Tonga News

Sydney , Australia: NEWINGTON College, in Sydney, is strengthening its historical links with Tonga by offering a new two-year scholarship to a Tongan student.

New Zealand Prime Minister JohnKey will pay an official visit to four Pacific island countries next week to reinforce the close links New Zealand has with its Pacific neighbors.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: TONGA'S Attorney General John Cauchi was appointed this morning to the rank of Senior Crown Counsel in a special session attended by the Court of Appeal Judges, the King's Law Lords, magistrates, judges and law practitioners at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo has pledged to increase exchanges and cooperation with parliaments from Pacific Island nations, reports Xinhua.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: THE Executive Council of the Tonga Law Society wishes to refer to the recent media reports concerning Mr David Garrett SC, a New Zealand Member of Parliament, and licensed law practitioner in Tonga, making inappropriate sexual comments to a female staff member of the New Zealand Parliament.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: THE Tongan Court of Appeal 2009 Session, which begins on Monday, June 29, will hear 21 appeal cases, probably the most made in the history of a Court of Appeal Session.

Instability in Fiji following the 2006 military overthrow of the government should be resolved through democratic elections and the adoption of a constitution granting equal rights to the country's two largest ethnic groups, according to a U.S. diplomat in the region.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: THE cause of death of a 32-year-old male inmate in Hu'atolitoli Prison on June 7 has yet to be confirmed, but police today ruled out any suspicion of a crime.

Dr Feleti Sevele. Six academics were inducted as 'Atenisi Fellows CELEBRATING the 75th birthday of Professor 'Ilaisa Futa 'i Ha'angana Helu and and his life and work, six overseas academics, including one Tongan, were inducted as Fellows of the 'Atenisi University in a special ceremony attended by the Prime Minister Hon.

JEAN MARIE Tupou has entered the 2009 Miss Heilala Pageant as Miss Tonga Visitors Bureau and so far is the only local entry.

Boston , USA: Sione Posesi Bloomfield SIONE Posesi Bloomfield , graduated with a Masters Degree from Harvard University at the school's 358th annual graduation day on June 4. He is the first Tongan to graduate ...

A crossword compiler drowned when he got into difficulty swimming off the Tongan island of Eua during a holiday, an inquest heard.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: SEVENTEEN licenses have been issued to sea cucumbers operators to fish, process and export dried beche-de-mers from Tonga for the 2009 season, which runs from April 1 until the end of September.

ILIVASI Tabua was smiling with confidence as the Flying Fijians finished their last training run in Nuku'alofa ahead of tomorrow's clash with the Ikale Tahi at Teufaiva Park.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: VISITING Tonga recently Mr Thomas Elhaut, the Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development spoke about the challenges that Tonga's rural communities face.

Former long-serving prime minister of Tonga, Baron Vaea, has died aged 88, his family said.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: PEAUAFI Halapio was sentenced to six and a half years in Hu'atolitoli Prison for incest committed with his first cousin who was similarly charged with the criminal offence but was given a suspended sentence.

A CROSSWORD compiler drowned when he got into difficulty swimming off the Tongan island of Eua during a holiday, an inquest heard.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: By Linny Folau FOUR murders arose out of violent domestic disputes this year, the most recent on May 22 with the murder of a 23-year-old wife by her husband at Fangaloto.

Semisi Naevo and Iliesa Keresoni join the national rugby team at lunch at the Tradewinds Convention Centre in Lami yesterday.