Tonga

The concern was that the civil service has a recruitment procedure whereas the PM’s son was appointed privately to the position.

‘Akilisi Pohiva’s personal assistant is his son, Po’oi Pohiva, a privately-paid appointment.

Lord Tu’ilakepa summarised the objective of his motion/resolution was to enable the Prime Minister’s PA to be treated like other PAs, because currently he is working like a volunteer to his father, who pays him privately.

The motion/resolution raised a number of issues.

The Tonga Prime Minister and Minister of Education, 'Akilisi Pohiva, says an audit of primary and senior secondary students shows pass rates have declined over the past 13 years.

He says the audits show just 17 percent of mathematics students passed the Secondary Entrance Examination in 2014, compared with 31 percent in 2002, a decline of more than 40 percent.

The results in English were down to 20 percent from 23.

This comes as Tonga looks at ways to fight cyber crime.

The acting chief executive of the Internal Affairs Ministry, 'Onetoto 'Anisi, says they have the ability to block websites if that is what it takes to put a stop to abuse of the internet.

The Government has social websites such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter in mind.

Radio Tonga reports a national committee has been established due to the growing concern about youth abusing Tonga's fast new internet access and Mr 'Anisi says this body will make a decision.

The 26-year-old is suffering from kidney failure and the Romanian Rugby Federation donated the profits from ticket sales in Bucharest towards Vaiomounga's on-going care.

He was playing for Romanian champions CSM Baia Mare when he was diagnosed last year and represented Tonga in 13 tests.

The 'Ikale Tahi won the Rugby World Cup warm-up match 21-16, with their former flanker leading the visitors onto the field before kickoff.

The appellants are required to pay the respondent Samiu Vaipulu damages of $10,000 (US$4,645) and $5,348.50 (US$2,484) costs. In addition is the respondent’s costs on the appeal.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen found that the defense of fair comment was never open to the appellants and that, “the Magistrate was correct to reject this defense”.

The judgement stated that the allegations made in the Kele’a article against the respondent were very serious.

The claims were made by MP, Mateni Tapueluelu.

The TBC's general manager, Nanise Fifita, says the claims are damaging because the broadcaster is trying to raise money around the country to make the payments.

Ms Fifita says the government cannot meet all the costs and the TBC is approaching businesses and the general public to help find thousands of pa'anga.

Coach Mana 'Otai named a strong Tonga team and they went 7-0 up midway through the first half when flyhalf Kurt Morath, who missed a penalty earlier, scored a try and booted the conversion.

Romania hit back with two penalties from flyhalf Florin Vlaicu, the country's all-time leading points scorer, and went to the break trailing 10-6.

The visitors grew even more confident in the second half and scrumhalf Sonatane Takulua touched down before hooker Andrei Radoi replied with a try for the home team.

Memorials, including their fencing and land, are protected under Tonga’s little known “Preservation of Objects of Archaeological Interest Act”, which has penalties of up to three years imprisonment for offences.

Before a protected item can be moved or taken away the Act requires a permit from the Tonga Traditions Committee, which must be on a special form, and conditions may be imposed. It also gives the Traditions Committee, an elite body chaired by Tonga’s King, the power to inspect and stop destruction.

Lt Col Maama Misi, Exercise Director said today His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) is being joined by the United States Marines of the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, the New Zealand Defence and the French Army New Caledonia.

He said the bi-annual exercise is aimed not only to develop combat skills of individual soldiers but also enhance the inter-operability capabilities and operation readiness.

The Heilala vanilla extract added to Lewis Road Creamery’s Premium Whole Milk creates a New Zealand first, Fresh Vanilla Milk, stated the Heilala Vanilla company.

Heilala Vanilla this week joins Lewis Road Creamery’s Premium Whole Milk dream team in selected supermarkets and specialty food stores.

“This is an exciting development for Heilala and our growers in Tonga and means our vanilla will now be in the hands of exciting group of customers.”