A 44-year-old man who was sentenced to 16-months imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 2.21 grams of methamphatamine, got his sentence fully suspended, and identity suppressed. He was a police informant who assisted in the seizure of other illicit drugs. The Crown counsel denied that there was any agreement for immunity for prosecution in return for the defendant's assistance
You are here
Results for Tonga
Monday 21 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Premium content
Monday 21 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ninety people, including 73 repatriates and health staff in-quarantine at the Makeke Camp on Friday were relocated to the Kupesi Hotel at Fua'amotu as a precaution, while Tropical Cyclone Yasa was approaching Tongan waters, MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u said today. Apart from minor crop damage, Tonga remained unscathed by TC Yasa.
Premium content
Monday 21 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
One hundred and sixty-two seasonal workers left Tonga for Brisbane, Australia today on a chartered flight, confirmed Paul Karalus of Tonga’s Air Terminal Services this afternoon.
Premium content
Monday 21 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The nine-months long, national curfews in Tonga have been lifted for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and shortened for National Prayer Week 2021. The Declaration of a State of Emergency has been extended from 8:00pm today 21 December 2020 to 8:00pm 18 January 2021, including the National CoViD-19 Restrictions with changes.
Premium content
Sunday 20 December 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Center was deactivated at 1:00pm today, as Tropical Cyclone Yasa weakened and was downgraded into a tropical low as it moved to the south-southwest, further away from Tongatapu and 'Eua this morning.
Saturday 19 December 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A gale warning remains in force for Tongatapu and 'Eua land areas this evening, as Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa, now a weakening Cat. 1 system, is expected to lie at about 335km West of Nuku'alofa at 7:00pm today. Previous hurricane and storm warnings for Tonga have been downgraded by the Tonga Meteorological Service.
Friday 18 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A repeated drug offender Vainikolo Selu has been jailed for two-years nine-months at Hu'atolitoli Prison.
Premium content
Friday 18 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The first shipment of 16.6 metric tonnes of Tongan watermelons was exported to Auckland, New Zealand on December 17, after the October ban was lifted. It is a new milestone for Tonga's agricultural sector, said local farmer and exporter, Minoru Nishi Jr today.
Premium content
Friday 18 December 2020
Premium content
Dunedin, New Zealand
Peter Latu was the sole 2020 graduate of the School of Surveying BSurv (Hons) programme, at the University of Otago on December 19.
Premium content
Thursday 17 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is looking to the COVAX Facility to obtain a safe COVID-19 vaccine for Tonga in 2021, the CEO for Ministry of Health, Dr Siale ‘Akau‘ola said today at a press briefing at Vaiola Hospital. Tonga needs to wait for a vaccine that can be stored in the hospital freezers.
Premium content
Thursday 17 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Brides and grooms filled the Registry Office in Nuku'alofa, today December 17 to tie the knot before government closes for the Christmas holidays tomorrow.
Premium content
Thursday 17 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A US$30 million Development Policy Operation to support Tonga’s recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 and Cyclone Harold, was approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on 15 December.
Premium content
Wednesday 16 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As Fiji braces for severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa (Cat. 5), Tonga Met. Director ‘Ofa Fa’anunu advises that Tonga should prepare too for a potentially severe cyclone over the weekend. Meanwhile, TC Zazu has moved away from Tonga.
Premium content
Wednesday 16 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Petroleum and LP gas prices have increased starting today, 16 December, as approved by the Tonga Competent Authority.
Premium content
Wednesday 16 December 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A photographic exhibition, presented online, celebrates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Tonga.
Tuesday 15 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kuliti Tongamoa, aka “Creed”, who supplied cocaine to a former international rugby player 'Epeli Taione (41) at 'Umusi in January, was found guilty on two counts of supplying illicit drugs; while Taione was found guilty of possession of illicit drugs, in a verdict delivered in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on December 11. They will be sentenced on 19 February, 2021.
Premium content
Tuesday 15 December 2020
Premium content
New York, USA
The Kingdom of Tonga and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations at an official ceremony in New York, USA on 14 December, reports Tonga's UN mission.
Premium content
Tuesday 15 December 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Four new community projects will be funded under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) after grant contracts were signed today. They include a new classroom for Kolomotu’a Government Primary School, a water supply system for Vaini, a vehicle for the OTA Center, and waste collection vehicles for Ha'apai.
Premium content
Tuesday 15 December 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tropical Cyclone Zazu (Cat. 1) is expected to move 60km south of Neiafu, Vava’u or 70km northeast of Muitoa, Ha’apai at 3:00pm today. In Vava'u, Tonga Met. Director ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, said the strongest gust recorded reached 62 knots at Lupepau’u Airport at 1:00am. Meanwhile, a second stronger Tropical Cyclone, TC Yasa (Cat. 3) continues to move slowly towards Fiji.
Tuesday 15 December 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
We are all dealing with the impacts of emissions and climate change—in Australia, in Tonga and everywhere else in the world. To support others around the world, at the PIF High-Level Roundtable in December, Prime Minister Morrison announced Australia’s new global climate finance pledge of at least $1.5 billion over the period 2020 to 2025. This includes a $500 million investment in the Pacific to support renewable energy deployment and climate and disaster resilience. This is a 50 per cent increase on Australia’s previous pledge. By H.E. Adrian Morrison, the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga
