New Caledonia

New Caledonia lead at halfway point

The French Territory has won 42 gold medals after the first six days of competition and more than 50 silver and bronze, with host nation Samoa the nearest challenger with 26 gold medals while Tahiti have 21.

Another six first place finishes on the final night of swimming action brought New Caledonia's total haul in the pool to 25 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze medals.

Swimming Team Manager Cyril Huet said it's an even bigger haul than they managed in Port Moresby four years ago.

New Caledonia win first gold medal at Pacific Games

Charlotte Robin defended her title after winning the Open Water Swimming competition today.  
New Caledonia took the silver medal after Miana Flament came in second.
Fiji’s Matelita Buadromo settled for a bronze, which is Fiji’s first medal at the Games.

Today is the first day of competition following a spectacular opening ceremony in Apia, Sunday evening.

     

Chinese man in New Caledonia tries to avert extradition

Ning Shisheng, who has lived in Australia since 2010, was arrested on an Interpol warrant in April when the cruise he was on stopped on the Isle of Pines.

Judicial authorities in Noumea, who examined Beijing's extradition request, are in favour of complying with it.

However, the lawyer acting for the 64-year-old suspect says China's prison system doesn't comply with France's international obligations.

The lawyer noted that New Zealand recently rejected a Chinese extradition request, citing human rights risks.

Mr Ning says he is no fraud.

Vanuatu bags first win at beach soccer nations cup

The Melanesian rivals came out of the blocks firing on a wet and windy day in Tahiti, with New Caledonia drawing first blood before Vanuatu replied with three of their own.

Meanwhile, a much improved Tonga side were able to frustrate Solomon Islands and keep the scoreline below double figures to regain some respect after Wednesday's 23-1 humiliation at the hands of Tahiti.

The Solomon Islanders ground game proved an easier challenge for the Tautai who suffered from Tahiti's aerial dominance in their international debut on the sand.

New Caledonia readies for election

Politics in New Caledonia continue to be defined as an overarching contest between those for and those against independence and not as a battle between the left and right.

While previous elections always resulted in a Congress, and then a government, dominated by the pro-French camp, this year may see the balance tilt.

For this to happen, the anti-independence camp would have to lose three or more seats in the 54-strong Congress.

The anti-independence side fears this could happen, the pro-independence side hopes it will.

Vanuatu and New Caledonia organise ‘Friendly Games’

Vanuatu Basketball Federation (VBF) National Basketball Development Officer, Sach Duthu said both woman teams performed quality and fair game.

New Caledonia Basketball Federation Secretary General Bridget Delaveuve, graced the games and stated her satisfaction regarding their participation in the ‘Friendly Games’.

"It was a great experience for our girls and the coach. It was an opportunity to get a level of performance for our women's team preparing for the (Pacific) games," said Delaveuve.

New flights likely between Vanuatu and New Caledonia

The deal was signed by Vanuatu's prime minister Charlot Salwai and New Caledonia's president Philippe Germain in Port Vila on Friday.

Air Vanuatu's chief executive Derek Nice said it would allow the airline to increase flights and the size of aircraft used.

The airline's New Caledonia passenger traffic has overtaken New Zealand for second place behind Australia.

Mr Nice said it was set to grow further with new routes beyond the existing Port Vila-Noumea flights.

Vanuatu woman exploited in New Caledonia - report

The Nouvelles Caledoniennes reported that the unnamed woman from Efate had been hired after answering an online advertisement of an employment agency.

It said she worked as a household help for a New Caledonian couple who made false declarations by describing her as a visiting acquaintance.

The woman was made to work every day, lacked any social security and was paid about $US200 a month.

The couple will reportedly face the courts on a multitude of charges which can be punishable with up to five years in jail.

     

New Caledonia restates France's claim on Matthew, Hunter islands

They issued a statement after the pro-independence FLNKS movement restated its position that Matthew and Hunter islands belonged to Vanuatu's heritage.

The three said last November's independence referendum showed a majority of New Caledonians wanted to stay French.

They said they would therefore oppose any attempt to dispossess the country of part of its land and wealth.

FLNKS leader Daniel Goa said unlike the people of Vanuatu, the Kanaks had no cultural links to the two islands.

Arrests in New Caledonia over mine attacks

Two of them have been charged, with one of them admitting to setting two fires to the conveyor belt which feeds ore to the coast for shipping to the SLN smelter in Noumea

The third suspect has been transferred to prison after he had been given a jail term of 18 months in June.

The arrests came only days after 15 trucks were destroyed in Kouaoua.

Earlier police had removed a blockade of the mining site which has been the scene of protracted disputes this year with a group opposed to expanded mining.