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Saturday 24 May 2025
Cambridge-MA, USA
Power is the ability to get others to do what you want. That can be accomplished by coercion (“sticks”), payment (“carrots”), and attraction (“honey”). The first two methods are forms of hard power, whereas attraction is soft power. Soft power grows out of a country’s culture, its political values, and its foreign policies. In the short term, hard power usually trumps soft power. But over the long term, soft power often prevails. ...When you are attractive, you can economize on carrots and sticks. If allies see you as benign and trustworthy, they are more likely to be open to persuasion and follow your lead. ...But once trust is lost, it is not easily restored. By Joseph S. Nye, Jr.
Tuesday 20 May 2025

Sydney, Australia
Fakatapu ki he Tu’i ‘o e ‘Otu Tonga moe Fale ‘o Ha’a-Moheofo, Hou’eiki Nōpele, Fale Alea mo e Pule’anga ka e ‘um’aa ‘a e kakai ‘o e fonuā. Kae ‘ataa mu’a ke fai ha tānaki ki he fakatalanoa kuo feia meihe pāengani. Kuo mahino ko e sino pule ‘o e Pule’anga Fakavahe ‘oku taki ‘e he Pule-Fakavahe, memipa ‘a e kau ‘Ofisakolo, Fakafofonga Fale Alea, Pule ‘o e Va’a Pulengāue (Pa’anga, Tauhitohi, Ngāue Faka-Kalake moe Pule ‘o e Va’a Ngāue (Ako, Ngoue, Mo’ui, Langa, Kelekele, Sipoti). - ‘Inoke Hu'akau.
Sunday 18 May 2025

Sydney, Australia
Fakatapu kihe Hau ‘o e ‘Otu-Tonga mo e Fale ‘o Ha’amoheofo, Sea moe Fale Alea ‘o Tonga, Hou’eiki Nopele mo e Tauhi Fonua, Palēmia mo e Pule’anga pea ki he Tonga kotoa. Fakamolemole kae toe ‘oatu mu’a ha faka-talanoa ko e kapikapi pē kihe fakakaukau na’e ‘oatu kimu’aa, ‘o e fakalelei kuopau ke fakakakato ki he Fa’ungapule hotau  Fonua kae toki sia’a ha’atau ungangāue. - ‘Inoke Fotu Huakau
Friday 16 May 2025
Cambridge-MA, USA
When you look at a building, you can see its walls, windows, and decorative flourishes but not the hidden structure that holds everything together. Yet during an earthquake, or after years of strain, that unseen framework can suddenly collapse. The same is true of the fragile political structures that support much of the developing world. By Ricardo Hausmann
Thursday 15 May 2025

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In a brief message on the closing of Parliament today, King Tupou VI emphasized the values of good character in government, and reminded Tongans of the sacrifices made by Tonga, together with its allies – “the countries that valued freedom” in the world wars of the last century. The King said it is important to learn from history to prevent this generation repeating past mistakes.
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Friday 2 May 2025

Sydney, Australia
Koia ai, ‘oku ou poupou kakato kihe fakakaukau kuo fiema’u ‘a Tonga ke fakava’e ha ‘Epoki Fo’ou kihe talanoa Faka-Politikale, ko e Politikale ‘o e Ngāue. Na’a tau ‘osi a’u kihe tūkunga faka-politikale ko ‘eni ‘ihe pālemia ‘a Tungi (Tupou IV) pea ‘e malava ketau toe a’u kiha kuonga pehee. Koe Fili ‘o e 2025, ko e ‘uluaki faingamālie ia ke fakava’e ‘ae ‘epoki fo’ou koeni.... - Inoke Fotu Hu’akau
Sunday 5 January 2025
Utah, USA
Those who advocate for reducing the monarchy's power should recognize that every nation carries a unique political history and corresponding political theology, shaping its governance and societal values.... For democracy to succeed in Tonga, its proponents must address the foundational issue of unity. Efforts to replace the monarchy must consider the cultural, religious, and historical fabric that holds the nation together. Democracy cannot thrive in a fractured environment...Tonga’s unique context demands a governance model that respects its traditions while accommodating aspirations for representation and reform. - Peni Senituli.
2 comments
Friday 20 December 2024
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Utah, USA
As the Tongan Parliament prepares to elect a new Prime Minister, our nation stands at a critical juncture. The political climate within the House is fraught with division, animosity, and mistrust — challenges that threaten not only the effectiveness of governance but also the hope of a united future for Tonga. In such turbulent times, what Tonga urgently needs is a leader with a clear and compelling vision — one that transcends individual differences and inspires collaboration. - Seni Penitani
Tuesday 17 December 2024

Atlanta-GA, USA
‘Etita, Fakatapu ki he Hau ó Tonga mo e Fale ó Haámoheofo. Houéiki ó e fonua, Fale Alea mo e Puleánga kae úmaá á e Tonga kotoa. Fakamolemole kae fakaaú atu á e kií fietokoni koéni naá áonga ki he ngaahi felafoaki kehekehe pea mo e teu fili Palemia ka fakahoko he 24 Tisema 2024 ki hono langa hotau fonua. Ne tau toki situ’a atu mei he taimi ‘oe fokoutua koviti ne kamata mai he 2020/21 pea tau mo’ui fakangatangata ai koe’uhi ke taau moe ngaahi tu’utu’uni fakapule’anga ne lao’i ‘aki ‘etau mo’ui he taimi koia.  Hili hono too e ngaahi fakangatangata pea tau kamata ke hoko atu e mo’ui, na’e ‘iai ha ngaahi lesoni lahi ne tau siofi ke fai ha ako mei ai. Na’e ‘iai e ngaahi lelei pea moe to nounou foki...Amelia Kinahoi Siamomua.
Wednesday 27 March 2024

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Privy council will meet with King Tupou VI in Vava'u, tomorrow, Thursday 28 March. Members of the Privy Council are gathering in Neiafu today, ahead of the meeting.
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Thursday 7 March 2024

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tensions rose in the House this week as members of parliament, expressed their frustrations with the politics of the Prime Minister over his disaccord with the King and other issues, including his handling of the Lulutai Airlines. Their questions boiled over into screaming matches, which ended with two members – one from the Nobles’ table and one from the People’s table, being thrown out of the House and suspended for one and two days.
Saturday 2 March 2024

Newcastle, Australia
Rev. Dr Palu (Letters, 11 Feb.) makes a crucial mistake in asserting that the King has executive authority over government, as the King does not. This is a strange, and volatile situation. Contrary to what Rev Dr Palu implies, it would be better for Tonga if the King was to cooperate with the PM, not the other way around. - Max K.
1 comment
Wednesday 21 February 2024
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Utah, USA
Ko e kole atu ki he Pule’anga lolotongaa ke fakafoki e vahevahe ‘o Ha‘apai ki he fili Falealea ka hokoo ki he vahenga motu’aa pea kapau ko e ‘uhinga e ‘ave a Nomuka ki Foa mo Kauvai ko e tokolahii ko e taha ia e ‘uhinga ma‘ulalo. Ko e taha e fatongia e kau fakafofonga he Falee ko ‘enau fakafofonga’I e ngaahi fiema’u ‘a e ngaahi vahee mo e feinga ki he tokoni mai ‘a e Pule’angaa. Ka ‘oku totonu ke ‘oua e ngata pee ai, ka kuo pau ke ngaue fakataha 'a e kau fakafofongaa mo e kovana, kau pule fakavahe, kau ‘ofisa kolo mo e kakai ‘o e vahenga filii ‘i hono fakakaukau’i e langa faka’ekonomika ‘o e ngaahi vahenga filii. - Senituli Penitani.
Tuesday 20 February 2024
Piveni Piukala

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A member of parliament was suspended from the Legislature this morning for seven days, after he offended the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, who had filed a formal complaint against him alleging use of inappropriate words. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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Monday 19 February 2024

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku returned to the Tonga Legislative Assembly this morning after taking leave from the House for over three months, but made no mention of his Cabinet's rift with King Tupou VI. In a short opening speech the PM thanked the House for the long time he had been away. He did not have anything to say about the King's withdrawal of his confidence and consent to the appointment of two Cabinet Ministers.
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Friday 16 February 2024

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
There were a number of big issues raised by Members during question time in the Tonga Legislative Assembly yesterday, 15 February. But the most sensitive questions were those asked about the Prime Minister, who has been absent from the House for over three months. MPs wanted to know more about the disagreement between King Tupou VI and his Prime Minister that has dragged on for two weeks.
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Thursday 25 May 2023
Parliament Closing

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In a very short “soft closing” of the 2022 session of Tonga’s Legislative Assembly, King Tupou VI extended his hope that work would continue to assist the economic development of the country, while acknowledging the assistance of foreign partners.
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Saturday 24 December 2022

Suva, Fiji
Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka (74), was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Fiji this afternoon, after narrowly winning a secret ballot in parliament, getting 28 votes to the incumbent Frank Bainimarama's 27.
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Wednesday 12 October 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A program to encourage women's leadership, saw young women take seats in Tonga's Legislative Assembly to experience the decision-making process for themselves, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child in Nuku’alofa on 11 October. About 30 girls are participating in the event which concludes on 14 October.
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Tuesday 13 September 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Mele Teusiva ‘Amanaki was awarded $50,000 in damages by the Supreme Court, after winning a long and winding defamation lawsuit against Tonga Weekly newspaper and its former editor Faka'osi Maama, who published articles and a photograph on three occasions back in 2014. The Lord Chief Justice had no hesitation in finding that both defendants were actuated by malice.
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