Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Cook Islands confronts critical questions on identity as debate on deep-sea…
Pacific News Service
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Written by Losirene Lacanivalu As the Cook Islands approaches the end of its five-year seabed minerals exploration phase and the latest partnership with the superpowers United States and China, the question facing its people is no longer just...
Deep-sea mining: Gold rush or disaster?
Australian Geographic
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August 21, 2025
Home Topics Opinion & Analysis Deep-sea mining: Gold rush or disaster? By Professor Jessica Meeuwig and Professor Callum Roberts • 21 August 2025 Billions of polymetallic nodules – mineral-rich rock concretions – lie strewn across the deep-sea...
State Dept. announces sea mining collaboration with Cook Islands
Talanei
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August 12, 2025
The State Department says the U.S. will collaborate with the Cook Islands on deep-sea mineral mining, at the same time the Trump Administration faces pushback on the issue in American Samoa. KHJ News Washington DC correspondent Matt Kaye reports…...
U.S. eyes deeper ties with Cook Islands
Samoa News
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August 13, 2025
#. US-Cook Islands meet PACIFIC NEWS BRIEFS w_header Compiled by Samoa News staff The United States is looking to build stronger ties with the Cook Islands following a historic diplomatic visit this week by its Chargé d'Affaires, David Gehrenbeck,...
Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Meeting concludes
Solomon Star
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August 27, 2025
The Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers (PWWM) Meeting concluded on Tuesday in Honiara, with Ministers from 14 Pacific Island countries and territories committing to urgent action to strengthen water and sanitation across the region. The...
Construction on national emergency centre set to begin in November
Cook Island News
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August 16, 2025
Director of Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) John Strickland. 22012143 The Cook Islands Government is forging ahead with plans to establish a National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), which emergency officials say should be fully...
Cook Islands confronts critical questions on identity as debate on deep-sea mining grows
Cook Island News
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August 9, 2025
Hundreds of people peacefully rallied at sea to protect the ocean from seabed activities in August 2024. TE IPUKAREA SOCIETY/24091830/24091831/24091832 As the Cook Islands approaches the end of its five-year seabed minerals exploration phase and...
Chinese envoy stresses partnership agreement with Cook Islands 'has nothing to do with military or security agenda': media
Global Times
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China-Cook Islands relationship Photo: VCG The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-2030 signed between China and the Cook Islands has "nothing to do with any military or security agenda," and that "everyone could see for themselves…...
United States eyes deeper ties with Cook Islands, help businesses form ties
Talanoa 'O Tonga
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August 12, 2025
The United States is looking to build stronger ties with the Cook Islands following a historic diplomatic visit this week by its Chargé d’Affaires, David Gehrenbeck, who met with Prime Minister Mark Brown during the nation’s 60th anniversary of...
US-Cook Islands partnership ‘sounds like the decision to mine has been made’, says environmentalists
Cook Island News
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August 11, 2025
Concerned Cook Islands residents turned up for a preplanned rally against potential deep sea mining at the Avarua Harbour in 2024. 24091824 Cook Islands environmental organisation Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) says the joint statement recently...
Pacific Water Ministers Meeting Concludes with Strong Regional Commitments
Tavuli News
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August 27, 2025
Wednesday 27 August 2025, Honiara – The Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers (PWWM) Meeting concluded yesterday in Honiara, with ministers from 14 Pacific Island countries and territories committing to urgent action to strengthen water and...
Cook Islands rugby league teams face tough competition in Port Moresby
Cook Island News
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August 7, 2025
Cook Islands Moana will battle PNG Orchids on October 17 before facing the Tonga XIII on October 24 in the 2025 Pacific Championships Bowl competition. Both matches will be held at Santos National Football Stadium. NRL/25080617 The Cook Islands...
Cook Islands seeks balance as record tourism numbers put strain on local environment
RNZ
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August 7, 2025
Muri Lagoon, Rarotonga Photo: Caleb Fotheringham As the Cook Islands celebrates 60 years of self-governance, the nation is looking at how the backbone of its economy can move beyond just economic benefits. Rarotonga is as popular as it has ever...
Letter: MFEM defends role in shipping
Cook Island News
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August 18, 2025
Dear Editor, In response to the Letter to the Editor in CINews dated August 12th titled “Centralising Power at MFEM”, MFEM (Ministry of Finance and Economic Management) provides the following: MFEM, through its management of the domestic shipping...
Cook Islands opposition rejects independence, calls for greater self-sufficiency
RNZ
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August 3, 2025
Cook Islands leader of the opposition Tina Browne Photo: Caleb Fotheringham The leader of the Cook Islands opposition Tina Browne wants the country to be more self-sufficient, but says there is no desire to be independent from New Zealand. The...
U.S. Counters China with Deep-Sea Mining Cook Islands Pact
Skillings Mining Review - Florida
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August 7, 2025
Key Takeaways U.S. pushes deep-sea mining Cook Islands partnership amid China’s Pacific expansion. Cook Islands–China pact in February sparked geopolitical tension with New Zealand. Trump’s order bypassed UNCLOS to expedite U.S. seabed mining...
U.S begins talks with Cook Islands on seabed mining, gears up to compete with China
Island Times
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August 8, 2025
WASHINGTON/RAROTONGA (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) —-The U.S has begun discussions with the Cook Islands on the exploration of seabed minerals within its waters, in a bid to catch up with China, which has previously clinched a similar deal with the...
Mission Critical: US strikes Cook Islands mining deal
Azzet
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August 7, 2025
The United States and Cook Islands have announced a partnership to advance scientific research and ‘responsible development’ of the billions of dollars of seabed minerals wealth within the Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone, following China's...
US starts seabed mineral talks with Cook Islands
Samoa News
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August 7, 2025
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The US has begun talks with the Cook Islands for research on seabed minerals exploration and development, the State Department said on Tuesday. The Cook Islands lie halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii and are made up...
US research vessel to aid Cook Islands’ seabed mineral exploration
Cook Island News
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August 7, 2025
From left, Joshua Kroon, US Department of Commerce’s deputy assistant secretary for textiles, consumer goods, materials, critical minerals and metals. David Gehrenbeck, Chargé d’Affaires US Mission to NZ, Cook Islands, and Niue, Prime Minister...