New Caledonia

New Caledonia has decided to cancel the end of year high school exams because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A leading anti-independence politician in New Caledonia Sonia Backes has rejected calls for the referendum on independence from France to be postponed, saying it should be held as planned.

The nickel producer Prony Resources New Caledonia has struck a deal with the car manufacturer Tesla to supply 42,000 tons of the metal for use in batteries.

Chiefs in New Caledonia's Loyalty islands have forced the closure of the islands' airports.

France has flown a batch of 250 police reinforcements to New Caledonia as part of preparations of the independence referendum on December 12th.

France's Overseas Minister Sébastien Lecornu has promised "long-term" medical and financial assistance to New Caledonia.

The government of New Caledonia has asked the French army to help deal with the Covid-19 outbreak as the territory's medical services are stretched.

New Caledonia has launched a health pass for residents as it has begun easing restrictions imposed after last month's Covid-19 outbreak.

The French overseas minister Sebastien Lecornu is adamant that New Caledonia's independence referendum should go ahead on December 12th.