More Top Stories
‘Nothing to worry about’: Prime Minister Brown on China agreement
16 February 2025
‘Serious questions’: Opposition challenges China partnership
15 February 2025
No-confidence motion against PM and his Cabinet faces delays
15 February 2025
Ruta Mave: People’s Republic of China red flag
10 February 2025
No debt in China deal
8 February 2025
Thomas Wynne: Haka with the taniwha or dance with the dragon?
8 February 2025
‘Paedophile’ gets 13 years in prison
22 January 2025
Thomas Wynne: Where were our leaders while children suffered?
25 January 2025
$541.7m tourism earnings
25 January 2025
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
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Pacific
Cook Islander describes ‘severe’ impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Australia
Cook Islander Archie Atiau says the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which affected South East Queensland and the New South Wales North Coast, Australia, has been severe.
Tabuya ‘an ideal Minister for Information’, Fiji’s PM says
Fiji's Prime Minister is set to restore a backbencher to cabinet after she appeared in a private video dancing naked.
Doctors refuse to release baby
BRISBANE – Doctors at a Brisbane hospital have refused to release a one-year-old girl, badly burnt on Nauru, until a “suitable home environment is identified”.
Tourism industry to have its own police force
PORT MORESBY – The tourism industry in Papua New Guinea will have its own police force.
42 rescued from fishing boat on fire at sea
HONOLULU – Forty-two people forced to abandon a 89-metre fishing boat after it caught fire Wednesday were rescued about 2900km south of Hawai‘i in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, the Coast Guard said.
Floods close roads
RAKIRAKI – More roads and bridges in the Western Division of Fiji have closed because of heavy rain experienced over the past 24 hours.
Flying iron shows Sevens passion
NABUA – A die-hard Fiji Sevens fan has largely been forgiven for a shattering show of passion last Saturday night.
Hollande to visit two island kingdoms
SIGAVE – The French president is now expected to visit both kingdoms on the French Pacific island of Futuna during the first ever presidential visit to the island scheduled for later this month.
US offered tuna treaty compromise
SUVA – Pacific nations have reached agreement to accept American terms to try and resurrect the tuna treaty which fell apart last month.
Fiji opposition stages walk out
SUVA – Fiji’s parliamentary opposition walked out of parliament on Thursday, declaring the legislature a “slaughterhouse of democracy” and a “farce”.
Vanuatu's new PM calls for unity
PORT VILA – Charlot Salwai is to become Vanuatu’s 11th prime minister.
Fire destroys coconut plantations
AMBRYN – Coconut plantations in the west of Vanuatu’s Ambryn island have been destroyed by a fire which has been burning since early January.
Tonga's Zika cases increase
NUKU‘ALOFA – Tonga’s Zika surveillance unit has recorded 549 Zika cases up to Monday – including seven cases that were confirmed by laboratory blood tests, said Chief Medical Officer for Public Health, Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa.
Vanuatu government taking shape
PORT VILA – The shape of Vanuatu’s next Government is about to emerge with the new parliament sitting for the first time.
Fiji PM ignores flag change resistance
SUVA – The Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama wants a new flag by July this year and it seems he’ll get it.
Arms shipment secrecy questioned
SUVA – The Fiji government’s been lambasted in parliament for secrecy surrounding the arrival of military equipment from Russia.
Floods and fights stop air services
TARI – Flights have resumed to two Papua New Guinea provincial capitals, Tari and Popondetta, following suspension of flights last week. Tari, the capital of hela province in the Highlands, had its flights suspended last week due to tribal fighting.
Russian experts in Fiji for weapons handover
SUVA – Twenty Russian soldiers have arrived in Fiji to help with the transfer of a large consignment of Russian weapons for the Fiji military.
Volunteer DJ sacked by administration
KINGSTON – A volunteer announcer for Norfolk Island’s public radio station says he was sacked for telling the people the Australian administration has plans to stop funding the station.
MPS blocked from parliament
suva – Members of a Fijian Opposition party have been blocked from taking their seats on the first day of parliament for allegedly using the wrong type of accountant. The National Federation Party had its registration suspended because the accountant it used to audit its annual accounts wasn’t certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants. The Speaker of Fiji’s Parliament, Dr Jiko Luveni, said the suspension meant the party’s three MPs were not allowed to take their seats, and the parliament voted to support that suspension. Dr Luveni took the decision to block the MPs from the house on advice from the solicitor general after election authorities suspended the party over its audit. National Federation Party lawyer Richard Naidu said he was surprised the parliament voted on the decision. “I didn’t see that coming, and I’m not quite sure what the point of that is,” he said. “But that would tend to support the whole notion that it’s the Fiji First Party majority that decides everything in Fiji, rather than the law.” Fiji First, led by former coup-leader turned Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, won 32 seats of the 50 seat parliament in 2014 elections. Bill Gavoka, an MP with the Opposition Sodelpa party, said members of his party attended the first session with black armbands, protesting “the death of democracy” under Fiji First. “It’s the tyranny of the majority, they have the numbers and they just ride roughshod over everything else in this country,” he said. “It’s treating a grand old party in a very callous way and it’s not the way Fiji needs to run its business. “After eight or nine years of dictatorship, it’s a time for healing. But not with this government, they go for the jugular,” Gavoka said. Australian Greens Senator Janet Rice said she would raise the suspension with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Senator Rice said Fiji appeared to be moving from a military dictatorship to a parliamentary dictatorship. “I think it needs to concern Australia,” she said. “Fiji and Australia are very close and they are a big recipient of our foreign aid, so Australia needs to be concerned about what is going on. And in fact the rest of the Pacific needs to be concerned as well.” Sodelpa has called on the speaker to get an independent legal opinion. Opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa said the parliament had again been hijacked. “And you’ll see I’m wearing a black ribbon today, because democracy if it’s not already dead, it is dying.” - ABC/RNZI
Controversial drug given to detainees
LORENGAU – The Australian Immigration Department is moving to offer asylum seekers on Manus Island alternatives to a controversial anti-malarial drug known to cause or exacerbate mental health issues in some patients.
Fishing agency preparing to renegotiate with US
NADI – Forum Fisheries Agency member states are meeting in Fiji this week to discuss solutions to America’s shock withdrawal from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Treaty.
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