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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Results for politics
Thursday 25 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Saturday 24 December 2022
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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.

Wednesday 12 October 2022
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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.

Tuesday 13 September 2022
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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.

Friday 13 May 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Government will respect the decisions of the courts on electoral petitions, the Prime Minister, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, stated today after the Supreme Court voided the election of his Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Poasi Tei this morning. The PM made his statement after the May 16 date set by the Speaker for unseating members, in line with the court decisions, was deferred today “until further notice”.

Tuesday 14 December 2021
Wellington, New Zealand
New York Times reporting: New Zealand unveiled a plan Thursday to eventually ban all sales of cigarettes in the country, a decades-long effort unique in the world to prevent young people from taking up smoking. The proposal, expected to become law next year, would raise the smoking age year by year until it covers the entire population
Monday 13 December 2021
Nouméa, New Caledonia
New York Times reporting: New Caledonia will not mark the new year by becoming the world’s newest country. In a referendum held Sunday, voters rejected independence overwhelmingly, with 96% electing to stay part of France, according to provisional results released Sunday by the French High Commission in New Caledonia. The vote on the Pacific island territory comes as France’s president has prioritized shoring up the country’s international profile, seeing its military as a bulwark against China. A large portion of the Kanak pro-independence bloc boycotted Sunday’s vote.
Sunday 28 November 2021
Melbourne, Australia
New York Times Reporting by Yan Zhuang: After days of riots in the Solomon Islands during which protesters called for Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to resign, set buildings ablaze and looted stores, authorities on Saturday said they had found the bodies of three people in a burned-out building of a store in the Chinatown district. They are the first reported deaths after days of violent protests in Honiara, the nation’s capital. Australia sent around 100 police officers and soldiers Thursday and Friday to help stabilize the situation, and Papua New Guinea sent 35 police and correctional service personnel Friday.
Friday 9 July 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A close relationship between the Communist Party of China and the Tonga People’s Party, led by Prime Minister Hon. Rev Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, was revealed at a reception to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China, at the Chinese Embassy last night, 8 July. By Pesi Fonua
Thursday 20 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
It’s only six paragraphs long, but the response from parliament to King Tupou VI's confronting speech of 6 May, has taken a committee of nine MPs 11 days to prepare. When the draft letter was presented to the House on 18 May for approval, they went to the dark side of the moon – silencing live radio broadcasting of the debate, to prevent an inquisitive public listening to what members had to say about it. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tuesday 18 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's parliament suppressed live broadcasting of its debate this morning, in their first sitting since King Tupou VI questioned the honesty, integrity and abilities of the members at the opening of Parliament on 6 May. A total of 18 MPs agreed their draft letter of response to the king and debate on it should be not broadcasted live. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Saturday 10 April 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The following information is to correct any misinformation regarding the Ministry’s partnership with the Beijing Machinery Repair Company Limited.... Oku tuku atu ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala ko eni koe’uhi ke fakatonutonu ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala hala fekau’aki pea mo e fengaue’aki ‘a e Potungaue pea mo e Beijing Machinery Repair Company Limited.... Media Statement from the Tonga Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF).
Thursday 8 April 2021
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New York, USA
New York Times reporting: How does a country deal with climate disasters when it is drowning in debt? Not very well, it turns out. Especially not when a global pandemic clobbers its economy. Take Belize, Fiji and Mozambique. Vastly different countries, they are among dozens of nations at the crossroads of two mounting global crises that are drawing the attention of international financial institutions: climate change and debt.

Friday 19 February 2021
Sydney, Australia
New York Times reporting: A digitally savvy nation, Australia woke up Thursday to a shock on Facebook: the news was gone. The social network’s decision to block journalism rather than pay for it erased more than expected, leaving many outraged and debating what should happen next.
Thursday 28 January 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Prime Minister was today conferred as a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Australia, by the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga on behalf of the institute.

Wednesday 16 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan politics are in turmoil after a letter for a motion for a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, was tabled into parliament a day before the House closed its 2020 session on 10 December. Details of the letter have emerged, raising seven concerns. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Monday 14 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Minister of Justice and Deputy PM, Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia, resigned from Cabinet on Friday, 11 December, according to a reliable government source. The resignation comes during a political leadership upheaval, with a letter to parliament last week for a Vote of No Confidence against the Prime Minister.

Monday 16 November 2020
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Beijing, China
New York Times reporting: After eight years of talks, China and 14 other nations from Japan to New Zealand to Myanmar on Sunday formally signed one of the world’s largest regional free trade agreements, a pact shaped by Beijing partly as a counterweight to U.S. influence in the region.

Tuesday 10 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Board of the Tonga Rugby Union has agreed to reform the structure of the dysfunctional organisation, that has faced financial disarray.

Thursday 5 November 2020
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London, United Kingdom
New York Times reporting: An indecisive U.S. presidential election hurtling toward legal challenges transfixed the world Wednesday, with viewers in Europe, Asia and elsewhere riveted by the pitched battle between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden and appalled by Trump’s demand to stop counting votes. By Mark Landler and Damien Cave.
