Pacific Cup for the first time after surviving a late scare from a fast-finishing Tongan side to claim a 20-14

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Tonga ready for historic Pacific Championships final after ‘sacrifice’

Tonga assistant coach Dean Young believes the side is primed to carry out a historic victory in the Pacific Championships final on

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2022 Tonga eruption: unstudied data from seismic wave points to early signals

Fifteen minutes before the massive January 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, a seismic wave was recorded by two distant seismic

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