PINA

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Samoa yesterday signed a $5 million grant to help fund the preparation of ADB-supported land transport projects in Samoa. The Minister of Finance Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o and ADB Director General for the Pacific Leah Gutierrez signed the agreement, which will fund assessments, planning, and capacity building to implement land transport projects....

Skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing are set to be added to the core Los Angeles 2028 Olympic programme - but boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon have been left off the list of guaranteed sports for the Games. The IOC said there would be a "pathway" for boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon to be part of the Games in the American...

The original Super Rugby Pacific draw is set to be the latest casualty of Covid-19-enforced disruption, with a revised schedule set to be released next week. The new competition was thrown into confusion after the New Zealand government revealed a border opening plan that made it impossible for the trans-Tasman competition to proceed as planned. However, Rugby Australia chief executive Andy...

The Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) has confirmed it is ending efforts to qualify for Birmingham 2022 in badminton, cycling, netball and squash. The organisation admitted in September that financial constraints and the impact of COVID-19 would likely impact their preparations for next year’s Games. FASANOC chief executive Lorraine Mar said as part of their qualification criteria...

Cartoons urging New Caledonians to vote no to independence from France in this weekend’s referendum have been accused of “profound racism and ridicule towards Pacific Islanders, especially the Kanak people”, in a legal submission lodged with France’s highest judicial body. An urgent appeal has been lodged against the broadcast of the animations, which have been running on television in...

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...