Tonga

Executive Director of Pacific Games Council, Andrew Minogue said they have engaged a local solicitor to proceed with the legal action.

After Tonga withdrew, the only country that has expressed their interest to host the game is Samoa while New Caledonia will support Tahiti to host the game.

Prime Minister of Samoa Tuilaepa Sailele Malielagaoi has already indicated his government’s willingness to support the bid for Samoa to host the Games.

But Minogue said the decision will be made after July 31.

The Principal of the institute, Talanoa Hafoka said this is not the first time they have received assistance from the church.

The donation was a gift of appreciation from LDS to the school after the completion of a project.

“We built a house at Liahona Farm, the work was about to be tendered but due to our close partnership we were happy to assist them. We signed an agreement with LDS and the work was supposed to be completed in three weeks but our carpentry students under the supervision of our staff were able to complete it within a week,” he said.

The victim is reported to be in a critical condition.

According to Acting Chief Superintendent of Police, Tevita Vailea, the victim from Houma was in a speed race with another vehicle in the early hours of Sunday.

His vehicle crashed into an oncoming car on Hihifo Road.

"Driving under the influence of alcohol was also a factor in this accident. The other driver who was in the second vehicle involved in this race fled the scene."

“The victim sustained head injuries. No one else was seriously injured,” Vailea said.

The participants have completed a training provided by the Pacific Association for Supreme Audit Intuitions or PASAI in partnership with the University of the South Pacific that was aimed at promoting improved government transparency and accountability through training on international public sector accounting standards.

The participants were from the Office of the Auditor-General, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, government ministries and public enterprises.

Life is the maximum sentence for the crime.

In June last year Tania Shailer and David Haerewa were jailed for 17 years for the manslaughter of three years-old Moko Rangitoheriri.

Gustav Otto Sanft, who is of Tongan descent, appeared in the High Court yesterday following the death of his two years-old daughter in a shooting incident.

Kaniva News reports Sanft appeared before Mr Justice Geoffrey Venning.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.

The minister of agriculture Semisi Fakahau revealed the record during Niuafo'ou's Royal Agricultural Show.

Mr Fakahau said Tonga's vanilla was unique and world renowned because it was farmed organically on the far north island of Niuafo'ou.

He said the island had the best soil for growing vanilla and sandal wood.

RNZI reports Niuafo'ou is the only island in Tonga that still organically farms the crops.

The new hospital will replace the current Niu’ui Hospital which is in the low-lying coastal area of Lufuka Island and it is prone to storm surges and coastal erosion.

The new site behind Ha’apai High School was officially marked by Prime Minister Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva yesterday (Monday July 17).

In his address at the ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, emphasized the importance of relocating the hospital from the very low-lying seaside of the existing hospital site to a safer and secured area.

The dialogue’s main focus is to “strengthen the capacity of Pacific Island countries and their involvement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and to accelerate the implementation of projects and programmes approved by the Fund.” 

The forum will enable Pacific Island countries and Accredited Entities to share their experiences in engaging with the Fund across key areas.

The team of volunteers will be there to de-sex animals, provide parasite treatments and vaccinate dogs against the parvovirus.

RNZI reports the organisation South Pacific Animal Welfare, or SPAW, who is organising the clinic, has facilitated similar trips to South Pacific islands since 2010.

Its executive director Karen Galvan said that the group would also help to educate locals about animal welfare and caring for their pets.

"We are inspiring change by being present, by giving communities in the Pacific access to veterinary care," said Ms Galvan.

Petroleum prices for July – August have fallen with the wholesale price of diesel and kerosene down by 8.35 seniti/litre and 9.02 seniti/litre respectively.

Petrol recorded the largest decrease of 9.53 seniti/litre.

The retail price will be 239.57seniti/ litre for petrol, 235.61 seniti/litre for Diesel and 156.58 seniti/ litre for Kerosene.

A statement from the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation & Labour said all price changes include consumption tax.

The new prices were approved by the Tonga Competent Authority.