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Wednesday 26 May 2021 6:54pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The 247 passengers repatriated to Tonga from Auckland, Pagopago, and Apia earlier this month tested negative for COVID-19, confirmed Ministry of Health Acting CEO, Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa this morning.
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Wednesday 26 May 2021 6:52pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga has received a grant of NZ$1.6M from New Zealand on 25 May, for construction of a new central pharmacy warehouse to assist Tonga's COVID-19 preparedness and response activities. Premium content -
Wednesday 26 May 2021 4:47pm
Wellington, New Zealand : New York Times reporting: More than 50,000 New Zealanders have flocked home during the pandemic, offering the country a rare opportunity to win back some of its best and brightest. The question is how long the edge will last. The Ardern government has announced no specific measures aimed at retaining citizens who return. But it is using its border shutdown as a moment to “reset” its immigration priorities, saying last week that it would loosen controls for wealthy investors while curtailing temporary visas for the migrants the country has long relied on as citizens moved away. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 May 2021 5:37pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga is providing further input over a five-day workshop to help develop the regional 2050 strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which aims to ensure Pacific people will lead free, healthy and productive lives. A session on Oceans and Natural Environment was held today 25 May, with representatives from other Pacific countries joining in virtually. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 May 2021 5:31pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tupou Saulala Haupeakui (27) was sentenced today to a suspended sentence of nine-months imprisonment for possessing 0.46 grams of methamphetamine, seized at Kolomotu'a in 2020. The judge said the producers, suppliers and dealers of the drugs needed “young foolish persons like you to sell the drugs for them”. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 May 2021 5:22pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Faka’osi Katoa (43) was sentenced to 15-months imprisonment for possession of methamphatamine and cannabis, seized in two separate incidents in 2019-20. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 May 2021 4:16pm
New York, USA : New York Times reporting: Fiame Naomi Mata’afa walked toward Samoa’s beehive-shaped Parliament House on Monday morning intending to be sworn in as the first female prime minister in the Pacific Island nation’s 56-year history. What she and her fellow party members found instead were locked doors. The speaker of parliament had issued orders to keep them out. And so deepened a constitutional crisis that has convulsed this long-stable nation and thrown into doubt whether Mata’afa, whose party won the April 9 election, would actually take office. Premium content -
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. Premium content -
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
