Results for Pacific Islands

South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Tonga marked a milestone—15 years of dedicated service in the Kingdom of Tonga—with a celebration recognizing the achievements of female entrepreneurs at its Annual Business Women of the Year Awards, at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nukuʻalofa, on 20 June 2025.

The retail prices of petrol and diesel for Tongatapu will remain unchanged, while the price of kerosene dropped by 5 seniti/litre, the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development (MTED) advised. The new petroleum prices became effective this week, 1 July as approved by the Tonga Competent Authority (TCA).

Confidential information from Tonga’s health system has been copied and leaked by cyber criminals who have encrypted the National Health System and are demanding a USD$1 million ransom, which the government refused to pay.

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.

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.

Pacific governments can improve the performance of their state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and reduce fiscal risks by implementing clearer and more consistent government ownership and oversight arrangements, according to a policy brief published on 24 June by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB’s) Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI).

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.

Ms. Tai'atu 'Ata'ata of Kolomotu'a, will chair a new Public Service Commission (PSC) Board, with four other board members appointed by the Prime Minister Hon. 'Aisake Eke yesterday, 23 June, at St. George Government Building, Nuku'alofa.