Retired Rugby League Player and Former Mate Ma’a Tonga prop, Richie Fa'aoso, has called for the National Rugby League (NRL) to address a “massive drug problem” in the sport. Fa'aoso, now 33, played in the NRL for 11 years, and retired in 2015.
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Tuesday 15 August 2017
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Sydney, Australia

Tuesday 15 August 2017
Honiara, Solomon Islands
In the Pacific region many of the natural disasters experienced are related to water and climate, Hon. Samuel Manetoali told the opening meeting of the Pacific Meteorological Council on August 14 in the Solomon Islands, saying "We are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change... and climate variability". By Linny Folau in Honiara.
Tuesday 15 August 2017
Cambridge-MA, USA
As North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump’s war of words escalates, Independence Day celebrations – commemorating the Korean Peninsula’s 1945 liberation from Japanese colonial rule – are unfolding in both North and South Korea. The occasion underscores not just the shared history between the two countries, but also the South’s unique qualifications to bring about a peaceful resolution to the current military standoff. ...With saber-rattling between North Korea and the US at an all-time high, the [US-South Korea UFG] military exercise – which will begin on August 21 – could escalate the conflict dramatically. By Katharine H.S. Moon.
Monday 14 August 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Cabinet Ministers have given themselves a 5% pay increase, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office on August 11. The increase has not been extended to civil servants. By Pesi Fonua.

Monday 14 August 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Can the Tonga government hold the money collected from its Pacific Games foreign exchange levy and use it for other purposes? It's a question that many people are continuing to ask, following the government's withdrawal from its agreement to host the 2019 Pacific Games, while the games levy continues to be imposed on foreign exchange transactions

Friday 11 August 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The construction of a multi-million project, the Popua National Park in a swampy area at the Nuku’alofa waterfront continues to be an irritating issue in the Tongan Parliament, and also in the public arena. Despite the rhetoric in Parliament, it all boiled down to “hot-air” when the environmental report of MEIDECC was passed 19-0. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Friday 11 August 2017
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Noumea, New Caledonia
The Pacific region will soon benefit from a new Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science after an agreement was made by Pacific Island countries and territories at the Pacific Community’s (SPC) governing body conference, held in Noumea, New Caledonia late last month.

Friday 11 August 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A centre to fast-track the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in the private sector and business communities throughout the Pacific has started operating out of its base in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, this month.

Friday 11 August 2017
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United Kingdom
Former All Black centre, Charles Piutau (25) has reportedly signed a massive £2 Million deal with English club, Bristol Rugby. Piutau is reportedly set to become the world’s highest paid rugby player as soon as Dan Carter’s £1.2 Million per season salary expires next year with French blub, Racing.

Friday 11 August 2017
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Honiara, Solomon Islands
Meteorological services in the Pacific Islands have common challenges, and these will be discussed at the Fourth Pacific Meteorological Council Meeting in Honiara next week, says the chairman 'Ofa Fa'anunu, who is looking to strengthen communications services. By Linny Folau in Honiara

Friday 11 August 2017
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Honiara, Solomon Islands
Pacific journalists are in Honiara this week for a Pacific Islands Media and Meteorological Services Training in preparation for two important regional climate and weather meetings next week.

Friday 11 August 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 49-year-old man from Kolomotu’a has been charged with manslaughter over the death of Isileli Palu (36), who was electrocuted while erecting tents at a family home in Kolomotu’a last week. Isileli, a New Zealand citizen, was visiting Tonga to attend his father’s funeral and was helping out with preparations.

Friday 11 August 2017
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British Columbia, Canada
A Tongan basketball team, “IATE Tonga National Team”, have won their opening game of the 2017 World Indigenous Basketball Challenge in Canada. They defeated a Native Canadian team “Gitxsan”, 99 – 74.

Friday 11 August 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Police have arrested a man who works at the airport in relation to a complaint of theft filed by a passenger who arrived from New Zealand.

Thursday 10 August 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two U.S Army veterinarians who were in Tonga last month, evaluating the state of animal health care, urged Tongans to be more caring of their animals.

Thursday 10 August 2017
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Hagatna, Guam
The Governor of Guam, Eddie Baza Calvo, yesterday dismissed statements made by the North Korean military threatening to attack Guam with long range missiles. The threat was made by a North Korean Army Spokesman on Wednesday only hours after "fire and fury" threats were made by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Wednesday 9 August 2017
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Suva, Fiji
Identifying opportunities the blue economy offers to Pacific Islands, so that they can sustainably manage and conserve their ocean resources to benefit their economies and people will be the focus at the first high level Pacific Blue Economy Conference to be held on 23-24 August 2017, in Suva, Fiji.

Wednesday 9 August 2017
Istanbul, Turkey
Over the next few months, the 12,000 employees based at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California will complete their move to an extravagant new campus. The “spaceship,” covering 2.8 million square feet, includes a two-story yoga studio, running paths, and even revolutionary pizza boxes that keep slices crisp. One thing it does not have, however, is daycare. By Bharati Sadasivam
Tuesday 8 August 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
After some fiery exchanges in the House today, the Speaker called for Tonga's parliament to close until Monday August 14, giving government time to address concerns over their allegedly illegal collection of revenues from a levy and tax that was intended to raise funds for the Pacific Games. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tuesday 8 August 2017
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Leicester, United Kingdom
Valentino Mapapalangi has been signed by a UK club, the Leicester Tigers. The 24-year-old ‘Ikale Tahi back-rower has six caps for Tonga and has played professionally since 2015 for the Manawatu Turbos in New Zealand’s national provincial tournament.
