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  • Wednesday 23 February 2022 5:13pm
    55 new cases


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Discrepancies in breakdown of the COVID-19 (Omicron variant) figures for Tonga released by the government's press conferences, continue to confuse people who are trying to follow exactly how many cases have tested negative/recovered since recording of cases began on 29 October last year. There were 55 new cases reported today, and 57 new negatives/recoveries. It seems likely there were a further 60 recoveries that were not specified. One person has died from an underlying condition.
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  • Wednesday 23 February 2022 1:38pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Drinking water and food packages amounting to $55,000 pa'anga was donated by MBF Bank to assist those affected by last month's volcanic eruption and tsunami. The supplies will be distributed to the outer islands of Ha'apai, 'Atata and 'Eueiki by Tonga Red Cross.
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  • Wednesday 23 February 2022 1:29pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Tonga hosted the Commonwealth Games Queens Baton Relay from February 18 to 21 before it departed for Vanuatu today.
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  • Monday 21 February 2022 11:34pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : The Tongatapu end of Tonga’s international fibre optic cable was being pulled up today for splicing and is expected to come online by late tomorrow, Tuesday, 38 days after a large section was blown to bits by a volcanic eruption on Jan. 15.
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  • Monday 21 February 2022 8:04pm
    fishing boat


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Around small 200 boats were damaged by the tsunamis generated by the volcanic eruption on January 15, the Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni said on Friday, Feb. 17. The loss is significant since boats are essential for fishing to feed families, especially on remote islands, and for transporting villagers. The government is trying to get one or two boats replaced for each community.
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  • Monday 21 February 2022 7:28pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Fifteen people have been arrested and charged in relation to drugs busts at different locations, during the lockdown due to COVID-19. The largest amount was 5.15 grams of methamphetamine, seized at a home in Havelu.
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  • Monday 21 February 2022 7:16pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Kotoni Tafolo (17) was acquitted of possessing 0.21 grams of methamphetamine due to insufficient evidence, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.
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  • Monday 21 February 2022 7:05pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, 'Ohsumi', left Tonga last Wednesday, February 16, after delivering relief supplies to Tongatapu and the outer islands.
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  • Saturday 19 February 2022 1:11am
    PMO


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : The 24 new COVID-19 positive cases today, brings the total number of active cases in Tonga to 196, the Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni said this afternoon.
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  • Friday 18 February 2022 10:04pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : SpaceX has donated 50 VSAT terminals to Tonga. “They are sending over 50 terminals and we are looking at how we can best utilize it,” Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni said this afternoon.
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  • Thursday 17 February 2022 8:11pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Tonga now has 195 active COVID-19 cases, the Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni, confirmed today, Feb.17. New positive cases include 30 people in Hu’atolitoli Prison, 25 among the newly arrived repatriates in MIQ, and 14 in the community.
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  • Thursday 17 February 2022 4:53pm
    cocaine


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Transnational crime — specifically drug production and trafficking — is one of the most serious security issues facing the Pacific Islands region, warns a new Lowy Institute Analysis, released last night. Author, Jose Sousa-Santos says deportation policies of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States are exacerbating the problem. He dedicated his research paper to the late Ned Cook, a Salvation Army drugs counsellor, who was killed in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, in 2020.
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  • Wednesday 16 February 2022 9:15pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Seven thousand doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines funded by Japan through COVAX, arrived in Tonga yesterday, February 15.
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  • Wednesday 16 February 2022 9:11pm
    AHC


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Ultra-cold chain equipment to store Pfizer vaccines for long-term use arrived in Tonga on an Australian Defence Force humanitarian flight on Monday. The rollout of boosters is the key to protecting the people of Tonga from the current COVID-19 outbreak, Australia’s High Commissioner, HE Rachael Moore said
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  • Wednesday 16 February 2022 7:12pm
    HRH


    Canberra, Australia
    : All Tongans are appreciative of an outpouring of support received from the Australian community, including Tongan diaspora, and government, in response to the double catastrophe of the Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunamis on Jan. 15, says HRH Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku'aho in Canberra.
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  • Wednesday 16 February 2022 12:53pm


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Tonga has reduced its Managed Isolation Quarantine (MIQ) requirement for international arrivals from 21 to 15 days, for the 180 repatriates who arrived at Fua'amotu International Airport yesterday, on three flights coming from New Zealand, Fiji, and Australia.
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  • Wednesday 16 February 2022 1:24am


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : An 80 km stretch of Tonga's telecommunications cable, was blown to bits by a volcanic eruption on Jan. 15 and there's no easy fix. Short pieces have been recovered, while a major section of the fibre optic cable, about 55 km long, including an expensive repeater, has yet to be recovered from the seabed. By Mary Lyn Fonua
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  • Tuesday 15 February 2022 11:32pm
    Tonga PM


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Two Chinese navy ships, the Wuzhishan and the Chaganhu, arrived in Nuku'alofa today with over 1300 tons of restoration and relief items for Tonga, including 500 prefabricated houses. By Eleanor Gee.
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  • Tuesday 15 February 2022 2:58am


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Three repatriation flights are scheduled to arrive in Tonga today from New Zealand, Fiji, and Australia, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for MEIDECC, Hon. Poasi Tei, confirmed on Feb.14. They are the first passenger flights in over three months.
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  • Tuesday 15 February 2022 2:45am
    Poasi Tei


    Nuku'alofa, Tonga
    : Thirty of the 34 container of relief goods that arrived from New Zealand to support families have been distributed, confirmed the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for MEIDECC Hon Poasi Tei at a press conference today, February 14.
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