More Top Stories
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’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Parliament’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Tapaitau and Charlie-Puna released to ‘family jobs’
21 September 2024
Police apprehend four juveniles in connection with motorcycle thefts
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
ICI explains road works delay in front of old Sheraton site
10 August 2024
Diaspora dismayed over lack of Te Maeva Nui livestream
8 August 2024
Everyone is a winner, says Culture
7 August 2024
Local women outshine global peers in business leadership
8 August 2024
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Pacific
Roadshow not consultation
Non-government organisations are frustrated with the Cook Islands government seabed mineral consultations that are being held in New Zealand, calling for a 10-year moratorium to allow for independent research and capacity building within the Cook Islands.
USP Student body represents 14,000 students
The University of the South Pacific Students’ Association (USPSA) from 14 campuses spanning 12 member countries convened in Rarotonga yesterday representing the voice of 14,000 students.
Helicopter pilot killed fighting New Zealand bush fires
NEW ZEALAND – Bush fires blazing near Christchurch over the past two days have claimed the life of a helicopter pilot and caused heartache for local residents.
Asylum seekers plead for help
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Asylum seekers at Australia’s offshore detention centre on Manus Island are begging for help as Papua New Guinean and Australian authorities prepare to deport them.
Runaway refugee in PNG prison
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A district court in PNG has ordered Iranian refugee Loghman Sawari be moved from Port Moresby’s police cell to Bomana prison outside of the city until a decision is made on his bail application next week.
Papua New Guinea pageant winner murdered?
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Papua New Guinea police say charges will be laid over the violent death of a former Miss PNG.
PACIFIC BRIEFS 14/2/2017
Inquest into asylum seeker’s death PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A coroner’s inquest into the death of an asylum seeker detained on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island has resumed in Australia. Hamid Khazaei, a 24-year-old from Iran, died in Brisbane in 2014 from blood poisoning caused by a small leg infection. Last year, the coroner heard Khazaei died a slow and agonising death caused by delays in transferring him to Brisbane. Doctors on Manus requested he be flown to Australia, but 36 hours later he was flown to Port Moresby where he suffered multiple heart attacks. Evidence given last year included that Khazaei was not given prescribed medication and the Manus medical clinic was dysfunctional. The coroner will hear evidence from ten witnesses including the former chief medical officer with the Immigration Department’s and staff from medical contractors. TONGA no CONFIDENCE vote next week TONGA – A vote of no confidence in Tonga’s government will be tabled in parliament next week. A notice of the motion was distributed by Speaker Lord Tu’ivakano in Tonga’s parliament just before the house closed yesterday. Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva was not in Parliament, but Lord Tu’ivakano said he may respond to the vote of no confidence between now and next Monday when the vote will be dealt with. Earlier Pohiva said he had the numbers to defeat the vote. Lord Tu’ivakano said the actual vote of no confidence will have to take place by the end of Monday, February 27. In Tonga a vote of no confidence may be tabled, only after 18 months has passed since a general election. Concerns at rising price of chicken TONGA – Concerns over the high price of chicken have been raised in Tonga’s parliament. A report from Ha’apai stated cartons of chicken were selling for as much asUS$27. Tongatapu MP Mateni Tapueluelu questioned who should take the blame for the high prices. The Minister of Revenue Tevita Lavemaau says the price of chicken is controlled by the government’s Competent Authority. Lavemaau says the only tax imposed on chicken is 40 seniti or 18 US cents per kilo so such goods should not be expensive. The Competent Authority says the retail price for chicken is just over US$1.80 and cartons vary from 19 to 23 dollars. The Minister of Justice Vuna Fa’otusia says it is important that members of the public raise price issues with the authority. Prosecutor alarmed at Flosse defence FRENCH POLYNESIA – The public prosecutor’s office in French Polynesia has taken issue with comments made against the judiciary which it says could amount to attempts to spread misinformation and exert political pressure. The statement was issued after last week’s trial of former president Gaston Flosse over the 2014 theft of US$70,000 worth of chinaware. His defence lawyers, who include his son-in-law, have claimed that Flosse is being hounded amid a fixation to sever his links with his voters. The prosecutor took Flosse to the appeal court because he wasn’t given a custodial sentence in the criminal court last year and is also asking the court to make him ineligible for public office for five years. The prosecutor says such punishment is necessary to stop the degradation of democracy in French Polynesia and to show corruption will not be tolerated with impunity. Church investigators on way to Guam GUAM – The Catholic Church on Guam says a group of investigators will soon arrive as part of the canonical trial of the island’s archbishop. The Archbishop, Anthony Apuron, is facing a Vatican trial after several former altar boys accused him of sexual assault in the 1970s, when he was a parish priest. The Pacific Daily News reported Archbishop Michael Byrnes – who will replace Archbishop Apuron when he retires, resigns or is removed – also announced tougher policies against sexual abuse that will include background checks for anyone working around children, required reporting to civil authorities any allegation involving abuse of minors and suspension of clergy if an accusation is deemed credible.
650 whales ashore in mass beachings
NEW ZEALAND – A new pod of 240 whales beached itself on a remote New Zealand beach at the weekend just hours after weary volunteers managed to re-float a different group of whales following an earlier mass stranding.
Swam flooded river while in labour
FIJI – A 33-year-old heavily pregnant woman who bravely swam across a flooded creek and was rescued by police while having contractions, is just glad she was delivered to the Lautoka Hospital “in the nick of time”.
Jail urged for president who stole the china
FRENCH POLYNESIA – The prosecution in French Polynesia has called for a one-year jail sentence for a former president Gaston Flosse for taking chinaware from the presidential palace.
No matter what, it's going to get wetter
Droughts and flooding rains are already more likely as climate change plays havoc with Pacific weather, writes a group of scientists from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
Vanuatu scientist leaves inspirational legacy
NEW CALEDONIA – Dr Roger Malapa, the first ni-Vanuatu to graduate with a PhD in science who went on to become one of the Pacific’s most distinguished agricultural scientists, died in New Caledonia this week after a battle with cancer. He was 46.
Not speaking at Big Gay Out 'not a big issue'
NEW ZEALAND – New Zealand’s Prime Minister says his past opposition to civil unions and gay marriage was not the reason he didn’t speak at the Big Gay Out in Auckland at the weekend.
Great weather for eeling
FIJI – At a time when most people secure their belongings and stay home, a group of people from settlements and villages close to Nadi Town in Fiji come out in numbers during heavy rainfall for an unconventional activity – catching eels. Semesa Lagi, 54, told the Fiji Times: “We come here every time the town is flooded. We have done this many times.” Lagi said heavy rain caused the eel population to escape from a nearby lake and swim down the streets into to the town area. “We always know this is the time to catch eels and we are joined by other villagers from Nawaka and other areas. “A lot of people have come to catch the eels this time and my family has managed to catch three buckets full so we have sent these home.” He said they planned to return to the spot if heavy rain continued this week. - Fiji Times
PACIFIC BRIEFS 13/2/2017
Dengue claims life in New Caledonia NEW CALEDONIA – This year’s dengue epidemic in New Caledonia has claimed its first life A 25-year-old woman in the Noumea area died of dengue type 1 and authorities said she was not considered to be at special risk.
400 whales beached on remote spit
NEW ZEALAND – Rescuers were trying desperately yesterday to save scores of pilot whales after a mass stranding on a New Zealand beach thought to be the largest in decades.
Flooding across the Pacific
PACIFIC – Heavy rains continue to fall across the South Pacific, causing flooding from Papua New Guinea to Samoa.
Asylum seekers offered 'bribes' to go home
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Asylum seekers in the Australian detention centre on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island have been offered bribes to return to their countries of origin.
Kiribati island lease plan well advanced
KIRIBATI – A Russian millionaire is in advanced talks with the Kiribati government to lease three uninhabited islands and establish an alternative Russia and revive the monarchy.
Ancient landslide discovered on Barrier Reef
AUSTRALIA – Queensland scientists working on the Great Barrier Reef have helped discover the remnants of an ancient undersea landslide more than 30 times the volume of Uluru.
PACIFIC BRIEFS 10/2/2017
Australia sells military vehicles to Fiji FIJI – Australia has agreed to sell 10 refurbished military vehicles to Fiji.
Fishermen rescued by cruise ship
TONGA – Four marine search and rescue operations have saved 20 people in Tonga in recent days, while one life was lost.