A unidentified human head, discovered wrapped in a sack and anchored to the ocean floor, near the Yellow Pier in Nuku’alofa, is no longer a suspected homicide, say Tonga Police, who are now investigating the possibility that it was taken from a grave by people holding supernatural beliefs.
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Results for 2023
Tuesday 16 January 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Monday 8 January 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Illegal dumping of waste increased on Tongatapu when the Waste Authority closed during the holidays, causing many complaints circling around social media of rubbish bags that were dumped on the roadside.
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Wednesday 3 January 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Travellers to and from the outer islands are relying heavily on the inter-island ferries MV ‘Otuanga’ofa and MV Taka-i-Pomana this holiday season, to travel between Tongatapu, Vava'u, and Ha'apai, after a disruption to the domestic air services on 8 December, when the Lulutai Airlines Saab 340 aircraft was damaged while taxing after landing at Fua'amotu Airport.
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Friday 29 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Over 100 VHF digital portable transceivers were set up for Tonga Police, by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), through Tonga-Australia Policing Partnership (TAPP), to build the radio communication network capability of Tonga Police.
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Friday 29 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new station at Ha'asini, for the Police and the Fire & Emergency Services, was officially opened by the Prime Minister and Minister for Police Fire Services and Emergency Services, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, on 28 December.
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Friday 29 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An escaped prisoner Vaha Afemeimo’unga, was arrested at about 7:00 am today, 29 December, by His Majesty’s Prisons officers, at Fatai, Tongatapu, after being on the run for three days.
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Thursday 28 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Cash assistance of $160,000 pa’anga was donated by the Vaiola Hospital Board of Visitors Charity for distribution to about 400 Vaiola Hospital staff who are working during the current holiday season.
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Thursday 28 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A search is underway on Tongatapu for an escaped prisoner Vaha Afemeimo'unga (41). His Majesty’s Prisons stated this afternoon that the prisoner escaped from Hu’atolitoli Prison at about 11:00 am on Tuesday, 26 December.
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Wednesday 27 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Police is increasing the number of driving instructors to help recruits become competent drivers. A one-week Driver Training Instructor's Course for ten police members, was successfully completed on Friday, 22 December.
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Tuesday 26 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three community-based aged care centers will be built in Tongatapu with one in Vava'u, under a new USD $16.18 million project signed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Tonga Integrated Aged Care Project will help provide safe, high-quality integrated health and care services for older people and their caregivers.
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Friday 22 December 2023
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two merging magma chambers caused the massive eruption of the Hunga-Tonga Hunga Hunga-Ha’apai underwater volcano in 2022, scientists have found in a recent study. Researchers discovered three magma chambers, two of which fed the record-shattering eruption, they say.
Wednesday 20 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A group of Vaiola nurses led by Matron Akesa Halatanu, protested at the Royal Palace Office this morning where they presented a petition to increase their salary. This afternoon, the Minister of Health Hon. Dr Saia Piukala, told a media briefing that he was not aware of they had gone to the Palace, and that it took him by a surprise, after he and the CEO had met with the nurses yesterday about their concerns.
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Tuesday 19 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Ambassador-designate of Japan to Tonga, HE Mr. Hisao Inagaki arrived in Nuku’alofa on Friday, 15 December 2023. Mr. Inagaki will be the sixth resident Ambassador of Japan to Tonga.
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Friday 15 December 2023
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Dubai, UAE
“Whilst we didn’t turn the page on the fossil fuel era in Dubai, this outcome is the beginning of the end,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell in his closing speech, as COP28 concluded, on Tuesday, 12 December, at Expo City Dubai.
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Friday 15 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Red Cross Society (TRCS) this morning donated cash assistance of $500,000 for 632 families who were affected by the 2022 HTHH tsunami, in Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai, in partnership with the Tonga Development Bank (TDB) who will distribute the cash assistance.
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Thursday 14 December 2023
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Dubai, UAE
Azerbaijan is set to host next year’s COP29 Climate Change Summit, after winning backing from other Eastern European nations.
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Thursday 14 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku acknowledged the multi-million fundings committed by the international community at the Conference of the Parties Climate Summit (COP28), at Expo City Dubai. On his return to Tonga, he said the inclusion of Education and Health on the COP agenda, are two important sectors in Tonga that are heavily impact by climate change.
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Monday 11 December 2023
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Dubai, UAE
“If we want to save lives now, and keep 1.5 within reach, the highest ambition COP outcomes must stay front and centre in these negotiations,” the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said at a media briefing at COP28 Climate Sumit, in Dubai, UAE, on Friday 8 December.
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Friday 8 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Lulutai Airline's Saab 340 aircraft slid off the taxiway at the Fua'amotu Domestic Airport with a full load passengers, early this afternoon, hitting a low concrete wall, after it earlier aborted landing at the Lupepau’u Airport in Vava’u. Early reports say there were no injuries, but passengers were screaming after a landing gear collapsed. One man was carried off the plane by responding soldiers.
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Friday 8 December 2023
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The issues of displacement and forced migration, as impacts of climate change, are real concerns for vulnerable developing countries, including Tonga and small Pacific islands, Tonga’s Speaker of Parliament Lord Fakafanua, told a High Level Segment for Speakers, on 6 December, on the side of the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, UAE.
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