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Man hospitalised after Fonongahina machette attack

By
Kaniva Pacific
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A  man was hospitalised after a savage machete attack  in Fonongahina last week .

The man, who was unofficially identified as  Samoa Latai of Fua’amotu, was attacked before he managed to escape the scene and allegedly got help from a passerby.

It was alleged two men on a pick up van arrived at Latai’s residence and picked him up before the incident happened.

A photo of Latai while in hospital obtained by Kaniva News shows Latai received wounds to both his rightand left hands.

Police in Tonga did not immediately respond to our request for comments.

Australian Minister announces AU$650,000 grant to help Tonga's health and private sector

By
Kaniva Pacific
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PHOTO: Hon. Julie Bishop meets Primary School students in Tonga during her two-day official visit. Photo/Supplied.

The Australian Foreign Minister, The Hon. Julie Bishop during her visit in Tonga today has announced her government has given the kingdom AU$650,000 (TP$ 979014.94) in grant.

The Hon. Bishop is in Tonga on a two-day official visit to the Pacific and she has announced AU $400,000 out of the grant funding would be donated to two innovative private sector initiatives to support smallholder vanilla farmers to improve agriculture practices and boost economic development.

Australia has assisted Tonga’s ministry of health for years and the Hon. Bishop has announced a AU $200,000 to support a new partnership with the ministry.

“This funding will support the development of a new national strategy to control and prevent non-communicable diseases, a major cause of death in the Tongan community,” she said.

On her first visit to Tonga as Foreign Minister, Hon. Bishop met with Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and his Cabinet to discuss Tonga’s important economic and political reform agenda.

“Australia is a vital partner to Tonga in its defence and security and I will visit Mansfield naval base to inspect the three Australian-supported patrol boats. The Patrol Boats Program assists Tonga to protect fisheries, combat transnational crime and strengthen maritime security”, Hon. Bishop said in a statement.

She said she would take part in a roundtable discussion with government, business and industry stakeholders on how to encourage private sector development in Tonga.

‘I will also visit an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research project which is helping revitalise Tonga’s pearl industry”.

“I will also launch the New Colombo Plan in Tonga, with 16 young Australians to study and work in Tonga this year. Ten nursing students from the University of Canberra will complete four week clinical placements in a health facility and six students from the University of the Sunshine Coast will complete psychology and tourism placements”.

The baby born without a nose

By
Kaniva Pacific
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A baby boy was born without a nose at the South Baldwin Hospital in Foley, Alabama on March 4.

The 8.6 pounds (3.9kg) Eli was born to Brandi and Troy Thompson.

Eli also doesn’t have a nasal cavity or olfactory system.

His rare condition is known as congenital arhinia and there are only about 37 cases worldwide like his. The chance of being born with congenital arhinia is one in 197 million, reported AL.com.

For more information

Alabama family prepares to welcome home baby born with rare facial condition

PM baffled by call to sack Minister of Internal Affairs  

By
Kalino Latu
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PHOTO: Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva . Photo/Supplied

Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva says he is mystified by a letter pushing him to discipline Minister for Internal Affairs Fe’ao Vakata.

The letter was written by Tonga’s Former Minister of Justice Clive Edwards, who accused Hon. Vakata of corruption and misconduct while he was a minister in the former government.

Edwards claimed the Prime Minister would not act against Hon. Vakata because he was scared it would destabilise his government.

The allegations have never been heard in court or their validity examined.

Edwards called on the Prime Minister to dismiss Hon. Vakata, claiming he was not fit to continue as cabinet minister.

Hon. Pohiva said he did not understand why Edwards raised the accusation against Hon. Vakata, when his allegations dealt with matters that occurred during the previous government.

“I question the reasons behind raising the issue now and not when it is alleged to have happened, during the term of the previous government,” the Prime Minister wrote to Edwards.

“The accused was also a Minister then.

“You should have raised this in the previous government and make this known to the people.”

Hon. Pohiva told Edwards he had seen no evidence of misconduct since Hon. Vakata joined his government.

Hon. Vakata was elected as a Democratic Party candidate for Ongo Niua 17 in 2010, but withdrew his support and became an independent before agreeing to serve as Minister for Public Enterprises in Lord Tu’ivakano’s administration.

The Prime Minister has also been dealing with two other letters of complaint from two unsuccessful candidates in the last general election, ‘Isileli Pulu and ‘Eliesa Fifita.

They claimed the government’s decision to  approve the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was the result of a rushed and slipshod process.

The Prime Minister said it was a work in progress and was still open to further dialogue and consultation.

The  main points

  • Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva says he is mystified by a letter pushing him to discipline Minister for Internal Affairs Fe’ao Vakata.
  • The letter was written by Tonga’s Former Minister of Justice Clive Edwards, who accused Hon. Vakata of corruption and misconduct while he was a minister in the former government.
  • The allegations have never been heard in court or their validity examined.
  • Pohiva told Edwards he had seen no evidence of misconduct since Hon. Vakata joined his government.

For more information

Hon. Fe’ao Vakata, Public Enterprises Minister (Ministry of Information)

http://www.mic.gov.to/appointments/new-ministers-/2010-hon-sosefo-feao-vakata-moteys-minister

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 

UN has reservations about Tonga’s CEDAW move (RNZI)

TASANOC General Secretary warns of legal action after executive demands his resignation

By
Kalino Latu
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PHOTO: Takitoa Taumoepeau the General Secretary for Tonga’s Association for Sport and National Olympic Committee. Photo/Supplied

The General Secretary for Tonga’s Association for Sport and National Olympic Committee says he will consider court action after he was ordered to resign last week.

TASANOC head Takitoa Taumoepeau said he received a demand from the organisation’s executive on March 30 that he resign or face the sack.

Taumoepeau said he may take the matter to court because it involved defamation.

In July 2013 the national sporting body announced it had it terminated its contract with Taumoepeau, citing an alleged mismanagement of office funds.

He was later told he could continue in the position as a volunteer.

However, he was restored to his post after the General Secretary for the Oceania National Olympic Confederation, Ric Blas, intervened and told TASANOC its termination of Taumoepeau’s contract was unconstitutional.

Taumoepeau described the latest demand for his resignation as the result of the “personal agenda” of one member of the executive committee.

He told Kaniva News he would comment later because he was working on the upcoming Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.

TASANOC’s executive committee could not be reached for comment.

The main points

  • The head of Tonga’s Asssociation for Sport and National Olympic Committee has been told to resign or face the sack.
  • TASANOC General Secretary, Takitoa Taumoepeau, said he received the demand on Monday.
  • He was sacked from his position in 2013 following financial allegations.
  • He was reinstated after the General Secretary for the Oceania National Olympic Confederation, Ric Blas, intervened.

Police release name of fugitive, believe may be hiding in Vavaʻu

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The Tongan Police have identified the fugitive that allegedly held a young woman captive in a hut in a plantation in Puke for several days without giving her any food as Sione Teisina ‘Afa, 28, from Navutoka.

Kaniva News understands the woman was 20-year-old Tāpaita Fīnau of Vainī.

She managed to free herself while in captivity and fled to neighbours for help.

She was taken to hospital where she received medical assitance before she was released.

After a month since Teisina was on the run on February 27 Police could not be able to locate him.

He was believed to have escaped the mainland, Tongatapu and was hiding in places in Vava’u Islands.

Police have warned that anyone found harbouring the fugitive will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

New music software launched in Nuku'alofa

By
Alpha Latu
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PHOTO: L-R. Victor Mataele, Kik Velt, PM ‘Akilisi Pōhiva and Sione Langi. Photo/Supplied

A musical software that has been launched in Nukuʻalofa last week saw a dramatic change in instrumental music, notation and composition.

It has been claimed the work was a result of a 15 years research and study by Tongan musician and composer Victor Mataele.

With the ordinary music system that use the Italian notes, clefs and scale, Mataele used sets of Arabic numbers in which he claimed the “easiest music notation for use”.

In his speech during the ceremony, the Guest of Honour,  Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said the new innovation would be introduced to the Music Committee of the education community in Tonga.

The founder of the Tau’olunga Computer, Kik Velt together with his work colleague, Sione Langi assisted Victor’s work in programming his music notation software making it available to be used in computer and internet.

Vainī doves win 2015 rugby league nines first tournament

By
Kalino Latu
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PHOTO: Tonga national rugby league chairman Hon. Semisi Sika presenting TP$1000 to Vainī Dovesʻ captain. Photo/Supplied

Vainī Doves have won Tonga’s rugby league nine-a-side first tournament for 2015 after beating Matahau Storm 14-6.

The final between the two teams went into five minutes’ overtime after the scores were levelled by a try from Sione ‘Alatini of Matahau and a successful conversion.

However, Doves came out on top after scoring two tries in the extra time.

Solomone Lavaka and Setefano Nau both went over the line with the ball. Their last minute tries meant Doves took home the TP$1000 (NZ$673) first prize while Matahau took TP$800 (NZ$539) as runners-up.

Vainī won a place in the final after beating last year’s champion, Ha’akame Broncos 14-16 in the semi-final.

Opponents Matahau Storm got their chance after beating Havelu Bulldogs 16-10.

A second nine-a-side tournament will start next month.

The tournaments have been set up as opportunities to select Tonga’s team for the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea in July.

Final placings in the tournament were:

  1. Vainī Doves
  2. Matahau Stormers
  3. Havelu Bulldogs
  4. Ha’akame Broncos
  5. Ha’ateiho Crusaders
  6. Navutoka Cowboys
  7. Mu’a Saints

Powerful earthquakes strike near Niua Toputapu and Samoa

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

A 6.4 earthquake has hit close to the island of Niutoputapu in Tonga at 6pm after a 7.6 magnitude earlier struck Samoa.

But there were no immediate reports of injury or destruction and no tsunami warning has been issued.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the first quake had a magnitude of 6.4 and a depth of 11 kilometres (7 miles), striking 109 kilometres (68 miles) northeast of Tonga’s Hihifo district Monday night. It was followed 30 minutes later by a magnitude-6.5 quake that had a depth of 15 kilometres (9 miles) and struck 99 kilometres (62 miles) northeast of Hihifo.

Leveni Aho, Director of Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office, reportedly said his staff was trying to make contact with officials on the islands near the epicenter, but had not received any reports of damage. No tremors were felt on Tonga’s main island, located about 600 kilometres (370 miles) south of Hihifo, he said.

“I think if there was anything significant, it would have been reported by now,” Aho said.

Prime Minister’s injuries caused by accident, not an attack, Pohiva’s office says  

By
Kalino Latu
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PHOTO: Elder O. Vincent Haleck of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (right)  presented Prime Minister Pohiva with a letter from the Church’s First Presidency congratulating him on his election on 29 December. Photo/Sione Langi Folau and Siniva Fotu

Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has not been attacked, his office said last night.

The Prime Minister’s communications unit was responding to speculation that a photograph of an injured Hon. Pohiva  proved he had been attacked at home.

The photo first appeared on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ news website in New Zealand and has been widely circulated online.

In the photograph, which was taken at an award ceremony in Ha’apai recently,  Hon. Pohiva’s nose and lips appear to be bruised.

Some commentators have linked it to reports in some Tongan  newspapers that Hon. Pohiva had said he was attacked at home.

However, Kalafi Moala, from the Prime Minister’s office communication unit, told Kaniva News this evening the Prime Minister had been trying to save a pig which was attacked and bitten by his dog at his residence.

It was still dark and the Prime Minister, who was not carrying a torch, stumbled and injured his face and hand, Moala said.

This happened shortly before he travelled to Ha’apai for an award ceremony, where he was photographed with his injuries.

The award was initiated by the government of Tonga and the Mormon Church in appreciation of apprentice builders who helped in the rebuilding project for the Ha’apai group.

Parts of the Tongan press also appear to have misinterpreted a statement Hon. Pohiva made in Ha’apai last month during the appointment of the new governor, Ha’apai Mo’ale Finau.

Hon. Pohiva  urged Finau to be courageous in his new job and said he had met with a number of incidents in his political career where his life was at risk.

The Prime Minister said one night he dreamed that he had been attacked by his window. He raised his hand to protect himself as he was waking up and injured himself.

The main points

  • Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has not been attacked, his office said last night.
  • The Prime Minister’s communications unit was responding to speculation that a photograph of an injured Hon. Pohiva proved he had been attacked at home.
  • The photo first appeared on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ new website in New Zealand and has been widely circulated online.
  • However, Hon. Pohiva’s office said the injuries were the result of a mishap while dealing with a pig that had been attacked by his dog.
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