Stories by Patrick Decloitre

The French minister plans to travel to Noumea "mid-February", but it depends on whether protracted talks between local politicians on the territory's political future are showing signs of progress.

A judicial enquiry has been launched in French Polynesia to determine whether some members of the Parliament can be held responsible for racist hate speech.

The endorsement comes as part of preparations to a French government Bill, currently being drafted and to be tabled soon in the French Parliament (in the shape of an "organic law"), to effectively…

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific region, including scientists preparing to release genetically-modified mosquitoes.

One of the key players in the restoration of peace in New Caledonia in the 1980s, Louis Le Pensec, has died earlier this week aged 87.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific territories, including the top baby names in the region.

New Caledonia's exhausted firemen have received welcome reinforcements from France, after weeks of battling a wave of bushfires mainly in the greater Nouméa area.

A former New Caledonia-based High Commissioner, Patrice Faure, has been appointed Chief of Staff of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Nouméa's municipality and New Caledonia's Southern province have been ordered to cease "preventive" shark culling and to pay US$3,300 to local environmental organisation EPLP.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific territories, including a bushfire, and Tahiti-Faa'a International Airport to get a facelift before the Olympics.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific territories, including a new prison in New Caledonia to help with overcrowding at the existing facility.

France's Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has announced a Constitutional amendment to "unfreeze" New Caledonia's electoral roll.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific territories, including the rescue of over a hundred Wallisians and Futunians who had been stranded for days.

The fires mostly occurred in the greater Nouméa area, including near the La Tontouta international airport, as well as in Païta, Boulouparis and Saint Louis.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific territories, including an announcement from Pope Francis that he was considering visiting "Polynesia" sometime in 2024.

A vast anti-drugs operation was carried out earlier this month in French Polynesia as a preparation exercise for the Paris 2024 Olympics in July next year.

Analysis - The ongoing saga surrounding the host site for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games surfing competition on world-renowned Teahupoo beach (Tahiti Island) seems to have found a sense of closure.

French Polynesia has held for the first time a series of consultations and panel discussions dedicated to the rights of the local LGBTQIA+ community and its place in the local and Pacific society.

French Polynesia's main island of Tahiti has been mopping up at the weekend following several days of torrential rains which triggered mass flooding late last week.

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific territories; New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna.

Analysis - The SPDMM ended on Wednesday with resolutions to create a regional military academy to train regional officers with a clear focus on civil protection and disaster reduction, as well as…

Analysis - Sébastien Lecornu has arrived in New Caledonia for a week-long visit and a focus on hosting the 10th South Pacific Defence Ministers' Meeting on 5-6 December. Audio

A round-up of news from the French Pacific territories; New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna.

New Caledonia's Congress has endorsed, for the first time, a new "flexible" tax on sugar products.

Analysis - The French government's number two and three were in New Caledonia this weekend to continue tense discussions on the French Pacific territory's political future.