New Zealand evacuates citizens from New Caledonia amid violent protests – Europe live

Slovakia’s government, together with the F.D. Roosevelt university hospital in Banská Bystrica, has issued an update this morning on the prime minister’s health.

As a result of the morning medical board meeting, the Prime Minister Robert Fico underwent a follow-up CT scan of the abdominal cavity. At the same time, further actions are being taken to improve his health condition. The patient remains conscious and communicative.

Karl Nehammer, the Austrian chancellor, hosted the British prime minister, Rishi Sunak.

“The leaders committed to implementing stronger frameworks to deal with migration, and that new innovative solutions are crucial to this end,” Nehammer said.

“Both think the answers lay with deeper partnerships with others, and increasing cooperation with countries involved in all stages of the migrant journey was essential to tackling this growing pan-European challenge,” he added.

The British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has met with Austria’s chancellor, Karl Nehammer.

“Together, they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening our security and tackling illegal migration,” Sunak’s office said.

Finland’s government proposed emergency legislation today to block asylum seekers entering from its border with Russia, Reuters reported.

Helsinki believes Moscow has been weaponising migration, and shut down the border last year.

“It is the government’s duty to ensure the security of the borders, Finland and Finns in all situations,” the Finnish prime minister, Petteri Orpo, said.

“Unfortunately the EU legislation does yet not provide us with effective tools to tackle the problem. I hope our work will pave the way for European level solutions,” he added.

Here are the latest images from New Caledonia.

French officials said over weekend that security forces had destroyed 76 roadblocks along the road from the capital Noumea to the international airport.

However, AFP journalists said many had quickly been rebuilt by Kanak militants.

Kanaks with scarfs over their faces, some armed with homemade catapults, were still manning a roadblock Tuesday on the road to the international airport, AFP reported.

Deadly violence has paralysed New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the South Pacific, for more than a week after lawmakers in Paris approved a constitutional amendment to allow recent arrivals to the territory to vote in provincial elections.

The amendment, which some local leaders fear will dilute the vote of the Indigenous Kanak people, is the latest flashpoint in a decades-long tussle over France’s role in the island.

At least six people have died in the protests, which has prompted authorities to shut the international airport and schools and impose a curfew in the capital, Nouméa, where businesses and vehicles have been set alight.

France has launched a major security operation in a bid to quell the violence, and this week Australia and New Zealand are sending government planes to evacuate their nationals.

The world’s No 3 nickel producer, New Caledonia lies at the heart of a geopolitically complex maritime region, where China and the US are jostling for power and influence in security and trade. Without naming China, the French president has previously said France’s drive to expand its influence in the Pacific was to ensure a “rules-based development”.

Read the full explainer from Reuters here.

Penny Wong, Australia’s foreign minister, has said that “we’ve received clearance for two Australian Government assisted-departure flights today for Australian and other tourists to depart New Caledonia.”

“Passengers are being prioritised based on need. We continue to work on further flights,” she added.

Winston Peters, New Zealand’s foreign minister, said a plane has left New Caledonia after picking up a first group of people.

Here’s the latest footage from New Caledonia.

Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.

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