New Caledonia

New Caledonia's economy slowly picked up in 2015, according to analysis by the agency that issues the currency for the French Pacific territories.

New Caledonia's nickel industry has been found to be in a fragile position as large stocks are likely to prolong a recent sharp drop in the price of the metal.

The nickel company Vale in New Caledonia says some acid has been spilled in a storage area in Prony.

New Caledonia's president, Philippe Germain, has been fined $US 3,000 over a defamation complaint thrown out in the criminal court.

A New Caledonian government minister, Anthony Lecren, has been given a suspended six-month jail sentence for assaulting his former partner last September.

A French presidential hopeful, Alain Juppe, is expected to visit New Caledonia and French Polynesia in July.

The French mining conglomerate Eramet has approved a plan aimed at saving New Caledonia's SLN nickel smelter in which it is a majority shareholder.

A Kanak chief in New Caledonia, upset at a non-custodial sentence for assaulting a tourist, wants to take his case to France's highest court.

The French mining conglomerate Eramet is today due to consider New Caledonia's offer to help save the SLN nickel plant, which is the territory's most important private sector employer.

New Caledonia's provinces have approved a French state loan to help the territory's biggest private sector employer, the SLN nickel company, restructure its operations.

Reports from New Caledonia say there have been sharp disagreements within the special commissions vetting the electoral roll to be used for the territory's independence referendum.

The New Caledonian Football Federation says the body can expect four years of stability following the election its new president.

New Zealand and New Caledonia have formalised a new air services agreement which had been negotiated last year, clearing the way for additional services.

Special commissions in New Caledonia are today due to start vetting the electoral roll to be used for the territory's independence referendum.

The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, has told New Caledonia's Congress that they will all be judged by history for what they are doing.

A strike by New Caledonia's air traffic controllers has prompted the territory's domestic airline to cancel more than a dozen of today's scheduled flights.

French prime minister Manuel Valls may alter his programme for Friday's visit to Noumea by going to the grave of the late anti-independence politician, Jacques Lafleur, reports from New Caledonia say.

New Caledonia's Caledonian Union says thousands of indigenous Kanak people are missing from the roll of those elegible to vote in the independence referendum.

New Caledonia's budget minister, Thierry Cornaille, has resigned, citing personal reasons.

French media reports say the government will lend $US330 million to stave off the collapse of the loss-making New Caledonian SLN nickel company.