November, 2017
The 19th National Congress Charts the Course for China’s Future Development
By His Excellency Wang Baodong – Chinese Ambassador to Tonga NUKU’ALOFA – November 27: 2.40pm (Chinese Embassy): The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held in Beijing from October 18 to 24, 2017.
Proud, loud and unbowed

By Laura Tupou, Reporter @LauraTupou laura.tupou@radionz.co.nz Analysis – After nearly four weeks of hype and excitement, Ōtāhuhu can sleep knowing history was made. Every Tonga game saw stadiums filled with a sea of red Photo: RNZ / Laura Tupou AUCKLAND, New Zealand – November 27: 10am (RNZI): We’re a rugby nation in New Zealand with the credentials to prove it, but when the Tongan team beat Scotland in their first rugby league World Cup game in Cairns, the league movement awoke.
Valentine Holmes scores six as Kangaroos thrash Fiji at World Cup

BRISBANE, Australia – November 26: 10am (Nuku’alofa Times/AAP). Less than a week after becoming the first Kangaroo to score five tries in a Test, Valentine Holmes has broken his record with six in Australia’s 54-6 Rugby League World Cup semi-final rout of Fiji on Friday night.
Tonga’s new St George Palace to go solar

Saint George Palace to install solar panels: Symbolic of country’s aim to reach 50% renewable energy by 2020 NUKU’ALOFA – November 27: 9.35am (Nuku’alofa Times): The newly built St George’s Palace building in central Nuku’alofa will become a solar powered structure soon.
Culture: driver of sustainable development and economic growth

SUVA, Fiji – November 24: 9am (PIFS Media): In the Pacific region, culture is engrained in the social fabric of our nations where human creativity, traditional skills and practices are the norm. Such practices, both formal and informal, are the basis of income-generation for many traditional and non-traditional artisans, producers and performers.
Fiji stun New Zealand in quarter-finals

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – November 18: 11pm (ABC): Fiji have ended a miserable New Zealand run at the Rugby League World Cup, downing the Kiwis 4-2 in a gritty quarter-final upset in Wellington.
Mate Ma’a Tonga beats Lebanon to secure semifinal spot

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand – November 18: 10pm (BBC): Tonga survived a major scare against Lebanon in a thrilling match in Christchurch to reach the last four of the Rugby League World Cup.
Pacific journalists network launched as part of COP23 success story

BONN, Germany – November 18: 12.40pm (UN Climate Change News/Nuku’alofa Times): The launch of a new network for Pacific environmental journalists was announced this morning by the United Nations as part of the COP23 achievements here in Bonn, following talks of the last two weeks.
Airport turns Tongan fans away

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – November 17: 10pm (RNZI): Tongan rugby league fans say Auckland Airport’s ban on welcoming players back to the city for the world cup semi-finals is racial discrimination.
Mate Ma’a Tonga fired up for first quarterfinal clash

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – November 17: 9.25pm (NZN): Tonga are riding the crest of a Rugby League World Cup wave and they’re not ready to wipe out just yet.