New Caledonia

New Caledonia's criminal court has sentenced a former president, Harold Martin, to two years in jail, of which one year is suspended, over the way he awarded a large contract to an associate.

New Caledonia's criminal court is today due to give its verdict in a case against a former president, Harold Martin, over alleged irregularities in awarding a large contract.

The trial of New Caledonia's former president, Harold Martin, has ended, with the prosecution demanding he be jailed for three years for favouritism over the awarding of a US$29-million contract.

New Caledonia's criminal court has opened the trial of a former president, Harold Martin, over alleged irregularities in the awarding of contracts.

The group of truck drivers who blockade parts of New Caledonia for three weeks in August has threatened to take action again.

New Caledonia's anti-independence Republicans have condemned the government's decision to allow only one company to export low-grade nickel ore to China.

The New Caledonian government has approved a single company's bid to start exporting low-grade nickel ore to China.

The French High Commissioner in Noumea has taken exception with referendum plans in a New Caledonian town to decide whether to fly the Kanak flag next to the French flag.

Traders in London say nickel stocks are decreasing, raising hopes in New Caledonia that the price for the territory's top export commodity will go up again.

A court in New Caledonia has jailed two men for firing a hunting rifle at police.

New Caledonia's pro-French Republicans have called for a meeting of the signatories of the Noumea Accord to develop a common nickel policy.

New Caledonia is mourning the passing of Gaïtcha football club president and deputy mayor of Noumea, Dr. Paul Qaeze at the weekend.

It has been announced that plans to build a new power plant for New Caledonia's SLN nickel company are on hold.

New Caledonia's Congress has narrowly backed calls to extend nickel ore exports to China - an issue at the centre of a three-week industrial conflict in August.

New Caledonia's Congress is today due to meet in an extraordinary sitting to discuss the government's controversial nickel policy which in August prompted a three-week industrial conflict.

A leading New Caledonian politician, Philippe Gomes, has called on France to assign to the territory the right to access the continental shelf.

France has been accused of having a neo-colonial view in the way it treats prisoners in its overseas territories.

Authorities in New Caledonia have launched a public awareness campaign as the number of forest fires in the territory continue to increase.