Tonga

A copy of the petition, which contained 3330 signatures, was also delivered to the King.

A member of a committee behind the petition, Mele 'Amanaki, presented a copy to the Speaker of the House, Lord Fakafanua on Wednesday.

Matangi Tonga reports it was endorsed by 'Eua MP and one-time Finance Minister Tevita Lavemaau.

The petition names seven ministers including Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva and alleges they breached the Constitution as well as other laws, saying they are not trustworthy to govern.

The MoU, which was recently signed by the Board of The Foundation and Tonga’s Minister of Health, Dr Saia Piukala, outlines The Foundation’s commitment to continue to deliver quality eye care services in Tonga, helping to put an end to avoidable blindness in the Pacific, where four out of five people who are blind, don’t need to be.

The bodies were found last week on a small island about an hour's boat ride from the capital of Nuku'alofa.

Photos show the carcasses washed up onto the beach and nearby rocks.

Prison officer Kolianita Feke told Yahoo7 he stumbled upon the whales' remains.

"Early in the morning we walked around the island and saw them, but they were already dead for a few days," Mr Feke said.

"They were shot with a gun. It looked like they had a hole near the head area, or near their mouth."

The Tongan high school tutor has been involved in FIFA tournaments before, but to be going to the global showpiece is an absolute dream come true.

“When I received the email, my first reaction was to pray and thank the God almighty for the blessing, and to ask for his guidance and protection,” Makasini said.

“Shortly after that, I planned out the rest of my trainings and exercises before I hit the road to Moscow.”

Samoa also flexed their muscle against their neighbours American Samoa on the opening day of the Qualifier in Rarotonga.

In soaring temperatures at the CIFA Academy, Samoa had to battle hard against their determined cousins in a hotly contested local derby.

Despite creating a number of good goal scoring opportunities Valerio Raccuglia’s side were left frustrated as skipper Gabriel Taumua made a number of crucial tackles in the heart of the American Samoan defence to keep the scores level at the end of the first half.

The government said 109 of Tonga's 150 schools were damaged affecting 23,000 students at all levels of education.

It has announced a strategy to repair, retrofit and reconstruct both government and non-government schools so they can return to normal for their students as soon as possible.

So far half a million US dollars has been spent on the repair of government schools and a relief grant of $US1.5 million has been given to non-government schools for minor repairs and fixing water and sanitation.

The Auckland branch of the Otago University Alumni association has brought together firms such as Metalcraft, Fletchers and Matson Shipping to deliver the material to Nishi Trading.

Pacific Trade and Invest's Michael Greenslade, who co-ordinated the aid, said Nishi Trading was probably the biggest commercial packhouse in Tonga.

The New Zealand Film Commission is funding the film 'Vai', that depicts the life of the title character.

Its producers said Vai aims to give voice to a largely under-represented group: Pacific women.

Vai is an eight-part story written and directed by different women film-makers from around the Pacific and will be shot in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga.

Tonga's 'Ofa-ki-Levuka Guttenbeil Likiliki will write and direct of one of the eight parts.

The government pulled out of their hosting agreement last year, citing financial difficulties.

The Supreme Court has issued a Summons of Writ which the government has 28 days from issuance, (May 15), to answer.

The Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue said the body was seeking damages for the losses that it suffered as a result of the unilateral decision to withdraw without consultation.

TASANOC is seeking the same.

Mr Minogue said the claim was for three parts of the damages that were being sought as far as the council was concerned.

Police said they responded to a complaint from the school about a man who was threatening students, and firing an airgun in the air.

No one was injured.

The man was arrested on Friday after a search.

He has been charged with possession of an illegal firearm and discharging a firearm within the boundaries of a town.

He was released on bail on Monday to appear at the Magistrates Court on a later date.

Photo Kaniva News