Young Tala eligible for U21 National Team
Tonga Netball has selected 16 players for trials to choose the Under-21 National team for the World Youth Cup (NWYC) Oceania Qualifiers in the Cook Islands in September.
Nine members of the U21 team are members of the National Tala Netball team,
The top three teams in the qualifiers will earn a spot at the Netball World Youth Cup next year.
They were expected to start a training camp soon to finalize the selection of a team of 12 players.
Players:
- Alice Cocker
- Isabella Fainga’anuku
- Lose Fainga’anuku
- Lucia Fauonuku
- Lupe Fonua
- Joesi Gisinger
- Lata Holi
- Liesl Hopoate
- Ana Kailahi
- Elisapeta Lousi
- Soana Manuofetoa
- Emma Mateo
- Beyonce Palavi
- Sovika Pousini
- Siulolo Richter
- Jaelin Tulikaki
New healthcare waste incinerator and equipment for digital village initiatives
Tonga has received a high-temperature apparatus for burning waste materials, especially industrial waste until they are reduced to ash.
The new waste incinerator was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Forests (MAFF) last month, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
“The incinerator handed over today is a crucial component of this initiative, designed to improve waste management practices, particularly in safely handling biomedical and agricultural waste. This equipment will significantly enhance public health and environmental protection in Tonga”, a statement said.
Among the equipment donated were screen house nets and laptops for the Digital Village Initiative (DVI).
DVI is a corporate programme by FAO that aims to combat hunger, poverty, and inequality by fostering digital rural transformation.
“This equipment aims to enhance agricultural productivity, promote digital literacy, and foster gender inclusion in agrifood systems.
“The project will support farmers, especially women, in accessing vital information, improving their practices, and increasing their market opportunities”, the statement also said.
The handover ceremony was held at the MAFF Extension and Women Development Division at Vaolōloa.
Imprisonment after fake pa‘anga note payment at petrol station led to the discovery of illicit drugs
Two men have been jailed in Tongatapu after a payment using a fake TOP$20 note led to the discovery of illegal drugs and more counterfeit pa‘anga notes.
Tupou Haupeakui was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, while Sione Songo’imoli must serve four years and 10 months’ imprisonment.
It began after Haupeakui paid the fake money in exchange for petrol at the Galilei Enterprise petrol station before they left.
The woman who processed the payment realised it was counterfeit money and contacted the police.
The police traced and arrested Mr. Haupeakui that same day.
They searched his home address the following day, 6 September 2022.
Amongst the items they seized were $5 and $50 counterfeits notes and a torn counterfeit $50 note as well as empty packs and one test-tube,
Haupeakui admitted all those items were his.
The following day, acting on information that they received, the police raided Songo’imoli’s home.
They seized a total of $3605.00 in counterfeit money, which was found in various locations in his home. The money consisted of $5, $20, $50, and $100 notes.
Some notes had been discarded into a bucket, were not properly cut to size, and still showed parts of the white paper they had been printed and cut out of.
