Since a Tonga Police Task Force investigation began in August last year, 11 people have been charged in relation to alleged fraudulent activities over the issuing of Tongan passports. While the investigation continues in Nuku'alofa, the Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell said today that public speculation was "unhelpful" and he called for restraint in public commentary through the media in order to allow a fair trial of the accused.
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Wednesday 27 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Wednesday 27 January 2016
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Neiafu, Vava'u
A 24-year-old man who allegedly shot two women seriously injuring one at Vaipua Bridge in Vava’u had allegedly used a .22 rifle during a confrontation with another group of people early Saturday morning, 23 January.

Wednesday 27 January 2016
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Los Angeles, California, USA
Hon. 'Etani Ha'amea Tuku'aho celebrated his 21st birthday on 15 January 2016, in North Hollywood, California, at a party hosted by HSH Prince Tungi.

Wednesday 27 January 2016
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Majuro, Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands parliament has elected Hilda Heine as the country's new president, becoming the first woman in Micronesia to head the government. -PACNEWS

Tuesday 26 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An announcement by government yesterday, 25 January, that it would create a 10 acres Va’epopua National Park in a former Nuku’alofa rubbish dump is yet another controversial decision that government has made during the past weeks - the park excludes the 500-600 year old Va’epopua Sia Heulupe archaeological site, the objective of a conservationist petition last year.

Tuesday 26 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Police Development Program sponsored by the New Zealand and Australian Governments had made major contributions to building community safety, Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell said at a farewell function for Supt. Siaosi Fanamanu a New Zealand Police advisor at Longolongo.

Tuesday 26 January 2016
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Auckland, New Zealand
A financial incentive may be offered to Tongans and others on Auckland’s State Housing waiting list to relocate to regional areas of New Zealand, the Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett has said this month. The proposal has been criticised by Jenny Salesa, MP for Manukau East, who says that Ms Bennett was targeting Pacific people in South Auckland.

Tuesday 26 January 2016
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Neiafu, Vava'u
A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged with injuring two women, one of them seriously, whom he allegedly shot during a confrontation at Vaipua Bridge in Vava'u, early Saturday morning, 23 January.

Tuesday 26 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is expected to receive 17 cruise ships this year.

Tuesday 26 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Quality handicrafts were showcased by local artists to Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho on 20 January at the True Tonga Inc. space at Small Industries Centre.

Sunday 24 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Ministry of Public Enterprises has started to introduce more shared directors for public enterprises, with some directors holding positions on three boards, as part of a push to reform Public Enterprises that started in 2015 to be completed this year. The Ministry’s CEO Sione ‘Akau‘ola said the shared directors process for the Transport sector started last week.

Sunday 24 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongatapu and Nuku’alofa escaped Tropical Cyclone Victor, which passed 115 km south of ‘Eua at 11:00pm Friday night, bringing only fresh winds to the capital.

Friday 22 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Police rescued a driver who was swept into the sea with his vehicle with three other men yesterday and have closed a causeway connecting Lifuka and Foa in Ha'apai today, due to high tidal waves as Tropical Cyclone Victor moves through southern Tongan waters. The men were understood to be missionaries from the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Ha'apai.

Friday 22 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Burglars stole Tongan handicrafts worth around $5,800 pa'anga from the Catholic Women's League centre at Ma'ufanga on Tuesday night, 19 January.

Friday 22 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Naming Tonga the fattest nation in the world, a BBC report on 18 January 2016 says that consumption of imported mutton lamb flaps is to blame. But Tonga’s Director of Health, Dr Siale 'Akau'ola, says that it’s the quantity of food Tongans eat that’s the main problem, not mutton lamb flaps.

Friday 22 January 2016
Fua'amotu, Tonga
Tropical Cyclone Victor (cat. 2) is forecast to bring damaging gale force winds of 65-75kph, squally seas and thunderstorms this evening to southern Tongan islands, according to the latest Tropical Cyclone Advisory #12 issued by the Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre at 1:30pm Friday 22 January 2016. The centre of the cyclone is expected to lie about 150km southeast of 'Eua at 7:00pm.
Thursday 21 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Tourism Recognition and Appreciation Awards were handed out today, Thursday 21 January, to recognise businesses and individuals who have made outstanding contributions towards the development of the tourism sector in Tonga. Photos by Linny Folau.

Thursday 21 January 2016
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Fua'amotu, Tonga
A Tropical Cyclone Warning remains in force for Ha'apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua as Severe Tropical Cyclone Victor (cat. 3) moves through southern Tongan waters. On its current track, Victor is expected to lie about 365km east of ‘Eua about midnight tonight. Fua'amotu TCWC forecasts south to southwest winds 45-55km/hr increasing to gale force winds of 75km/h and momentary gusts to 100km/hr in the next 18 to 24 hours, according to their advisory no. 5 issued at 4:10pm
Wednesday 20 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga and the rest of the Pacific Islands could tap into an online market to create thousands of jobs in IT-related industries according to a World Bank study released in December.

Wednesday 20 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The first 60 of 115 new water tanks were shipped today to Niuafo'ou by Tonga Red Cross to help people with their water storage during the current drought alert.
