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Tonga

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How Israel won the Pacific – and its backing at the UN

February 18, 2026

Asia Pacific Report Several small Pacific countries regularly vote in support of Israel at the United Nations in spite of overwhelming opposition for the Zionist state in the Middle East over its genocide in Gaza. Why? In this AJ+ video short, senior presenter/producer Dena Takruri sets out to explain the Pacific backing for Tel Aviv, ... <a title="How Israel won the Pacific – and its backing at the UN" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/how-israel-won-the-pacific-and-its-backing-at-the-un/" aria-label="Read more about How Israel won the Pacific – and its backing at the UN">Read more</a>

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Kalafi Moala: My view of tyrannical Trump

January 26, 2026

COMMENTARY: By Kalafi Moala, publisher of Talanoa ‘o Tonga As a journalist based in Tonga, I have chosen mostly to refrain from giving a view of US President Donald Trump, one way or another, as I thought that he would sooner or later get over his incredible childishness and tyrannical behavior, and start doing something ... <a title="Kalafi Moala: My view of tyrannical Trump" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/26/kalafi-moala-my-view-of-tyrannical-trump/" aria-label="Read more about Kalafi Moala: My view of tyrannical Trump">Read more</a>

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Bonds, blockings and bans – a massive new-year US shakeup for Pacific travel

January 17, 2026

By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist From heavy visa bonds to suspended applications to straight-up travel bans, the United States has implemented or announced sweeping restrictions on Pacific travel in just the first two weeks of 2026. Confirmed on Thursday, Fiji is among a list of 75 countries for which the US will suspend the ... <a title="Bonds, blockings and bans – a massive new-year US shakeup for Pacific travel" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/17/bonds-blockings-and-bans-a-massive-new-year-us-shakeup-for-pacific-travel/" aria-label="Read more about Bonds, blockings and bans – a massive new-year US shakeup for Pacific travel">Read more</a>

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Civicus raps 8 Pacific countries for ‘not doing enough’ to protect civic rights, press freedom

November 26, 2025

Asia Pacific Report The global civil society alliance Civicus has called on eight Pacific governments to do more to respect civic freedoms and strengthen institutions to protect these rights. It is especially concerned over the threats to press freedom, the use of laws to criminalise online expression, and failure to establish national human rights institutions ... <a title="Civicus raps 8 Pacific countries for ‘not doing enough’ to protect civic rights, press freedom" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/26/civicus-raps-8-pacific-countries-for-not-doing-enough-to-protect-civic-rights-press-freedom/" aria-label="Read more about Civicus raps 8 Pacific countries for ‘not doing enough’ to protect civic rights, press freedom">Read more</a>

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Potential Tonga PM candidate: ‘Low-hanging fruits available’ to improve people’s lives

November 24, 2025

By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist As Tonga’s 26 newly elected representatives turn to choosing a prime minister among them, one potential candidate is identifying economic development and raising the standard of living as necessary priorities for the next government and its leader. Lord Fakafanua was re-elected as a nobles’ representative for Ha’apai in ... <a title="Potential Tonga PM candidate: ‘Low-hanging fruits available’ to improve people’s lives" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/24/potential-tonga-pm-candidate-low-hanging-fruits-available-to-improve-peoples-lives/" aria-label="Read more about Potential Tonga PM candidate: ‘Low-hanging fruits available’ to improve people’s lives">Read more</a>

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Tonga election: Two new lords as 9 noble seats decided

November 20, 2025

By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist in Tonga Two new noble representatives have been elected in Tonga, according to results announced today in Nuku’alofa. Lord Dalgety, chairman of the Tonga Electoral Commission, announced the results of the nobles election at the Palace Office in the Tongan capital shortly after midday. The two newly elected ... <a title="Tonga election: Two new lords as 9 noble seats decided" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/20/tonga-election-two-new-lords-as-9-noble-seats-decided/" aria-label="Read more about Tonga election: Two new lords as 9 noble seats decided">Read more</a>

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‘Profound distrust’ in France, says Pacific people’s mission report calling for new Kanaky negotiations

November 9, 2025

Asia Pacific Report A Pacific people’s mission to Kanaky New Caledonia was repeatedly confronted with a “profound sense of distrust” in the French state’s role in the decolonisation process, a new report released this week has revealed. “This scepticism, articulated by Kanak representatives, is rooted in the belief that France is not a neutral arbiter ... <a title="‘Profound distrust’ in France, says Pacific people’s mission report calling for new Kanaky negotiations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/09/profound-distrust-in-france-says-pacific-peoples-mission-report-calling-for-new-kanaky-negotiations/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Profound distrust’ in France, says Pacific people’s mission report calling for new Kanaky negotiations">Read more</a>

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Why Blue Pacific’s infrastructure distress is a cocktail poisoning human development progress

November 7, 2025

Keeping a line of sight to the challenges of both COP30 in Brazil next week and also the subsequent Pacific’s COP31. A Pacific perspective. COMMENTARY: By Dr Satyendra Prasad As Pacific’s leaders and civil society prepare for the United Nations Climate Conference in Brazil (COP30) next week, they also need to keep a line of ... <a title="Why Blue Pacific’s infrastructure distress is a cocktail poisoning human development progress" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/07/why-blue-pacifics-infrastructure-distress-is-a-cocktail-poisoning-human-development-progress/" aria-label="Read more about Why Blue Pacific’s infrastructure distress is a cocktail poisoning human development progress">Read more</a>

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Tonga election: What are the main issues ahead of the upcoming polls?

November 1, 2025

By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist With just three weeks to go before Tongans head to the polls, the debate over election issues is heating up. Under the spotlight are the role of the palace in the country’s democratic process and calls for voting rights for overseas-based Tongans. The state of the economy and ... <a title="Tonga election: What are the main issues ahead of the upcoming polls?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/01/tonga-election-what-are-the-main-issues-ahead-of-the-upcoming-polls/" aria-label="Read more about Tonga election: What are the main issues ahead of the upcoming polls?">Read more</a>

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Tributes pour in for Matangi Tonga founder Pesi Siale Fonua – ‘a steady voice of truth’

October 14, 2025

RNZ Pacific Pesi Siale Fonua, a veteran Pacific journalist and the publisher-editor of Tonga’s leading news website Matangi Tonga Online, has died at the age of 78. Fonua’s family announced his passing on Monday. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Pesi Siale Fonua (78), well known Pacific Islands journalist, publisher ... <a title="Tributes pour in for Matangi Tonga founder Pesi Siale Fonua – ‘a steady voice of truth’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/14/tributes-pour-in-for-matangi-tonga-founder-pesi-siale-fonua-a-steady-voice-of-truth/" aria-label="Read more about Tributes pour in for Matangi Tonga founder Pesi Siale Fonua – ‘a steady voice of truth’">Read more</a>

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Marshall Islands president warns of threat to Pacific Islands Forum unity

August 5, 2025

By Giff Johnson, Marshall Islands Journal editor/RNZ Pacific correspondent Leaders of the three Pacific nations with diplomatic ties to Taiwan are united in a message to the Pacific Islands Forum that the premier regional body must not allow non-member countries to dictate Forum policies — a reference to the China-Taiwan geopolitical debate. Marshall Islands President ... <a title="Marshall Islands president warns of threat to Pacific Islands Forum unity" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/05/marshall-islands-president-warns-of-threat-to-pacific-islands-forum-unity/" aria-label="Read more about Marshall Islands president warns of threat to Pacific Islands Forum unity">Read more</a>

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Tonga cybersecurity attack wake-up call for Pacific, warns expert

July 2, 2025

By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A Tongan cybersecurity expert says the country’s health data hack is a “wake-up call” for the whole region. Siosaia Vaipuna, a former director of Tonga’s cybersecurity agency, spoke to RNZ Pacific in the wake of the June 15 cyberattack on the country’s Health Ministry. Vaipuna said Tonga and ... <a title="Tonga cybersecurity attack wake-up call for Pacific, warns expert" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/02/tonga-cybersecurity-attack-wake-up-call-for-pacific-warns-expert/" aria-label="Read more about Tonga cybersecurity attack wake-up call for Pacific, warns expert">Read more</a>