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Storm knocks state off the grid

Thursday 29 September 2016 | Published in Regional

South Australia blacked out after freak weather AUSTRALIA – Power is gradually being turned back on across parts of South Australia, but much of the state remains in darkness after a widespread blackout. One of the most extreme weather systems in decades cut power to the entire state with more wild weather is on the way, with another intense low-pressure system expected to cross the state yesterday. Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Brett Gage said a severe weather warning remained current for widespread parts of the state, with the west coast of Eyre Peninsula in for a “real buffeting” with winds expected to reach storm force, with predicted gusts of up to 140 kilometres per hour. The extreme weather reached Adelaide about midday Wednesday dumping up to 100mm of rain in some areas, including the Adelaide Hills, where a flood warning was in place. Similar falls were sustained in the mid north with the cyclonic conditions whipped up large swells along the state’s coast, producing 10-metre waves in some locations. Electric trains, trams and traffic lights were also down across the state capital Adelaide, causing gridlock. South Australia Power Networks spokesman Paul Roberts said power was being restored to some of Adelaide on Wednesday evening, but warned it would be a “gradual process”. He said people in the Mid North and Eyre Peninsula areas should prepare for extended power outages. The statewide outage happened after severe weather knocked out three transmission lines and 22 towers. Optus and some Vodafone networks were also down across the state. Roberts said the new storm front expected on Thursday was a big concern for the electricity network. Earlier, Telstra’s South Australia general manager spokesman Mark Bolton said mobile phone users should prepare for a loss of network coverage as towers and exchanges ran out of back-up power. Police were urging owners and occupiers of buildings to check if anyone was trapped in lifts after emergency services rescued 19 people from lifts in Adelaide. State Premier Jay Weatherill said there had been 80,000 lightning strikes across the state. “Some of them hit our electricity infrastructure including our generators. This is making the job of turning the power back on extremely hazardous and difficult.” He urged people not to travel on the roads “unless absolutely necessary” during the blackout. Weatherill said the weather event had “destructive wind gusts” which saw transmission poles pulled out of the ground. He said the weather incident caused the failure of the entire South Australian electricity network”. He said the statewide blackout occurred due to the massive damage to infrastructure which resulted in the sudden drop in energy frequency in the network. It triggered an automatic cut at the interconnector to protect the national network. - PNC sources


Juniors kick off in football round six

Wednesday 28 September 2016 | Published in Football

The Rarotonga Round Cup Championship round six matches will kick start with the age group competition today.


Shares worth nothing

Wednesday 28 September 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

I AM not sure why CI News keeps giving Tepaki and his schemes publicity, but could we please have a reality check?


All of our laws wide open to abuse

Wednesday 28 September 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

IN REGARD to the story headlined “Call to change fishing laws,” on page one of CI News on Thursday, September 22.


No surprises in news about FFA

Wednesday 28 September 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

REJOICE, GOOD NEWS!

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Stories from the front line of climate change

Wednesday 28 September 2016 | Published in Regional

PACIFIC – An anthology of first-person accounts of climate change from around the Pacific is hoped to add a personal touch to the climate change debate.


Law bans CNMI youth from buying betel nut

Wednesday 28 September 2016 | Published in Regional

NORTHERN MARIANAS – A bill prohibiting the sale of betel nut to minors in the Northern Marianas has been signed into law by Governor Ralph Torres.


Pacific students missing out on health care

Wednesday 28 September 2016 | Published in Regional

NEW ZEALAND – A quarter of Pacific students in New Zealand are missing out on crucial health care and many cannot access dental care when they need it.


Illegal coffee trade affecting quality

Wednesday 28 September 2016 | Published in Regional

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Illegal trading of cherry coffee in Papua New Guinea is said to be affecting the quality of coffee in the country.


Tokelau not ready for Forum

Wednesday 28 September 2016 | Published in Regional

TOKELAU – The Ulu o Tokelau says his country is not yet ready to seek full membership of the Pacific Islands Forum.


Samoan actors take centre stage

Wednesday 28 September 2016 | Published in Regional

Pacific islanders tell story of Samoa’s creation


Red Comets in Raro

Tuesday 27 September 2016 | Published in Football

AN UNDER-16 women’s team from Auckland is in the country to learn more about the “island way’’ and experience local football here on Rarotonga.


Edwards shines with four goals

Tuesday 27 September 2016 | Published in Football

PUAIKURA proved their dominance in the Round Cup Championship beating Takuvaine in both the Van’s men premiership and Islander Hotel women’s division over the weekend.


No justice in this

Tuesday 27 September 2016 | Published in Smoke Signals

WELL IT’S BEEN a couple of months since the last tutaka and clearly the Ministry of Justice has ignored the warning notice they got from Public Health to do something about the used tyres that are laid down to cushion the vakas in the parking area. They continue to breed mosquitos by the millions.

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'Ugly industry' points the way to an uncertain future

Tuesday 27 September 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

MINISTER BROWN can hardly contain his excitement in regard to seabed mining in Cook Islands waters. In his calculations, we will make millions from the industry second only to the tourist dollar.

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Green Room decision clarified

Tuesday 27 September 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor

IN READING the debate on the Green Room decision in your column, I decided to write in respect of the background to that decision so readers can understand why such a matter came before the courts.


Exposing buttocks declared a crime

Tuesday 27 September 2016 | Published in Regional

AUSTRALIA – Exposing your bare buttocks in public has been officially made a crime in the Australian state of Victoria.


Runway repairs close Nausori

Tuesday 27 September 2016 | Published in Regional

FIJI – A number of flights to and from the Suva’s Nausori International Airport had to be redirected to Nadi International Airport or cancelled this week.


Call for unity in Bougainville

Tuesday 27 September 2016 | Published in Regional

BOUGAINVILLE – The President of Bougainville, John Momis, has called on Bougainvilleans to unify as the region prepares for a referendum on its political future.


Harsh words in UN over West Papua

Tuesday 27 September 2016 | Published in Regional

Indonesia accuses Pacific nations of interference


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