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Tonga’s passport ranking holds at 39th as citizenship-for-sale plan fears grow

By
Kalino Latu
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The release of Tonga’s global passport ranking this week has reignited public debate over Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua’s proposal to introduce a citizenship-by-investment scheme in partnership with Henley & Partners.

Lord Fakfanua who was appointed new Prime Minister of Tonga in December

Henley & Partners is a global investment-migration consultancy best known for producing the Henley Passport Index, a ranking based on 20 years of exclusive International Air Transport Association (IATA) data that measures the travel freedom of the world’s passports.

The latest Henley Passport Index released this week ranks 199 passports across 227 destinations worldwide.

It shows that holders of Tongan passports can now travel visa-free to 131 countries, up from 127 in October.

Those destinations include China, the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel and France.

Tonga remains ranked 39th, unchanged from last year, while Samoa has edged up one place, moving from 39th to 38th.

Elsewhere in the Pacific, Tuvalu sits at 41st, Kiribati at 42nd, and Micronesia and Palau share 43rd place. Fiji has also improved slightly, rising to 54th from 55th last year.

Cash for Citizenship

The unchanged ranking comes a month after Kaniva News revealed confidential documents outlining a plan to sell Tongan citizenship through a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme.

The proposal, designed and promoted by Henley & Partners, would allow foreign nationals to obtain Tongan citizenship in exchange for a substantial financial contribution.

Under the plan, a single applicant would pay US$190,000, while a family of two to four would pay US$220,000. The payment is described as a non-refundable contribution to a government fund or a charitable donation.

Fiscal Rationale Explained

Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, who advocated for the Henley & Partners proposal while serving as Speaker of Parliament last year and was elected Prime Minister in December, has argued that the programme offers a vital solution to Tonga’s chronic budget deficits and long-standing reliance on foreign aid.

He also told Kaniva News last year that no decision had been approved and that, if the proposal were to proceed, it would be subject to the full legal process, including public consultation and advice to the King.

Since his election as Prime Minister, Lord Fakafanua has yet to provide any public update on the proposed scheme.

His elevation to office, however, has led critics to argue that the plan is now imminent.

Firm’s Controversial Role

The debate has been further inflamed by recent restrictions on Tongan travellers to the United States, which some critics attribute, in part, to the legacy of Tonga’s failed passport sales programme in the 1980s—an episode that saw Tongan documents linked to international crime and abuse.

The controversial sale generated about US$26 million but later became linked to international criminals, including members of the ousted Marcos family of the Philippines, with much of the money lost in a failed investment scheme in the United States.

Henley & Partners’ involvement has also raised concern. The firm helped establish Malta’s “golden passport” programme, which was ruled illegal by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in April 2025.

The court found that Malta’s scheme commodified citizenship without requiring a genuine link to the country, making it incompatible with EU law.

Henley & Partners, the sole marketing agent for that programme, opposed the ruling, arguing it misunderstood the socio-economic role of investment migration.

Warnings From History

The memories of earlier passport sales remain fresh in Tonga today. More than 400 Chinese citizens obtained Tongan passports in the early 1990s, settling in the kingdom under the previous scheme, despite the then-government’s assurances that such buyers would not reside in Tonga

The episode continues to shape public unease, particularly amid ongoing debate over Chinese influence in Nukuʻalofa’s central business district.

Anonymous critics told Kaniva News that, without ironclad transparency and governance, any new programme risks repeating those failures and undermining regional security.

While Tonga’s passport strength has modestly improved in terms of visa-free access, the ranking itself remains unchanged—highlighting that the value of citizenship rests not only on mobility, but on trust in how it is granted.

‘Shocking incident’: Man dead, three critically hurt in Horowhenua shooting

By
Kaniva Staff
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By 1News Reporters and republished with permission

  • Three people are in a critical condition and one man is dead after a “shocking” shooting overnight in the Horowhenua settlement of Waitārere Beach.
Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said police responded to a 111 call about 12.40am today.
Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said police responded to a 111 call about 12.40am today. (Source: 1News)

A man was found dead at the Waitārere Beach Road property, and police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said police responded to a 111 call about 12.40am today.

“Responding officers were told that a firearm had been discharged at the address and when they arrived, four people were found with wounds that are consistent with being shot,” he said.

“An adult woman and two older teenage males were located with critical injuries. The woman was taken to Palmerston North Hospital by ambulance and the two males flown to Wellington Hospital.

Speaking this afternoon from Waitārere Beach, Grantham confirmed the dead man was aged 60, the woman injured was 46 and the two injured males were 21 and 17.

The three injured people remain critically ill in hospital.

Inspector Ross Grantham at the scene in Waitārere Beach.
Inspector Ross Grantham at the scene in Waitārere Beach. (Source: 1News)

“Another young person who was at the address is physically unharmed and they are being given wrap-around support.”

Grantham confirmed this child was a member of the family.

They were being cared for by other family members.

Grantham said a firearm was located at the scene and a forensic examination of the property would begin today.

Police said officers would be visible around the area while the investigation progresses.
Police said officers would be visible around the area while the investigation progresses. (Source: 1News)

He said the officers who administered first aid “very quickly” likely saved the lives of the people who survived.

“It is a confronting scene, it is nothing that anybody should have to experience. Unfortunately we do, and our people are doing the best they can in the circumstances.”

Asked if the 60-year-old man had a firearms licence or was known to police, Grantham said: “I don’t know.”

“Next steps will be that our team will conduct a scene examination and eventually the deceased will be removed and undergo a post-mortem examination which will be part of our inquiry.”

Grantham said this was another “terrible, terrible tragedy” in the community.

He said while police are not looking for anyone else, officers would be visible around the area while the investigation progresses.

“We are still in the very early stages of our inquiries, but we are focused on understanding how and why this tragic event occurred,” Grantham said.

A map showing Waitārere Beach in relation to Levin
A map showing Waitārere Beach in relation to Levin (Source: 1News)

Waitārere Volunteer Fire Brigade said the road was closed in both directions from the turn off and Grefor Lane following the incident.

“This means no entry or exit currently. The road will be re opened ASAP,” a spokesperson said.

In a post shared to Facebook, the brigade offered its support to “all involved – family, friends and all emergency responders”.

“Events like these impact small communities like ours in different ways,” the post said.

“Please look after yourselves, others, be kind, check in with each other and be respectful.”

The town, located 14km northwest of Levin, and 17km southwest of Foxton had a reported population of just over 2500 as of June 2025.

In 2015, the township was rocked by the killing of 10-year-old Alex Fisher, who was murdered by his half-brother Eric McIsaac.

Alex’s body was discovered after a three-day search involving over 100 people.

Tonga unveils locally designed baton for 2026 Commonwealth Games relay

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZPacific pacificnews@rnz.co.nz

Tonga’s sports association has unveiled a locally designed baton to be used in the relay for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

TASANOC Secretary-General and CEO Mrs Netina Latu Vea presents the Tonga baton to British High Commissioner His Excellency Mr. Philip Malone.

Photo: TASANOC Facebook

The Tonga Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC) – also known as the Tonga Commonwealth Games Association – presented it to British High Commissioner Philip Malone.

Tonga’s Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) commissioned master carver Sitiveni Fehoko to craft the baton.

Carved on Scottish ashwood, the design represents Tonga’s deep ocean heritage and its early leadership in Pacific seafaring and navigation.

TASANOC Secretary-General and CEO Mrs Netina Latu Vea presents the Tonga baton to British High Commissioner His Excellency Mr. Philip Malone.

Photo: TASANOC Facebook

Tonga CGA Secretary-General and CEO, Netina Latu Vea, said the relay represents unity, pride and the shared commitment of all Commonwealth nations.

“Tonga’s baton tells our story – our identity, our ocean, and our people,” she said.

The Glasgow Games baton relay began in March 2025 in the Caribbean, and has since continued through parts of Africa and Asia. The relay for the 2026 Games takes place over 500 days.

Tonga will take part from 1-7 February 2026, and the baton is set to tour aged-care homes, community centres, and the Vaiola Hospital.

During that week, there will be three days of beach and waterfront clean-ups across Tongatapu to support the Commonwealth Games’ ‘Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign’ – aiming to remove one million pieces of plastic from the world’s waterways during the relay.

“We are honoured to contribute to the global ‘Plastic Free Oceans’ effort and to showcase Tongan creativity and culture through our deep connection to water,” Latu Vea said.

A series of free community sports sessions and clean ocean community education activities will be held in December and January.

Once it leaves Tonga, the relay will continue throughout the South Pacific and the Americas before arriving in Glasgow for the Games’ Opening Ceremony on 23 July.

Glasgow will host a scaled-down Games, with 10 sports: artistic gymnastics, athletics and para athletics, 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball, boxing, swimming and para swimming, bowls and para bowls (indoor), judo, netball, track and para track cycling, and weightlifting and powerlifting.

Tongan researcher warns TikTok gout videos are misleading millions

By
Kaniva Staff
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A new international study led by Tongan researcher Dr Samuela ‘Ofanoa has found that TikTok videos about gout are frequently inaccurate, misleading, and out of step with medical guidelines—potentially putting millions of people at risk of poor disease management.

Dr Samuela ‘Ofanoa emphasises the research is about empowering communities and reframing the narrative. Photo/University of Auckland

Dr ‘Ofanoa, a Research Fellow at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, analysed 116 TikTok videos under the search term “gout”, which together attracted more than 426 million views. The findings were published this month in the medical journal Rheumatology Advances in Practice.

The study revealed that while 79 percent of videos discussed gout management, most focused on dietary advice and herbal remedies with limited long-term effectiveness. Only two videos mentioned urate-lowering therapy—the gold-standard treatment recommended by rheumatologists.

Nearly half of the videos addressed risk factors, but overwhelmingly blamed diet and lifestyle, while downplaying genetics, kidney function, and weight—key clinical determinants. Many promoted unverified supplements and “natural cures”, often using imagery of health professionals to boost credibility.

“TikTok has great potential as a tool to raise awareness around health issues such as gout,” Dr ‘Ofanoa said. “But our findings show that much of the content is inaccurate and reinforces stigma by framing gout as a personal choice.”

For Pacific communities, including Tongans, the implications are profound. Gout disproportionately affects Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, yet stigma and misunderstanding often prevent families from seeking timely care.

“For Pacific peoples, gout is not simply a lifestyle disease,” Dr ‘Ofanoa said. “Our bodies have evolved over centuries as wayfinding, seafaring peoples—adapted for survival in oceanic environments. These genetic factors mean we process uric acid differently.

“When TikTok videos blame diet alone, it fuels shame and stigma. We need culturally grounded education that explains the science and supports families without judgement.”

Globally, gout affects an estimated 41 million people, with around seven million new cases each year. Despite clear clinical guidelines, the condition remains poorly controlled, largely due to gaps in awareness and adherence to effective treatment.

Dr ‘Ofanoa says the study highlights an urgent opportunity for health authorities to engage Pacific and younger audiences through the same platforms they already use.

“Health professionals and organisations need to utilise the opportunity that social media presents and create engaging, evidence-based content to counter misinformation,” he said.

For Tonga and the wider Pacific, the message is clear: in the digital age, protecting public health means meeting people where they are—and ensuring that what they find is accurate, culturally grounded, and free from stigma.

China’s recent crackdown on churches rekindles reflections on Tonga’s Christianisation mission

By
Kaniva Staff
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A fresh series of arrests against underground Christian churches in China has refocused attention on Tonga’s earlier attempts to establish a Christian mission presence there—an ambition previously championed by members of the Tongan Royal Family.

Chinese police this month detained members of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Sichuan province, including its leader Li Yingqiang, after a raid on his home.

According to a report by the BBC, nine people were detained on Tuesday last week after police carried out raids on their homes and a church office in the central Chinese city of Chengdu. The Early Rain Covenant Church told the broadcaster that five of those detained had been released by Wednesday.

The BBC also reported that, more than 1,000 miles away in Wenzhou, authorities began demolishing the Yayang Church building. Video footage obtained by the non-profit organisation ChinaAid, which monitors religious persecution in China, showed the demolition taking place.

Christian groups cited by the BBC said the latest arrests—following similar actions last year—underscore what they describe as the Chinese Communist Party’s determination to suppress churches that do not align with state ideology.

Human Rights Watch said the detentions were part of a pattern of intensified pressure on unregistered Protestant churches.

In Zhejiang province, authorities recently detained around 100 members of Yayang Church and surrounded the building with armed police before demolition work began.

Other recent operations have included coordinated arrests involving leaders and members of the Zion Church and additional underground congregations across multiple cities.

Authorities Cite Legality

Chinese authorities maintain that such measures fall within legal regulations governing religious activity.

The Chinese government frames its crackdown of Christianity policies as being for the benefit of social harmony and national stability through “Sinicization,” or the alignment of religious doctrines with Chinese culture and the ideology of the Communist Party, says a report by the South China Morning Post.

Estimates of China’s Christian population vary widely, ranging from about 44 million registered believers in 2018 to more than 100 million when unregistered house church members are included.

Some projections suggest that, if current trends continue, China — with a population of about 1.42 billion in 2024–2025 — could become the world’s largest Christian nation by 2030.

Evangelical Hopes Reassessed

The recent developments revisit media report from 1998 in which Princess Pilolevu described Tonga’s growing diplomatic engagement with China as an opportunity for Christian outreach.

She said that while she was in China, she had been permitted to offer grace at official meetings, including at the Great Hall of the People and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — a practice she interpreted at the time as a sign of respect for Tonga’s Christian identity.

Nearly three decades after the Princess spoke of a Tongan Christian mission in China, there remains no known Tongan church established there. This stands in stark contrast to the flourishing network of newly founded Tongan congregations across the diaspora, including in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.

Despite this, the close relationship between the Tongan Royal Family and the Chinese Communist Party has remained strong and continuous.

King Tupou VI of Tonga undertook a state visit to China last year from November 21 to 27 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the monarch’s first visit in seven years.

Chinese officials said the visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, with discussions held on cooperation between the two countries as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Tongan constitution allows freedom of religious practice, freedom of worship, and freedom of assembly for religious services, provided these freedoms are not used “to commit evil and licentious acts” or to “do what is contrary to the law and peace of the land.” 

New Zealanders in Iran urged to leave as unrest deepens and Trump weighs military options

By
Kaniva Staff
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New Zealanders in Iran have been warned to leave the country immediately as deadly protests intensify and the United States signals possible military action against the Iranian regime.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said it is closely monitoring the situation, including through New Zealand’s embassy in Tehran, and has been in direct contact with the 39 New Zealanders currently registered in Iran.

A spokesperson said those New Zealanders had been reminded of SafeTravel advice and urged to depart while commercial routes remain available.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said he was “gravely concerned” by reports that protesters had been killed and called on Iranian security forces to “refrain from violence”.

“New Zealand is deeply troubled by the loss of life and the escalating use of force against civilians,” Peters said in a post on X.

The warning comes as protests across Iran enter their third week, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reporting it has verified 544 deaths so far.

The true toll may be higher, with information flowing out of the country increasingly restricted after Iranian authorities cut internet access and telephone lines on Thursday.

The unrest has also drawn sharp attention from Washington. President Donald Trump said he is weighing military options against Iran, following through on earlier threats to act against the regime as demonstrations turn increasingly deadly.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on January 11, as he returned to Washington after a weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Meanwhile, senior figures in the Iranian regime warned that any U.S. strike on Iran would trigger retaliation against Israel.

The convergence of mass protests, tightened internal controls, and the prospect of foreign military action has heightened concerns for the safety of foreign nationals in Iran.

MFAT said the security environment remains unpredictable and could deteriorate rapidly, urging New Zealanders not to wait.

“Our advice is clear: New Zealanders in Iran should leave now while it is still possible to do so safely,” the ministry said.

Samoan Chief convicted of slavery and human trafficking faces sentencing in Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
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A 63-year-old Samoan chief who enslaved two young people, raped one of them, and stripped both of their freedom and income for years is set to be sentenced, according to RNZ.

Moeaia Tuai. Photo: RNZ / Gill Bonnett

Moeaia Tuai was found guilty after a jury heard how he “treated a person as if they were owned,” the legal definition of slavery presented during the trial.

Prosecutors detailed how Tuai exercised near-total control over his victims’ lives—restricting where they could go, who they could see, and who they could speak to.

He used violence and threats to enforce obedience, withheld their wages, denied them access to money, and warned them of deportation if they resisted.

At trial, Tuai’s own diaries became critical evidence. They recorded the hours the young woman worked, how much she was paid, and when she was “punished” with beatings.

The prosecution told the jury that only one of the elements of slavery was needed to secure a conviction, but that Tuai had committed them all.

He confiscated the victims’ passports and bank cards, kept their wages, and paid them little for their labour. One young male victim worked between 50 and 60 hours a week, receiving just $100 to $150—equivalent to $2 or $3 an hour.

He dreamed of finishing school but was instead forced into years of labour.

The young man escaped in 2020 after four years, including time spent in Australia. Four years later, the female victim raised the alarm after Tuai raped her. Police investigations then uncovered the full extent of the slavery both had endured.

During that period, the two victims—who cannot be identified—were at the very start of their adult lives, yet were compelled to surrender their incomes to Tuai. One victim alone is estimated to have lost more than $78,000.

Tuai denied all charges, but the jury unanimously convicted him on 19 counts, including two of slavery and multiple sexual offences against the female victim.

He now awaits sentencing for crimes that the court heard amounted to the total domination of two young lives.

Drug run ends in forfeited car as two men jailed for meth possession in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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Two men caught selling drugs from a vehicle in Pahu have been sentenced to prison, with the Supreme Court ordering that the car used in the offending be forfeited to the Crown.

ʻIsitolo Sakopo and Kalafitoni Tolutaʻu pleaded guilty to possessing 1.91 grams of methamphetamine, 9.03 grams of cannabis, and drug utensils.

The court heard that on 17 February 2025 police received information that the pair were using a motor vehicle, identified as R1319, to sell illicit drugs.

When officers attempted to stop the car, it failed to stop and crashed into a police vehicle.

Police were forced to smash a window to turn off the engine.

Both men were detained and searched. Sakopo was found with cannabis, methamphetamine and empty packets in his pocket, and admitted the drugs were his.

Further drugs were found on the floor of the car, along with a smoking pipe, cash and additional methamphetamine in a plastic container.

Justice Paul Garlick KC said drug offending remains a serious social and criminal problem in Tonga, particularly the continued use of methamphetamine. The court noted that both defendants had previous convictions for drug offences.

After allowing discounts for their early guilty pleas, the court imposed concurrent sentences on each defendant:

  • 24 months’ imprisonment for possession of methamphetamine,
  • 6 months for possession of cannabis, and
  • 6 months for possession of utensils.

The total effective sentence for each man is 24 months’ imprisonment, with the final four months suspended for 12 months on conditions including probation and completion of a drug awareness course.

In a significant ancillary order, the court directed that all seized drugs be destroyed and that all cash and items seized—including the vehicle used to facilitate the offending—be forfeited to the Crown.

The judge noted, however, that if the vehicle is owned by a rental company rather than the defendants, it is to be returned to that company instead.

Tongan‑US shooting: Fresh details emerge as Vatuvei tried to stop fight before he was shot

By
Kalino Latu
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New information has emerged in the Salt Lake City shooting that killed two Tongans and injured six others, with family members now saying both men were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Sione and Christina Vatuvei

As Kaniva News has previously reported, the fatal shooting occurred while Tongan members were attending a memorial service at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 660 N. Redwood Road on Wednesday (US time).

The other victim was Vaea Tulikihihifo Jr, 46, whose family said he had stepped outside to retrieve baby formula for his five-month-old son when he was caught in the crossfire and fatally shot.

Vatuvei’s wife, Christina, reportedly said her husband stepped in as tensions rose outside the church gathering, attempting to defuse the confrontation and move it away from others.

“They were trying to move it outside and they were trying to stop it,” Christina said. “But by the time they got outside, one of the men started firing… people ran… we just don’t know,” she was quoted by the KSLTV as saying.

Christina said they had been married for only a few months, with their September wedding still vivid in her memory.

She believes her husband was caught in the crossfire.

“Around 8 p.m. is when I started getting all the phone calls that he was shot,” she said.

Police have confirmed that two people were killed and six others injured in the gunfire. No arrests have yet been made.

Christina said she was later told that her husband had been trying to intervene when the shooting began.

“The individual just took out his gun and started shooting everywhere,” she said. “I don’t think there was an intended target. It was anyone. And unfortunately my husband got caught in the crossfire. I heard that he was trying to stop it.”

Family members said Sione had worked hard to turn his life around after past struggles, including time in prison and gang involvement. Over the last four years, they said, he focused on personal growth and helping others do the same.

As police continue their investigation, the family is calling for answers—and for justice—while remembering a man they say lived to protect others, even in his final moments.

Claims of ‘sonic weapon’ surface after US raid, witness says Venezuelan troops collapsed

By
Kaniva Staff
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Extraordinary claims have emerged from the United States alleging that American forces deployed a powerful new “sonic weapon” during the raid in Venezuela—an account that describes enemy soldiers collapsing, bleeding, and vomiting after being struck by an intense sound wave.

The operation followed last week’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in a highly unusual military action.

The mission, part of a broader U.S. raid in Venezuela, saw Maduro and his wife taken into U.S. custody to face criminal charges, a move that has drawn global attention and debate.

According to a report published by the New York Post, a Venezuelan guard described how U.S. forces used technology “unlike anything” he had ever encountered during an operation to capture President Nicolás Maduro.

The account, shared online by the White House press secretary, claims radar systems suddenly shut down before drones swarmed the area and a small group of U.S. troops was deployed by helicopter.

The witness said the decisive moment came when an unknown device was activated.

“It was like a very intense sound wave,” he said.

“Suddenly I felt like my head was exploding from the inside. We all started bleeding from the nose. Some were vomiting blood. We fell to the ground, unable to move.”

The report claims hundreds of Venezuelan fighters were incapacitated without a single U.S. casualty.

The White House has not confirmed the weapon’s existence or its use, and no independent verification of the account has been provided.

An estimated 100 Venezuelan security forces were killed in the Jan. 3 attack, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.

It is unclear if any of those were caused by the mystery weapon.

The outmatched defenders were helpless as the small US unit wiped them out, the guard said.

“Those twenty men, without a single casualty, killed hundreds of us,” he claimed. “We had no way to compete with their technology, with their weapons. I swear, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

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