Parliament & Judiciary: Tonga Speaker Lord Vaea says government is slow to brief Parliament after courts rejected serious allegations about Chief Justice Lord Malcolm Bishop, with the issue spreading via social media and overseas outlets. Infrastructure & Land: The long-delayed Fangaʻuta Lagoon bridge is stalled by unresolved land disputes at ʻUmukisia, leaving government facing millions in penalty fees to McConnell Dowell Constructors while only the Folaha side is ready. Climate Risk: Tonga has declared El Niño conditions in force, warning of below-average rainfall, drought risk, marine heatwaves and coral bleaching, plus a potentially more active 2026–27 cyclone season. Regional Governance & Youth: A Pacific youth and democracy forum in Fiji urged young people to move beyond passive roles as youth remain underrepresented in formal governance. Pacific Security Cooperation: Tonga Police Commander Selosia S Fatukala-Satini warned that Tonga has shifted from local to transnational crime, using digital routes that are hard to trace. Fisheries Policy: Tonga submitted its first-ever fisheries subsidy notification to the WTO Fish Fund, aiming to close legal and policy gaps for compliance. Regional Diplomacy: U.S. officials called a White House summit with Pacific leaders “collaborative,” saying Washington is listening and offering new infrastructure and climate funding. Cultural & Community Leadership: A new Porirua exhibition, Marama Malama: Te Manavā Moana Women, spotlights Pasifika women leaders behind community rebuilding after the 1970s Dawn Raids.