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Monday 24 May 2021 10:11pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A petition, pleading for King Tupou VI to dismantle parliament and call a new General Election, “because the people no longer trust the Parliament and the Government”, was delivered this afternoon to the Palace Office, by Siaosi Pohiva, the Tongatapu No. 1 People’s Representative and his supporters.
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Monday 24 May 2021 7:55pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A National Budget of $618.3 million pa'anga, an increase of $28.7 million on the previous year, was tabled into parliament, by the Tonga government this morning, 24 May. The PM said they have only three weeks to pass the budget before they go away to 'Eua for the opening of a military camp, church conferences and feasting. From the House by Pesi Fonua. Premium content -
Monday 24 May 2021 6:49pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A free concert featuring local performers including Filitonu Group, Suliana Dance Academy, and Fetu’ungingila Choir among others, will be held at the Tailulu College Falemasiva Hall on Friday evening, 28 May. Premium content -
Monday 24 May 2021 6:42pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Viliami Na’a was sentenced to serve one-month imprisonment for possession of 0.99 grams of cannabis. He is currently serving six-years nine-months imprisonment for grievous bodily harm. Premium content -
Monday 24 May 2021 5:51pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Repeat drug offender, Pangi Puloka (47) was sentenced to three-years one-month imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 6.71 grams methamphetamine, at two separate incidents in 2019-20. Premium content -
Friday 21 May 2021 6:29pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga’s first batch of COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccines is almost finished with 93% used so far, the Ministry of Health confirmed this afternoon, 21 May. Around 25,970 people have been vaccinated so far. Premium content -
Friday 21 May 2021 6:27pm
Manila, Philippines : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide Tonga with a $5.5 million grant to support the rollout of safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19. Premium content -
Friday 21 May 2021 6:21pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Maka Latu (35) was sentenced today to eight-years imprisonment for 16 offences, including possession of 50.22 grams of methamphetamine. In one incident he had resisted arrest and Police shot the tyres of his vehicle. "In my view, those who import, manufacture, distribute or supply illicit drugs are currently one of the greatest threats to the physical, mental and spiritual health of the people of Tonga and its social fabric and cohesion." said the Chief Justice. Premium content -
Friday 21 May 2021 6:06pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Vunga Fusikata (34) was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm when he punched Pita Fuoleva (45) causing permanent blindness in his left eye. "Such an act is often described colloquially as a coward's punch,” said the judge. The accused will be sentenced on June 4. Premium content -
Friday 21 May 2021 3:42pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The response of the Tongan Parliament to King Tupou VI’s speech to open parliament on May 6, was delivered to the Palace Office today by the Speaker and the Prime Minister. They were not granted an audience with the King. Premium content -
Friday 21 May 2021 3:23pm
Suva, Fiji : A total of 7,888 people are under quarantine, after health teams traced and tested primary and secondary contacts of existing COVID-19 cases during the Suva and Nausori four-day lockdown, according to Fiji's health officials on 18 May. Premium content -
Friday 21 May 2021 3:19pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : New medical equipment, including thermography cameras to improve Tonga's border control against COVID-19, was handed over to the Ministry of Health from the Government of Japan. “We also hope that Tonga could open the border even only a day sooner through our various assistances, including vaccinations,” he said. Premium content -
Thursday 20 May 2021 5:53pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : It’s only six paragraphs long, but the response from parliament to King Tupou VI's confronting speech of 6 May, has taken a committee of nine MPs 11 days to prepare. When the draft letter was presented to the House on 18 May for approval, they went to the dark side of the moon – silencing live radio broadcasting of the debate, to prevent an inquisitive public listening to what members had to say about it. From the House by Pesi Fonua Premium content -
Thursday 20 May 2021 3:39pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The ‘Ikale Tahi team to take on the All Blacks on July 3 will be mostly selected from New Zealand, head coach, Toutai Kefu, told Matangi Tonga today. By Eleanor Gee Premium content -
Thursday 20 May 2021 12:01pm
Melbourne, Australia : New York Times reporting: When Australian officials announced last week that the country was unlikely to fully reopen its borders until mid-2022 because of the coronavirus, the backlash immediately began building. Critics warned that Australia risked becoming a “hermit nation.” Members of the Australian diaspora who had been struggling to return home for months saw it as another blow. The announcement drew dire warnings from business, legal and academic leaders. But polls show that keeping the borders shut is a popular idea. Premium content -
Thursday 20 May 2021 10:56am
NTU, Singapore : With the US-China strategic competition intensifying, New Zealand navigates these tricky geopolitical waters and pursues its ‘independent’ foreign policy even at the risk of offending its Five Eyes partners. ...It also takes into account critical views of its intelligence operations, especially among its close partners in the Pacific. New Zealand with its main signals facility on the South Island, is responsible for gathering information in the South Pacific. By Anne-Marie Schleich (RSIS). -
Wednesday 19 May 2021 7:22pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : HM Queen Nanasipau’u toured MORDI Tonga headquarters and plantation at Havelu today in support of local food farming. Premium content -
Wednesday 19 May 2021 7:11pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : ‘Inoke Tonga (27) is the man charged with the murder of Polikalepo Kefu (41). He appeared today, May 19 at the Magistrate’s Court in Mu’a. Premium content -
Wednesday 19 May 2021 6:34pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Governor of Ha'apai, Viliami Manuopangai Hingano (46) was today fined $12,500 pa’anga for unlawful possession of 198kg of turtle meat seized at Queen Salote Wharf in 2020. A Supreme Court judge said the accused tried to hide the fact that he was a party to the proposed commercial sale of the uncertified meat of the endangered species. He denounced his offending: “You appear to think that you did not do anything wrong, that you were quite innocent. I want to assure you, that what you did wrong was that you failed to ask ...you ought to have refused to have possession of the turtle meat!" Premium content -
Tuesday 18 May 2021 6:52pm
Auckland, New Zealand : Students in the Pacific (including Tonga) selected under New Zealand’s scholarship program in 2019, 2020, and 2021 may be able to start studying in New Zealand in 2022. Premium content
