The jailed Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism ‘Akosita Lavulavu (36) and her husband ’Etuate (62) were this morning denied bail pending their appeal. The Lord Chief Justice was not satisfied with their prospects of success on their appeals and gave reasons why in his 18-pages ruling, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
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Friday 9 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Thursday 8 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The ‘Ikale Tahi team to meet the Manu Samoa at the Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland on Saturday, 10 July, was announced by the Prime Minister, Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu’I’onetoa, president of the Tonga Rugby Union, this afternoon in Nuku’alofa.

Thursday 8 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Sima (46) received a suspended sentence for possession of 0.18 grams of methamphetamine and 16.5 grams of cannabis seized at his market stall in Ma’ufanga.

Thursday 8 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Children in Ta’anga, ‘Eua, are enjoying their new kindergarten that was rebuilt recently with the help of volunteers from Friends of Tonga, after it was destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Gita in 2018.

Thursday 8 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Uikilifi Lapu’aho (20) from Vaini was the passenger who died early Sunday morning July 4, after a road crash at Malapo near Hu'atolitoli Prison.

Thursday 8 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Princess Pilolevu Tuita inspected an exhibition organised by Tongan women this morning at the Digicel Square in Nuku'alofa. The exhibition by the Langafonua 'a Fafine Tonga (National Council for Women of Tonga) included competitions for artwork, traditional crafts, sewing, food and plants.

Thursday 8 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kautai Moala (38) was sentenced to five and a half-years imprisonment for possession of 19.49 grams of methamphetamine seized at Ngele'ia. The judge said he was appalled to learn that Moala was identified in the community as a supplier of drugs and used young boys from the community to run drugs for him.

Wednesday 7 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
At an investiture ceremony at the Royal Palace on 6 July HM King Tupou VI conferred royal orders to 20 recipients.

Wednesday 7 July 2021
Suva, Fiji
Fiji opened its first COVID-19 vaccination drive-through at Suva's Albert Park Pavillion on 6 July as the country battles with rapidly increasing new cases. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services reported 636 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths over a 24-hour period on 7 July.
Wednesday 7 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 5475 people have received their second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination as of this afternoon, July 7 in Tongatapu.

Wednesday 7 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lancellot ‘Amanaki Tae Vailea (32) of Fou’i was sentenced to two-years six-months imprisonment for serious housebreaking and theft of Tongan mats and artifacts valued at $15,100 pa’anga. None of the items were recovered.

Wednesday 7 July 2021
Sydney, Australia
New York Times reporting: Three days after the emergence of a rare COVID-19 case in Sydney, around 40 friends gathered for a birthday party. Along with cake and laughter, there was a hidden threat: One of the guests had unknowingly crossed paths with that single COVID case, an airport driver who had caught the Delta variant from an American aircrew. Two weeks later, 27 people from the party have tested positive. And the seven people at the gathering who were not infected? They were all vaccinated. By Damien Cave.
Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Questions in parliament this morning once again failed to win any clarity from the Prime Minister on the salaried status of his jailed Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism. No new ministers have been appointed to the portfolios held by 'Akosita Lavulavu, who started five years imprisonment on Friday July 2. It appears that the Prime Minister is not going to give her a red card. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
Tonga’s Prime Minister, Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, who is not only the President of the Tonga Rugby Union but also chairs the interim group to manage Tonga’s Rugby League affairs, had a few words to say about rugby in parliament this morning. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Choral Night brought together a variety of church choirs on Sunday July 4, for an annual choral evening that never fails to impress, at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall.

Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A float parade and fun fair events were held on Monday, July 5 a public holiday in Tonga. People flocked to the Nuku'alofa waterfront to enjoy the events, after more than a year since mass gatherings, including the annual Heilala Festival were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 20-year-old man died on Sunday morning, July 4 after a road crash at Malapo near Hu’atolitoli Prison. Methamphetamine was found on the driver, who is in police custody.

Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is looking to produce a seed collection and storage system to strengthen food security. Research will be carried out with support from the Japanese Government through MORDI Tonga Trust. Seeds may include local fruits and traditional medicinal plants as well as indigenous plants.

Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Passengers repatriated from Auckland, New Zealand, last week have tested negative in their first of three COVID-19 tests while in quarantine, confirmed Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola today. Three COVID-19 tests are now required from passengers during quarantine.

Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Declaration of a State of Emergency due to COVID-19 has been renewed from 8:00pm July 5 to 8:00pm August 2. The National COVID-19 Restrictions Directions still applies, including night-time curfews from midnight to 5:00am.
