PINA

Preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are underway, with Team Niue recently selecting Sidney Lui to lead their delegation. Lui, a respected sports leader from the small Pacific island nation, steps back into the role with a clear vision to elevate Niue’s presence in international sports. She tells PMN News that the appointment is an honour and a privilege,...

Following the mass resignation led by Finance Minister Manasseh Sogavare and several senior ministers on Monday, a new political alignment appears to be taking shape in the Solomon Islands Parliament. A photo taken outside Parliament on Tuesday morning shows 25 Members of Parliament (MPs) aligned with the emerging group—enough to form a majority in the 49-seat legislature. With the passing...

Papua New Guinea's Catholic Church cardinal says he will have his region's interests in mind when he votes for the new pope. The Vatican has announced the eligible cardinals to vote for the replacement for the late Pope Francis will meet starting on 07 May inside the Sistine Chapel, in the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. Only...

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Karla Robin Hershey of the United States as the UN Resident Coordinator in Samoa, with the host government’s approval. Based in Apia, Samoa,Hershey will lead the Multi-Country Office for Samoa and will also coordinate UN development operations in the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. Hershey brings more than 30 years of experience in development...

Facing a staggering US$4 trillion annual financing gap for development and mounting trade wars, top UN officials on Monday called for urgent action to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and revive international cooperation. Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres, General Assembly President Philémon Yang and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)President Bob Rae stressed the need...

Cook Islands Health Ministry (Te Marae Ora) will launch a smoke-free campaign next month for these four outer islands, marking their declaration as smoke-free. According to the ministry, this initiative concludes a five-year project of planning, organising, and investigating to control tobacco usage in the outer islands. Health Promotion manager Tereapii Tumutoa said that businesses would no longer be permitted to...

As a step toward fostering collaboration and sustainable development, Republic of Nauru Phosphate Corporation(RONPHOS) and the Rabi Council of leaders, representing the Banaban community, have formalised their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). RONPHOS Minister Shadlog Bernicke and Rabi Administrator Jacob Karutake, signed the MOU that will lay the foundation for a strategic partnership to explore and implement phosphate-related...

The Solomon Islands government could collapse following a walkout by ministers and MPs from the coalition. Former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has resigned from his position as finance minister and is among 10 MPs to leave Jeremiah Manele's coalition. The pair are both part of the OUR Party, the largest party in parliament following the 2024 national election. During government negotiations, Sogavare...

Convicted former Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama could contest the general election next year, his right-hand man claims. Bainimarama, who originally seized power in a military revolt in 2006, now wants his corruption conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told RNZ Pacific this would allow the former military leader to contest the 2026 general election. “Many Fijian people want...

French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia this week for the third time in two months, has once again called all parties to live up to their responsibilities in order to make a new political agreement possible. Failing that, he said a potential civil war was looming. “We'll take our responsibilities, on our part, and we will...