Tonga has extended its State of Emergency for another month, from 8:00pm 11 June until 8:00pm 8 July, the Prime Minister Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa declared this afternoon. In addition, the CoViD-19 restrictions have been extended from 8:00pm 11 June to 8:00pm 8 July. The night curfew now starts an hour later at 12:00am to 5:00am, with mass gatherings still limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
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Thursday 11 June 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Thursday 11 June 2020
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Nauru
The President of Nauru and incoming Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific (USP) Lionel Aingimea says the institution has been hijacked after Vice Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia was stood down pending an investigation on allegations of material misconduct.
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Thursday 11 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Fua’amotu Government Primary School (GPS) classroom building upgraded by the Government of Japan was handed over by Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Kamada Yasuhiko, on 11 June.
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Thursday 11 June 2020
Vava'u, Tonga
Vava’u youth enjoyed returning to Quick Rip rugby games last Saturday, 6 June, at Toula Rugby field, after CoViD-19 restrictions had stopped all sports games in Tonga since the lockdown on 26 March.
Thursday 11 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s national rugby league men’s team will be based in Liverpool and St Helens during the Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) next year announced the tournament organisers today.
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Wednesday 10 June 2020
Auckland, New Zealand
Tongan seasonal workers grounded in Australia are making use of relaxed regulations in the country, finding new jobs with different farms and employers. By Finau Fonua.
Wednesday 10 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 44-year-old man has been jailed for two-years after he was found guilty on two counts of indecent assault of a teenage girl in 2018. "With the possible exception of the relatively recent rise in serious drug related offences, sexual offences, especially against the young are one of the most damaging ills to the moral and legal integrity of any society," said the Chief Justice.
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Wednesday 10 June 2020
Suva, Fiji
Professor Derrick Armstrong has been appointed to act as University of the South Pacific Vice-Chancellor and President, the university announced yesterday, while an independent investigation is held into into alleged material misconduct of the suspended USP VC and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Wednesday 10 June 2020
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Apia, Samoa
Two young Tongan students are continuing their training at the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) in Samoa, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Wednesday 10 June 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Australian photographer, Jasmine Carey has won USD$120,000 in the HIPA International Photography Award for her amazing photo of a humpback whale mother sleeping beside her two-week-old calf, in Vava’u, Tonga. The rich award attracts photographic entries from all over the world. Jasmine's winning image on the theme ‘Water’ has gained worldwide publicity, raising Tonga’s profile for whale watching and swimming activities. By Eleanor Gee.
Wednesday 10 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is set to face Samoa next year to qualify directly for the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2023 in France after World Rugby announced details of the qualification process on 8 June.
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Wednesday 10 June 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new Tonga National Security of Information Office that is currently being set up by the Prime Minister's Office, was questioned during debate on the $4.48 million budget allocation of the PMO for 2021 that was passed by the Committee of the Whole House in parliament yesterday, Tuesday 9 June. From the House by Pesi Fonua.
Tuesday 9 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Crown has been ordered by the Lord Chief Justice to return more than $30,000 pa’anga in cash to 13 Chinese people. The cash was forfeited when they were arrested during a police raid aimed at illegal gambling in 2019.
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Tuesday 9 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Around 48% of businesses surveyed in Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, expect to start returning to business as usual in 2021 or later, according to the Pacific Trade Investment (PTI). Meanwhile 50% of businesses surveyed in Tonga are confident of surviving after CoViD-19.
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Friday 5 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
After the Tongan Parliament was, for seven days up to Thursday June 4, locked in a tense debate over the preliminary Budget Statement, the House introduced the National Budget and passed the first three vote allocations without any debate at all. The House approved $13.77 million for the running of the Legislative Assembly but the Speaker complained that they had not approved his request for funds to fix the leaking roof. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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Friday 5 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Escherichia coli (E coli) bacteria has been discovered during random tests of water supplies to homes in Hihifo, Tongatapu, during a survey that was completed this week. More testing is needed to confirm the finding. As World Environment Day is celebrated today, 5 June, it raises awareness on the improvements that Tonga's sanitation system requires.
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Friday 5 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A public holiday will be observed on Monday, June 8 to commemorate Emancipation Day, the day Tonga’s first Christian King, Siaosi Tupou I officially abolished serfdom in Tonga in 1862.
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Friday 5 June 2020
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Apia, Samoa
As the Pacific Islands consider ways to build back economies severely struck by the CoViD-19 crisis, the environmental impacts faced worldwide highlight the opportunity we now have in our hands to build back a ‘Bluer Pacific’, said Kosi Latu, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) on World Environment Day.
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Friday 5 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The publication of a new electronic navigational charts for Tonga is expected to bring economic and maritime safety benefits to the country. The new charts created used hydrographic surveys of the undersea world around Tonga, replace charts from the 1800s
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Thursday 4 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Australian Government is supporting an initiative to ensure humanitarian and medical supplies are delivered to Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, to mitigate the impacts of CoViD-19.
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