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Monday 1 June 2020 7:01pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Two 16-year-olds who pleaded guilty to carnal knowledge of a young girl under the age of 15 years and simple indecent assault received non-custodial sentences, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on May 29. “In the ordinary case, a custodial sentence would be warranted in order to reflect the Court's denunciation of this alarmingly prevalent type of offending, to protect young girls in society and effect adequate deterrence,” the Lord Chief Justice said.
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Monday 1 June 2020 6:37pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A parliamentary briefing to inform Tonga’s civil society organizations about the national budget and its process was held on 29 May at the Tanoa Hotel, Nuku’alofa. Premium content -
Sunday 31 May 2020 9:34pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The refusal by Government to reveal the identities of three companies that had won $12 million pa’anga worth of road construction contracts, to construct 2100 kilometres of tar-sealed roads throughout Tonga, has snarled the Budget debate in the Tongan parliament for three days 26-28 May. Premium content -
Friday 29 May 2020 6:55pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's CoViD-19 restrictions have been extended from today 8:00pm tonight 29 May until 11 June, the Tongan Government announced today. The restrictions have eased further with a shorter night time curfew from 11:00pm to 5:00am. Borders remain closed up to June 12. -
Friday 29 May 2020 6:39pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Sinela Fifita (45) who was convicted of stabbing Neiafutahi Bloomfield multiple times at Fatai five-years ago, received a fully suspended sentence at the Supreme Court. Premium content -
Friday 29 May 2020 6:23pm
Auckland, New Zealand : Samoan citizens stuck in New Zealand can now return to Samoa as the first of a series of repatriation flights departed Auckland to Apia today, 29 May. -
Friday 29 May 2020 6:21pm
Honiara, Solomon Islands : The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) is calling for collective action to focus on people, not just technology, in efforts to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. FA Director General, Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen an international forum last week, said it is people who commit fisheries offences, not vessels. -
Thursday 28 May 2020 9:53pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Over 100 Chinese Tongans, who went to China for the Spring Festival earlier this year, would like to return to Tonga, said the Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, Cao Xiaolin, in Nuku'alofa today. There are unofficial reports circulating that Tonga may extend its international border closure beyond 12 June. Premium content -
Thursday 28 May 2020 8:13pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Australia has committed a further AUD 2.9 million for new renewable energy infrastructure in Tonga. This will include upgrading Vava'u's power network. Premium content -
Thursday 28 May 2020 8:11pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga Ma’a Tonga Rugby League (TMTRL) will support Kristian Woolf and the national rugby league team in its 2021 Rugby League World Cup campaign. Premium content -
Thursday 28 May 2020 6:13pm
Washington D.C., U.S.A : Already among the most remote countries on earth, Pacific island states saw their vital economic links weakened in recent months with the evaporation of tourism, severe disruptions to international trade, and a reduction in remittances. For these countries, the COVID-19 pandemic may cut deeper than even some of the worst cyclones from years past. Emergency assistance for Pacific island countries will be considered by the IMF’s Executive Board in the coming weeks, says a new report. Premium content -
Wednesday 27 May 2020 5:52pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A pallet of sweet smelling, vanilla infused hand sanitizers made by Heilala Vanilla in New Zealand, were donated to Vaiola Hospital today, 27 May, to assist in keeping Tonga safe from CoViD-19. Vanilla extract made by the company from Tongan grown vanilla has similar common ingredients as sanitizer—ethanol and glycerin, and they were able to make the new products. Premium content -
Wednesday 27 May 2020 5:46pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A man who raped his wife was sent to jail for over five years by the Lord Chief Justice, who sent out a clear message that in any civilized society unwanted sexual violence cannot be justified or tolerated. "Marital rape is a common but under-reported crime." Premium content -
Wednesday 27 May 2020 5:40pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Siosaia Tu Maile is the 19-year-old charged with the murder of 67-year-old Ned Cook, whom he allegedly assaulted on Friday night, May 15, on Vuna Road. Premium content -
Wednesday 27 May 2020 2:26pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The name of Tonga's new domestic airline will be “Lulutai”, the Prime Minister Hon. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, told parliament today. From the House by Pesi Fonua. Premium content -
Tuesday 26 May 2020 9:43pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Yesterday, when the Minister of Finance, Hon. Tevita Lavemaau presented to Parliament the Tonga Government's 2018-2019 Financial Report, he explained that there was a sense of frustration in preparing the report, because of the difficulty of trying to value the fixed assets of government under the old accounting method. He said the government would return to a cash basis accounting method. From the House by Pesi Fonua. Premium content -
Tuesday 26 May 2020 5:47pm
Tofoa, Tongatapu : Time has given Tonga a great opportunity to prepare itself for the virus and any cases that it might produce. The question is, has this time been used wisely and with urgency to prepare Tonga for the future risks? Those risks, however small, exist even now. Aid money is coming in. Using that to build up the capacity of the health system now means that this can be kept for the future. Wouldn’t it be great if Vaiola were to have a state-of-the-art five-bed ICU that can treat anyone who needs that level of care even after CoViD-19 abates? The staff can do it, if only the facility is there. And it could be. And so we await the arrival of the virus. I hope Tonga is well prepared when it does.... - Dr Russ Schedlich -
Tuesday 26 May 2020 4:29pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Five men and a woman have been arrested and charged after the Tonga Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce seized illicit drugs, a firearm and live bullet, between May 21-24. Premium content -
Tuesday 26 May 2020 11:00am
London, UK : The story of six Tongan castaways who survived on Ata Island for 15 months in the 1960s before they were rescued by an Australian fishing boat, will be made into a movie, after a Hollywood studio recently won the film rights. Premium content -
Monday 25 May 2020 6:05pm
Auckland, New Zealand : Air New Zealand services to Tonga and other Pacific countries such as Fiji, Samoa, Rarotonga, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, could resume to one return service from Auckland per week, if the travel restrictions currently in place around passenger services are lifted, the airline announced today. Premium content
