A gale warning remains in force for Tongatapu and 'Eua land areas this evening, as Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa, now a weakening Cat. 1 system, is expected to lie at about 335km West of Nuku'alofa at 7:00pm today. Previous hurricane and storm warnings for Tonga have been downgraded by the Tonga Meteorological Service.
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Saturday 19 December 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Friday 18 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A repeated drug offender Vainikolo Selu has been jailed for two-years nine-months at Hu'atolitoli Prison.

Friday 18 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The first shipment of 16.6 metric tonnes of Tongan watermelons was exported to Auckland, New Zealand on December 17, after the October ban was lifted. It is a new milestone for Tonga's agricultural sector, said local farmer and exporter, Minoru Nishi Jr today.

Friday 18 December 2020
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Dunedin, New Zealand
Peter Latu was the sole 2020 graduate of the School of Surveying BSurv (Hons) programme, at the University of Otago on December 19.

Thursday 17 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is looking to the COVAX Facility to obtain a safe COVID-19 vaccine for Tonga in 2021, the CEO for Ministry of Health, Dr Siale ‘Akau‘ola said today at a press briefing at Vaiola Hospital. Tonga needs to wait for a vaccine that can be stored in the hospital freezers.

Thursday 17 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Navy's new patrol boat, the VOEA Ngahau Siliva which arrived from Australia on December 16, remains quarantined with 22-crew at the Nuku'alofa harbour.

Thursday 17 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Brides and grooms filled the Registry Office in Nuku'alofa, today December 17 to tie the knot before government closes for the Christmas holidays tomorrow.

Thursday 17 December 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An extremely powerful Tropical Cyclone “Yasa”, is threatening Fiji today, where Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama warned people to prepare and evacuate low lying areas. Forecasters warned that wave heights around the eye of the storm could approach 14 meters (45 feet), with momentary gusts of up to 195 knots (390km/hr). TC Yasa threatens to cause damage on the scale of Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016. Meanwhile, a Tropical Cyclone Alert is now in force for Tonga.
Thursday 17 December 2020
Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand is preparing to support its Pacific partners to access safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at the earliest opportunity, NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Associate Foreign Affairs Minister Aupito William Sio said today in a joint statement.
Thursday 17 December 2020
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Wellington, New Zealand
The New Zealand Government will purchase COVID-19 vaccines from pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Novavax, meaning every New Zealander will be able to be vaccinated, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “We have secured more than enough doses to cover our entire population plus the Pacific,” she said. Vaccinations for the public are on track to start in mid-2021.

Thursday 17 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A US$30 million Development Policy Operation to support Tonga’s recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 and Cyclone Harold, was approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on 15 December.

Wednesday 16 December 2020
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New York, USA
New York Times reporting: While many poor nations may be able to vaccinate at most 20% of their populations in 2021, some of the world’s richest countries have reserved enough doses to immunize their own multiple times over. “The high-income countries have gotten to the front of the line and cleared the shelves,” said Andrea Taylor, a Duke researcher who is studying the coronavirus vaccines contracts. But the outlook for most of the developing world is dire. Because of manufacturing limits, it could take until 2024 for many low-income countries to obtain enough vaccines to fully immunize their populations.

Wednesday 16 December 2020
New York, USA
New York Times reporting: On December 21, Jupiter and Saturn will appear to be no more than a dime’s width apart in the night sky. The last time that could be seen was in 1226, making the event a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle for most adults.
Wednesday 16 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As Fiji braces for severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa (Cat. 5), Tonga Met. Director ‘Ofa Fa’anunu advises that Tonga should prepare too for a potentially severe cyclone over the weekend. Meanwhile, TC Zazu has moved away from Tonga.

Wednesday 16 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan politics are in turmoil after a letter for a motion for a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, was tabled into parliament a day before the House closed its 2020 session on 10 December. Details of the letter have emerged, raising seven concerns. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Wednesday 16 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Petroleum and LP gas prices have increased starting today, 16 December, as approved by the Tonga Competent Authority.

Wednesday 16 December 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A photographic exhibition, presented online, celebrates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Tonga.
Tuesday 15 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kuliti Tongamoa, aka “Creed”, who supplied cocaine to a former international rugby player 'Epeli Taione (41) at 'Umusi in January, was found guilty on two counts of supplying illicit drugs; while Taione was found guilty of possession of illicit drugs, in a verdict delivered in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on December 11. They will be sentenced on 19 February, 2021.

Tuesday 15 December 2020
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New York, USA
The Kingdom of Tonga and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations at an official ceremony in New York, USA on 14 December, reports Tonga's UN mission.

Tuesday 15 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Four new community projects will be funded under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) after grant contracts were signed today. They include a new classroom for Kolomotu’a Government Primary School, a water supply system for Vaini, a vehicle for the OTA Center, and waste collection vehicles for Ha'apai.
