Pesanimo Lolohea is serving one year in prison for causing serious bodily harm to another man in an act of violence using a gun and then a spade.
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Monday 19 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Ngaue and Salesi Fa’aoa were sentenced to imprisonment for charges that included theft and receiving stolen timber valued at $35,572 from a builder’s warehouse. Their co-accused, Steve Koloamatangi received a suspended sentence.

Sunday 18 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Solomone Kauvaka (29) is serving 18 months imprisonment for two charges of common assault and serious causing bodily harm to a six year old boy, when he threw him against a wall injuring his head, in what the judge said was “an inexcusable cruel and brutal attack on a defenceless vulnerable child,” in July last year.

Sunday 18 May 2025
Sydney, Australia
Fakatapu kihe Hau ‘o e ‘Otu-Tonga mo e Fale ‘o Ha’amoheofo, Sea moe Fale Alea ‘o Tonga, Hou’eiki Nopele mo e Tauhi Fonua, Palēmia mo e Pule’anga pea ki he Tonga kotoa. Fakamolemole kae toe ‘oatu mu’a ha faka-talanoa ko e kapikapi pē kihe fakakaukau na’e ‘oatu kimu’aa, ‘o e fakalelei kuopau ke fakakakato ki he Fa’ungapule hotau Fonua kae toki sia’a ha’atau ungangāue. - ‘Inoke Fotu Huakau
Friday 16 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The development of the private sector is the primary focus of Tonga's new budget, the Prime Minister Hon. Dr 'Aisake Eke said today. His Cabinet has finalized the budget for 2025-2026, to be presented to the Legislative Assembly next week.

Friday 16 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tu’ipulotu Palu received 12 months suspended sentence for two charges that included discharging a firearm with the intent to intimidate a group of noisy youths. He was drunk when he fired the 12-gauge shotgun. The judge, in considering that Palu is the sole carer for his son, stated, “It is all too often the case that the families of offenders suffer as much, if not more than the offenders.”

Friday 16 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Afimeimo’unga Hola, who assaulted two rugby officials at a rugby game, where his team was losing, was sentenced to two years six months imprisonment, which was fully suspended. “What you did in a burst of temper has thrown away all the good work that you had been doing and the confidence and trust which others placed on you," the Lord Chief Justice Bishop said in sentencing him on 2 May in the Supreme Court, Nuku’alofa.

Friday 16 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Irvin Fukofuka (30) will be sentenced in June on two charges of possession of 13.52 grams of methamphetamine and utensils seized in a drug deal raided by Police in Houma in May last year.

Friday 16 May 2025
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Doha, Qatar
Tonga's head of mission to the United Arab Emirates, HE Ambassador Hon. 'Akauola presented his Letters of Credence, to the Deputy Emir of the State of Qatar, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha, Qatar, this month.

Friday 16 May 2025
Cambridge-MA, USA
When you look at a building, you can see its walls, windows, and decorative flourishes but not the hidden structure that holds everything together. Yet during an earthquake, or after years of strain, that unseen framework can suddenly collapse. The same is true of the fragile political structures that support much of the developing world. By Ricardo Hausmann
Thursday 15 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In a brief message on the closing of Parliament today, King Tupou VI emphasized the values of good character in government, and reminded Tongans of the sacrifices made by Tonga, together with its allies – “the countries that valued freedom” in the world wars of the last century. The King said it is important to learn from history to prevent this generation repeating past mistakes.

Tuesday 13 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A group of ten officers from Tonga Police departed on Saturday, 10 May, for Brisbane Australia, embarking on a four-week training program that is accredited by the United Nations.

Tuesday 13 May 2025
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Alofi, Niue
Fisheries officials and delegates from the members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), are gathering this week at the Millenium Hall in Alofi, Niue, for the 138th Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Annual Officials Meeting. The five-day meeting offers an important opportunity for members to shape the direction of sustainable tuna fisheries management in the Pacific region.

Tuesday 13 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The new Commissioner of Tonga Police, Geoff Turner was officially sworn into office yesterday, 12 May, at the Tonga Police Headquarters, in Nuku'alofa.

Monday 12 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The latest SitRep indicates 15 new dengue fever cases confirmed through rapid tests, bringing the total cumulative number of cases to 697. The Ministry of Health has sent more blood specimen to the VDRL laboratory in Australia for serotyping.

Monday 12 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A gale warning, heavy rain warning, and flash flood advisory currently remains in force for all of Tonga land areas today, as a low pressure system moves across Tonga. Significant rainfall and strong to damaging gale-force winds were experienced between 9:00am on Sunday, 11 May, to 7:00am this morning, Tonga Meteorological Services reported. For Tongatapu and 'Eua, gales, thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected tonight.

Monday 12 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Papua New Guinea has taken the final spot at the OFC U-16 Mens Championship 2025, to be held in the Solomon Islands in August, after winning two matches against Tonga and American Samoa at the qualifying campaign, this month, 3-9 May, in Nuku'alofa.

Monday 12 May 2025
Canberra, Australia
On 24 April 2025, the Trump administration issued Executive Order 14285 mandating federal agencies to expedite permits for seabed mining under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980. Trump wants to establish the United States as a global leader in seabed exploitation and loosen China’s grip on the critical minerals market. This helps explain why The Metals Company (TMC) recently announced plans to apply for seabed exploration and commercial recovery permits under this relatively old act. These developments could undermine international law, commitments to peaceful use of the Area Beyond National Jurisdiction and environmental protections. It could also sideline TMC’s Pacific partners. Nauru and Tonga are currently sponsoring TMC’s activities in the Area, but it’s not clear what it’s in it for them if TMC secures a permit for seabed mining under US law. By Nicholas Bainton and Philippa Louey
Friday 9 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Commissioner Shane McLennan (62) farewelled Tonga Police at a marching out parade at the Tonga Police College, Longolongo, this morning, 9 May.

Friday 9 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siupeli Koula Laula (22) received a fully suspended 19-month prison sentence for causing bodily injury while driving under the influence of alcohol. Laula crashed into another vehicle, injuring the driver, Vili Haumatakali, who sustained a broken bone in his thigh. Justice Tupou handed down the sentence on 7 May in the Supreme Court, Nuku’alofa, following Laula's guilty plea in March.
