Digital Inclusion & Safety: Tonga National University and Christ’s University in Pacific are taking part in the Bridge the Gap: Pacific Digital Inclusion & Safety Challenge 2026 in Papua New Guinea, aiming to build practical solutions for cybersecurity, online safety and digital financial access across the region. Scam & Fraud Risk: The UN warns Pacific countries, including Tonga, face rising threats from global scam syndicates using tech and AI to target vulnerable people, with 2025 losses across Asia-Pacific estimated at up to US$114.1b. Agribusiness & Women’s Livelihoods: A Tonga tourism graduate is emerging as a vanilla producer after co-founding a women-led growers group, using mixed-cropping and training supported by FAO and Tonga’s agriculture ministry to build steady income while waiting for harvests. Aged Care Infrastructure: Construction has started on Tonga’s first integrated aged care facility at Houma, Tongatapu, backed by the ADB, Japan and Tonga, with a $39m pa’anga project to strengthen social protection for older people. Cash Security: Tonga’s central bank (NRBT) has flagged counterfeit $100 pa’anga notes from the 2023 King Tupou VI series, urging businesses and shoppers to check security features during the festive period. Media & Community Safety: Tonga’s media association says the drug trade is increasing pressure on law enforcement and raising risks for journalists, calling for stronger reporting and journalist protection. Deep-Sea Mining Rule of Law: Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd (TOML) and Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI) are set to keep their UN deep-sea mining dispute moving after a maritime court rejected a bid to pause the inquiry, with provisional measures focused on due process.