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A COVID-19 test result that is a “weak positive” is not a “false positive”, Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola confirmed to Matangi Tonga today. He was responding to public comments regarding the meaning of the test results from Tonga's first COVID case.

Halatu’u Palei was fined $450 pa’anga or in default face one month imprisonment for unlawful importation of a .22 rifle and 1080 rounds of ammunition seized in Vava'u.

If you are thinking of posting a parcel to Granny in Tonga this Christmas – please think again - because your loved one now has to pay the cost of a sizeable turkey to collect a small personal package from the Post Office – even if it is a gift. Customers at the Post Office, along with some officers who have to enforce the rules, are not happy with the new procedures. This is not surprising, when very small personal gifts worth $10 can cost over $100 to clear and when times are extra tough. Customs says its because of their war on drugs. By Mary Lyn Fonua.

At this stage there is no delay to Tonga’s General Election scheduled for November 18, Electoral Commissioner, Pita Vuki, told Matangi Tonga today, despite the week-long lockdown on Tongatapu restricting candidates from campaigning.

New York Times reporting: When consumers in the United States and other wealthy nations shed their gas-fueled cars for more environmentally friendly, cleaner ones, like hybrids and electrics, they feel like they are being good citizens, helping to improve air quality and make the planet better. But where do their old cars go and what harm can they cause? Global dumping of substandard, ‘dirty’ cars in developing countries is a huge problem, that threatens health, safety and the environment, contributing significantly to air pollution and hindering efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

A COVID-19 lockdown hotline and vaccine hotline has been provided by the Tonga Prime Minister’s Office this afternoon for the public who wish to clarify information regarding the 7-days lockdown that started last night, November 1.

A man who raped and indecently assaulted his young daughter in Vava’u has been sentenced to nine and a half-years imprisonment. "The pre-sentence report makes for troubling reading," said the judge. On the day of his trial, the accused changed his pleas to guilty on both the rape and indecent assault allegations, committed some years ago.

Over $240 million pa'anga in revenues was collected by the Tonga Government for 2020/2021 - that's about $10 million pa'anga more than they had estimated for the year. During the year Consumption Tax compliance was the highest ever, while Tonga is importing more and consuming more domestically.

A lockdown for the island of Tongatapu will start at one minute past midnight, tonight (12:01am November 2) with stricter social distancing measures enforced to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19. It means that everyone must stay at home, except for services that are designated essential. Meanwhile, no community transmission of COVID-19 has been detected.