The Tonga National Paralympic Committee (TNPC) has announced its delegation representing Tonga at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. This achievement comes after Tonga secured a universality spot at the Games. Leading the delegation as the Chef de Mission is Siosifa Pomana, accompanied by Coach Tevita Vake and para-athlete Meleane Falemaka, who will compete in the women’s F37 discus throw event. This marks Ms. Falemaka’s first Paralympic appearance, as she missed out on the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games due to strict COVID-19 travel restrictions that led to the withdrawal of Tonga and other Pacific islands. “Meleane has shown dedication and resilience…
Author: Newsdesk
After weather-related delays, Digicel has officially launched its 5G network in Apia. The rollout began on Monday at five sites, including the Levili Data Centre, FMFMII, NFP building, Tatte building, and Frankie Mall. Despite heavy downpours postponing the original launch date, Digicel plans to expand to 15 additional sites within the next year. “This 5G launch isn’t just about faster speeds; it’s about delivering an exceptional experience for our customers in Samoa,” said Anthony Seuseu, CEO of Digicel Samoa. “We are committed to improving our network and opening new possibilities with this transformative technology.” 5G technology promises significantly faster speeds…
Vanuatu’s pioneering ban on single-use plastics, including bags and straws, has yielded significant improvements since its implementation in 2018. The Guardian reports that plastic shopping bags are now rarely seen, with most shoppers using reusable alternatives. Festivals and events have shifted to banana leaves instead of polystyrene, reducing the banned plastics’ share of waste from 35% to less than 2%. Local chief Mr. Ken Andrew highlighted the positive environmental impact: “Since they started the ban, you can see the lagoon has become cleaner. Previously, the plastic would form a small island inside the lagoon. We couldn’t conquer it, there was…
The Supreme Court has ordered the Public Services Commission to cease advertising for and recruiting a Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has also suspended Paula Ma’u’s appointment as acting CEO. In April, Judge Cooper issued an interim injunction. The defendants, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Public Services Commission, and Ma’u, sought a review of this decision. The case summary revealed that in February, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs requested a judicial review of Ma’u’s appointment, claiming the Public Services Commission overstepped its authority by creating the CEO position and recruiting Ma’u. It was…
Tonga’s dream of participating in their first FIFA World Cup is becoming a reality thanks to FIFA’s expanded tournament format, which increases the number of teams from 32 to 48. This change guarantees a spot for Oceania and gives Tonga an opportunity for the world stage. The pools for the Oceania Preliminary Qualifying were drawn last Friday at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, featuring seven teams and the winner of the first qualifying round. Tonga’s national team, Tu’ulalupe, will start their journey in September with matches against Samoa, American Samoa, and Cook Islands in Apia. To advance, Tonga must win…
Moana Pasifika has secured a major signing with All Blacks Vice-Captain and 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year, Ardie Savea, committing to the team through 2027. Savea, a distinguished player with 84 All Blacks caps, has captained the team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and in their historic 100th test against South Africa. Savea, who previously played for the Hurricanes and recently for the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan, will reunite with his brother, Julian Savea, at Moana Pasifika. Known for his powerful ball-carrying and leadership, Savea brings both experience and dedication to his new club. “I’ve got…
Former President Barack Obama did not endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would end his reelection campaign. In a statement, Obama praised Biden’s “remarkable career in public service” and acknowledged the difficulty of Biden’s decision to step aside. “Joe understands better than anyone the stakes in this election,” Obama said. “For him to decide to pass the torch is surely one of the toughest decisions he’s faced.” Obama expressed confidence in the Democratic Party’s ability to select an outstanding nominee, stating, “We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days…
On Sunday morning, the Tonga Police alerted New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) about two fishermen overdue between Nuku’alofa and Fonoifua. The boat, which had left Nuku’alofa at 1:30 pm on Saturday, was on a five-hour journey when it capsized near Tau Island. RCCNZ swiftly provided drift modelling to aid the search and rescue efforts. The fishermen, who are yet to be named, were found alive and well by Tonga Police later that afternoon, having drifted 35 nautical miles (64.8 kilometres) over approximately 20 hours from Tau Island to Ata Island. The drift trajectory was consistent with RCCNZ’s predictions. RCCNZ…
Tonga Netball has announced its Under-21 National Squad for 2024, with players vying for a spot in the World Youth Cup Oceania Qualifying Team competing in the Cook Islands in September. Eight members of the Tonga Tala squad, which won their fourth consecutive Pacific Netball Series (PNS) title in June, are on this team. These players are Alice Cocker, Ana Kailahi, Lose Fainga’anuku, Lucia Fauonuku, Lata Holi, Liesl Hopoate, Emma Mateo, and Beyonce Palavi. Head coach Jaqua Pori-Makea-Simpson talked about the importance of integrating young talent into the Tonga Tala squad when she blended in the eight Under-21s with the…
Meet Lemeki and John Tagi – the father and son duo behind All Stone & Rock, a Tongan family business that has won a multimillion-dollar contract to provide stonework around Auckland Airport. Visitors to Auckland will see the company’s stonework around the airport precinct, depicting the volcanic landscapes of Tamaki Makaurau. The Tagi family’s success is a long way from when the family of 11 was crammed into one bedroom of a Sandringham, Auckland, state house. “We had some very tough times in the early days,” Lemeki Tagi, 64, told the Herald. “But I always had faith and always believed that…