Stories by Patrick Decloitre

Analysis - The chairs of both French Parliament's upper and lower Houses arrived in New Caledonia on Sunday night for a crucial three-day visit.

Tourism and the environment are among the concerns raised by French Polynesian MP Tepuaraurii Teriitahii in reaction to the reelection of Donald Trump. Audio

A round-up of news in brief from the French Pacific, including parishioners returning to a burned mission site in New Caledonia.

The three-day visit to from Pacific leaders seems to have triggered a new sense of awareness locally about the values of Pacific regional mechanisms of "talanoa", writes Patrick Decloitre.

The Pacific Islands Forum leaders' troika, along with Fiji's prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka, touched down in New Caledonia on Sunday. Audio

A high-level Pacific Islands Forum mission to New Caledonia scheduled to begin on Sunday is described as "strictly observational".

The French Pacific archipelago was on the agenda of a top meeting in Paris on Tuesday evening, Paris time. Audio

"The time has come to return to dialogue, discussion, exchange, after the terrible (events) New Caledonia has been through." Audio

The much-awaited travel has now been agreed to take place from 27 to 29 October, New Caledonia's President Louis Mapou confirmed on Sunday.

France's Minister for Overseas François-Noël Buffet said on top of the some €400 million already disbursed in emergency assistance, France remains committed to New Caledonia.

France's new Minister for Overseas, François-Noël Buffet, arrived in New Caledonia on Wednesday, five months after violent riots broke out.

The 111-page report covers a whole range of issues ranging from recommended clarifications on the French Pacific territory's powers under its current autonomy status, to other matters of concern.

The deal signed with Azerbaijan caused outrage at the time within the Congress's loyalists ranks.

The putrid remains have once again prompted a local warning to mariners and seafarers in the densely-populated area.

The company said the extracting operations were no longer possible due to numerous, "massive", continuous blockades and attacks over the past six months.

Marine mammals protection associations are denouncing the fatal incident which they say was probably caused by a commercial ferry. Audio

François-Noël Buffet said the visit comes in support of all players in New Caledonia in the wake of the crisis triggered by riots.

French Polynesia and New Caledonia are this week sending delegations to New York to attend the UN's 4th committee on decolonisation.

Analysis - Michel Barnier's announcements Tuesday on New Caledonia has triggered a series of mixed reactions across the French Pacific archipelago's political spectrum.

Michel Barnier also confirmed that the provincial elections, initially scheduled to take place in New Caledonia not later than mid-December 2024, will be postponed until late 2025. Audio

Five individuals wanted by French authorities have surrendered in besieged New Caledonia's pro-independence stronghold of Saint Louis.

The ballistic missile test was reported to have ended its path some 700 kilometres away from French Polynesia's Marquesas Islands, albeit outside its Exclusive Economic Zone. Audio

François-Noël Buffet as the new minister for French Overseas has been mostly welcomed in the French Pacific.

Analysis - In an atmosphere of uneasy calm, the highly symbolic day of 24 September was marked by events throughout New Caledonia. Audio

François Noël Buffet is France's new "minister responsible to the Prime Minister, in charge of Overseas".