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Friday 14 January 2022 4:12pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A plume of ash, steam and gas has dispersed at a radius of 250km from the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai Volcano over Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Vava’u and Ha’apai group, Tonga Geological Services advised at 12:45pm today.
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Friday 14 January 2022 3:46pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : All Tongan civil servants were instructed to go home this afternoon as Government offices closed at 1:30pm, due to the tsunami warning in force. Authorities stressed that there is no need for any evacuation but people are advised to keep away from beaches and low lying coastlines in Tonga today, while increased activity at the Hunga volcano is monitored. Premium content -
Friday 14 January 2022 12:10pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A national tsunami marine warning issued at 11:12am today, Fri. January 14, warns Tongans to stay away from coastal areas, after swirling abnormal tides drew crowds to the Nuku'alofa waterfront in the last hour. Tonga Geological Services stated that a volcanic eruption is forecasted to be imminent with significant emission of ash into the atmosphere likely, following new activity observed at the Hunga volcano 65km off Nuku'alofa this morning. Tonga Police are currently patrolling the seafront Vuna Road in the capital and using loud speakers to ask people to move away to higher ground. Premium content -
Thursday 13 January 2022 6:39pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Two repatriation flights to Tonga from Vanuatu and Auckland, New Zealand, are scheduled to arrive at Fua'amotu Int'l Airport next week on January 18 and 20 respectively, the Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale 'Akau'ola confirmed this afternoon. Premium content -
Wednesday 12 January 2022 7:27pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A donation of over 200 computers and eight farm tractors from China’s Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, was handed over to the Tongan Government at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in Nuku’alofa this afternoon. Premium content -
Tuesday 11 January 2022 4:44pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga must prioritise its development goals “because there are never enough resources for all our needs,” King Tupou VI reminded the new parliament,on opening the 2022 session in Nuku'alofa, this morning, 11 January 2022. He said fuel and food are our two largest imports. By Pesi Fonua Premium content -
Monday 10 January 2022 8:50pm
Suva, Fiji : On the spot fines for failure to abide by COVID-19 protocols will be issued in Fiji to individuals and businesses, starting today, January 10. Fines include $250 for not wearing a face mask in required settings, Fiji’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport said. Premium content -
Monday 10 January 2022 8:45pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tropical Cyclone Cody (Cat.1) that developed from Tropical Depression TD03F this morning near Fiji, however, is not likely to pose a direct threat to Tonga island groups on its current track, Tonga Tonga Meteorological Services forecast today. -
Friday 7 January 2022 11:24pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Three months after a Tongan fisheries observer, Arnold Latu (37), was found dead on the fishing vessel Hsinlong I, in Tongan waters, on 27 September 2021, his mother today finally received the autopsy report that may help to bring some closure to the family who were puzzled by his death. Premium content -
Friday 7 January 2022 6:29pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : At least 69% of students have passed the 2021 Tonga National Form Seven Certificate (TNFSC), confirmed the Ministry of Education & Training on January 6. Out of 13 schools, only two, ‘Eua High School and Niuatoputapu High School, achieved an overall pass rate of 100%. Premium content -
Friday 7 January 2022 10:48am
Princeton, USA : Although there is much more to be learned about the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol, the motives of the participants can be gleaned from their own statements. Like far-right movements everywhere today, the insurrectionists were driven by resentment of others’ emancipation. Social transformation has been sufficient to generate the rage and resentment over phantom possessions that characterize far-right movements everywhere. An act of destruction can be used to prove that something is one’s own. For example, this psychological dynamic becomes horrendously clear when men decide to kill or disfigure the women they claim to love rather than tolerate their emancipation. By Jan-Werner Mueller. -
Thursday 6 January 2022 6:48pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Geologists consider that the eruption at Hunga volcano has died down, after observations yesterday, showed no signs of the volcanic plume for over 36 hours. Meanwhile, dark pumice floats have washed up on Tongatapu's north western beaches. Premium content -
Thursday 6 January 2022 6:08pm
Melbourne, Australia : There has been considerable opposition to vaccine mandates – opposition that I have argued is misguided. When both a vaccinated and an unvaccinated patient with COVID-19 need the last available bed in a hospital’s intensive care unit, the vaccinated patient should get it. Those who view vaccination as a “personal choice” need to bear personal responsibility for choosing to place others’ lives at risk. Exceptions should be made for those few patients for whom vaccination is contra-indicated on medical grounds, but not for those who claim to have religious grounds for exemption. No major religion rejects vaccination, and if some people choose to interpret their religious beliefs as requiring them to avoid vaccination, then they, and not others, should bear the consequences. By Peter Singer -
Thursday 6 January 2022 5:49pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Around 83% of eligible population in Tonga have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 up to January 6, the Ministry of Health confirmed today. (This represents about 60% of the total population.) Premium content -
Thursday 6 January 2022 5:03pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A tropical disturbance (TD03F) located north of Fiji, is forecast to track through southern Tonga waters (Tele-ki-Tokelau and Tele-ki-Tonga) by next Wednesday January 12, the Tonga Meteorological said today. The potential for this system to develop into a Tropical Cyclone in the next 24 to 48 hours is low. Premium content -
Wednesday 5 January 2022 8:35pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tomorrow's official opening of Tonga's new parliamentary session for 2022, by King Tupou VI, has been postponed to Tuesday January 11. From the House by Pesi Fonua Premium content -
Wednesday 5 January 2022 8:16pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Changes to requirements for incoming passengers to Tonga will be considered on Friday, ahead of the next repatriation flights to Tonga that were scheduled for January 18 and 20. MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u told Matangi Tonga today that recommendations are being prepared for the new Cabinet, including changes to the protocols for repatriations. Premium content -
Wednesday 5 January 2022 7:59pm
Suva, Fiji : Fiji is experiencing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases with 580 new cases over two days January 2-3. Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services confirmed community transmission of both the Omicron and Delta variants of the virus in the country. “As with previous variants, unvaccinated people are at higher risk of severe disease,” stated Fiji's Health Ministry. Fiji has recorded a total of 702 deaths from COVID-19. By Eleanor Gee. Premium content -
Tuesday 4 January 2022 10:26pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Seawater around the active Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano is contaminated with toxic volcanic discharge and local fishermen should assume that fish in these waters are poisonous, or poisonous if consumed, Tongan authorities warned today. -
Tuesday 4 January 2022 6:05pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A gale warning was upgraded to a storm warning for all Tongan coastal waters this afternoon. Extreme high tides at 8:50pm tonight are forecast to bring a heavy damaging swell up to 4-6 metres, driven by storm force winds, as an active trough continues to move slowly over Tonga. Premium content
