Last Tuesday 9 July, Tonga's communications Regulator, MEIDECC, notified Starlink, the global satellite internet network, to cut off all services to its roaming subscribers across Tonga's land and seas. The government will not allow the use of Starlink in the current ongoing communications crisis in Tonga, because they have not given Starlink's fixed broadband services a license to operate here. The regulator is not allowing the roaming services either, after the nation's domestic fiber optic cable failed on 29 June. “With understanding of the inconvenience, at the same time the law cannot be put aside just because you have slow internet,” the Prime Minister told Starlink users yesterday, many of whom had raised safety concerns.
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Friday 12 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Friday 12 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The ‘Ikale Tahi was defeated by Italy (14-36) on their home turf at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku’alofa today, 12 July 2024.
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Friday 12 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siosina Vakasiuola (30) was found guilty on two charges of obtaining money by false pretences, when she received $47,000 from two customers, who signed contracts with her for the importation of vehicles, which never materialized. “Miss Vakasiuola was not a convincing witness and I conclude that she has lied to the Court," stated the judge.
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Friday 12 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The new Miss Galaxy Queen for 2024-25, Giovanna Lisha Mafi (Miss Tasmania Australia) was crowned last night, 12 July at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nuku'alofa, by Patron of the Tonga Leitis' Association, Hon Sālote Lupepau’u Tuita, after a final night of judging events
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Thursday 11 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Five contestants are vying for the Miss Galaxy Tonga 2024-25 title and crown in Nuku'alofa this week. Last night 10 July, saw three judging events, at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall. This year, the colourful annual event, organized by the Tonga Leiti’s Association (TLA), is celebrating its 31st anniversary.
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Thursday 11 July 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
I run the Island Cruising Pacific Rally. We currently have 129 yachts sailing through the Pacific Islands, with many of them currently cruising in Tonga and others heading your way shortly from French Polynesia. Many of them use Starlink as their primary means of communications on board their vessels. By allowing Starlink to continue operating as it has been for the last 16 months, our rally participants will be able to be safe and continue safely cruising in Tonga, and will also enable your local businesses to continue to operate. - Viki Moore
Thursday 11 July 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Yesterday, Starlink notified its roaming customers located in Tonga that Starlink has been directed by the Tonga government to disable their internet services to users in the country. The 10 July notification shocked internet users especially those who have turned to Starlink's high-speed roaming service as a life-saver, after the domestic submarine cable failed for the third time a fortnight ago, following an earthquake. Concerned users raised a petition yesterday: “To Allow Access to Starlink Internet Services in Tonga” which is directed to the regulators and members of Cabinet.
Thursday 11 July 2024
Neiafu, Vava'u
I am writing to you, as a concerned citizen of Tonga, to ask that the government of Tonga take immediate action to allow access to Starlink internet services in our country. In today's increasingly digital world, access to reliable and high-speed internet is not merely a luxury but a necessity. - Brian A. Meikle
Wednesday 10 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total communications failure on Tonga's only inter-island domestic submarine cable has disrupted normal telephone and internet services to the outer islands since 29 June and it is likely to be several weeks before it is known how long it might take for normal services to be restored. In the meantime, the local providers are running on low bandwidth satellite links with limited capacity. It is Tonga's third major internet outage, following the severely disruptive national and domestic cable blackouts in 2019 and 2022.
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Wednesday 10 July 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The ‘Ikale Tahi, captained by Ben Tameifuna, is set to clash with Italy at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa this Friday 12 July 2024, with kick-off set for 3:30pm Tonga time. Tonga Rugby Union and the ‘Ikale Tahi management released their Team List this afternoon, 10 July.
Tuesday 9 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Kioa (43) of Sopu caused serious bodily harm to a woman who was cleaning a neighbour's property, when he assaulted her with a 4ft long aluminium pipe during a verbal altercation, which was witnessed by the victim's young daughter and another woman.
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Monday 8 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Hauloto couple were arrested in a Tonga Police drug raid on Wednesday, 3 July, at Hauloto, Tongatapu. The suspects, a 31 year old male and his 28 year old female partner, have been charged with possession of illicit drugs and drug utensils.
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Monday 8 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The 12th One Tonga Choral event saw 12 choirs with hundreds of singers gathering at Queen Sālote Memorial Hall on Sunday evening, 7 July, for the annual “One Tonga - Glorifying God in Song” event, that brings together many different denominations and their congregations for a musical evening that never fails to delight the audience.
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Saturday 6 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's first Anti-Corruption Commissioner, a New Zealander, Mr. Chris LaHatte, was sworn into office before the Tonga Cabinet on Friday 5 July 2024. The first Executive Director of the office, Tongan lawyer, Mele Fakatouato Mangisi, was appointed in June to lead the office, which commenced operations this week on Monday 1 July. It has taken 17 years for the office to be established, since the passing of the Tongan legislation in September 2007.
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Saturday 6 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A law graduate, Racheal Angelica 'o Manakakapu Guttenbeil (26), sponsored by AGT & Maa’imoa Catering, was crowned "Miss Heilala 2024" tonight, 5 July, at the Heilala village, in Nuku’alofa. The top three places went to contestants from the Vava'u Group of islands. Racheal will represent Tonga at the next Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, as Miss Tonga.
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Friday 5 July 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The twelve Miss Heilala contestants showcased their singing and dancing skills in last night’s talent quest, ranging from hulas to contemporary dances at the Heilala Village in Nuku’alofa on 4 July 2024.
Friday 5 July 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Totongi 'Uhila 'o Kamata 'i he 'Aho 1 Siulai 2024: Ko e ngaahi totongi lolo (ADO Fuel price) mei he Pule Fē’unga ki he kuata ‘o ‘Epeleli-Sune 2024 na’e holo ‘aki ‘a e peseti ‘e 4.4% mei he totongi ‘uhila $240.95 ki he $230.38. Lolotonga koia ko e kuata ‘o Sanuali-Ma’asi 2024 na’e hiki ‘aki ‘a e totongi lolo e peseti ‘e 6%. Koia ai, ‘i hono fakahoa ‘a e ongo kuata ko ‘eni, ko e totongi ‘o e Lolo (ADO) na’e holo ‘aki ‘a e peseti ‘e 1.6%. - Komisoni Ma‘u‘anga Ivi.
Thursday 4 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga celebrated King Tupou VI's birthday and the 50th Anniversary of the Tongan Navy with a Navy Fleet Review of visiting navy ships in Nuku'alofa on Thursday, 4 July 2024.
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Thursday 4 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Miss Heilala contestants gracefully performed traditional dances and displayed their costumes last night, 3 July, at the Heilala Village, in Nuku'alofa.
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Thursday 4 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A man (42) from Niutoua, who resided at Kolomotua died from electrocution at his workplace, on Saturday, 29 June. He worked at a car wash on Fatafehi Road, in Pahu, Tonga Police reported.
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