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Monday 8 November 2021 4:32pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : At 11:59pm tonight Tonga's COVID restrictions will revert to what they were before last week's lockdown was imposed, the Prime Minister, Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa announced this afternoon. No community transmission has been detected since a returning passenger tested positive for COVID-19 in managed isolation quarantine in Nuku'alofa on October 27.
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Chief Justice dismisses $5.75 million damages claim by Lord Tu'ivakano in ‘Tongan passports scandal’Saturday 6 November 2021 6:22pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Nuku'alofa’s Supreme Court has thrown out a civil claim by a former Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano, who was seeking $5.75 million pa'anga in damages from the Kingdom of Tonga and others, for alleged “malicious prosecution” of him on criminal charges relating to the so-called ‘Tongan Passports Scandal’. The Lord Chief Justice M. H. Whitten, in a 78-page judgment on 28 October, set out details of how the passports investigation began and listed evidence collected by the Serious Organised Transnational Crime Unit. “I find that there was no evidence of any improper purpose for the prosecution. The only purpose discernible from the evidence was the proper invocation of the criminal law,” he stated. Premium content -
Friday 5 November 2021 7:22pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga’s first COVID-19 positive case is believed to be a historical case, after testing a weak positive today in a third test, “we believe he is not infectious,” said Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau‘ola this afternoon. By Eleanor Gee. Premium content -
Friday 5 November 2021 6:06pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Viliami Malolo Talivakaola (43) was fined for the importation without a licence of restricted goods, namely 14,928 .22 rounds of ammunition, and possession without a licence of 131 rounds of .22 ammunition, in Vava'u. Other charges relating to unlawful importation of six firearms, shipped from the United States, were dropped by the Crown. Premium content -
Friday 5 November 2021 11:41am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Three new caps, including former Wallaby Lopeti Timani (blindside), have been named in the ‘Ikale Tahi team to face England on Saturday, November 6, at Twickenham Stadium in south-west London. Premium content -
Thursday 4 November 2021 6:48pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A COVID-19 test result that is a “weak positive” is not a “false positive”, Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola confirmed to Matangi Tonga today. He was responding to public comments regarding the meaning of the test results from Tonga's first COVID case. Premium content -
Thursday 4 November 2021 4:58pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga will observe Constitution Day, November 4 with a public holiday on Monday, November 8, marking the 146th anniversary of the enactment of the Constitution by HM King Tupou I on November 4, 1875. Premium content -
Thursday 4 November 2021 4:52pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Halatu’u Palei was fined $450 pa’anga or in default face one month imprisonment for unlawful importation of a .22 rifle and 1080 rounds of ammunition seized in Vava'u. Premium content -
Thursday 4 November 2021 3:50pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The ‘Ikale Tahi has added nine experienced players to their squad this week in preparation for the game against England on Saturday November 6, at Twickenham Stadium. Premium content -
Thursday 4 November 2021 3:08pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : If you are thinking of posting a parcel to Granny in Tonga this Christmas – please think again - because your loved one now has to pay the cost of a sizeable turkey to collect a small personal package from the Post Office – even if it is a gift. Customers at the Post Office, along with some officers who have to enforce the rules, are not happy with the new procedures. This is not surprising, when very small personal gifts worth $10 can cost over $100 to clear and when times are extra tough. Customs says its because of their war on drugs. By Mary Lyn Fonua. -
Wednesday 3 November 2021 8:03pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The person who had tested a weak positive for COVID-19 after arriving on a repatriation flight from Christchurch last Wednesday night, has tested negative for COVID-19 in a second test done on Monday, November 1, confirmed Ministry of Health Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola today. “This is good for his family and this person because the weight of the country must have been on him and the difficulty that he was in.” Premium content -
Wednesday 3 November 2021 7:52pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : At this stage there is no delay to Tonga’s General Election scheduled for November 18, Electoral Commissioner, Pita Vuki, told Matangi Tonga today, despite the week-long lockdown on Tongatapu restricting candidates from campaigning. Premium content -
Wednesday 3 November 2021 7:48pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A 61-year-old man was sentenced to four and a half-years imprisonment for indecently assaulting a young girl in 2019. The Court recognised that sexual offending against children is taken particularly seriously. The judge said this was a pre-meditated offence and as such meant that the defendant is dangerous. Premium content -
Wednesday 3 November 2021 11:44am
New York, USA : New York Times reporting: When consumers in the United States and other wealthy nations shed their gas-fueled cars for more environmentally friendly, cleaner ones, like hybrids and electrics, they feel like they are being good citizens, helping to improve air quality and make the planet better. But where do their old cars go and what harm can they cause? Global dumping of substandard, ‘dirty’ cars in developing countries is a huge problem, that threatens health, safety and the environment, contributing significantly to air pollution and hindering efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. -
Tuesday 2 November 2021 10:49pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's COVID positive case in quarantine is not showing any symptoms, because the passenger was previously vaccinated, the Minister of Health said yesterday, as first doses of vaccines reached 89% of eligible adults in Tonga. So far 63% of the eligible adult population are fully vaccinated, after the weekend rush boosted the numbers. Premium content -
Tuesday 2 November 2021 8:12pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A COVID-19 lockdown hotline and vaccine hotline has been provided by the Tonga Prime Minister’s Office this afternoon for the public who wish to clarify information regarding the 7-days lockdown that started last night, November 1. -
Tuesday 2 November 2021 7:52pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Napole Ta’ufo’ou (45) was fined for unlawful importation of restricted goods; namely a .22 rifle and 400 rounds of ammunition packed in a drum from New Zealand. Hon. Mr Justice Cooper sentenced him on October 15 at the Supreme Court in Neiafu. Premium content -
Tuesday 2 November 2021 7:46pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A man who raped and indecently assaulted his young daughter in Vava’u has been sentenced to nine and a half-years imprisonment. "The pre-sentence report makes for troubling reading," said the judge. On the day of his trial, the accused changed his pleas to guilty on both the rape and indecent assault allegations, committed some years ago. Premium content -
Tuesday 2 November 2021 7:27pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A fund of USD$302,281 from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), approved for Tonga's Private Sector Readiness Programme, will help to build capacity within the private sector, mainly among micro, small and medium enterprises, to access GCF funds. “The private sector in Tonga is becoming increasingly aware of the threats posed by climate change but less informed about the impending risks and opportunities that climate change can present,” says the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Premium content -
Tuesday 2 November 2021 4:34pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Over $240 million pa'anga in revenues was collected by the Tonga Government for 2020/2021 - that's about $10 million pa'anga more than they had estimated for the year. During the year Consumption Tax compliance was the highest ever, while Tonga is importing more and consuming more domestically. Premium content
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Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.