Patrick Decloitre

Fears of potential unrest on New Caledonia's symbolic date of 24 September have prompted stronger restrictions. Audio

Local government President Louis Mapou has declared a level 2 emergency on the communes of Koumac and Kaala-Gomen, where fire and emergency services have been struggling to extinguish several blazes.

Southern Province President Sonia Backès had already hinted last week that one buyer had now been found and that one bidder had successfully reached advanced stages in the due diligence process.

A local consortium in New Caledonia is reported to have made an eleventh-hour offer to take over and restart activity at the Koniambo nickel plant.

A delegation from New Caledonia is scheduled to travel to Paris next week to meet high level officials, including the presidents of both Houses of Parliament.

New Caledonia's domestic carrier Air Calédonie is set to launch a bi-weekly international connection to neighbouring Vanuatu.

Analysis - The latest fire took place on Sunday evening at the iconic Saint Denis Church of Balade, in Pouébo, on the northern tip of the main island of Grande Terre.

A round-up of news in brief from French Pacific territories, including almost 2000 people taking part in New Caledonia's famous white worms celebrations, despite the current crisis.

The new financial buoy would allow those essential services to continue operating, at least for the month of September.

However, the meeting spokesperson has denied any "breakup" within the FLNKS.

Analysis - In a first in New Caledonia's short Congress history, the new Chair of the local Parliament is now a woman.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific region, including a new finance minister for French Polynesia, and 'riots' risk no longer covered by New Caledonia insurance companies.

Analysis - There's been a flurry of statements, counter-statements, denials, affirmations from left, right and centre in New Caledonia with no resolution in sight for the ongoing crisis.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific region, including the Paris Olympics surfing event legacy left behind for the use of local residents.

Commodore Geoffroy d'Andigné warned against a false sense of security in the Pacific Ocean, or to think that a conflict on the other side of the world would not affect the region.

In New Caledonia, violent unrest and clashes between the rioters and law enforcement units have killed one more person.

New Caledonia's curfew, which was imposed days after violent unrest broke out on 13 May, has been extended until 19 August, the French High commission said on Friday.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific region, including baby's body found on a Nouméa beach, Qantas resumes flights to Nouméa, and Tahiti's judge's tower will be dismantled.

Tahiti's, Kauli Vaast, 22, has won the Olympic gold medal in the men's shortboard finals of the Paris 2024 surfing event.

Businesses told local media in the face of insecurity or due to job losses - over 2400 people have so far lost their jobs - the demand for permanent departures has increased dramatically.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific region, including a New York Times article labelling the Olympic surfing venue "poisoned" upsetting French Polynesia's leaders.

Hippolyte Sinewami Htamumu once presided over the 16-member traditional Senate of chiefs, which was set up as part of the implementation of the Nouméa Accord.

The emergency assistance comes in the form of a "refundable advance" to the tune of €14.2 million designed to salvage ENERCAL from dire financial straits.

New Caledonia's mothballed nickel plant in Koniambo (North of the main island) has announced it has engaged in the mass sackings of some 1200 staff, despite efforts to identify a potential buyer.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific region, including more attacks on New Caledonia's religious buildings, and another jail sentence for importing meth into French Polynesia