Letter: Defending the deep

‘Open mind’ has not specified exactly what in the article was ‘misinformation’ (Letter: Keeping an ‘open mind on the deep’, Cook Islands News, July 31, 2025). Was it the number of people who attended our Defend the Deep event? Is it the fact that...

Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 23 September

Dika Toua competes in the women's 49kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Photo: VINCENZO PINTO/AFP Weightlifting Papua New Guinea weightlifting great Dika Toua has been made a Member of the British Empire...

‘If we can’t get help from NZ, we will go somewhere…

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown defended the nation’s new strategic partnership with China, citing the need for diverse international partners to fund a $650 million(US$389 million) infrastructure plan that New Zealand alone cannot support,...

Australia Goes Full Throttle To Stop China’s Advance Into The Pacific; PNG, Vanuatu Setbacks Test Canberra

Australia was expected to sign a landmark security deal with Papua New Guinea (PNG) that could have paved the way for closer integration between their militaries. However, both nations failed to sign any pact. The deal was part of a wider...

Matt Benns is the hairstylist shapeshifting your favourite icons

The Dazed Beauty Community is our ever-expanding encyclopaedia of creatives and emerging talent from across the world who are redefining the way we think about beauty. Discover them here. “Hair is storytelling, it holds identity, it’s...

High on Health: Child Obesity Hits a New Record

A new UNICEF report reveals a dramatic shift in global child nutrition. For the first time, there are now more overweight and obese school-age children and adolescents than those who are underweight. Child obesity has become a worldwide problem,...

Trump a boon for deep-sea mining: industry boss

Trump a boon for deep-sea mining: industry boss By Steven TRASK Rarotonga, Cook Islands (AFP) July 23, 2025 A leading deep-sea mining company in the paradisal Cook Islands is aiming to start commercial production by 2030, spurred on by Donald...

New development programmes for local Samoan paddling

Paddling duo Amanda and Andy Wheatley are starting new development programmes for the sport with the aim of building long-term capacity and sustainable success. Paddle Sports Samoa will introduce new participants to canoeing, while the Samoa...

Beyond the Beaches: Discover What Makes Each Pacific Destination Truly Unique

The Pacific is more than just sun and sea, it’s a region rich in identity, culture, sustainability, and unforgettable moments. During the recent Pacific Tourism Strategic & Digital Marketing Workshop, tourism marketing leaders from 13 member...

Partial Solar Eclipse on September 21-22: Everything You Need to Know

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Another cosmic event will greet us just this week. The second and final solar eclipse of the year will grace the skies on September 21/22, bringing with it a stunning partial solar eclipse. Skywatchers in the Southern...

The seven top destinations for a short five-night holiday

September 14, 2025 — 12:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share This...

Strongman needs your help

By Afraa Kori When Cook Islands-born strongman Jonathan (Jono) Nelio steps onto the global platform at the 2025 World Natural Strongman Championships in Ireland, he’ll be lifting far more than weights. The Clyde North resident, will be lifting his...

Pacific countries review impact of biosecurity capacity building programmes

Biosecurity officers from across the Pacific met in Fiji recently to review the impact of biosecurity training programmes delivered under the Safe Agricultural Trade Facilitation through Economic Integration in the Pacific (SAFE Pacific) project...

FEATURE | What will this take? Securing and sustaining our Blue Pacific

First of all, I pay my deepest respects to traditional owners of lands on which we are meeting. I acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander elders, chiefs – past, present and emerging. Thank you. I am deeply honoured to be invited to...

Record dengue fever outbreaks challenge Pacific health systems

Dengue fever continues to surge across the Pacific, reaching record levels and pushing health systems to their limits. Since January, more than 16,500 cases and at least 17 deaths have been reported in the region, according to the Pacific...

UNICEF blames global childhood obesity epidemic on trend toward ultra-processed foods

Key Points A new UNICEF report finds that more school-age children are now obese than underweight, with 188 million affected worldwide. Rates of childhood obesity have more than tripled since 2000, driven largely by ultra-processed foods replacing...

Marape successfully concludes round of meetings with visiting dignitaries

Prime Minister James Marape successfully concluded a long round of back-to-back meetings with heads of governments who arrived in the country to participate in the celebrations marking PNG’s 50th Independence anniversary. The hectic schedule of...

More children now living with obesity — UNICE

One in five children and adolescents aged five to 19 years globally, numbering 391 million, are overweight, with a large proportion of them now classified as living with obesity, UNICEF has warned in a new report. The Child Nutrition Report 2025,...

Ultra-Processed Foods Are Driving a Global Childhood Obesity Epidemic, UNICEF Finds

A new UNICEF report finds that more school-age children are now obese than underweight, with 188 million affected worldwide. Rates of childhood obesity have more than tripled since 2000, driven largely by ultra-processed foods replacing...

Will’s Word: A Pacific family heading towards a breaking point

At a time when the Pacific ought to be coming together, the region feels more fractured than ever. Just look at the headlines. The Cook Islands and New Zealand trading diplomatic jabs over self-determination and influence. Christopher Luxon called...