Pacific Islands urgently need a Pacific-wide ban on asbestos and other toxic substances to protect our islands from being used as a dumping ground for products that other countries around the world have banned, SPREP's Director General, Mr Kosi Latu has warned, saying "The Rotterdam Convention has failed Small Island Developing States."
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Wednesday 10 May 2017
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Geneva, Switzerland

Wednesday 10 May 2017
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Fua'amotu, Tonga
A Tropical Cyclone warning remains in force for the Niuas today, Wednesday 10 May 2017 as Tropical Cyclone Ella (category 1) is expected to lie north-northwest of Niuafo'ou tonight.

Wednesday 10 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Heamani Lopeti who was charged with armed robbery using a pistol at a Chinese store in Longlongo on March 25, 2016 got off the charges after identification evidence was rejected in the courts. The Judge expressed concern over Tonga Police's failure to adopt proper identification procedure, saying that it was at best "careless".

Wednesday 10 May 2017
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Cambelltown, Australia
Mate Ma’a Tonga front-rower, Leilani Latu, has opened-up about the tears he shed while waiting in the entrance tunnel of Cambelltown Stadium and during the Tongan national anthem at last weekend’s Pacific Test thriller in Australia.

Wednesday 10 May 2017
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Cardiff, Wales
Wales has announced its 32-man squad to play Tonga and Samoa next month. Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts (30) will captain the Welsh side under the direction of head coach Robin McBryde. Wales is scheduled to play Tonga on Friday 16th June at Eden Park in Auckland.

Wednesday 10 May 2017
Paris, France
Emmanuel Macron’s victory in the French presidential election [May 7] could be mistaken for the plot of a novel that no publisher would accept. And then the one who finally does, finds himself with a runaway bestseller ... a young man, practically unknown a year ago, accedes to the presidency of France. ...Now begins the open combat between those who believe that freedom lives and those who have already buried it. Bernard-Henri Lévy
Tuesday 9 May 2017
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tropical Cyclone Warning remains in force for the Niuas tonight. On its current track Tropical Cyclone Ella is expected to lie about 90km north of Niuatoputapu 12 midnight tonight. Tropical Cyclone Advisory Number 2 for Tonga on Tropical Cyclone Ella. Issued from the Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre at 7:00pm 9 May 2017
Tuesday 9 May 2017
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California, USA
California State University Northridge (CSUN) has awarded a rare scholarly recognition (Wolfson Scholar) to a 21-year-old Tongan student, Angelina Finau from Los Angeles. To be a Wolfson Scholar, a CSUN student must not only have an exceptional academic record, but also must have made a significant contribution to the University and community.

Tuesday 9 May 2017
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A tropical cyclone warning is now in force for the Niuas, issued by Tonga's Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone warning centre this afternoon as a tropical depression 22f was located about 145km northeast of Niuatoputapu or 319km east of Niuafo'ou at 1:00pm today. The system is moving west-northwest at about 7 knots (14km/hr) and it is likely to become a tropical cyclone in the next 12-24 hours.
Tuesday 9 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Eight men remain in custody follow their arrests in connection with the seizure of a large haul of cannabis plants and seeds on 4 May, at six different bush allotments in Fou’i and Matahau.

Tuesday 9 May 2017
Ripton, Vermont
Last month, the United Kingdom enjoyed its first full day without the need for coal power since the Industrial Revolution began. That’s remarkable news – and a sign of the future to come as the country that began humanity’s centuries-long romance with burning black rocks is now moving on. Just as the fax gave way to email and whale oil gave way to kerosene, so is coal giving way to cleaner forms of energy. And that handover will happen faster – perhaps fast enough to let us at least slow down the pace of climate change – if the massive and mighty insurance industry would play its part.
Tuesday 9 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Billfish Bar and Restaurant celebrated its 22nd birthday on May 4.

Monday 8 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's annual 'Fakame' or Children’s Sunday was held on 7 May with children beautifully dressed in their colourful Sunday best to perform rituals, recite bible verses and hymns in Free Wesleyan Churches throughout Tonga.

Monday 8 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Rizvi Jurangpathy whose employment contract was terminated by a unanimous decision of a Combined ICT Board during a meeting on 21 April, has filed a civil action against the Tonga Communications Corporation.

Monday 8 May 2017
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San Francisco, USA.
Tongan-raised Pita Taumoepenu of Pea, has been drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. He is among three football players of Tongan descent who were selected in the 2017 NFL Draft on April 27 – 29. The two others are Stevie Tuikolovatu from Utah and Sam Tevi from Texas.

Sunday 7 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga needs to act fast in creating a plan to take advantage of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations PACER Plus, between 12 Pacific Island Countries, plus Australia and New Zealand, said ‘Anisi Kulu Bloomfield, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Tonga’s Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Trade.

Sunday 7 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Rugby League's Mate Ma’a Tonga have pulled off a stunning victory against Fiji Bati with a match-winning try scored by Leilani Latu only three minutes before full-time in a Pacific Test in Campbelltown, NSW, on Saturday. Tonga defeated Fiji 26 – 24.

Friday 5 May 2017
Oxford, United Kingdom
Artificial Intelligence is the next technological frontier, and it has the potential to make or break the world order. The AI revolution could pull the “bottom billion” out of poverty and transform dysfunctional institutions, or it could entrench injustice and increase inequality. The outcome will depend on how we manage the coming changes.
Friday 5 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Twenty-year-old Sione Vea of the Toloa Old Boys Rugby Club is the only domestic player in the Mate Ma’a Tonga team to face Fiji tomorrow. His selection is part of a development resolve to ensure domestic representation in the Mate Ma’a Tonga team. If Tonga were to dominate Fiji Bati, Sione Vea could get some playing time and a chance to shine.

Friday 5 May 2017
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Auckland. New Zealand
Tomorrow evening, Manu Vatuvei will put on the red jersey of Tonga for the first time and represent the country of his heritage. Vatuvei’s decision to play for the Mate Ma’a Tonga is a long time coming for many Tongan fans, who eagerly await to see him perform the Sipi Tau against the Fiji Bati.
