Results for Tonga

An official investigation found that a tripped circuit breaker was a primary issue in the Lulutai Airline’s Saab 340B accident on 8 December last year. The report concludes that a more thorough understanding of the hydraulic system and a complete review of the abnormal checklist would have provided the crew with a better understanding of the auxiliary hydraulic system's limitations, including the risk of losing wheel braking action. The aircraft's right landing gear collapsed on the taxiway to the terminal, and the plane ran into a concrete bund, while carrying a full load of 35 passengers and three crew.

The Tonga Trade Fair 2025 opens on Thursday 3 July at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall, where more than 40 local businesses will showcase Tonga-made products. The exhibition will run through to Saturday

At their Orientation gathering today, seven contestants for the Miss Heilala crown 2025 drew their order of appearance and pre-pageant interview topics at the Ministry of Tourism’s HQ in Nuku’alofa, and posed for their first group photograph.

The Tongan Government is refusing to pay a USD$1 million ransom demanded by hackers who have seized control of the National Health Information System for nearly two weeks, the Minister for Police and Cyber Security, Hon. Piveni Piukala told a media briefing today, 26 June, at the St. George Government Building in Nuku’alofa.

A high-level Parliamentary delegation from the Legislative Assembly is visiting Australia, from June 21 to 28, as part of an Australia-led initiative aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations.

Tonga's National Health Information System remains locked by hackers who hijacked the system nine days ago on 15 June. Medical staff cannot access the system, while the hackers are demanding a ransom from the Tonga Government. The Minister of Health said today that their inability to access recent medical history of patients is a concern but because Tonga is small the doctors know their chronic patients and can continue giving treatments.

Repeat offender Sati’o Matakaiongo (43) is serving 18 months imprisonment for possession of 43.07 grams of cannabis seized in Popua. His 23 year old co-accused received a suspended sentence in the Fasi Magistrate's Court.

Tonga’s Legislative Assembly has unanimously approved a record TOP$992.8 million national budget for the 2025/26 financial year, on Thursday, 19 June, at the Parliament Chamber in Nuku’alofa. The new budget will be effective on 1 July, 2205.

Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Eke said: “All of us are seriously alarmed,” in response to Tonga being targeted for US travel bans, as one of 36 countries on a list reportedly issued by the Trump Administration last weekend.