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Jan 3, 2025 | 
abc.net.au | Doug Dingwall |Marian Kupu |Leah Lowonbu
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Dec 23, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Marian Kupu |Doug Dingwall
Tonga's parliament has elected former finance minister 'Aisake Eke as its new prime minister in a Christmas Eve sitting. He was elected in a secret ballot of Tonga's members of parliament on Tuesday afternoon (local time), winning the vote against the only opponent, Trade Minister Viliame Latu, by 16 votes to eight. "We are all here today to support each other to build Tonga," he said shortly after the result was announced.
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Dec 8, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Marian Kupu |Doug Dingwall
Tonga's prime minister has resigned ahead of an expected vote of no-confidence in parliament. Siaosi Sovaleni Hu'akavameiliku made the announcement on Monday morning before a motion for the vote was tabled. Mr Sovaleni broke down in tears as he addressed his fellow MPs.Later, he told the ABC he had considered "what option is best for Tonga" in making the decision. "I look forward to supporting whoever may be the next prime minister to actually continue the works we already put in motion," he said.
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Dec 1, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Marian Kupu
A no-confidence vote against Tonga's Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni has been postponed to next week. The Prime Minister will now have until Wednesday to respond to a no-confidence motion lodged by the Opposition. ABC reporter Marian Kupu says there are mixed views on the street of the capital Nuku'alofa, on whether the no-confidence motion is in the best interest of the country.
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Nov 25, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Marian Kupu
Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni is facing a Motion for vote of no confidence. It's set to be tabled in parliament next Tuesday, 3rd December. It's the second motion of no confidence face by the PM since he took office in 2021. At a press conference held on Monday, 26 November, Hu'akavameiliku says he bears no ill feeling against those who have launched a no confidence motion against him. "It's their right to put forward their motion of no confidence," said the Prime Minister.
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Nov 3, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Marian Kupu
The US presidential elections are only two days away. It's predicted by many to be tightly contested race. We speak to a Samoan community leader in California, Papali'i Manumalo Ala'ilima, to get his observation on how American Pacific Islanders are reacting. "We found different views, people had strong views on both sides," said Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku.
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Sep 5, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Marian Kupu
The Ikale Tahi face an uphill task in Nuku'alofa, as they strive to qualify for the semi-finals of the Pacific Nations Cup. To get there, Tonga will have to topple the Flying Fijians by at least 27 points at Teufaiva Stadium. But the omens are not good, with new coach Tevita Tui'fua yet to secure a win after four attempts. Losses on home turf to Italy, Spain and the Queensland Reds, were followed by a 43-17 defeat in their opening PNC match against Manu Samoa in Apia last weekend.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Marian Kupu
Prisoners in Tonga have provided a rare insight into the strategies used by criminal networks to bring drugs into the Pacific and then onto Australia and New Zealand. Tonga is one of several Pacific island nations struggling to deal with an sharp increase in the use of illicit drugs, particularly methamphetamines.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Marian Kupu |Adel Fruean |Nick Sas
Senituli* describes it as "easy" — that was, until he got caught. Sitting in a bare room inside Tonga's only prison, wearing a traditional Tongan short-sleeve shirt, the former drug trafficker is not the image of deep-rooted criminality you'd expect. For one, he's at retirement age and the soft-spoken 67-year-old grandfather was still trafficking until he was caught in 2019.
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Aug 26, 2024 | 
abc.net.au | Stephen Dziedzic |Marian Kupu
United Nations secretary-general António Guterres has implored major polluters and developed nations such as Australia to rapidly cut emissions and phase out coal and gas after meeting Pacific leaders in Tonga, warning the region is on the brink of climate catastrophe. Mr Guterres has also unveiled new research on climate change in the Pacific saying the region is facing both sea level rises and sea temperature increases sharply above the global average.
