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Our voyage to Statehood, 60 years on: understanding the nature and practice of free-association as we reflect on our development journey

Cook Island News · June 28, 2025

Prime Minister Mark Brown. SUPPLIED. This year, the Cook Islands marks 60 years of self-governance, an historic milestone in our voyage to statehood, by Mark Brown, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. In 1965, our people chose to shape our own...

Pacific news in brief for 20 June 2025

RNZ · June 19, 2025

An NGO carrying out testing on drugs at an event - including this this bag of cocaine, in Colombia, in 2021. Photo: AFP/ Juan Pablo Pino New Caledonia - cocaine The French Directorate General of Customs says 67 kilograms of cocaine has been seized...

How Many New Priests Will Be Ordained in France in 2025? These Are the Figures

Zenit · June 28, 2025

(ZENIT News / Paris, June 28, 2025) – On the occasion of the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the French Episcopal Conference released the figures for priestly ordinations in the country in 2025. The figures are as follows: 90 priests will be...

France declares full operational capability for A400M fleet

FlightGlobal ·

The French air force has announced achieving full operational capability (FOC) status with its Airbus Defence & Space A400M tactical transports. Announced during the Paris air show on 19 June, the milestone declaration comes 10 years after the...

France urged to apologise over Polynesia nuclear tests

The Local - France · June 18, 2025

Paris should apologise to French Polynesia for the fallout of nuclear tests there over three decades, which led to harmful radiation exposure, a French parliamentary report said. France conducted 193 nuclear tests in French Polynesia from 1966,...

A drop in the ocean? Pacific nations tap local know-how for marine conservation

South China Morning Post · June 27, 2025

Pacific island nations are racing to enhance marine conservation, establishing sweeping “no-take” zones and pledging to sustainably manage vast swathes of their territorial waters despite facing limited resources and geopolitical pressure. Among...

France Urged to Apologise for Polynesian Nuclear Tests

News Central TV · June 17, 2025

A French parliamentary report released on Tuesday recommends that Paris apologise to French Polynesia for the detrimental effects of nuclear tests conducted there over three decades, which resulted in harmful radiation exposure for tens of...

Air Tahiti Welcomes TERAIEFA, A New ATR 72-600, And Strengthens Its Commitment To Archipelago Connectivity

Pacific Tourism Organisation · June 27, 2025

As part of its ongoing modernisation strategy, Air Tahiti is proud to announce the addition of a new ATR 72-600, named TERAIEFA, to its fleet. This name, meaning “the appearing sky” or “the skies that appear or are born” in Reo Mihiroa (one of the...

Philippines, France start VFA talks in Paris

Philippine STAR · June 27, 2025

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and France have formally started discussing the establishment of a visiting forces agreement that would allow both countries to stage joint military exercises in each other's territory. The first round of VFA...

Aranui Cruises slashes 20% off Austral Islands cruises for 2025-26

Travel Weekly · June 27, 2025

Tahitian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises has slashed 20 per cent off Austral Islands cruises for 2025 and 2026 when booked by 11 August 2025. Cruises are now priced from $7,009, a savings of more than $1,600 and are available on 13-day roundtrip...

New Ritz-Carlton Yacht Cruises Explore Bora Bora, Bali, and More in 2026–27

Travelbinger · June 26, 2025

If you’ve ever dreamed of cruising in ultra-luxury, The Ritz‑Carlton Yacht Collection just dropped something to get excited about. Their Winter 2026–27 line-up unveils 32 new getaways aboard two yachts, the Evrima and the soon-to-launch Luminara,...

Progress and frustration mark the UN’s third Ocean Conference

Canada's National Observer · June 25, 2025

This story was originally published by Grist and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Delegates from around the world convened in Nice, France, last week to discuss a range of ocean priorities, including the implementation of a...

Ritz-Carlton Yacht expands into Asia-Pacific and Polynesia for 2026

TravelDailyNews Asia-Pacific · June 25, 2025

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection unveils 32 new voyages for Winter 2026–2027, covering Asia-Pacific, Hawaii, and French Polynesia. KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA – The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has announced its Winter 2026–2027 deployment,...

Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia voyaging canoes reconnect cultural ties through the currents

Hawaii Public Radio · June 25, 2025

After departing Hilo more than two weeks ago, the Polynesian voyaging canoes Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia arrived at Taputapuātea, an island of Ra‘iātea in French Polynesia, on Tuesday. This is part of the canoes' Moananuiākea voyage, a three-year...

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Reveals Winter 2026–2027 Itineraries Marking Debut in Polynesia and New Ports in Asia Pacific

Hospitality Net · June 25, 2025

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection unveils its Winter 2026–2027 itineraries, introducing an expanded portfolio of luxury yachting experiences across French Polynesia, Hawaii, and Asia-Pacific aboard Evrima and Luminara. Sailing from October 2026...

The stunning but affordable beach towns just two hours from UK – with beers from £2 and hotels from £30-a-night

The Sun · June 25, 2025

SUNNING yourself on a beautiful beach doesn’t always have to involve long-haul flights and weeks away from home. In fact, there are some beautiful beach towns, some only two hours from the UK, that have golden sand, clear blue water and affordable...

Global tracking study reveals marine megafauna hotspots lie largely unprotected

Mongabay · July 16, 2025

A global study tracking nearly 13,000 marine animals representing 111 species reveals they spend 80% of their time in just 63% of their range, yet only about 5% of these high-use ocean areas are currently protected. The research identifies...

What sharks are worth—and why that matters

Mongabay · June 25, 2025

Stefanie Brendl, founder of Shark Allies, transitioned from shark tourism to advocacy after a pivotal free-diving encounter with a tiger shark, leading her to champion the world’s first shark fin trade ban in Hawaii. Her legislative work has since...

This Untouched Beach Was Just Named Best in the Caribbean—and It has Crystal-clear Waters, Zero Crowds, and Calm Waters

Travel + Leisure ·

The Caribbean has no shortage of stunning beaches so it says something when one ranks supreme among them all. The World's 50 Best Beaches just released its rankings for the best global beaches and one stunning spot off the Dominican Republic...

The Ritz-Carlton’s Luxury Cruise Ship Is Sailing To The South Pacific In 2026

Maxim · June 24, 2025

Hit the high seas with the famed hotel brand’s recently-launched ocean liner. (Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection) The high-end trappings of the Ritz-Carlton hotel brand are once again taking to the high seas, as the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has...