Tonga

Experts predict continuing dry for much of the Pacific

This comes after up to six months of well below normal rainfall had been received.

The forecast from New Zealand's NIWA and the Pacific Islands Meteorological Services says in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, after three months of very dry conditions, below normal rainfall can be expected through to the end of the year.

Missing Tokelauans located by NZ Orion

New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre was alerted on Tuesday afternoon that the men were missing after a squall separated a fleet of small fishing boats.

An Orion flew to Tokelau yesterday and found them after a four-hour search.

The Search and Rescue Mission Co-ordinator Mike Roberts says the men had no lifejackets, flares or food, and a single bottle of water between them.

He says it seems they lost sight of land after the squall and headed in the wrong direction.

They have now been returned to Atafu Atoll.

U20 World Cup spot up for grabs for Oceania women

PNG replaced South Africa as World Cup hosts in March, gifting them automatic qualification and a second berth for Oceania.

Hosts Tonga face a tough test in today's opening match against defending Oceania champions New Zealand, who have been on an unbeaten run since 2002.

Coach Penateti Feke was a part of the Tongan team at July's Pacific Games.

She's selected four of her teammates from that event, while nine have experience from last year's Under 20 tournament.

Tonga win 'another step' towards World Cup dream

The side ran in five tries to beat Namibia 35-21 in Exeter and grab their first win of the Rugby World Cup.

Telusa Veainu and Jack Ram were both promoted to the starting line-up because of injuries and made the most of their opportunities, scoring two tries apiece, while Latiume Fosita also dotted down.

The winning margin could have been more, but fullback Vunga Lilo struggled with the kicking duties, landing just three of seven attempts, before Kurt Morath came off the bench to slot a late penalty that made him Tonga's all-time highest points scorer.

Tonga: We can still pin down top-three spot in Pool C

Having been beaten by Georgia in their opening match, the Ikale Tahi – Sea Eagles – had 10 days to lick their wounds before overcoming a spirited Namibia (above) at Sandy Park, Exeter, on Tuesday.

Head coach Mana Otai said they had had three performance goals heading into the game – to win, to take maximum points... and a third which he refused to reveal. Having scored five tries to take five points from the game, he smiled: "We’ll take the first two."

Rugby World Cup 2015: Tonga 35-21 Namibia

Telusa Veainu and Jack Ram crossed for Tonga, but Namibia's Johan Tromp pulled a try back, before Latiume Fosita's try helped Tonga into a 22-7 lead.

Ram got his second score soon after the break to secure Tonga's bonus point, although Namibia captain Jacques Burger was then forced over to keep it close.

But Veainu's second try secured Tonga's first win of this World Cup, despite a late consolation score from Burger.

Pacific marks six years since deadly tsunami

On Saturday, American Samoa held a memorial service for the 34 victims killed there.

The names of the children, father and mothers, who died in the tsunami were read and monetary awards were presented to the children who lost their parents.

The money was donated by the One Global Family organisation, founded by Laura Ava-Tesimale.

The Governor, Lolo Matalasi Moliga said the pain and suffering endured by families of the victims of the tsunami still lingers on and will never end.

Pacific Islanders learn how to resolve cross-border disputes

The workshop was held for Pacific Island countries to address whether, how and why to ratify the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (1958) New York Convention and whether to adapt their laws to the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration.

Tonga calls for regional airline

'Akilisi Pohiva attended his first Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Port Moresby last week.

Mr Pohiva says it was a good chance to observe regionalism at work.

However he says greater cooperation is also needed when it comes to the airways of the Pacific.

Sport: Football World Cup Qualifiers to kick off in Oceania

Tonga, American Samoa, Samoa and Cook Islands are all in Nuku'alofa, vying for one spot in next year's Oceania Nations Cup.

Samoa prevailed when the same teams met in Apia four years ago but head coach Phineas Young says the squad has a new look after being ovehauled in recent years.