Results for Tonga

Three years ago today, Tonga's King George Tupou V passed away in Hong Kong.

The opening date for the new Vuna Wharf, reconstructed at a cost of $30 million and scheduled for early 2012, remains uncertain, with work still to be done around the wharf site before it can open for business. Mosese Lavemai, the CEO of the Nuku'alofa Port Authority, said on February 1, that although the reconstruction of the actual wharf was completed ahead of schedule in December 2011, additional work needed to be completed around the wharf before a date is set for an opening.

On February 17 the World Bank and the Government of Tonga signed a US$27 million grant to make air travel safer and more efficient for people travelling to and from Tonga. The investment is part of the World Bank's regional Pacific Aviation Investment Program, and will support rehabilitation of Fua'amotu International Airport and Vava'u Airport to ensure both meet minimum international safety and security standards.

Tropical Cyclone Jasmine dumped over half the month's average rainfall onto Tongatapu on Wednesday, flooding large areas of the capital Nuku'alofa and surrounding villages, forcing hundreds of people from their homes, and bringing down power poles, electric lines and trees. But Jasmine's heady aroma was not so sweet.

With less than two months to go before completion date, the Nuku'alofa Central Business District Reconstruction Project financed with a TOP$118 million loan from china, is on track to be completed by March 31, the Project Manager Mr Yang said.

Soccer gear worth AUD $20,000 was presented to Tonga, on February 8, by the Government of Israel through the Regan Milstein Foundation based in Australia, and received by Paula Ma'u, the Senior Vice President of the Tonga Football Association.

A tropical cyclone alert remains in force for Ha'apai, Vava'u and Tongatapu group. A strong wind warning remains in force for all Tonga land areas and coastal waters. Tropical depression 11f located near Lifuka, west of Tonga, is moving towards the east-southeast at 12 knots or about 22 km/hours. The depression may develop into a tropical cyclone within the next 12 or 24 hours, Tonga's Meteorological Service warned in its Special Weather Bulletin at 6:20am today.

Two prolific thieves were sentenced to five years and six years imprisonment for a string of housebreakings, and theft of goods worth over $20,000 from 15 different homes, in four towns across the Eastern district of Tongatapu.

Driving his 1988 Mercedes-Benz into Nuku'alofa was more than a just a holiday for Gunther W. Holtorf from Germany, who is aiming to achieve a mention in the Guiness Book of Records for driving in every country in the world.