Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture took the precaution of suspending imports of live day-old chicks, eggs and chicken-related products from New Zealand when an Otago free-range farm became infected with bird flu in early December. MPI/24123008 Cook Islands temporarily suspended imports of poultry products from New Zealand following a bird flu outbreak on a single farm, but has resumed imports from unaffected regions with additional safety measures. Ministry of Agriculture took the precaution of suspending imports of live day-old chicks, eggs and chicken-related products from New Zealand when an Otago free-range farm became infected with bird flu in early December. The farm – Mainland Poultry’s Hillgrove site – was last week confirmed as free of the disease after approximately 200,000 birds were culled following the discovery of the H-7-N-6 strain there. Secretary of Agriculture Temarama Anguna said that on December 2, the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)...

Thousands of Australians are bracing for wild storms and heavy rainfall, with a major warning already issued for one state. RPT

Rain is expected to gradually spread over most parts of the country tomorrow, states Fiji Meteorological Service in its latest weather update issued at 10:30pm. A heavy rain alert remains in force for Vanua Levu, Yasawa & Mamanuca Groups, the Western and Northern parts of Viti Levu [Momi to Nadi, Lautoka, Ba through Tavua to Rakiraki] and the Interior of Ba, Ra, Nadroga/Navosa, Serua/Namosi, Naitasiri and Tailevu Provinces. “A trough of low pressure with associated cloud and rain affects the Western and Northern parts of Fiji. It is expected to gradually spread over the rest of the country by tomorrow,” states Fiji Met. There will be occasional rain, heavy at times and few thunderstorms. Isolated thunderstorms with heavy falls likely. Possible impacts include isolated flash flooding of low-lying areas and reduced visibility on roads. RPT

Dear Editor, In January 2024, a year ago now, on a beach at Mauke, two older teenaged girls kicked and bashed a younger teenaged girl with intellectual disabilities, while the third girl (friend of the other two) filmed it and put it on the internet. Yet with all this evidence no charges have yet been laid. The younger girl was quite badly injured. One of the older girls was from Rarotonga; this is what she thought was holiday fun while she was visiting one of the outer islands. The police attitude to this case is reminiscent of the attitude of a lot of Cook Islanders towards their fellow disabled citizens 50-60 years ago. There was not a village that did not have a so called “village idiot” who often got ridiculed and harassed by children and adults alike. Have these attitudes really changed in spite of all the education...

Six suspects in their 20s and 30s have been apprehended by Auki Police in Malaita for brewing kwaso (homebrew) during an operation over the festive season. The suspects have been arrested during a raid at Fiu village in Central Kwaraáe and at Gounaruú in West Kwaea’ae. Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Malaita Province Chief Superintendent Tex Tafoa said, all apparatus used to cook kwaso, including a large quantity of finished kwaso products, were confiscated and taken to Auki police station to be used as court exhibits. PPC Tafoa said, police have dealt with the suspects and processed their court documents for their trial at a later date. Chief Superintendent Tafoa reminded the public that there are other ways to earn money rather than producing kwaso which will lead to more social problems. “Find other ways to make money. Brewing of kwaso in our communities will cause trouble and lead up to...

Pro-Palestine protesters allegedly stole from a Melbourne Starbucks and spat on the barista in ugly scenes during a NYE rally. RPT

WEIGHTLIFTING Fiji celebrated one of its best years in 2024 which ended yesterday. The team achieved extraordinary success on both local and international stages, solidifying its place as a powerhouse in Fijian sports. Weightlifting Fiji started 2024 on a high at the Oceania Championships in Auckland, where youth lifters Zion Tokona and Nehemiah Elder set new Oceania records. At the event, Tokona set a new Oceania Youth records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total categories. His lifts were a snatch of 130kg, a clean and jerk of 148kg, and a total of 278kg. Elder claimed a gold medal in the Youth Snatch category, set a new Oceania Youth Snatch record at 125kg, but also leveled the Oceania Youth clean and jerk record with an astounding lift of 137kg. He also made waves at the 2024 Online Youth & Junior Championships on November 23 winning the overall men’s division...

The participants from the inaugural Village Mile at Arorangi on January 2, 2024. SUPPLIED/24123012 The Athletics Cook Islands Village Mile encourages community participation in a fun and accessible event, promoting health and fitness through a series of four one-mile laps around Rarotonga. Athletics Cook Islands is holding its second annual Village Mile event around Rarotonga this Thursday. The novelty event aims to reach all villages around the island and encourage those who have set New Year’s resolutions for increased activity and better health to begin immediately. According to Athletics Cook Islands: “The event starts at a CICC church then heads out 800 metres then turns around and comes back again to the start.” “This gives approximately a one-mile lap that can be taken as a walk with the pram, family group walk run or faster interval training racing.” There are four laps making it a four – square –...

AS we bid farewell to 2024 tonight, we at Solomon Star wish to thank you all – our readers, advertisers, all Solomon Islanders and friends of Solomon Islands – for your support throughout 2024. Indeed, it was a challenging year, but through your support and understanding, we were able to sail through safely. But before we enter the new year 2025, which of course will come with new challenges, we would like to remind you of some of our major stories in 2024 and here are they: Flash back January to December 2024 JANUARY  Solomon Airlines H4-SIC reportedly grounded after being hit on the tail by a refuelling truck SOLOMON AIRLINES has reportedly grounded its newest Twin Otter aircraft indefinitely following an incident at Henderson Domestic Airport on Tuesday 2nd January. No immediate confirmation could be obtained from the Airline. However, Solomon Star has been reliably informed that the Twin...

Aussie travellers who lose two or more passports in a five-year period could risk losing the important document entirely, under a little-known law. RPT