In the depths of the ocean, a new contest between the U.S and China emerges

By Prianka Srinivasan RAROTONGA (THE GUARDIAN) —Around the Cook Islands, the world’s two most powerful countries are exploring the possibility of deep-sea mining for critical minerals Deep below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, the seafloor is...

UH Mānoa anthropologist receives California Academy of Sciences’ highest honor

Reading time: 2 minutesAnthropology Professor Patrick V. Kirch The California Academy of Sciences (CAS) has bestowed its highest honor, the Fellows Medal, to Anthropology Professor Patrick V. Kirch of the College of Social Sciences (CSS) at the...

‘We need more knowledge’: Seabed is rich but decision a long way off, U.S. scientist

By Talaia Mika, Cook Islands News Ocean scientist and executive director of the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, Professor Adam Soule. Photo: Cook Islands News Cook Islands is still a long way from being ready to mine its seafloor, says...

PNG Kumuls vs Fiji Bati: Pacific pride on the line

The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Kumuls and the Fiji Bati meet on Saturday in what could prove a decisive moment of the Pacific Bowl, a showcase of the region’s rugby league powerhouses. PNG enter as the defending champions and host the Pacific...

'Our kids are getting sick too soon': Experts warn of diabetes crisis crossing generations

New Zealand’s health system is heading towards a crisis that Pacific health leaders warn is already unfolding in their communities - an alarming rise in type 2 diabetes among Pacific and Māori youth that’s reshaping what used to be considered an...

Bumper clash

PAPUA New Guinea Kumuls young playmaker Gairo Voro, if given room, will shine tomorrow, and head coach Jason Demetriou says his rising star will be the game-changer. The Kumuls will play the Fiji Bati in tomorrow’s Pacific Bowl grand final at the...

Seabed is rich but decision to mine is a long way off, says U.S. scientist

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Cook Islands is still a long way from being ready to mine its seafloor, says ocean scientist and executive director of the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, Professor Adam Soule. Professor Soule made the comment...

Sky NZ wins Olympic Games rights through 2032

Sky New Zealand (NZ), the country’s pay-TV giant, has secured broadcast rights for the Olympic Games through 2032 after months of speculation. The agreement, struck with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will see Sky NZ provide exclusive...

ASTA to host 2026 East Pacific Regional Championships

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Tennis Association (ASTA) has been officially selected to host the 2026 East Pacific Regional Championships (EPRC), scheduled for February 2–7th in Pago Pago, American Samoa. This event will bring...

In-demand Kangaroos trio and legend’s son: Players boosting their value in Ashes, Pac Champs

The Pacific Championships and Ashes series are in full swing and the free agency window is about to be blown wide open come November 1. There’s no better way to put yourself in the shop window than delivering on the field, so these players are in...

NZ warns Pacific sovereignty at risk in deep sea resource race

New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins has warned that Pacific island nations are under growing pressure from global powers competing for control of the region’s rich seabed minerals and fisheries. Collins, who visited Washington last week,...

Over 250 players compete in Vietnam badminton tournament

Bac Ninh (VNA) – As many as 253 top players from 18 countries and territories are competing in the qualifying round of the “Felet Vietnam International Series 2025”, which officially began in Bac Ninh province on October 28. The tournament is...

Fiji Airports aiming for world-class status by 2033

COOK Islands activists in kayaks confronted a United States-funded exploration vessel as it returned to port in Rarotonga on Wednesday, holding a banner that read “Don’t Mine the Moana.” Media reports from Rarotonga said the four activists...

Ipape’s aggression noted

PAPUA New Guinea Kumuls captain Rhyse Martin has praised hooker Edwin Ipape for his strong return to international rugby league after the team’s 40-28 win over the Cook Islands Aitu on Saturday. The Leigh Leopards star, who missed last year’s...

Five-eighth Voro praised for top-notch debut show

PNG Kumuls five-eighth Gairo Voro has been praised for his impressive debut performance in their 40-28 win over the Cook Islands Aitu on Saturday. Voro, who scored a try in his first appearance for the Kumuls at the Santos National Football...

Netball: Silver Fern legend Marg Foster on the future of her sport and fighting cancer

She pulls no punches when she says Taurua must go on next month’s Northern Tour to the UK and that the reinstated coach will be at an unfair disadvantage heading into a pinnacle event next year if she’s not on that plane. “Noels needs to travel...

Fiji Bati rookie hoping for second NRL chance after ref ban

Keresi Maya believed that COVID and a six-year ban had ended his NRL dream but after debuting for Fiji in the Pacific Championships the rookie forward is hoping for a second chance. Maya, who is the only Fiji-based played in the Bati squad, joined...

Let the Red, Gold and Black speak freely

PAPUA New Guinea is a nation where rugby league is more than just a sport. It is a source of pride, of identity, and an excellent tool for national unity. However, in recent times, it is deeply troubling that access to our national teams,...

Air Tahiti launches ATR MRO centre

Air Tahiti has launched a new project that seeks to expand and enhance Air Tahiti’s existing ATR MRO centre. The airline, along with the the government of French Polynesia and the French state want to strengthen the current capabilities and...

AI Is Decoding Whales’ Communications. Could That Be a Turning Point in the Push for Their Rights?

For centuries, humans have drawn a line between themselves and other species, initially claiming that other animals couldn’t feel pain. Science proved they could. Then the argument shifted: Animals lacked consciousness or the ability to think in...