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Diamond Langi of Tonga Crowned Face of Beauty International 2013

By
Kaniva Staff
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Diamond Langi of Tonga was crowned Face of Beauty International 2013 during the third edition of the beauty contest held in Bangkok, Thailand on November 12, 2013.

Diamond Langi, hailed from the village of Vaini, Tonga, will be in the Philippines to compete once again as Miss Earth Tonga 2013.

Ahead of the Face of Beauty International Beauty Contest at the Colosseum Theater on Tuesday 12, the 38 contestants from all over the world were taking in all the major tourist attractions in and around Pattaya in order to promote themselves and the show. 

On Friday afternoon the group of beauties made their way to The Sanctuary of Truth in Naklua to visit this magnificent wooden structure dedicated to worldwide religions.

The contest is being held to promote tourism in Thailand and of course the seaside city of Pattaya.

The Sydney based Model will be arriving at the Sydney International Airport at 10.45 am tomorrow Thursday.

Supporters have called on social media for Lang’s fans to “bring your banner's & flowers and your peeps and lets congratulate her together”.

Face of Beauty International 2013 complete results:

Winner: Diamond Langi of Tonga
The first runner-up: Li Mi of Bangladesh
The second runner-up: Shasha Chen of China
The third runner-up: Fonthip Klinpakdee of Thailand
The fourth runner-up: Yana Haenisch of Namibia

MMT receives in cash TOP$10,000 VIP Package

By
Kalino Latu
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A VIP package the Mate Ma’a Tonga team decided should be given to its president, Semisi  Sika was returned to help with the team’s budget.

All member countries in the Rugby League World Cup 2013 were offered a VIP package for travel and accommodation.

Tonga National Rugby League Cup agreed to give it to Sika. “[But] I decided to donate all that in cash for the team to assist with their budget. It's worth about $10,000.00 Paanga, the  equivalent,” Sika responded to a question by Kaniva News.

The Mate Ma’a Tonga could not make it to get into the quarter final in their pool C after they were edged out by the Scotland team in their opening match.

It is understood supporters of the Tongan team however are planning a celebration event to mark what they call a “superb performance” made by the Mate Ma’a Tonga team in England while attending the RLWC 2013.  

Semisi Sika is the Member of Parliament for Tongatapu 2.

Ha’apai named among top global regions to visit

By
Kalino Latu
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Ha’apai groups where Captain Cook awarded the name Friendly Islands of Tonga has been named by the Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 regions in the world to visit.  

Known as FoʻiʻOneʻone – a metaphorical name used because its people are regarded as more experienced and practised in life among other Tongans, it is  one of the three largest group of islands in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Lonely Planet has  praised it in its guide's Best in Travel 2014 edition for its lush, reef-fringed islands, swaying palm trees and tropical sunshine.

It was also lauded for its excellence in viewing breaching humpback whales, technicolour tropical fish, scintillating sea kayaking, and even a smoking volcano – all amid a sleepy, seductive Tongan outlook on life.

The news was a tremendous boost to the Ministry of Commerce Tourism and Labour’s endeavour to improve the industry in Tonga.

Last month it hosted workshops to discuss Enhancing Tonga Tourism Statistics  in Nuku’alofa and Vava’u.

Lonely Planet, however is one of the largest travel guide book publishers in the world and  is still one of the definitive voices in the travel world, and tourists around the globe rely on when planning their 2014 holidays.

“Lonely Planet’s travel experts have trekked the globe to hand-pick the best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the upcoming year,” its website says.  

Haʻapai along with 9 other regions has been picked “after fierce debate and hundreds of suggestions from our extended family of travel experts, authors, editors, bloggers and tweeters, these are the top 10 … regions poised for greatness in 2014,” Lonely Planet says.

The top-ranked cities, countries and regions have been revealed in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2014 book released on Tuesday which comparatively grouped the little islands of Ha’apai together with Texas – USA, West Coast – New Zealand and Yorkshire – Englan.

Do you think the Lonely Planet made the right choices? You are welcome to make comments here at the Kaniva Pacific News Webite.

Top 10 regions

  1. Sikkim, India
  2. The Kimberley, Western Australia
  3. Yorkshire, England
  4. Hokuriku, Japan
  5. Texas, USA
  6. Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe
  7. Mallorca, Spain
  8. West Coast, New Zealand
  9. Hunan, China
  10. Ha'apai, Tonga

Top 10 cities

  1. Paris, France
  2. Trinidad, Cuba
  3. Cape Town, South Africa
  4. Riga, Latvia
  5. Zurich, Switzerland
  6. Shanghai, China
  7. Vancouver, Canada
  8. Chicago, USA
  9. Adelaide, Australia
  10. Auckland, New Zealand

Top 10 countries

  1. Brazil
  2. Antarctica
  3. Scotland
  4. Sweden
  5. Malawi
  6. Mexico
  7. Seychelles
  8. Belgium
  9. Macedonia
  10. Malaysia

Tongan MP witnesses LAX shooting in US

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan MP Semisi Sika said he and his sister Lupe Tu’i’one were lucky they came out of LAX Terminal 3 just before it was shut down by police following a shooting spree this morning at about 9am PT.

US Police said a  suspect was taken into custody at Los Angeles International Airport Friday after a shooting at a Terminal 3 checkpoint left a TSA employee injured and produced "mutiple victims."

NBC News reports that one TSA employee was killed and a second employee was wounded in the gunfire. The report could not be immediately confirmed by police or airport officials.

MP Sika wrote in a Facebook chat with Kaniva News saying, “I was driving by the terminal when people were rushing out . Its terminal 3 , Virgin America's arrival

“I was lucky to get out before the shut down.

“I went to pick up my sister at Delta and got out on time.

We're at Marriott here at LAX , roads are closed , helicopters are all over above us”, MP Sika told Kaniva News.

He said the shooting took place at Terminal 3 but they were at Terminal 6 after his sister arrived on Delta Airline.

Police, who shut down streets around the airport, said a possible second suspect was also taken into custody outside Terminal 2.

The gunman was wounded in the incident, the Los Angeles Times reports.

CNN reports that a gunman approached a checkpoint at the terminal and opened fire. Airport officials said the incident began at 9:30 a.m. PT.

Luke and Alexa Sieber of Green bay, Wisc., were in line at an airport counter when they heard eight shots followed by another burst of 20.

"It was an automatic weapon," Luke Sieber, a 25-year-old consutlant, said.

Witness Brian Keech said he heard "about a dozen gunshots" from inside the security gate at Terminal 3, which serves Allegiant Air, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit, Virgin America and other airlines.

MP Sika is also the president of the Mate Ma'a Tonga team and he is in the US on a business matter.

Man who died in Kolonga accident identified as Kiripatian

By
Kalino Latu
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UPDATED: The person who died following a motor vehicle accident at Kolonga in the Eastern side of Tongtapu Monday 28 October at about 11am was a Kiripati national according to police.

The deceased was a passenger of a car driven by a 43years old male of Kolonga, a statement from Police says. 

"The car travelled on a southerly direction and up on a slope at Kolonga where the car ran into an electric pole besides the road causing car crash, thus the death of the passenger, it says. 

“The driver of the car has been charged with manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor, & driving without driving license.”

The statement did not disclose the name of the victim and the identification of the driver. .

Rugby League Cup 2013: A lot of pride in Tonga – Hon. Vaipulu

By
Kalino Latu
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The Acting Prime Minister, Hon Samiu Vaipulu said the Mate Maʻa Tonga's loss 24 – 26 to Scotland's Braveheart in England yesterday was a win for Tonga.

He said it was a superb performance and the nation was indeed on a real high after the match despite the fact they did not expect a defeat.

There are a lot of pride in Tonga about the way Mate Maʻa Tonga had conducted itself, he said in Tongan in a statement released to Kaniva News.

Vaipulu presented his message in the Tongan formal way of speaking to the fonua or the public when addressing them on national matters.

He began with the fakatapu, asking the Almighty Father and then the king and the royalty to allow him to speak and convey his message of support and gratitude to the Mate Maʻa Tonga team.

He mentioned the Prime Minister as he is currently out of the country, the government and the people of Tonga in general saying he spoke on their behalf to extend his sincere and warm appreciation to the Mate Maʻa Tonga for their hard work.  

The Acting Prime Minister lauded the captain of the team and all Mate Maʻa Tonga officials for the collaborative efforts that successfully made it to present to the world of Rugby League such a brilliant performance.  

Hon. Vaipulu appeared extremely elated and thankful in the way he presented his message in Tongan.

He concluded by saying that the sporting fund of TOP$400,000 the government has granted earlier this month  to help fund the  players allowances has now been confirmed.

Fatal accident at Eastern side of Tongatapu

By
Kalino Latu
-

A person has died following a motor vehicle accident at Kolonga in the Eastern side of Tongtapu Monday 28 October at about 11am.

A police statement said “the deceased was a passenger of a car driven by a 43years old male of Kolonga. 

The car travelled on a southerly direction and up on a slope at Kolonga where the car ran into an electric pole besides the road causing car crash, thus the death of the passenger", it said. 

“The driver of the car has been charged with manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor, & driving without driving license.”

The statement would not disclose the name of the driver as well as the victim and whether the deceased died immediately at the scene once the incident occurred.

Sea search for Popua man continues

By
Kalino Latu
-

A man from the village of Popua in Tonga was reported missing at the Hufangalupe Beach of Vaini Monday 28.

The victim’s identity is still unknown and police would not say why he ended up at the beach.

A statement however says “two expert divers” hired by police recovered some items believed to belong to the missing person. 

"To this point of time, body is still not yet recovered and search at coastline still continues", it says.

It is understood the man’s family along with some of the villagers were making their way to Hufangalupe this week, after he was reported missing at around 9,45pm.

As of yesterday, October 30 divers were yet to recover the body and the “search at coastline still continues”.

Suicide: Tungua man hangs himself

By
Kalino Latu
-

Authorities in Tonga have concluded that a man died Monday 28 at Ha’afeva Hospital committed suicide by hanging himself.

Police is yet to release the name of the 36 year old male from the island of Tungua but said the suicide was found at around 1pm.

The victim was rushed to the hospital but died at about 3pm.

No details released but police said the, “circumstances confirmed that it was a suicide”.

Early this month Police confirmed a 19 year old man committed suicide at the village of Tongaleleka on the mainland Lifuka, Ha’apai.

A post mortem examination confirmed the victim died after drinking an unknown poisonous substance in a suicide police described as “driven by girlfriend”.

The Tungaua man’s suicide was the sixth reported to Tonga Police this year.

Mate Maʻa Tonga: brilliant performance despite lost to Scotland

By
Tevita Katoa
-

Mate Maʻa Tonga performed exceptionally well but to win a fight with bigger opponent they must have to stop the fight with only a knockout or technical knockout (TKO).

Mate Maʻa Tonga went down bravely at Warrington today 24-26 to Scotland. The disorderly beginning cost them the game they ought to make their mark early in this World Cup competition.

Mate Maʻa Tonga left the park with nothing but the team must hold their head high with bride because in looking from population perspective they won by miles.

Looking at the game in general, apart from both teams effort, there were key elements that contributed in deciding the winner at the end. First and foremost is the referee. The referee is the most influencing factor in any sports.

The referee could cause either mentally or physically weak or strength. The way of controlling the game by referees should always be to enhance the players of both teams to be able to perform to the top of their abilities.

Any trace of prejudices should be eliminated. Secondly is the overall performance of both teams. Thirdly is the players fitness, mentally and physically.

There were mistakes made by both teams in this game but the worse mistakes of the game happened from the infield and the video referees.

There were tens of thousands of referees watched the game and with pure hearts and motives they must have agreed with millions of audiences around the world about some of the very poor decisions made by both referees including the Scotland final try.

Mate Maʻa Tonga scored a definite try just earlier and ruled out by the video referee.

Scotland made it to the line and allowed it as a try by the same referee without any conscious that others are watching the same clips and see the ball carrier has lost control of the ball before touching the try line.

The infield referee failed to ask the video referee if the ball has lost forward or not. There is a different between genuine and intentional mistakes.

However, both team, Mate Maʻa Tonga and Scotland were performed highly and have entertained the rugby world.

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