Australia, New Zealand send planes to evacuate nationals from New Caledonia
NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — Australia and New Zealand sent airplanes to New Caledonia on Tuesday to begin bringing home stranded citizens from the violence-wracked French South Pacific territory.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia had received clearance from French authorities for two flights to evacuate citizens from the archipelago, where indigenous people have long sought independence from France.
Hours later, a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules touched down in Noumea, the capital. The plane can carry 124 passengers, according to the Defense Department.
“We continue to work on further flights,” Wong wrote on the social media platform X on Tuesday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said 300 Australians were in New Caledonia. It did not immediately confirm whether the Australian-organized flights would also evacuate other stranded foreign nationals, believed to number in the thousands.
Related articles
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
A university boss has been praised after telling a pro-Gaza student mob he will not meet them until2024-05-21Former security guard Jake Knapp leads the Byron Nelson after 2 rounds
McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Jake Knapp is spending his weekends much differently now as a rookie on the P2024-05-21Yellen says threats to democracy risk US economic growth, an indirect jab at Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen argues that a fractured democracy can have destruc2024-05-21Filly Thorpedo Anna goes wire to wire to dominate soggy 150th Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Thorpedo Anna capped her biggest victory with one impressive burst.The filly2024-05-21Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf has shocked onlookers after being spotted on the streets of Barry in Wal2024-05-21Wisconsin Supreme Court will decide whether mobile voting sites are legal
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Supreme Court announced Friday that it will decide whether mobile vot2024-05-21
atest comment