New Caledonia

PNG hopes to bounce back at Championships

The OFC championship is being hosted in Tahiti from February 11-24 with eight countries participating.

Our boys are pooled in Group A alongside New Caledonia, Tahiti and Vanuatu while Group B consists of Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and New Zealand.

PNG is currently third on the points ladder after round one behind New Caledonia on first place and Tahiti on second. 

In their first match on Saturday, PNG went down to New Caledonia 3-2 while Tahiti defeated Vanuatu 1-0.

Francophone showdown awaits at OFC U 17

Hosts Tahiti take on current table leaders New Caledonia on the second day of Group A action in the OFC U-17 Championship in Papeete, Tahiti on 14 February.

Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu will open the day of action as they both fight for their first points in the competition at 4pm (local time).

Although their 3-2 loss to New Caledonia was heart-breaking for Papua New Guinea coach Harrison Kamake, he remains focussed on staying constructive and tweaking the side’s weaknesses.

“We are playing Vanuatu and they definitely are a good team,” he said.

French Pacific minors face new travel restrictions

The measure is reportedly aimed at curbing travel to recruitment areas of Middle Eastern extremists.

Minors now need a completed form as well as a photo copy of one of their parents' identity cards.

According to media reports, this means that minors travelling between France and French Polynesia and New Caledonia need the authorisation even if they only transit via Los Angeles or Tokyo.

Photo: AFP Air Calin planes at Tontouta Airport in New Caledonia 

Japan-New Caledonia flight disrupted

Aircalin said the 179 passengers have been put up in hotels while efforts are underway to find alternatives for them to reach Noumea.

The airline's schedule is expected to have disruptions over the next two days.

Last year, Aircalin had repeated technical problems with its Airbus A330s.

It ordered two new such wide-body planes which will be delivered for 2019.

New Caledonia will fight disease-carrying mosquitoes with a bacteria

The programme has been developed with Australia's Monash University and entails releasing mosquitoes with the Wolbachia bacteria.

A statement issued by the authorities of Noumea says once the mosquitoes carry this bacteria they can no longer pass on dengue, chikungunya and Zika.

It says gradually the bacteria will spread to all the disease-carrying mosquitoes, hoping to eliminate the problem within about four years.

The method has reportedly been tested in five countries, with transmission rates plummeting.

 

New Caledonia's most wanted man shot dead in St Louis

Ramon Noraro was wanted by police on suspicion of having used a firearm in repeated and violent clashes which left five police officers with gunshot wounds.

The public broadcaster said details were sketchy but it suggests a fight broke out amid disagreements over how to respond to a judicial probe of the death of William Decoire, a man who was shot dead by police in October.

In the ensuing firefight, another person has been injured.

Police were reportedly also shot at.

Two people have been detained.

Tsunami warnings across Pacific lifted

The centre issued warnings for Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tuvalu and Kosrae.

It said people near impacted coastal areas should stay alert and exercise normal caution near the sea.

American Samoa had issued a tsunami watch following the earthquake but that was later cancelled.

The quake, which hit just before 5am local time on Friday morning, was initially reported to be of magnitude 8 by the US Geological Service but was downgraded shortly afterwards.

Kapuls face Malaysia in second match

The fray of OFC Stage 3 of FIFA World Cup Qualifying in March has heightened as teams are safeguarding their tours and trials vital in preparation for the Qualifers.

The Kapuls now will play Malaysia, who they recently defeated in Port Moresby a week after the OFC finals against New Zealand.

As of Saturday, Nov 12, New Zealand were hosting Group A rivals New Caledonia in Auckland.

Meanwhile, Solomon Islands and Tahiti continue their push to get a jump on PNG in Group B. They challenged in Honiara on Saturday.

New Caledonia main road re-opened after unrest

This comes after negotiations between the authorities and people from St Louis to calm the situation.

Clean-up operations were abandoned yesterday when a group of young people stole one of the trucks which has now been returned.

On Sunday, clashes between armed youths and police near St Louis left six police officers injured and prompted the authorities to keep the road closed while trying to negotiate a resolution.

The unrest was triggered after police fatally shot a prison escapee from St Louis in the early hours of Saturday.

Semi-finals within reach for Group A pair in OFC U 20 Championship

New Caledonia topped the pool by defeating Papua New Guinea 4-1, while Vanuatu edged defending champions Fiji 1-0 in the other match on Saturday and should they both win again against Fiji and Papua New Guinea respectively they would wrap up the top two places with a game to spare.

Confirming a place in the final four of the eight nation is a step closer to qualifying for next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup, which for the first time welcomes two teams from the OFC qualifying tournament, specifically the winners of each semi-final.