PINA

Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister and MP for East Malaita, Manasseh Maelanga says Malaita’s push for independence is dividing the province and its people. Maelanga made the statement during his contribution to the motion of sine die in Parliament Wednesday. “There is now a southern region group being pushed. What is happening in Malaita is bringing division. "South Malaita is now pushing...

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat has briefed MSG Leaders on the current political situation in New Caledonia with regards to the third and final Independence Referendum, scheduled for 12 December 2021. In a letter to MSG Leaders, the Acting Director-General, George Hoa’au said that the third referendum is a unilateral decision by France to hold the referendum on 12...

Christmas came early to the Fiji National Rugby League yesterday following an undisclosed five-year sponsorship by FMF and the sealing of the Ram Sami partnership. FMF is now a major sponsor of the Vodafone Fiji Bati and an official partner of FNRL’s community and pathway programmes. FNRL chairman Viliame Naupoto said: “In spite of the impact of this pandemic, we remained...

Fiji Swimming has withdrawn from the 15th FINA World Championship in Abu Dhabi this month. Olympians Taichi Vakasama and Cheyanne Rova including United States-based Netani Ross and Moana Wind were due to participate at the Games. Due to financial constraints and the adverse effects of the pandemic on training and logistics, the federation has decided to miss out on the World...

The strictest of COVID-19 regulations in Samoa have been causing problems for the country's international rugby teams all year. Manu Samoa's recent tour of the northern hemisphere was abandoned, apart from one game against the Barbarians in London, only for that to be scrapped too, at the very last minute, when several of the opposition players tested positive for coronavirus. Since...

The Pacific territory of New Caledonia goes to the polls on Sunday for a third and final referendum on independence from France with campaigning marked by angry demands to call off the vote because of the Covid pandemic. The territory, some 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) east of Australia, was allowed three independence referendums under a 1988 deal aimed at easing...

A coalition of Pacific civil society organisations (CSO) and movement leaders, has called on the French Government to postpone the third independence referendum in Kanaky/New Caledonia, which was “hastily” announced to go ahead on 12 December The French Minister for Overseas Territories, Sebastien Lecornu, told French journalists in Paris that the third self-determination vote would take place, as it "serves...

By Megha Mohan and Yousef Eldin There are fewer women in politics in the Pacific Islands than in any other part of the world, according to UN Women. But this year Samoa elected a woman as its head of government - only the second Pacific Island nation to do so - thanks in part to a network of women...

Lawyers of the petitioners demanding the postponement of the auto-determination referendum of New Caledonia on 12 December has filed an urgent appeal at the France’s highest court in Paris. “On 03 December 2021, Bourdon and Associes introduced a petition for the protection of fundamental liberties (référé-liberté) at the Council of state, France's highest admonitive court, on behalf of 146 individuals...

A dramatic new development in the race for the prime ministership in Tonga. The incumbent, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, has pulled out and there are now two contenders. The caretaker education minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, is facing 'Aisake Eke, who won re-election last month after losing in his seat in the 2017 poll. RNZ Pacific's correspondent, Kalafi Moala, said it appears that Tu'i'onetoa is backing...