Taniela Vaka (42) was sentenced to 12 years and 10 months imprisonment on charges including armed robberies committed against three victims in two separate incidents, on Tongatapu. After the first incident the accused was caught and interviewed by police but, “Extraordinarily, it appears he was then released on bail. For a man who had just admitted an armed robbery that appears to raise some serious questions,” said the judge.
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Thursday 21 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Thursday 21 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Satio Matakaiongo (43) was found guilty of possession of 43.07 grams of cannabis in Popua in April earlier this year.

Wednesday 20 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new health report sheds light on the unique developmental challenges faced by Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). But despite obstacles, it says nations like Tonga, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu are making strides toward universal health coverage (UHC) by focusing on primary healthcare and public health initiatives.

Tuesday 19 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The ‘Ikale Tahi lost two matches in a row in their 2024 Euro-tour, against Romania and the USA Eagles. They are set to play their final game against the Georgia Lelos next week on 25 November.

Tuesday 19 November 2024
Baku, Azerbaijan
“Investing in climate-resilient health facilities is not a luxury. It is a lifeline,” Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala warned. “We urgently need accessible and equitable climate-health financing for the Pacific. Current funding is simply insufficient to meet the unique needs of these Small Island Developing States. I am here at COP29 to help change that,” he said in the keynote speech in a side event at COP29’s Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion on Friday.
Tuesday 19 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siaosi Halaholo Vete (42) was sentenced to two years imprisonment for three charges including serious housebreaking and theft of property totaling at around $46,798 from his sister’s home, in order to feed his methamphetamine habit.

Tuesday 19 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siosifa Tenefufu (56) was fined $500 pa’anga, to be paid within six months, for the possession of arms and ammunition without a license that included a shotgun and rifle at his home in Lakepa.

Monday 18 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Former Education Minister, Dr. ’Ana Maui Taufe’ulungaki (78) passed away at 8:15 am this morning, at her home ‘Api ko Faka’amunoa, in Ha’ateiho, after an illness. A funeral service will be held tomorrow morning, Tuesday 19 November, at 9:00 am, at the Free Wesleyan Church in Ha’ateiho, before the funeral proceeds to the Makamaka Cemetery.

Monday 18 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A medical team from China will be delivering free medical services at the Ngū Hospital in Vava’u, starting this week on 20 November, after working for four months on Tongatapu.

Monday 18 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Crews from various emergency response agencies in Tongatapu conducted a live emergency response for a simulated aircraft incident over Nuku'alofa's waterfront, this morning.

Friday 15 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lautaimi Tu’itavake (40) was jailed for 24 months in Hu’atolitoli Prison for charges including supplying 0.14 grams of methamphetamine, during a police undercover operation at Malapo in August 2023.

Friday 15 November 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Under-15 Junior men and women's basketball teams made their debut at the 2024 FIBA U15 Oceania Cup, with both teams entering the semi-finals in a winning streak this week. The matches are scheduled for this afternoon, Friday: U15 Junior women semi-finals: Australia v Tonga - 2:00 PM (GMT +11) and U15 Junior men semi-finals: New Zealand v Tonga - 4:30 PM (GMT +11).
Friday 15 November 2024
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Wellington, New Zealand
A New Zealander of Tongan descent, Associate Professor Dianne Sika-Paotonu from the University of Otago, Wellington, has been awarded the Royal Society Te Apārangi’s Callaghan Medal for science communication.

Thursday 14 November 2024
Honiara, Solomon Islands
A group of scientists working aboard a research vessel in the southwest Pacific Ocean has discovered the world’s largest coral. Measuring 34 meters wide, 32 meters long and 5.5 meters high, with a circumference of 183 meters, the gigantic organism is a complex network of coral polyps — tiny individual creatures — that have grown over a span of three centuries. In contrast to a reef — which is a network of many coral colonies — this structure is a standalone coral that has grown uninterrupted for hundreds of years.
Thursday 14 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Australia will support development of a new solar training facility at Tonga's School of Science and Technology, the Acting High Commissioner to Tonga, HE Erin Gleeson, announced today, when she opened a changing facility for female students at at Fokololo 'oe Hau Technical Institute in 'Anana.

Thursday 14 November 2024
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Baku, Azerbaijan
Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku made an urgent appeal for global cooperation and immediate action to address the escalating climate crisis yesterday, at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Thursday 14 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Diabetes, heart diseases, respiratory diseases and cancer have become common “NCDs” in Tonga, Dr. Viliami Puloka told the first National Non-Communicable Diseases Forum, held in Nuku’alofa this week. NCDs can't be cured. “The best time to look after your health is when you’re healthy,” he said.

Wednesday 13 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sosaia Vatikani (40) was jailed for serious housebreaking and theft of property, including electrical goods, worth $15,200 pa’anga, from the Nursing School at Vaiola Hospital, in Nuku'alofa - where he left a trail of fingerprints.

Wednesday 13 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three men were found guilty on charges including serious housebreaking and unlawful imprisonment of another man, when they took him by force from his home at Sopu to Kahana Resort on Tongatapu because of a disputed loan of $150,000. One of the defendants was armed with a knife.

Wednesday 13 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A team of Tonga and New Zealand Rugby Union officials delivered a Team and Event Management training in the outer islands of Ha’apai and Vava’u, on the last week of October.
