We are now closing this blog but you can read our coverage about the ongoing upheaval in New Caledonia here.
Summary of the day
Police shot dead a 48-year-old man in New Caledonia, a day after the French president, Emmanuel Macron, visited the island.
A police officer was taken into custody, the French prosecutor for New Caledonia said.
A statement from the prosecutor said the officer and a colleague were driving in an area north of the capital when they “were physically attacked by a group of around 15 individuals.” The officer is in custody for questioning.
Separatists have thrown up barricades in New Caledonia, and the international airport is currently closed.
Penny Wong, the Australian foreign minister, has said that “282 Australians and their family members have now returned from New Caledonia” and that “we are planning further flights from Noumea tomorrow.”
The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, said Europe is expecting an explanation from Russia about an incident on the border with Estonia.
Poland’s foreign ministry expressed solidarity with Estonia, Finland and Lithuania. “We are closely monitoring the situation alongside our allies, who are acting calmly and coolly,” it said.
The president of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, told Reuters he is “absolutely” open to the idea of managing a fund for Ukraine that would disburse a G7 loan based on the earnings from frozen Russian assets, at least for non-military purposes.
Updated
World Bank open to managing G7 loan to Kyiv
The president of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, told Reuters he is “absolutely” open to the idea of managing a fund for Ukraine that would disburse a G7 loan based on the earnings from frozen Russian assets, at least for non-military purposes.
Banga said he has not been approached by the U.S. Treasury or G7 governments on the matter but would be prepared to do so.
“All I know is that if they do decide to give it to us, would I be ready? Yeah,” Banga said. “I could manage a fund of that type. I would need safeguards, I would need to make sure our people understand how to use it.”
Australia planning more evacuation flights from New Caledonia: minister
Penny Wong, the Australian foreign minister, has said that “282 Australians and their family members have now returned from New Caledonia.”
“We are planning further flights from Noumea tomorrow,” she added.
95 Australians and their family members have landed in Brisbane tonight on 2 Australian Government assisted-departure flights from New Caledonia.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) May 24, 2024
282 Australians and their family members have now returned from New Caledonia.
We are planning further flights from Noumea tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/9iurKrpJyv
Updated
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy will meet with Spain’s leadership on Monday, Reuters reported citing Spanish radio station Cadena SER.
An earlier planned trip to Spain was postponed due to the situation in the Kharkiv region.
Poland’s foreign ministry today expressed solidarity with Estonia, Finland and Lithuania.
“Russia has stepped up its provocations,” the Polish ministry said, adding that “we are closely monitoring the situation alongside our allies, who are acting calmly and coolly.”
Russia has stepped up its provocations on the borders of 🇪🇺 in 🇪🇪, 🇫🇮 and 🇱🇹.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇵🇱 (@PolandMFA) May 24, 2024
We express our full solidarity with 🇪🇪🇫🇮🇱🇹 in the face of these unacceptable aggressive actions.
We are closely monitoring the situation alongside our allies, who are acting calmly and coolly.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Kharkiv today.
“The entire city and region of Kharkiv deserve our support, gratitude, and respect, as does every Ukrainian community and person who refuses to give in to the enemy and does everything possible to save lives,” he said.
Today I am in Kharkiv.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 24, 2024
I held a meeting on the regional situation and heating season preparations. I also received updates on defense operations, particularly in the Vovchansk area, as well as the recovery of damaged energy infrastructure.
We paid special attention to the… pic.twitter.com/LwrlHwSLIH
AFP reports that in the Montravel district of Noumea in New Caledonia, activists were waiting for further instructions from the FLNKS, a pro-independence party.
“We’re ready to continue protesting because apparently the president of the Republic doesn’t want to listen to us,” said one activist, identifying himself by his first name only, Yamel.
Separatists have thrown up barricades that have cut off whole neighbourhoods.
The international airport will remain closed to commercial flights until at least 9 am on Tuesday (2200 GMT Monday), Charles Roger, director of New Caledonia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry which operates La Tontouta International Airport, told AFP.
'Unacceptable': Borrell says Europe expects explanation from Russia on border incident
The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, said Europe is expecting an explanation from Russia about an incident on the border with Estonia.
“On Thursday early morning, Russian border guards unilaterally removed light buoys placed by Estonia on the Narva River to demarcate the border with Russia,” he said, adding that “the European Union has been monitoring the situation closely from the start in cooperation and solidarity with Estonia and other Member States”
“This border incident is part of a broader pattern of provocative behaviour and hybrid actions by Russia, including on its maritime and land borders in the Baltic Sea region,” Borrell noted.
“Such actions are unacceptable. The European Union expects an explanation by Russia about the removal of the buoys, and their immediate return,” he stressed.
Police officer detained in New Caledonia
A police officer has been taken into custody after shooting and killing a man, the French prosecutor for New Caledonia said today, the Associated Press reported.
The officer is believed to have fired one shot, killing a 48-year-old man.
A statement from the prosecutor said the officer and a colleague were driving in an area north of the capital, Nouméa, on Friday afternoon when they “were physically attacked by a group of around 15 individuals.”
The prosecutor said he has opened a voluntary homicide investigation into the shooting — a customary step for French officers in such cases.
The officer is in custody for questioning.
Why is there unrest in New Caledonia?
After France’s colonisation in the 19th century, New Caledonia officially became a French overseas territory in 1946. Starting in the 1970s, after a nickel boom that drew outsiders, tensions rose on the island, with various conflicts between Paris and Kanak independence movements.
A 1998 Nouméa accord helped end the conflict by outlining a path to gradual autonomy and restricting voting to the Kanak and migrants living in New Caledonia before 1998. The accord allowed for three referendums to determine the future of the country. In all three, independence was rejected.
Under the terms of the Nouméa accord, voting in provincial elections was restricted to people who had resided in New Caledonia before 1998, and their children. The measure was aimed at giving greater representation to the Kanaks, who had become a minority population.
Paris has come to view the arrangement as undemocratic, and lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment to open up the electorate to include people who have lived in New Caledonia for at least 10 years.
Police shoot man dead in New Caledonia
Police shot dead a 48-year-old man in New Caledonia today, a day after the French president, Emmanuel Macron, visited the island, Reuters reported.
The police officer used his gun as he and a colleague were attacked by a group of around 15 people, NC La 1ere broadcaster quoted the prosecutor’s office as saying.
The shooting brings the death toll in New Caledonia to seven in 12 days of upheaval.
Deadly violence has paralysed New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the South Pacific, after lawmakers in Paris approved a constitutional amendment to allow recent arrivals to the territory to vote in provincial elections.
Indigenous Kanak people, who make up about 41% of the population, have responded with anger to the constitutional changes. Local leaders fear it will dilute the Kanak vote and undermine longstanding efforts to secure independence.
France has sent in thousands of extra police forces. Earlier today authorities had said the situation was “relatively calm,” Reuters reported.
Updated
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