A 61-year-old Richmond resident is facing more than 30 counts after law enforcement officials say she ran a $13 million Ponzi scheme out of her Stockton office in California. According to U.S. Attorney’s officials, Tilila Siola’a Walker Sumchai defrauded investors within the country as well as in Australia and New Zealand — winning them over by convincing them she used a ‘secret algorithm’ allowing her to get money quick. Sumchai also told investors if they gave her $30,000, then they would receive a home in Lodi worth about half-a-million dollars. Instead of investing the money, officials say Sumchai used it…
Author: Newsdesk
The Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, has emphasized the importance of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an inclusive way. Hu’akavameiliku was speaking at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (SDG Summit) in New York on 18 September 2023. “Science, technology, and innovation offer cost-effective ways and inclusivity to development projects,” he said. “However, we must use them with caution to ensure that they are risk-informed and mitigate potential detrimental effects on our environment and people’s well-being, leaving no one behind.” Tonga is highly vulnerable to climate change, natural disasters, and…
The Kingdom of Tonga looks like paradise, but its lush coconut palms nurse a hidden problem that threatens the health of its people. Thousands of cars are imported here every year, but, due to the cost of removing them, they never leave. When a car comes to the end of its life, it’s usually abandoned. Tropical downpours wash the rusted metal, chemicals from flaking paint, and oil residue into the earth, contaminating the drinking water supply. In the past few decades, scrap cars have accumulated. The main island of Tongatapu has about 30,000 — equivalent to one rusted hulk for every three people. Now, Tonga is racing…
The Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, held a bilateral meeting this morning with the President of Estonia, His Excellency Mr. Alar Karis, on the sidelines of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York. The Prime Minister commended the enhanced diplomatic relations between the two countries since its establishment in early 2015. The mutual partnership has since grown from strength to strength as they had envisaged focused engagements in the United Nations, other international organizations and Climate Change. The Prime Minister emphasized that Climate Change and Oceans remain top priorities for…
Wales had to hang on with their fingernails as they edged Fiji in a thrilling Rugby World Cup Pool C match in Bordeaux, winning 32-26 on Sunday. The Fijians came agonisingly close to recovering from 32-14 down with just seven minutes remaining, but a knock-on from Semi Radradra ended their fight. Earlier, Wales had crossed the try-line through Josh Adams, George North, Louis Rees-Zammit and Elliot Dee, with Dan Biggar kicking 12 points off the tee. For Fiji, their scorers were Waisea Nayacalevu, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Josua Tuisova and Mesake Losilosi Doge, but they will rue this loss as one that got away.…
Thought it was what my grandparents used to tell me when you hear roosters crow in the night back in the village. They would say it’s the ‘ciri’ or two believed to be drifting past the village out at sea. Last night it was a lone Rooster that sounded so loud and clear. Not only in France but around the world of rugby. They plucked the Kiwi feathers and won the battle of the big birds as the 2023 Rugby World Cup kicked off in style. France won the hearts of their fans in a game that saw them also…
Over 200 entrepreneurs from across the Pacific region and other stakeholders attended the inaugural Pacific Islands Entrepreneurship Expo at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji. The two-day event set to unleash the potential of entrepreneurs and small enterprises ended today. One of the key highlights of the event was the business pitches delivered by finalists from the GGGI Pacific Greenpreneurs Accelerator Regional Pitch Finals. Ginger-Lei (Fiji) Pte Ltd won the final. Among the finalists was Masa Kawaguchi from South Pacific Mozuku in Tonga. Kawaguchi was awarded a 6-month virtual membership of Greenhouse co-working. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to…
Ten members of Parliament have signed a letter as a motion for a Vote Of No Confidence (VONC) in the Prime Minister, Hu’akavameiliku. The motion was filed in Parliament on Tuesday 22 August. The Prime Minister is yet to respond. Piveni Piukala, one of the signatories, have said publicly that much of the accusations against the Prime Minister has to do with financial management, and with the budget in particular. He said that in the previous budget the government’s traveling allowance was budgeted at TOP$13 million, but grew to TOP$21 million in the current budget. He claimed this was unlawful…
Prime Minister Rabuka of Fiji in his opening statement at the Pacific SIDS (Small Islands Developing States) High Level Dialogue on Climate Change held in Suva Monday, 21 August, urged world leaders to assist island nations to combat climate crisis. He said, “We remind the rest of the world that the conditions that led to global warming were not created by the islanders of the Pacific, and yet we bear the brunt of the hazard.” He also called for support “to build infrastructure to withstand the intensifying effects of rising sea levels, extreme weather and the shifting dynamics of the…
Tonga has launched a new project funded by the Codex Trust Fund to improve food safety in the country. The project, which is a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests and the Ministry of Health, will focus on strengthening Tonga’s participation in the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an international organization that sets standards for food safety. The project’s first step is an inception workshop, held from August 23-24 at the Kupesi Tonga Hotel. The workshop will bring together stakeholders from government, the private sector, and civil society to discuss the project’s objectives, strategies, and expected outcomes. During the…