WASHINGTON, 21 AUGUST 2026 (RADIO FREE ASIA)—China “very likely” coordinated a targeted campaign across the Pacific to demonstrate that local development strategies should align with Beijing’s latest five-year-plan, a recent report by The Alliance Futures Initiative says. In the report, titled “China’s Model on the Offensive: Why China’s Five-Year Plan Promotion in the Pacific Matters,” […]
Tag: Tonga
Posted inPacific News
U.S imposes visa bonds of up to $27k for several Pacific countries
CANBERRA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (ABC) — Clients never used to cry in Alisi Mo’ungaloa Afu’s office, but it’s not uncommon these days. “Some people have cried because they weren’t able to travel to funerals,” she said. Mo’ungaloa Afu is a Tonga-based travel agent who has spent 15 years helping locals navigate the United States visa […]
Posted inPacific News
Tongan seasonal workers jailed for lakeside abduction and sex attack
DUNEDIN, 04 JUNE 2020 (STUFF NZ) — Two Tongan orchard workers who laughed as they sexually violated a woman near a Central Otago lake have been jailed. Suliasi Fangatua, 30, and Taniela Siale, 22, who were in New Zealand as part of a seasonal working scheme, appeared for sentencing on charges of abduction and sexual […]
Posted inPacific News
Volcanic eruption creates new island in Tongan archipelago
NUKU’ALOFA, 07 NOVEMBER 2019 (AFP via PacNews)—An undersea volcanic eruption in the Tongan archipelago has sunk one island and created another three times larger, according to a report by geologists released Thursday. Taaniela Kula, of the Tonga Geological Service, said the new Lateiki island is estimated to be about 100 metres wide and 400 metres […]
Posted inOpinion
Rugby league’s Pacific revolution goes global after Tongan triumph
SYDNEY, 06 NOVEMBER 2019 (THE GUARDIAN/PACNEWS)–As Australia worked through the seven stages of grief (with heavy doses of anger and denial) following Saturday’s defeat at Eden Park, Tonga experienced rugby league deliverance – a seminal, life-changing moment of shared hope in which the giant killing team had for the first time defeated Tier 1 heavyweights […]
Posted inBillboard
ADB helps relocate Tonga’s Ha’apai Hospital as part of Project to manage Climate risks
HA’APAI, 06 NOVEMBER 2019 (ADB)— The Asian Development Bank (ADB) joined the Government of Tonga and other development partners in an inauguration ceremony today to officially open the Niu’ui Hospital in its new location in Ha’apai. The hospital was relocated to higher ground, as part of the ADB-supported Climate Resilience Sector Project. The King of […]