More Top Stories
Cook Islands passport proposal
6 January 2025
Top cop position advertised
7 December 2024
Police need numbers and bigger budget
9 December 2024
Niki Rattle: A call for stronger human rights protections
10 December 2024
Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill referred to Parliament committee
10 December 2024
DPM defends CIIC finance and travel policies
6 December 2024
Cook Islands has its first mosque
14 November 2024
CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
16 November 2024
RAC to address mosque legality
19 November 2024
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
2 September 2024
Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
13 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Pacific
Government ready to assist Vanuatu community fundraising
Cook Islands Government has expressed its willingness to assist Rarotonga’s Vanuatu community in their fundraising efforts following the recent devastating earthquake in Port Vila.
Fears for families as Vanuatu reels from deadly earthquake
The devastating 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Vanuatu on Monday, claiming the lives of at least 14 people and injuring more than 200, has sent shockwaves around the world, with Ni-Vanuatuans residing in Rarotonga praying for the safety of their loved ones at home.
Samoa anxiously awaits medal confirmation
SAMOA – All of Samoa is anxiously awaiting the International Olympic Committee’s official announcement to award the rightful silver medal that belongs to Ele Opeloge for her outstanding performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Samoan woman on top of the world
SAMOA – A 44-year-old Samoan woman has walked on top of the world.
Election nomination fees to rise tenfold
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The Papua New Guinea government is planning a national election nomination fee for next year of 10,000 kina or US$3150.
RNZIStigmata examined by Vatican
SAMOA – Samoa will soon find out if a woman claiming to be carrying the marks of Jesus Christ’s suffering is genuine, the Samoa Observer reports.
Strong reaction to refugee ban
AUSTRALIA – The United Nations says it’s profoundly concerned by Australia’s plan to ban refugees who arrived by boat from ever returning to Australia.
Hints of North America refugee deal
AUSTRALIA – Australia is reportedly close to signing a deal to resettle refugees from the Nauru and Manus Island detention centres in a third country, but Prime Minister John Key says it’s not with New Zealand.
Legislation pending on powers of Samoan chiefs
SAMOA – Public consultations in progress in Samoa this week are looking at the roles and functions of the head chief of Samoa families, known in samoa as sa‘os.
Man who went to find himself got lost
MALAYSIA – An Australian hiker who was lost in a remote Malaysian national park for two weeks says he resorted to eating wild ferns to survive.
Immigration 'freezing' information
Australia’s Immigration Department in breach of Freedom Of Information Act over Nauru documents
Refugees may be sent to North America
AUSTRALIA – Australian media reports say refugees held on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru will be offered permanent resettlement in Canada and the US as part of an Australian government plan.
Environmental concerns allayed
SAMOA – The chief executive officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is adamant the government’s multi-million-tala Vaiusu wharf plan development will not harm the environment and cause and ecological disaster for Samoa.
Petition against police chief
SAMOA – A no-confidence petition against the suspended Samoa Police Commissioner accuses Fuiavailili Egon Keil of breaching the law .
No progress in brutal beating inquiry
FIJI – A human rights lawyer in Fiji says a year after Lautoka businessman Rajneel Singh was attacked, allegedly by police, no progress has been made in getting him justice.
Boat people face lifetime ban from entering Australia
AUSTRALIA – The Australian government plans to introduce legislation to ban asylum seekers who arrive by boat from ever being allowed into Australia.
Nauru prosecutors under fire from judiciary
NAURU – A Nauruan magistrate has criticised the country’s prosecutors over their handling of a case brought against a refugee on the island who threatened to set fire to himself and his family.
Refugee girl aged six abused on Nauru
NAURU – Nauruan police have charged a person with indecent assault of a six-year-old asylum seeker who was held in Australia’s care, in what appears to be the first case relating to alleged abuse of an asylum seeker that has made it to Nauru’s courts.
Health concerns see vegetable sales suspended
AMERICAN SAMOA – The American Samoa Department of Agriculture has suspended until further notice the use of many locally grown vegetables in the School Lunch Programme due to health concerns.
Fiji bid to join UN council fails
Attempt to become member of human rights body unsupported
Police officers shot by fugitive
NEW CALEDONIA – Six police officers in New Caledonia have been injured after being shot at by unidentified gunmen in clashes near St Louis, south of Noumea, which were triggered by Saturday’s fatal shooting of a prison escapee.
The Rock tour South Africa
NIUE – The Niue rugby league team fly out today for a two-week tour of South Africa as they continue their development on the international stage.