Tongan Community & Culture: A Manurewa teacher, Mele Ta’e’iloa, nearly said no to joining Jason Derulo on stage—then Projekt Team convinced her, she learned the moves backstage, and her “Mālō e lelei!” moment went viral with tens of millions of views. Comedy & Entertainment: Jam Sessions’ first comedy night, “Alohahaha,” is set to headline Island Magic Mike (Mike Garcia), bringing TikTok-born laughs to Guam with local openers. Climate & Ocean Governance: Pacific leaders at UNGA pushed hard for faster climate action, calling out the unfair burden on small island states like Tonga. Water Security in Tonga: Elemental Water Makers installed solar desalination systems on Hunga and Matamaka in Vava’u, giving remote communities reliable, clean drinking water. Politics & Pacific Voices: Vision New Zealand candidate Karl Mokaraka urges Panmure-Ōtāhuhu voters to judge “wins, not WINZ,” spotlighting cost of living, housing, healthcare, and jobs for Pacific families. Elections Watch (Te Tai Tonga): New Whakaata Māori-Curia polling shows Labour’s Mananui Ramsden leading while incumbent Tākuta Ferris trails, with te Tiriti ranked top priority. Sports & Youth: Tonga is among Pacific teams heading to the Summer Youth Olympics in Dakar, with athletics and swimming among the main hopes. Education & Pride: A young New Zealand-born Tongan, Meleana Payn, becomes the first Pasifika student to graduate from the University of Auckland with a conjoint Commerce and Sport/Health/PE degree. Public Safety (Tonga): Prominent anti-drug campaigner Afimeimo‘unga Hola is reportedly dead, after years of activism and public controversy. Tech & Media: Pasifika AI creator Kevyn Wahuzue says Pacific journalism should keep AI “behind the story,” protecting human relationships, language, and trust.