New Zealand has suspended NZ$18.2 million (U.S. $10.8 million) in budget funding to the Cook Islands amid growing tensions over the island nation’s deepening ties with China and concerns over a lack of transparency.
New Zealand halted core sector support funding for the Cook Islands for 2025-26, citing the need for a high-trust bilateral relationship that has been strained by the Cook Islands’ increasing partnership with China.
The suspension follows concerns over inadequate consultation on agreements the Cook Islands signed with Beijing, particularly in areas excluding security cooperation.
New Zealand demands concrete steps to restore trust before resuming financial support. The move comes amid Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to China, where he is expected to raise issues about China’s growing influence in the Pacific.
The Cook Islands affirmed its commitment to repairing relations with New Zealand and reiterated the longstanding partnership on security and defence.
Experts warn that using aid as leverage could backfire by pushing Pacific nations closer to China.
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is reviewing Sri Lanka’s request for approximately $200 million in emergency financing after Cyclone Ditwah caused widespread destruction across the island nation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin departed New Delhi on Friday after a two-day state visit, during which he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to deepen trade and defence cooperation, while Russia offered uninterrupted fuel supplies to India.
Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, expressed confidence on Friday that unresolved issues between Washington and Ankara could be resolved within four to six months, describing the relationship as strong and stable.
A gas explosion at a karaoke restaurant in the Andean town of Huancane left 10 people dead, including eight students, and seriously injured three others, local authorities said Friday, December 5.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with world leaders, sports stars, and FIFA officials on hand to finalise matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team tournament.
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Israel was cleared on Thursday to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, a decision made by the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which sparked a major controversy.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to cooperate more closely on geopolitics, trade and the environment, as the European Union seeks China's help to end the war in Ukraine.
Russian forces struck the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk on Wednesday, (3 December), dropping nine aerial bombs in a single day, regional authorities said.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has claimed that the European Union is “drowning in corruption,” criticising Brussels for failing to hold itself or Ukraine accountable amid recent scandals.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is reviewing Sri Lanka’s request for approximately $200 million in emergency financing after Cyclone Ditwah caused widespread destruction across the island nation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin departed New Delhi on Friday after a two-day state visit, during which he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to deepen trade and defence cooperation, while Russia offered uninterrupted fuel supplies to India.
Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, expressed confidence on Friday that unresolved issues between Washington and Ankara could be resolved within four to six months, describing the relationship as strong and stable.
A gas explosion at a karaoke restaurant in the Andean town of Huancane left 10 people dead, including eight students, and seriously injured three others, local authorities said Friday, December 5.
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