Latest news with #Tongans
Scoop
18-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Tonga's Health System 'Fully Restored' After Cyber Attack With Australia's Help
Problems resulting from a cyber attack on Tonga's Health Information System appear to have been resolved. The assault on the system a month ago led to a demand by the hackers for a ransom of one million dollars. RNZ Pacific Tonga correspondent Kalafi Moala updated us about the latest developments. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) KALAFI MOALA: The system was hacked, the health information system, and they asked for payment of a million dollars to have the system back. The government or the Ministry of Health refused to make any payments. In the meantime, they called for help to Australia, who sent their expertise to help them out. The way the Minister of Health (Dr Ana Akauola) described it was that it was within 48 hours they were able to call for help, and immediately there was a response. And it was very, very key in helping them restore the system. DON WISEMAN: The presumption has always been that these villains located overseas. Do we know any more about that? KM: No, there's nothing that has been revealed, or at least that has been disclosed from the ministry, other than the fact that they're from overseas. They couldn't put a face to them. In other words, they were not any individuals, just that there was a group that did that. But the talk, of course, the guesses in town is that probably there's a group overseas that had local connections that did the hacking. DW: The Australians have left. Have they left a system in place that's stronger than it was before they made that announcement? KM: The Minister of Health made that announcement yesterday (Wednesday), saying that the system has been fully restored. She used the term, saying there's still some gaps, but they're back into it. I think with the restoration of the system, they also have had a backup, so that if this thing happens again, they've got a backup to the information system. DW: Tongans who had health issues, or have health issues, had been told that they needed to take what information they had. Hand written, I guess, information they had to take into appointments, outpatient appointments and so on. That's not still happening? KM: Well, no, that's not happening. But they were basically responding to the shock that came from people saying, what's going to happen to us now if we're going to go in when some of the patients don't even know the kind of records they get. For example, things that they are allergic to, the kind of medication and its details that they were given. So, the restoration of the system really recovers all of that without having the patient to be able to come into the hospital and and try to bring up all that information. I think it's really good, and it's returned to what it was. DW: I guess the officials and health are very concerned about things and so with the government. But to what extent did it bother the people? KM: Well, it really was a scare for people. Look, the immediate response was, what does this mean for me? The thing is, a patient, 'I've got my own personal information in somebody else's hands, who's a criminal who not only stole it, but basically are demanding money for the returning of that information. But one of the issues is that Tonga is turning to become digital in so many of its services, like you go to apply now for birth certificate, marriage certificate, and all those things are being now, including visas, being now done digitally. And so that transition, it means that all the government systems are going to be digital. This hacking that took place, it's like a warning that we need to be careful in what we're doing, and we need to have backup systems, and that security is so important as Tonga is becoming more digital in its government services.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Are Hikuleo and Roman Reigns Connected? Exploring the family background of the new WWE Superstar
Image via Getty: Hikuleo and Roman Reigns The newest member of The Bloodline has arrived. This time, it's one of the Tongans, in the form of Tala Tonga fka Hikuleo. Tonga made his on-screen WWE debut at Night of Champions 2025 in Riyadh, coming to the aid of Solo Sikoa. Joining forces with the Bloodline, he now assists the United States Champion Sikoa alongside JC Mateo and Tonga Loa. How is Hikuleo connected to the Samoan family? Taula Koloamatangi, known to wrestling fans as Hikuleo, is yet another son of Haku. He and Tama Tonga, who are real-life brothers, are the adopted sons of Haku. While Tonga Loa is his first cousin. This falls under the lineage of Tongans, which is not blood related to the Samoans but falls under the same Polynesian descent. But their bonds go so deep that Samoans have considered Tongans their extended family. This proves that Roman Reigns and Tonga are not connected. However, their bonds are very familial as their fathers considered each other brothers. Haku, the father of Tala Tonga has wrestled alongside the Anoa'i family member, Tonga Kid, as a tag team, The Islanders. Now, Tongans are doing the same, teaming up with their fellow Samoans, Jacob Fatu and Sikoa. Solo Sikoa enlists a new soldier to secure United States Title: Night of Champions 2025 highlights Hikuleo was formerly an NJPW talent and a member of the iconic faction, Bullet Club. He began his Japan journey nearly a decade ago and ended his stint last year just before signing with WWE. There he won multiple championships, being a Strong Openweight Champion and two-time Strong Openweight Tag Team champion. The irony comes as even there he was wrestling alongside his Tongan brothers, Tama and Tanga. Later the Tongans formed their own stable, Guerrillas of Destiny. Being a part of NJPW, he also appeared on AEW and wrestled only three matches between 2021 and 2022. Adding to his resume is Impact Wrestling back in 2021 and 2022. His name suggests the Tongan God, Hikule'o. Even though he went with the name, Hikuleo, for a big chunk of his career, WWE has found a way for him to Tonganize. They find Tala Tonga by his name while being aligned with The Bloodline. He was signed to WWE but was in the Performance Center getting ready for his in-ring debut. The time came on June 13, 2025, episode of SmackDown, where he wrestled in a dark match against Kit Wilson. A few days later, he seemed ready and appeared directly at Riyadh to interfere in the United States Championship match. Also read: Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Scoop
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Three Pacific Nations In Trump's Expanded Travel Ban List
Three Pacific Island nations are caught in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump's crackdown on foreign nationals from countries that fail to meet "established benchmarks and requirements" for remaining in the United States. Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have reportedly been included in an expanded list of 36 additional countries that the Trump administration is considering for travel restrictions on entering the US, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters. Earlier this month, President Trump signed a proclamation that banned the entry of citizens from 12 countries, citing threats from "foreign terrorists" and other national security concerns. Reuters reports that the directive is part of an immigration crackdown Trump launched this year at the start of his second term. The news agency said that, in an internal diplomatic cable signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department outlined a dozen concerns about the countries in question and called for corrective action. "The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days," the cable sent out over the weekend said. The cable was first reported by the Washington Post. The governments of Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have yet to respond to the issue. Kaniva Tonga reported that travelling to America had been a major concern for Tongans due to the high cost of obtaining a visa, which required having to travel to the US Embassy in Fiji. "It was one of the key issues Tonga used to negotiate the establishment of a US Embassy in Nukualofa last year," the news outlet reported. "In 2020, the US Census reported that 78,871 people in the US have Tongan ancestry." In February, Tongan Prime Minister Dr 'Aisake Eke had expressed concerns about Trump's immigration policies, saying that deported migrants would worsen existing challenges in the kingdom.
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
‘Playing in Japan makes us better players' —Jesse Kriel defends overseas-based Springboks
SPRINGBOK centre Jesse Kriel Japan, says he has become a better player because of the cross-pollination of rugby acumen. | Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers Bulls coach Jake White, for some time, has been advocating that the Springbok players based overseas should be brought home to strengthen the local teams, but Bok centre Jesse Kriel disagrees. Kriel, who is based in Japan, says he has become a better player because of the cross-pollination of rugby acumen that occurs when players from all over the world are pooled together, as is the case in the Japanese teams. Joining Kriel in the current Bok squad preparing for the Barbarians season-opener on June 28 are fellow Japan-based players in Lood de Jager, Faf de Klerk, Damian de Allende, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe and Malcolm Marx. That is a hefty chunk of polished Springboks. Kriel pointed to White himself as a good example of how overseas experience can benefit a coach (or player). 'If you look at a coach like Jake, he's also coached in Japan for a few years. He coached over in France (with Montpellier) and also in Australia (Brumbies), which has probably made him a better coach. 'He probably gained a lot of IP (intellectual property) overseas from different types of players and the different ways people think, and how they want to play and approach the game,' Kriel explained. 'From my point of view, and I know a lot of the other guys share my thought process, when you go over there, you are playing with Fijians, Tongans, New Zealanders, Australians, Welsh guys, and English guys. You learn different things from everyone, and I think it's also good to observe how the game is seen differently.' It is also documented that players can prolong their careers by playing in Japan, where the leagues are less physically arduous. 'I've certainly enjoyed being over in Japan,' Kriel added. 'There are a lot fewer distractions compared to being back in South Africa. "So it's been great in terms of working on our individual games, and I think the guys that return from overseas always come back into camp pretty focused and willing to work hard. I think it's been great.' Rassie Erasmus, sitting next to Kriel in the press conference, wanted to add to Kriel's response. 'To put into perspective the debate about picking overseas players… If you look at the players that we've selected for the Springboks, I think you will find it very seldom that an overseas-based player is younger than 26 or 27. We seldom pick a young player based abroad,' the coach explained. 'I think Jasper Wiese must have been one of the youngest players that we've picked from overseas, and he was 25. 'We recently called up Juano Augustus (from Northampton), and he is 27,' Erasmus continued. 'He had been the World Rugby Junior Player of the year in 2017, and he went overseas soon after. But we did not pick him until now (after five years overseas). 'So we don't encourage a young player to go overseas, and if they do go, they know it will be difficult for us to pick them. There are very few young players that get picked from there.'
1News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 1News
The 'body paint guy' hyping up Moana Pasifika from the sidelines
Phillip Enari arrived in New Zealand two years ago on a study scholarship. Shy and humble by day, at night he transforms to Moana Pasifika superfan otherwise known as the "body paint guy". "I had talked about it with a few of my family and friends about my idea, they were like 'yeah you should do it' and it became a thing," Enari said. Enari generally goes as ocean or water-based characters and with help from a cousin it usually takes around 30-40 mins to do. He said he loves there is a Pacific Islands team which has been notching up big wins. "It's much more than a team it's a movement for me, I feel a sense of pride and happiness seeing that that team is a Pacific Islander team really ignites a fire in me," he said. "It really motivates me and really makes me think that I can do whatever I set my mind to... like the boys". Moana Pasifika's connection with the fans is winning hearts and smashing records both on and off the field. In just 30 days, the team got 39.1 million views on their social media platforms, as well as notching up historic wins with Ardie Savea as captain. Star Miracle Faiilagi, who was plucked straight from a Samoan club in 2023, said Moana's fan base has been "unreal" "They have played a huge role in our success this year, I think having them motivates the boys as well... we play for them with all our heart". Staying true to Pacific culture has also struck a chord with supporters. "Its our identity, its our DNA.. we coming together every morning having a hymn and a prayer to start our day," said Faiilagi. Head coach Tana Umaga said culture is a major part of how the team works. "It's huge its who we are its what sets us apart from most teams in that our culture is the very thing we do," Umaga said. Tongan community leader Pakilau Manase Lua said the team has united the Pasifika community. "Who would have thought Tongans and Samoans will come together as one and enjoy themselves in a peaceful and joyous manner lik know what Ardie has done I mean the Tongans are trying to adopt him," he joked. Previously seen as the underdog the team is now considered a serious threat. It's been a David and Goliath battle that which has captivated the public. Enari said his favourite team really deserves to make the playoffs. "All the criticism that they've received they've really proven the critics wrong," Enari said. Moana Pasifika knows it is a challenge but they hope to cement the respect they have earned with another win.
