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The Tongan Navy bid farewell to the VOEA Pangai navy patrol boat on 23 April after almost 30 years of service, operating within Tonga and internationally.

The resistance of the late Prime Minister Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva to the ideas of formalizing his party and establishing a succession plan, has led to a falling apart of the Paati Temokalati ‘Otumotu Anga‘ofa (PATOA), and the closing of a chapter in Tonga's Democratic Reform process. By Pesi Fonua.

Most activities have been re-opened so why are bars and kava clubs still restricted? The answer can’t be to ensure that we adhere to social distancing – instead it must be an attempt to regulate the social activities to make sure we stay away from alcohol and kava, an unstated goal of the police and health ministries for years. It might be time to consider the positive side of these businesses as they provide a more healthy outlet for people than drinking in the streets or cars and they pay wages that help keep the economy going. - Dean Bishoprick

A man who boarded an Air New Zealand flight at Fua’amotu International Airport yesterday, 23 April, was removed due to a New Zealand Immigration travel ban “technicality”, and ended up in quarantine at the Fua'amotu Taliai Camp instead, where he will have to stay for 14 days.

Overseas remittances are predicted to fall by 13 percent in the East Asia and Pacific region this year affecting countries such as Tonga, due to the economic crisis caused by CoViD-19, according to the World Bank. Migrant remittances to Tonga in 2019 made up 37.6 percent as a share of GDP.

DeepGreen Metals Inc., a Canadian-based seafloor mining developer, has taken over the Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd, and expanded its footprint of mining for Polymetallic nodules in the central Pacific. They are planning to extract cobalt and other battery metals from the seafloor.

Dry weather has been forecast for most of Tonga from April to June, except for the Niuas where rainfall is expected to be average, according to Tonga Meteorological Service.

Tonga's tourist industry hit hard by Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold and CoViD-19 lockdowns this month will soon be allowed new duty free and CT free imports of building materials, along with other incentives, while all businesses are allowed an extension of time for filing some tax returns, Tonga's Revenue and Customs Services told the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industries yesterday.

Personal Protective Equipment consisting of 50,000 KN95 facial masks and 20,000 protective masks donated by the Jack Ma Foundation arrived in Nadi, the Pacific Humanitarian Pathway on COVID-19, reported yesterday.