Fatal shooting by police sparks unrest in New Caledonia
- A man was fatally shot by police in New Caledonia during ongoing riots.
- The shooting occurred after police officers were reportedly attacked by a group.
- The incident has led to increased unrest in the territory.
Police in New Caledonia shot and killed a 48-year-old man after French President Emmanuel Macron visited the island. A police officer was taken into custody for questioning. The officer and a colleague were driving when they were attacked by a group of around 15 people. The officer is being held for questioning. The Australian Foreign Minister mentioned that 282 Australians and their families have returned from New Caledonia, and more flights are planned. The President of the World Bank expressed openness to managing a fund for Ukraine using earnings from frozen Russian assets for non-military purposes. In another incident, Russian border guards removed buoys placed by Estonia on the Narva River. The European Union is monitoring the situation closely in solidarity with Estonia and other Member States. The shooting in New Caledonia occurred during a period of unrest following a contested electoral reform. President Macron visited to ease tensions but the situation escalated. The death of the man brought the total killed in the unrest to seven. The French government has sent extra police to restore calm. The island faces economic disparities, with higher poverty rates among the indigenous Kanak population compared to non-Kanaks. France colonized New Caledonia in 1853 and granted rights to Kanaks in 1946.