- Palestinians welcome ICC arrest warrants for Israeli officials
- Senegal ruling party wins parliamentary majority: provisional results
- Fiji's Loganimasi in for banned Radradra against Ireland
- New proposal awaited in Baku on climate finance deal
- Brazil police urge Bolsonaro's indictment for 2022 'coup' plot
- NFL issues security alert to teams about home burglaries
- Common water disinfectant creates potentially toxic byproduct: study
- Chimps are upping their tool game, says study
- US actor Smollett's conviction for staged attack overturned
- Fears rise of gender setbacks in global climate battle
- 'World's best coach' Gatland 'won't leave Wales' - Howley
- Indian PM Modi highlights interest in Guyana's oil
- Israel strikes kill 22 in Lebanon as Hezbollah targets south Israel
- Argentina lead Davis Cup holders Italy
- West Bank city buries three Palestinians killed in Israeli raids
- Fairuz, musical icon of war-torn Lebanon, turns 90
- Jones says Scotland need to beat Australia 'to be taken seriously'
- Stock markets push higher but Ukraine tensions urge caution
- IMF sees 'limited' impact of floods on Spain GDP growth
- Fresh Iran censure looms large over UN nuclear meeting
- Volkswagen workers head towards strikes from December
- 'More cautious' Dupont covers up in heavy Parisian snow before Argentina Test
- UK sanctions Angola's Isabel dos Santos in graft crackdown
- Sales of existing US homes rise in October
- Crunch time: What still needs to be hammered out at COP29?
- Minister among 12 held over Serbia station collapse
- Spurs boss Postecoglou hails 'outstanding' Bentancur despite Son slur
- South Sudan rejects 'malicious' report on Kiir family businesses
- Kyiv claims 'crazy' Russia fired nuke-capable missile
- Australia defeat USA to reach Davis Cup semis
- Spain holds 1st talks with Palestinian govt since recognising state
- Stock markets waver as Nvidia, Ukraine tensions urge caution
- Returning Vonn targets St Moritz World Cup races
- Ramos nears PSG return as Sampaoli makes Rennes bow
- Farrell hands Prendergast first Ireland start for Fiji Test
- Gaza strikes kill dozens as ICC issues Netanyahu arrest warrant
- Famed Berlin theatre says cuts will sink it
- Stuttgart's Undav set to miss rest of year with hamstring injury
- Cane, Perenara to make All Blacks farewells against Italy
- Kenya scraps Adani deals as Ruto attempts to reset presidency
- French YouTuber takes on manga after conquering Everest
- Special reunion in store for France's Flament against 'hot-blooded' Argentina
- 'World of Warcraft' still going strong as it celebrates 20 years
- Fritz pulls USA level with Australia in Davis Cup quarters
- New Iran censure looms large over UN nuclear meeting
- The first 'zoomed-in' image of a star outside our galaxy
- ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif
- Minister among 11 held over Serbia station collapse
- Historic gold regalia returned to Ghana's king
- Kyiv accuses Russia of launching intercontinental ballistic missile attack
Rugby star Tameifuna worried tsunami will 'knock Tonga back' further
Tonga prop Ben Tameifuna said on Wednesday a tsunami that hit the Pacific Island nation last weekend will "knock it back a few steps" after also struggling due to coronavirus restrictions.
Three people were killed when the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano exploded on Saturday, triggering waves that ripped down homes and caused widespread flooding.
The Tongan government has called the dual eruption-tsunami "an unprecedented disaster" and reported waves as high as 15 metres (50 feet) destroyed almost every home on some outlying islands.
"Being a little country, with little resources, I feel to have this on top of what's been going on anyway is going to have a huge impact on the country," the 30-year-old Bordeaux-Begles forward told AFP.
"I think it's going to knock Tonga back a few steps."
Virtually the entire population of 100,000 people has been affected, and initial assessments indicate an urgent need for drinking water in the country, a five-hour flight to the north of New Zealand.
The tsunami broke a vital undersea communications cable linking Tonga -- which according to the World Bank had a higher GDP than just seven other countries in 2020 -- with the rest of the world. Partial phone service only returned earlier on Wednesday.
Tameifuna grew up in Auckland but he has cousins, uncles and aunts living in Tonga, which along with other Pacific Island nations provide 20 percent of the world's professional rugby players.
"I've sent a couple of texts to my family by (Facebook) Messenger but I can tell they haven't seen it because it hasn't been verified on the other end. It shows that the communications are still down," he said.
"I haven't really heard much from my family and it's worrying until you actually hear that they're alright.
"All I can do is get on with my day and pray that they are fine. Hopefully they get hold of us soon."
- 'Hearts like mountains' -
Former New Zealand centre Malakai Fekitoa and Tonga Test captain Sonatane Takulua, who both grew up in the kingdom, have set up pages online to gather funds for the recovery efforts.
The country spent a large part of the last two years suffering from border closures with wealthier neighbours such as New Zealand and Australia.
"Tonga is going to take as much help as it can," 148-kilogram tight-head Tameifuna said.
"It's not the biggest country but we have a saying in Tonga which is 'We have hearts as big as mountains'.
"Wherever we are in the world we try and contribute and raise the profile of our country."
This Saturday, 18-time international Tameifuna and his French club head to Leicester Tigers in the European Champions Cup where he is likely to face 'Ikale Tahi' (Sea Eagles) team-mate Hosea Saumaki.
"I've been up late a few times this week, just checking through my (Instagram) stories and messages," Tameifuna said.
"Every time there was a break between sessions I've been on my phone checking updates. It's in the back of my mind but I've got a job to do as well.
"I will catch up with Hosea and see if we can put a little something together. Hopefully we can have a chat and sort something out."
Fixtures (times GMT)
Friday
Harlequins (ENG) v Castres (FRA) (2000)
Saturday
Bath (ENG) v Leinster (IRL), Toulouse (FRA) v Cardiff (WAL) (both 1300), Leicester Tigers (ENG) v Bordeaux-Begles (1515), Scarlets (WAL) v Bristol Bears (ENG), Ulster (IRL) v Clermont (FRA) (both 1730), Glasgow Warriors (SCO) v La Rochelle (FRA) (2000)
Sunday
Sale Sharks (ENG) v Ospreys (WAL), Stade Francais (FRA) v Connacht (IRL) (both 1300), Munster (IRL) v Wasps (ENG), Racing 92 (FRA) v Northampton Saints (ENG) (both 1515), Montpellier (FRA) v Exeter Chiefs (1730)
D.Schneider--BTB