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    Pacific

    Yesterday

    French President Emmanuel Macron speaks after stepping off his plane in New Caledonia on Thursday.

    Macron urges calm in high-stakes New Caledonia visit

    The French president has met political and business leaders in an attempt to ease tensions following days of deadly unrest over electoral reforms.

    • Claire Rush and John Leicester

    This Month

    A French military plane arrives at Noumea-Magenta Airport, New Caledonia, on May 16.

    What’s really behind the riots in New Caledonia?

    New Caledonia, one of five island territories spanning the Indo-Pacific held by France, is central to Macron’s plan to increase French influence in the Pacific.

    • Gabriel Stargardter
    Smoke rises during protests in Noumea, New Caledonia.

    Why a small Pacific island territory is upending nickel prices

    New Caledonia possesses an estimated 25 per cent of the world’s nickel resources and accounts for 6 per cent of global production of the metal.

    • Rishi Lyengar
    An RNZAF Hercules C-130 takes off from Whenuapai airbase near Auckland on Tuesday bound for Noumea, New Caledonia, on a mercy mission to rescue stranded New Zealand tourists.

    First Aussies home from riot-hit New Caledonia after RAAF rescue

    French authorities have given permission for evacuation flights to take off and land in Noumea.

    • Andrew Tillett
    A Kanak flag waving next to a burning vehicle at a roadblock at La Tamoa, in the commune of Paita in New Caledonia.

    Airforce on standby to evacuate Australians as French police pour into New Caledonia

    Roads were blocked and the airport remained shut, stranding 3200 people, including 300 Australians, in the Pacific nation after a week of riots.

    • Kirsty Needham
    A Kanak flag waving next to a burning vehicle at a roadblock at La Tamoa, in the commune of Paita in New Caledonia.

    Penny Wong must speak up on New Caledonia

    It’s time for Australia’s foreign minister to act as the honest friend and tell France that they are mishandling their Pacific territory.

    • Hamish McDonald
    A man stands in front a burnt car after unrest in Noumea, New Caledonia this week.

    ‘Massive’ French police force arrives in riot-hit New Caledonia

    Deadly violence has raged across the French Pacific territory this week over electoral reforms pushed in Paris, forcing France to impose a state of emergency.

    • Kirsty Needham and Camille Raynaud

    April

    Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said he had been “vilified by media” and his family had been subjected to “unprecedented abuse”.

    Solomon Islands PM steps down after elections

    Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare formed close ties with China during his terms in power and said he had been vilified for it.

    • Rod McGuirk
    Close ties. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare pictured with Chinese President Xi Jinping last year.

    Pro-China Solomon Islands PM fails to win majority

    Manasseh Sogavare has failed to win a majority in parliamentary elections, setting the stage for coalition negotiations.

    • Updated
    • Ben Westcott