Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
The Tree of Life: Honouring the Coconut Tree's Sacred Place in the Cook Islands Culture
Infonews NZ
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You’ve seen it in nearly every photo of our little paradise — the iconic coconut tree. It’s the unmistakable symbol of tropical life, a mark that you’ve arrived somewhere truly special. But in the Cook Islands, the coconut is more than just a...
Pakistanis now eligible for travel visa-free to 32 countries, here's a list
Dunya News
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Pakistan Pakistan Pakistanis now eligible for travel visa-free to 32 countries, here's a list Close Pakistan’s passport now ranks 100th, it marks an improvement from its 113th position in 2021 Updated On: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:37:34 PKT ISLAMABAD...
Pakistan passport rises to 100th; visa-free travel now possible to 32 countries
Daily Times
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June 30, 2025
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani passport holders can now travel visa-free or get visa on arrival in 32 countries, following a rise in Pakistan’s passport ranking in the 2025 Henley Passport Index. This marks a notable improvement from the 113th position...
Here's a list of countries where Pakistanis can now travel without visa
GEO TV
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June 29, 2025
Pakistani passport holders can now travel to 32 countries either visa-free or with visa-on-arrival following an improvement in the country's passport ranking. According to the latest figures released by Henley & Partners, an international...
Pakistanis can travel to 32 countries without visa
The News International
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June 29, 2025
Pakistani passport holders can now visit 32 countries without a visa or with visa-on-arrival following an improvement in the country's position on the Henley passport index. The latest data from Henley & Partners, a global citizenship advisory...
Cook Islands blocks 37 individuals with gang links at border
Cook Island News
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June 26, 2025
Thirty-seven (37) individuals have been stopped from entering the Cook Islands between June 2024 and April of this year due to their affiliations with gangs overseas. COOK ISLANDS TOURISM/25062530 Thirty-seven (37) individuals with overseas gang...
Cook Islands qualifies for 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Beach Handball
Cook Island News
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June 24, 2025
Cook Islands men’s beach handball team has officially qualified for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, following a determined showing at the 3rd IHF Men’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship in Hammamet, Tunisia. SUPPLIED/25062303 History was made...
Pacific Workshop to Promote Sustainable Gastronomy Tourism
Pacific Tourism Organisation
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June 27, 2025
UN Tourism, in partnership with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and in collaboration with the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), will officially launch the “Development of...
New List of Countries you can Travel Visa-Free with Pakistani Passport in 2025
Daily Pakistan
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June 27, 2025
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani passport holders can now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 30 countries, marking a notable improvement in the country’s global travel standing. According to the latest data released by Henley & Partners,...
Tjibaou on New Caledonia talks in Paris: “We want to resolve this now”
Islands Business
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June 30, 2025
Koror, Palau-It’s been two weeks since the curtains fell on the third UN Ocean Conference. At this largest ever ocean summit, the Pacific voice echoed as a collective, calling for more global ocean accountability, and offering transformational...
Cook Islands seeks to destabilise NZ on eve of China visit
The Daily Blog
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June 20, 2025
NZ pauses nearly $20m in funding to Cook Islands after China agreements New Zealand has paused nearly $20 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands over its recent dealings with China. New Zealand raised concerns in February, after...
Pacific news in brief for 1 July
RNZ
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July 1, 2025
Niue government buildings Photo: RNZ/ Sally Round Niue - budget Health, education, social welfare and government salaries have receives a boost in the Niue government's new NZ$12.5 million (US$7.6m) deficit budget. Last week, the island's finance...
Cook Islands – trouble in Paradise as Wellington pulls the plug
Waatea News
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June 20, 2025
Role Funding: In December 2024, Prime Minister Mark Brown proposed issuing a unique Cook Islands passport—a move Wellington warned could signal constitutional independence. Although the passport plan was later shelved, it heightened sensitivity...
Cook Islands PM slams NZ over funding pause
Otago Daily Times
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June 20, 2025
By Caleb Fortheringham of RNZ Pausing nearly $20 million in development assistance is "patronising" and "inconsistent with modern partnership", Prime Minister Mark Brown has told the Cook Islands parliament. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston...
Cook Islands PM slams NZ for 'patronising approach' over China deal
1News
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Pausing nearly $20 million in development assistance is "patronising" and "inconsistent with modern partnership", Prime Minister Mark Brown has told the Cook Islands parliament. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has paused $18.2 million...
Cook Islands saga another test for Govt’s China policy as Luxon hits Beijing
Newsroom
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June 19, 2025
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the “areas of risk” in the strategic deal between the Cook Islands and China include security, defence, sovereignty and international border arrangements. These risk factors are now being worked through by...
Salary increase for ICI engineers
Cook Island News
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June 30, 2025
ICI workers at the Tupapa backroad carrying out some maintenance work last week. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU / 25062907 With the 2025-2026 financial year now in effect with a new pay structure; Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) will see an increase in...
Mark Brown: Cook Islands 'not consulted' on NZ-China agreements
RNZ
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June 19, 2025
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown Photo: Tiana Haxton Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has suggested a double standard, saying he was "not privy to or consulted on" agreements New Zealand may enter into with China. New Zealand Foreign...
New Zealand Freezes Cook Islands Aid Over Concerns About CCP Links
The Epoch Times
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June 20, 2025
While Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is in Beijing encouraging CCP officials to increase trade and tourism with New Zealand, his Foreign Minister Winston Peters appears to have taken Cabinet by surprise by announcing a freezing of aid to the...
Luxon meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid Cook Island controversy
RNZ
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June 20, 2025
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Chinese President Xi Jinping shook hands in front of photographers. Photo: Office of the Prime Minister Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has held talks with one of the world's most powerful people - Chinese...