“We have the money let's get on with the games!” Lord Feleti Sevele told Tongan media on Friday, 19 May. He is challenging "what was the basis of government's withdrawal to host the games", when government had not yet prepared a budget for the games?
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Sunday 21 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Sunday 21 May 2017
Berlin, Germany
If there are any geologists in millions of years, they will easily be able to pinpoint the start of the so-called Anthropocene – the geological age during which humans became the dominant influence on our planet’s environment. Wherever they look, they will find clear evidence of its onset, in the form of plastic waste. Plastic is a key material in the world economy...But plastic already is creating massive global environmental, economic, and social problems.
Friday 19 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A "Let Girls be Girls!" campaign aimed to stop a growing trend of child marriage in Tonga, was launched on Friday, May 19. The campaign seeks to repeal Tonga's law on marriage and lift the legal age to 18-years and over. Currently the law allows children from the ages of 15-17 to marry with parental consent.

Friday 19 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nanise Fifita has filed an application for judicial review against Government over her dismissal and termination of her renewed contract as CEO of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission on 1 May.

Thursday 18 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga will be the first country in the Pacific region to have a network that can remotely read both water and electricity meters, to be installed at a cost of $8.94 million pa'anga..

Thursday 18 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
$55 million pa'anga in aid funds from China, as well as $2 million from Australia and $1.9 million from New Zealand to improve and build new sporting facilities in Tonga will be honoured, even though the government has withdrawn from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games, and Papua New Guinea has pulled its support.

Thursday 18 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siotame Drew Havea of Kolomotu’a has recently received the Harris Wofford Global Citizen Award from the United States Peace Corps.

Thursday 18 May 2017
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Oakland, California
A Tongan resident of Oakland City in California and mother of 13 children, Malia Lusia Latu Saulala, has been announced “Mother of the Year” by the local government’s Oakland Parks & Recreation Office.

Wednesday 17 May 2017
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Cabinet has ordered the cancellation of Tonga’s hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games today as the contract was between government and the Pacific Games Council. They stated that the reason for cancelling the hosting of the Games in Tonga is based on an old IMF Report in 2013 where it is reported that Tonga’s deficit will widen considerably.
Wednesday 17 May 2017
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Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has pulled its support for the hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games in Tonga after Prime Minister, Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva announced the Kingdom’s withdrawal. PNG Sports and APEC Minister, Justin Tkatchenko told PNG Post Courier media that he was not surprised to hear that Tonga is pulling out of hosting the games.

Wednesday 17 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In an action brought by a creditor who is seeking to recover $290,000 from a deregistered public enterprise, Tonga Investments Limited (TIL), Tonga’s Supreme Court ordered its restoration to the register of companies on 26 April 2017.

Wednesday 17 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 17-year-old boy is in Vaiola Hospital after he was shot on his upper right breast at a bush allotment in Taoa, Vava’u allegedly by an anonymous shooter, who has not been located.

Tuesday 16 May 2017
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Auckland, New Zealand
The Pacific Games Council CEO Laurent Cassier, told Matangi Tonga this evening that “as far as we are concerned the projects are still ongoing”. The Pacific Games Council has not received any confirmation from the Tongan Government regarding the cancellation of their hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games as stated by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva during a radio interview in New Zealand two days ago.

Tuesday 16 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga government does not have the right to cancel hosting the 2019 Pacific Games, said Lord Sevele, chairman and CEO of the 2019 Pacific Games Organising Committee. “It is a prerogative of the Tonga Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee TASANOC and the Pacific Games Council, not Government (Tongan Government),” he told Matangi Tonga today.

Tuesday 16 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Forecasts of drier conditions in the second half of 2017 may lead to the development of an El Nino climate cycle according to the Department of Meteorology (MET). However, although there is a 50% chance of El Nino developing, the El Nino - South Oscillation (ENSO) remains neutral.

Tuesday 16 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Rosamond Bing is the new Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, starting on Monday, May 15.

Tuesday 16 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Government of Tonga has purchased the Vava’u Market from Pacific Property Ltd. for a total of $3.335 million pa'anga (CT inclusive), made out in a combination of cash payment and tax credits.

Tuesday 16 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Petroleum prices will increase starting tomorrow, 16 May 2017 as approved by the Tonga Competent Authority for May – June 2016. The retail prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene will increase by 5.60 seniti/litre, 3.64 seniti/litre and 4.54 seniti/litre respectively.

Tuesday 16 May 2017
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Utah, USA
Utah Police have arrested Sione Vaitai (26), of Tongan descent, who has been on the run from Police since Friday after he allegedly stabbed his Father and Sister with a kitchen knife at their home in Sandy City, Utah. The victims were taken to hospital in critical condition but are now stabilized.

Monday 15 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva has, in an abrupt turnaround, said in a radio interview today that Tonga will not host the Pacific Games 2019. His statement comes just days after confirming last week that the games were on.
