Hon. Prime Minister: Does my country, Tonga, expect me to break the United States law and be punished by it, because our Tongan government can’t even open up their borders even for a limited period of time for their citizens who are stuck worldwide to come home? What the Tongan country expects me to do, after my visa expires, especially when the US government have made no exceptions to allow us international students to stay in the US longer than we’re supposed to. - Salaetau Tuita
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Wednesday 20 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A professional development program for teachers established by the Ministry of Education earlier this year is helping to rebuild Tonga’s education system, aligning it to local, regional and international codes of teaching standards and achieving better learning outcomes.

Wednesday 20 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Medical supplies from China, including infrared thermometers, personal protective equipment, and hand sanitizer gels, were donated to the Ministry of Health on May 19, at Vaiola Hospital, to help Tonga prepare for CoViD-19.

Wednesday 20 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Parliamentary debate was dominated by the Prime Minister's proposition for all members of parliament to contribute 20 percent of their annual salaries to government in its effort to counter the COVID-19, in parliament's session yesterday, 19 May 2020.

Tuesday 19 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Preparations get Tonga ready to combat CoViD-19 should it reach the kingdom, are progressing slowly. The Ministry of Health reported delays in the construction of a specialised CoVid-19 testing laboratory, and they are waiting more protective gowns and overalls, and an oxygen generator. The Ministry is still working on a quarantine policy for future incoming passengers.

Tuesday 19 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Crown has been ordered by the Lord Chief Justice to return more than $10,000 in cash to a local Chinese business. The cash was forfeited when he was charged for false declaration, at Fua'amotu International Airport in 2018.

Tuesday 19 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A murder charge has been laid against a 19-year-old youth in the death of Ned Cook (67) who was allegedly assaulted on Friday night, May 15 on Vuna Road, Ma'ufanga.

Monday 18 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s National Budget of $589.6 million pa’anga for 2020-2021 is the biggest deficit ever of $60 million, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Tevita Lavemaau told parliament this morning. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Monday 18 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Fakafanua has been elected President of the new Tonga Ma’a Tonga Rugby League (TMTRL) Board, and Semisi Sika elected Chair during a general meeting on Friday, 15 May, at ‘Utulau Rugby Club.

Monday 18 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The prices of petrol, kerosene and diesel have fallen largely in new prices effective on May 18.

Monday 18 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 19-year-old youth has been arrested in relation to the death of The Salvation Army Team Leader, Ned Cook, who was allegedly assaulted on Friday night, May 15 on Vuna Road, Ma'ufanga.

Monday 18 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Faced with a deficit National Budget for 2020-21, the salaries of Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament will be reduced by 20%, to help Tonga to counter the impact of the COVID-19, the Prime Minister told parliament this morning.

Monday 18 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Salvation Army's Team Leader Ned Cook, (67) died at Vaiola Hospital on Sunday morning, May 17 from injuries, after he was allegedly assaulted at Ma‘ufanga, Nuku'alofa, on Friday night, May 15.

Saturday 16 May 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
On November 2, 1866, the Reverend Shirley Waldemar Baker, missionary and eventual Prime Minister of Tonga, gave a lecture in which he describes the last traditional God House in Ha'apai....“I have stood in the old Fale Mee at Haano, which is the last fale otua (temple of their god) still standing in Haapai. At the foot of the principal post there is buried a man, who was said to be the best singer in all Tonga. He was offered a living sacrifice to the god at the building of the temple, as an act of dedication.” By David V. Burley.
Friday 15 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa Tonga
Tonga’s State of Emergency that was due to end today at 8:00pm 17 May has been extended until 8.00pm 11 June 2020, the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa declared this afternoon 15 May 2020. The night curfew now starts at 10:00pm. Gyms and sporting events are permitted and some other restrictions have been eased, while the border remains closed.

Friday 15 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
No-fishing areas established around Tonga are showing they are helping coral reef ecosystems to recover, says the Special Management Area Report 2020, compiled by the Ministry of Fisheries in partnership with Australia's James Cook University recently. Damaged reefs might take 20 years for full recovery.

Friday 15 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Community Health Centre at Houma upgraded by the Government of Japan was handed over on May 15.

Friday 15 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A ‘My Body My Rights’ program aimed at empowering girls by increasing their understanding of their rights and control over their bodies and lives began in Tongatapu this week.

Friday 15 May 2020
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Washington DC, USA
Tonga will receive US$8.4m from the World Bank with US$5.5m allocated to improve management of its public finances, boost resilience to the effects of climate change, and provide better access to skills training for labor opportunities domestically and internationally, and US$2.9m will go towards Tonga's CoViD-19 response.

Friday 15 May 2020
Washington DC, USA
The Seychelles, a string of 115 verdant, rocky islands in the Indian Ocean, recently announced – in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic – that it would protect 30% of its glittering turquoise waters from commercial use - made possible through an innovative debt-swap deal – that will also bolster the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of the Seychellois, who number under 100,000 but cater to more than 350,000 visitors each year. - By Enric Sala