Tonga News

A strong undersea earthquake struck the Tongan islands early this morning. Wednesday 25th November 2009 A magnitude 6.8 earthquake located 135 km east-north-east of the Tongan capital Nuku'Alofa was strongly felt early this morning.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: THE Tongan economy's only hope of surviving the global financial crisis is to be able to adapt and to exploit global economic changes, Tonga's Minister of Finance, Hon.

Did you feel it? Report shaking and damage at your location. You can also view a map displaying accumulated data from your report and others.

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga - November 24, 2009 -- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the Pacific island nation of Tonga, sending panicked residents into the streets at night, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The Commanding Officer of the Royal Australian Navy's heavy landing ship HMAS Tobruk, Commander Peter Thompson, was honoured by the King of Tonga, George Tupou V, at a ceremony on 21 November 2009, at the Royal Villa in the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa. The Commanding Officer of the Royal Australian Navy's heavy landing ship HMAS Tobruk, Commander ...

The commission of inquiry into the August sinking of the Tongan ferry Princess Ashika has been adjourned for two weeks.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: Photos by Mary Lyn Fonua A SPECIAL PROGRAMME for the 55th Anniversary of the Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association Tonga branch last week, concluded with a special programme at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall on Saturday morning.

A MARINE officer has testified that he informed the former Minister of Transport, Paul Karalus, that the MV Princess Ashika was not a good vessel after its first sailing on July 4. Giving critical evidence on November 13 to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika, Lisiate Vuni Latu, a marine officer for the Marine ...

IN a quest to reduce Tonga's total reliance on imported fuel, the Tonga government this week took a positive step forward when 10 representatives of donor countries and agencies gave their support to an Interim Technical Report, which outlined the basis for a Tonga Energy Roadmap for the next decade.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: The Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Police Hon.

Neiafu , Vava'u, Tonga: **image3:center*** THE Tonga government has set a target to supply 50% of Tonga's electricity generation from renewable sources within three years, according to an interim report presented to a Tonga Energy Roadmap Meeting in Vava'u this week.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: THE Prime Minister will host a historical meeting with Development Partners on Tonga's Energy Roadmap in Neiafu, Vava'u on 16-17 November 2009.

HRH Crown Prince Tupouto'a-Lavaka with His Majesty The Sultan Haji Hassananal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam HRH CROWN PRINCE TUPOUTO'A-LAVAKA presented his Letter of Credence as Tonga's Non Resident High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Brunei to His Majesty The Sultan Haji Hassananal Bolkiah Muizzaddin ...

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: THE Vava'u No. 2 People's Representative to the Tongan parliament, Samiu Vaipulu has been appointed as Tonga's new Minister of Justice.

Tuesday, 10 November 2009, 7:00pm Source: TV3 A new system of Government has been proposed for the Kingdom of Tonga, with the countryA A ATMs monarchy being stripped of some of its powers.

Limiting the King of Tonga's powers and almost doubling the number of people's seats in Parliament from nine to 17 are among key recommendations in the Constitutional and Electoral Commission's final report.

The black cab can stay, but Tonga's eccentric king will have to shed many of his royal rights under a new plan to bring the ancient kingdom into the 21st Century.

As the doomed Tongan passenger ferry Princess Ashika began to flood and list, its captain slept, only waking in time to make a mayday distress call, a Royal Commission of Inquiry has heard.

Tonga's King Siaosi Tupou V would give up most of his power to an elected government under reforms proposed by a reform commission.

Three months ago, the ferry Princess Ashika sank in heavy seas on an overnight sailing in Tonga.