New Caledonia

S Korea, Pacific Islands to boost ties after first-ever summit
Inaugural Korea-Pacific Islands Summit comes amid Seoul’s concerns over China’s growing influence in Indo-Pacific.
Published On 31 May 2023
7.7 magnitude earthquake in far Pacific creates small tsunami
Tsunami threat passes for Vanuatu and New Caledonia, New Zealand warns of dangerous currents, coastal surges.
Published On 19 May 2023
Tropical Cyclone Judy hits Vanuatu, with another on its way
Storm uproots trees and forces evacuations with power cuts reported in the Pacific island nation’s capital.
Published On 1 Mar 2023
Climate change gets ‘highest priority’ in US, Pacific agreement
Partnership deal signed by 14 nations follows historic summit at the White House and comes as China extends influence.
Published On 30 Sep 2022

Washington is in heated competition with Beijing for influence among Pacific island nations.

The US is looking to reengage in a region where China has been steadily expanding its influence.

Official says there is an immediate need for drinking water and food, as efforts begin to assess scale of damage.

Results show turnout for independence referendum was 43.90 percent, as a call to boycott the vote was largely heeded.

With 90.23 percent of ballots counted, 96.32 percent of voters had voted ‘No’ to independence, local media reports.

Main independence parties have called for a boycott due to high number of COVID-19 cases.

Tensions high after key independence parties boycott the vote because of COVID and warn they’ll challenge the result.

The quake struck just after midnight on Thursday about 415km east of Vao in New Caledonia at a depth of 10km.

Most voters choose to remain part of France, instead of backing independence, in second of three possible referendums.

Voters in southern Pacific archipelago will choose whether to break away from France in second independence referendum.

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