Results for Tonga

Tonga's economy is heavily dependent on remittances from Tongan communities overseas, but transferring money to Tonga has become challenging, Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva said yesterday, in launching a new voucher remittance service called 'Ave Pa'anga Pau, offered by the Tonga Development Bank.

Samoa will host its first Investec Super Rugby Championship, a match between the Auckland Blues and Queensland Reds on 2 June at Apia Park Stadium.

Paki Fukofuka is the 47-year old man from Ha’avakatolo who has been charged over his role in helping two escaped prisoners while they were on the run in Tongatapu on 31 January.

A Vote of No Confidence in Tonga's Prime Minister and his Cabinet was handed out by the Speaker, Lord Tu'ivakano, to the Tongan Parliament this afternoon before the House closed today at 4:00pm.

A national awareness campaign, 'Read with your Child' under a Pacific Early Age Readiness and Learning program (PEARL) was launched on 31 January, by Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku'aho, who encouraged families and parents to read to their children for 10 minutes daily because reading strengthens minds and opens up opportunities. Tonga, where 35% of children are not being read to at home, is the first country in the Pacific to benefit from this program.

Warnings of heavy rain, flash flooding, and strong to gale force winds for all of Tonga tonight, have been issued by Tonga Met as a tropical depression located around 465km west, northwest of Nuku’alofa is moving slowly toward Tonga.

Vailele Taukitoku the owner of the FV Losemani Fo'ou and one of six Tongan fishermen who were rescued by the German cruise ship The Albatros south of Tonga on Saturday, February 4, is thankful for their rescue and his safe return home to Tonga last night, but he's very sad that he's lost his little boat, and his fishing livelihood. "If we were given the batteries we could have fixed our boat and returned home. The sea - how it was rough at that point -was normal to us," he said. By Linny Folau

After the Minister of Justice, Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia told the Tongan Parliament today that government ministries did not break any law, by employing daily paid labourers for 10 to 20 years without a working contract, the Speaker reminded the House that Tonga is the "Friendly Islands". From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

Four marine search and rescue operations saved 20 people in Tonga, while one life was lost, during unsettled windy weather over the weekend. Meanwhile, Tropical Depression 09F lies slow moving to the far west northwest of Tongatapu and a Heavy Rain Warning remains in force for all of Tonga. .