French Senate delegation urges Paris to prove its impartiality, Tongan netballers praised by country's leader, and Samoa ecotourism book
French Senate delegation urges Paris to prove its impartiality
A French Senate delegation helping prepare a new statute for New Caledonia has urged the French state to prove its impartiality as discussions about the territory's future are in limbo.
Last December, more than 96 percent voted against New Caledonia's independence from France in a referendum boycotted by the pro-independence parties, which refuse to recognise the result as the legitimate outcome of the decolonisation process.
The vote marked the last step under the 1998 Noumea Accord whose provisions on the institutional make-up however remain in force until a new statute is in place.
The senators, who visited New Caledonia last month, say France's impartiality is fundamental for the rival sides in New Caledonia to be able to find a new agreement.
They said conditions need to be found soon to re-establish a dialogue after pro-independence parties ruled out last week that they would attend talks in September called by the French interior ministry.
The anti-independence side wants a statute reintegrating New Caledonia into France while the pro-independence side wants bilateral talks with Paris to attain sovereignty in line with the Kanaks' internationally recognised right to self-determination.
Tongan PM hails Tongan Tala
Tonga's Prime Minister has commended the country's netball team for qualifying for the 2023 Netball World Cup.
The Tongan Tala after their fantastic effort in Suva Photo: Netball Fiji
Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni said the Government is throwing its full support behind the team.
It's the first time Tonga has qualified for the World Cup after beating Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands in the Oceania qualifiers.
Coach Jaqua Pori-Makea-Simpson said it was a big step forward for women's sport in the Kingdom.
"Definitely a landmark moment for us bringing women sport to the forefront in a male-dominated space in Tonga, and I think some of the success from our teams doesn't just come from them being really talented netballers but they're increadible and outstanding ambassadors for other young women.
"And that's what's exciting is that it's not just about sport, it's about empowering young ladies."
Repatriation flight passengers isolating
The passengers on the last repatriation flight to Tonga are now in quaratine ahead of Tonga's international border re-opening on Monday with zero MIQ.
The passengers from New Zealand, Australia and Fiji are in quarantine in three hotels or at home.
It's been two years since the repatriation flights began in July 2020.
Tonga's new open border policy has two incoming flights from New Zealand and Fiji each week and one from Australia until August 29 when there will be three flights a week from New Zealand.
The plan is for six flights a week from New Zealand starting in November.
A negative covid test and proof of vaccination is required to enter Tonga from Monday.
The change in border requirements is because the number of Covid cases continues to drop with less than 10 covid cases each day in the past few weeks.
Samoa's ecotourism promoted in new e-book
The Samoa Conservation Society is issuing an e-book promoting ecotourism activities.
Society members have been doing research on the country's terrain and sea and have included their findings in the e-book with Volume 1 focusing on hiking on Upolu and Volume 2 on Savai'i.
The book is co-authored by Ned Brown, James Atherton, Pepe Letoa and Charmina Saili.
Atherton, who is the SCS President, said e-copies of the book would be made available to schools in Samoa.
"We are still adding hikes to Volume 1 and doing the maps and photos and the book should be ready by the end of the year," he said.