Australia, New Zealand send planes to evacuate nationals from New Caledonia
Time:2024-05-21 20:46:00 Source:politicsViews(143)
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.
Previous:Should you claim child benefit? What it's worth
Next:Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
You may also like
- Britain's new bonkers EV: Callum Skye is an £80k electric buggy built in Warwickshire
- Cabinet vows to deliver on policy pledges
- Japan offers $20m to IAEA during agency's head visit
- China story is of benefiting the world, Wang Yi says
- 'Real life' Martha from Baby Reindeer's million
- Waters of South China Sea should be kept calm, Wang Yi says
- Top court: Resolving international disputes key
- China, NZ eye more high
- Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh