Results for Tonga

Siaosi Helu (36) was sentenced today to one-year imprisonment for possession 0.04 gram of methamphetamine found hidden inside his underpants, during a routine body search by Police, when arrested for public drunkenness at Fasi.

The death of a 22-year-old man, whose body was found at a home in Houma, Tongatapu on October 19, has been ruled a suicide.

Tonga's Ministry of Health is in a race against time to inoculate 13,738 teenagers with Pfizer before the precious vaccines expire in 28 days time. Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau‘ola urges parents to ensure their 12 to 17-year-old children are inoculated “or they will miss out”.

At least 1,090 students aged 12 to 17 years-old have been vaccinated with the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to date, since the roll-out to schools in Tongatapu began on October 21, confirmed the Ministry of Health today.

Australian telecommunications company, Telstra, announced today it will acquire Digicel Pacific for US$1.6 billion, in partnership with the Australian Government. Telstra plans to retain the same Digicel brand and the current Digicel Pacific management team will continue to lead the business.

Penisimani Angilau received a suspended sentence today for causing serious bodily harm to another man, when he hit him with a piece of timber fracturing his left hand during an argument at a petrol station at Vaini. The Supreme Court judge ruled this as a case of special circumstances because the offender was provoked when the complainant jumped into the queue at the petrol station and refused to back off.

After the Prime Minister's Office announced yesterday the Government's approval for a multi-million dollar redevelopment of the Lupepau'u Airport, Vava'u, citing a private proposal involving Tongan nationals and foreign investment, they have further clarified today that a full proposal has not been received. Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Edgar Cocker told Matangi Tonga this morning that their press release did not mean that Government had granted approval for a recently formed company Raw Mana Ltd. to undertake the project.

Around 36 athletes will take part in the Tonga Basketball play.fiba3x3 Tournament, sponsored by Digicel Tonga, starting on Friday, October 22 at the ‘Atele Indoor Stadium.

The repatriates from Pago Pago and Apia were released from quarantine in Tonga last week after they all tested negative for COVID-19 in their last round of tests, confirmed Ministry of Health’s Dr ‘Ofa Tukia today.