King of Tonga is dead

Suva: King George Tupou V of Tonga died in a hospital in Hong Kong, Website Fijivillage reported here Monday. The king, 63, was taken to hospital Sunday afternoon and died a few hours later, sources were quoted as saying. George was crowned as Tonga’s monarch in 2008 following the death of his father in 2006, reported Xinhua. He was diagnosed with cancer last year and had a kidney removed after a “significant tumour” was located. (IANS)