Macron flies home from New Caledonia without breakthrough

Following ten days of riots and clashes between protestors and police in New Caledonia, French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to Noumea to meet with politicians, community leaders and business associations. 

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France’s Macron delays New Caledonia voting reform after protests

French President Emmanuel Macron says he will delay a voting reform in New Caledonia that the Indigenous Kanak people on the French-ruled Pacific islands say would dilute their votes and undermine their struggle for

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New Caledonia and Vanuatu withdraw from FestPAC amid deadly unrest

A festival planner announced Monday that a Pacific country and an island territory of France have withdrawn their participation in the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture.  The announcement comes as Hawaii is

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Opinion: Why is New Caledonia on fire? According to local women, the deadly riots are about more than voting rights

New Caledonia’s capital city, Noumea, has endured widespread violent rioting over the past 48 hours. This crisis intensified rapidly, taking local authorities by surprise. Peaceful protests had been occurring across

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French authorities must uphold rights of the Indigenous Kanak people amid unrest

Responding to ongoing unrest in the non-self-governing French territory of Kanaky New Caledonia after the French Parliament adopted a bill changing the territory’s voting rules, Amnesty International’s Pacific

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ADF ‘ready to fly’ as death toll rises in New Caledonia, NZDF Hercules awaits French approval 

As Australians stranded in New Caledonia amid unrest beg for help to come home, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong says the defence force is “ready to fly” once commercial flights to the territory resume.  Six

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Violent clashes in Noumea as French National Assembly debates voting rights

As the French parliament in Paris considers legislation to reform voting rights in New Caledonia, there has been a night of rioting and arson in Noumea. On Monday, a series of peaceful protest rallies highlighted calls

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Historic ceasefire signed in PNG

A historic ceasefire agreement was signed last night between two warring tribes from Enga Province in Papua New Guinea  that will completely end killings in Middle Lai, Aiyale and Tsaka Valley of Wapenamanda

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PNG PM Marape describes killings in Enga as act of terrorism

The killing in Enga is an act of domestic terrorism and the National Executive Council (NEC) will meet to decide on what will be done to address the situation, says Prime Minister James Marape. Marape said at a press

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At least 53 men killed in PNG tribal fighting

Papua New Guinea police say at least 53 people have died in a massacre in the country’s Highlands. A ghastly sight as a picture of bodies piled high on top each other on a police vehicle was shared on online platforms

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Black Wednesday: PNG’s Tinder Box explodes

Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, is recovering from looting and burning of businesses in its National Capital District (NCD) after members of the PNG Police Force went on strike last month. “Black

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Country must never face repeat of civil unrest: PNG Business Council

Papua New Guinea Business Council President, Susil Nelson-Kongoi says there should not be a repeat of the 10 January civil unrest in Port Moresby and around the country. She told the Prime Minister’s back-to-business

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Australian Defence Chief unaware of Commander Naliva’s torture allegation

Australia’s Defence Force Chief was unaware a Fijian officer who became a Deputy Commander of 3000 troops was alleged to have committed torture. Colonel Penioni Naliva was appointed the Deputy Commander of the 7th

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Calls for confidence vote in PM Marape after deadly riots in PNG

The political fallout from the deadly riots in Papua New Guinea continues, including calls for a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister, James Marape. Six MPs in Marape’s government have resigned following

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PNG counts cost of riots as PM vows Cabinet reshuffle

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has promised a cabinet reshuffle as businesses reckon with the cost of looting and rioting last week that inflicted heavy damage on the impoverished Pacific Island country’s

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Death toll in PNG riots jumps to 22

The national death toll from violent riots in Papua New Guinea has climbed to 22, with the remains of six people found in Port Moresby yesterday. It’s understood the remains of the six people were found at two

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Deportation of Palauans from the U.S. hits record high in 2023

Nine Palauan citizens were deported from the United States in 2023, marking the highest number of deportees Palau has received in a single year. This significant increase, compared to the usual two or less deportees per

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Chaos in Madang

Madang town in Papua New Guinea is in a state of lawlessness after policeman was killed on Wednesday, sparking a wave of violence and havoc which a senior police officer described as “chaotic”. Assistant

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Culture not an excuse for violence: PNG Governor-General

Papua New Guinea cannot claim to be a Christian country because its society has many social ills highlighted by a disrespect for one another, says Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae. Speaking during the flag

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Where do I go to tell my story?

“There’s a nation of men who were abused as little boys, who are walking around and are hurting,” says Letitia Shelton.  Shelton is the author of Disruptive Voices of Pacific Men, an idea birthed during

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PNGDF Commander Goina suspended

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has announced the suspension of the Defence Commander, Major General Mark Goina, from duties for three months. This is so that the General Board of Inquiry established by the

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PNG firearms being bought from Jiwaka and Mt Hagen dealers

Three men in Papua New Guinea have been found with unlicensed firearms, ammunition, explosives and other illegal items after a raid was conducted in Western Highlands province last week. The apprehension of the three

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Six killed in Porgera

Porgera in Enga is in disarray following the killing of six people on Wednesday night, forcing the closure of schools and businesses as the “guerilla warfare” continues. Porgera gold mine Lease for Mining Purpose

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16 escapees shot dead in PNG

Sixteen inmates were shot dead while attempting to escape from a prison, one is in hospital and seven are on the run, according to PNG Correctional Services (CS) commissioner, Stephen Pokanis. “(Altogether) 24

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