Latest news with #FrenchPolynesia
NHK
7 days ago
- Health
- NHK
Addressing France's nuclear legacy
Over three decades, France conducted 193 nuclear tests in French Polynesia, leaving the islanders to live with the legacy. We meet one man who is still suffering from the lingering effects of radiation exposure.
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Forbes
Bora Bora Too Busy? Explore Friendly Rurutu In French Polynesia
The limestone caves and sapphire seas of Rurutu make it a unique island to visit in French ... More Polynesia. Beneath a grapefruit tree on the road that rings the Polynesian island of Rurutu, my six-year-old daughter stuck out her thumb. The first car, a Mini-Cooper, stopped and the driver greeted us in Tahitian. 'Ia orana! My name is Tom. Where would you like to go?' We chose to spend our family vacation on the remote island of Rurutu to beat the crowds and experience a more laid-back version of French Polynesia. Many of French Polynesia's 118 islands fly under the travel radar. This is especially true of Rurutu, one of the seven Austral Islands that are strung like pearls across the ocean 400 miles southwest of Tahiti. Unlike more popular South Pacific destinations like Bora Bora or Moorea, Rurutu is a welcome throwback to a more mellow paradise with strong ties to traditional Polynesian culture. When we arrived after the 75 minute flight from Tahiti, everyone in the one-room, open-air airport was bedecked with fragrant, handmade leis. Our kids' eyes went wide with wonder when they, too, were adorned with flowers by our hosts at Vaitumu Village, a small, peaceful hotel where we rented a bungalow. Rurutu island in French Polynesia offers uncrowded beaches and unique natural beauty and culture. Hitchhiking Around Rurutu's Paradise To get a feel for Rurutu and meet some of the 1,200 people who live there, we decided to try hitchhiking. The island just three miles wide and seven miles long, bordered on all sides by clear, sapphire seas. Circling Rurutu on the narrow, tree-lined main road takes less than an hour. Friendly locals were always happy to give us a ride during our week-long stay. Many of them went out of their way to show us the island. Tom, a high school teacher who was the first person to give us a lift, took us to the grocery store in Moerai, the island's largest village. He told us he prefers the slow pace of Rurutu after growing up in busy Papeete, Tahiti. 'I don't have kids yet, but when I do I want to raise them here, where it is tranquil and everyone is kind,' Tom said. At the living-room-sized market, we selected crackers, peanut butter, cold Perrier and a few slices of handmade pizza for lunch, then took our bounty to a shady sea wall. After a quick dip in the jade-green shallows, we wandered back to the main road and once again stuck out our thumbs. Next stop: the Monster Cave, a stalactite-encrusted natural wonder tucked inside Rurutu's white cliffs. We were so enamored of the cave's unique beauty—and confused by the many trails disappearing into the brush—that we paid for a guided tour the following day. Iosefa Maaro, our guide, handed out gloves and showed us how to carefully climb the sharp limestone. He guided us with a flashlight through a series of caves, pointing out shimmering crystal salts on one side and sweeping vistas of the sparkling Pacific on the other. The author's family finds a hidden pocket beach on Rurutu, thanks to a friendly local driver. Rurutu Offers Abundant Fruit, Culture And Nature Rurutu is still wild and largely undeveloped, with gorgeous tropicbirds circling the cliffs and humpback whales breaching just a quarter-mile from shore. Tourists visiting this remote destination can explore its many caves, watch breaching humpbacks (from July through October), go fishing for jacks and tuna offshore, or learn to weave with grasses and palm leaves. 'Many of us come back here after we get an education, to be with our families and to hike and to live in the traditional way,' says Aufi-Yen Opuu, the manager of Vaitumu Village. One day we caught a lift with a Marquesan salesman named Raymond to the southern village of Haeti. He dropped us at a long stretch of deserted beach and said he would pick us up in two hours for 'a full tour of the island'. While we awaited his return, the kids made a fort out of palm fronds and pushed each other on a rope swing. I swam in the butter-warm turquoise water. At lunchtime, we applauded as local children played drums on the beach, snacking on the bouquet of baguettes beside them. Later that afternoon, Raymond chauffeured us around the rest of Rurutu, pointing out dozens of species of fruit trees. A past mayor decided to plant abundant food along the main route. Anyone can harvest delicious grapefruit, papaya, lychee, avocado, coconut, mango and more whenever they were hungry. Our kids learned to identify cacao from coffee, breadfruit from pineapple, and decided every community should provide free fruit. At the end of Raymond's tour, he dropped us off at the market in Moerai where we picked out souvenirs from the lovely traditional wares. Weaving is a cultural trademark of Rurutu, and we admired the intricately woven hats and purses, made from pandanus and coconut fibers. Vaitumu Village on Rurutu island offers ocean-view bungalows, a pool, and a restaurant and bar. Unwinding On Rurutu's Island Time The ease and abundance of Rurutu extended to our stay in Vaitumu Village, the island's premier lodging option. Our two-room, ocean-view bungalow was perfect for napping, as was the flower-strewn poolside patio. We enjoyed delicious poisson cru and other Polynesian meals at the village's restaurant, and chatted with other guests and locals during the bar's sunset happy hour. After a week of swimming, beach-combing, cave-exploring and plenty of conversations with locals, I was more relaxed than I can remember. 'It is very difficult to leave Rurutu, isn't it?' said Opuu, as she draped my family in beautiful leis before our departure. My daughter nodded, sipping one last pineapple juice mocktail. Luckily, I know where to return next time I want to truly unwind. For those looking for a perfect Polynesian getaway, Rurutu is the place to be.
Free Malaysia Today
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
NZ diplomats say China downplayed nuclear-capable missile test
Beijing's missile launch in September was its first over international waters in more than 40 years. (Chinese People's Liberation Army/AFP pic) SYDNEY : China tried to mislead foreign governments in 2024 by playing down the importance of a nuclear-capable missile test over the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand diplomats privately warned in documents obtained by AFP. Beijing sent shivers through the South Pacific in September 2024, when its elite Rocket Force fired a dummy warhead into the high seas near French Polynesia. A tranche of classified government briefing notes obtained by AFP shows deep concern within the New Zealand government in the wake of the surprise launch, which China shrugged off as 'routine'. It was China's first long-range missile launch over international waters in more than 40 years, the papers confirmed, serving as a blunt reminder of Beijing's potent nuclear-strike capabilities. 'We are concerned that China is characterising this as a 'routine test',' senior diplomats wrote in a memo to New Zealand's foreign affairs minister. 'It is not routine: China has not conducted this type of long-range missile test in over 40 years. 'We do not want to see this test repeated.' China's military played down the test as a 'legitimate and routine arrangement for military training'. Behind the scenes, New Zealand diplomats privately decried China's 'mischaracterisation'. 'As this is the first time that China has undertaken such an action in the Pacific in several decades, it is a significant and concerning development,' they wrote in one of the briefing documents. AFP applied to access the heavily redacted documents – written between September and October last year – under New Zealand's Official Information Act. They were classified as 'Restricted', which protects government information with diplomatic or national security implications. Nuclear scars China has been seeking to cement its presence in the strategically important South Pacific. (AP pic) China has been seeking to cement its presence in the strategically important South Pacific, showering developing island nations with new hospitals, freshly paved roads, and gleaming sports stadiums. But rarely has it so obviously flexed its military might in the region, where the US, Australia and New Zealand have long been the security partners of choice. 'We have again asked China why it conducted the test at this time, and why it chose to terminate the missile test in the South Pacific,' New Zealand diplomats wrote. China's Rocket Force launched the intercontinental ballistic missile with little warning on Sept 25, 2024. Photos released by China showed a projectile streaking into the sky from a secret location atop a billowing plume of smoke. It appeared to be one of China's advanced Dong Feng-31 missiles, analysts said, a weapon capable of delivering a thermonuclear warhead. The long-range missile splashed into a patch of ocean long designated a nuclear-free zone under an international treaty. Pacific island nations remain deeply scarred by the nuclear tests that shook the region in the decades following World War II. 'This is the first time that we are aware of a test of a nuclear-capable missile terminating within the zone since its establishment in 1986,' the New Zealand diplomats wrote. Forceful reminder China alerted the US, the UK, France, Australia and New Zealand before the test. But there was only a vague indication of what it would do, according to a separate batch of Australian government documents obtained by AFP. 'Beijing advised us of a planned activity the evening prior to the launch, but specific details were not forthcoming,' Australian defence officials wrote in November last year. Pacific island nations, however, were not provided with advance notice of the launch, New Zealand diplomats noted. Following the launch, Japan publicly voiced 'serious concern', Australia said the test risked 'destabilising' the South Pacific, and Fiji urged 'respect for our region'. Pacific nation Kiribati, one of China's warmest friends in the region, said the South Pacific Ocean should not be a proving ground for jostling big powers. 'The high seas in the Pacific are not isolated pockets of oceans… we appeal to all countries involved in weapon testing to stop these acts to maintain world peace and stability,' read a government statement at the time. China foreign policy expert Nicholas Khoo said the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test was particularly significant because it took place in the South Pacific. 'Since 1980, China's ICBM tests have taken place within Chinese territory,' he told AFP. 'The test is a reminder to regional states that China is a 'full spectrum' power that has economic and military power. It is a peer with the US.' Harvard University researcher Hui Zhang said it was a forceful reminder of China's nuclear strength. 'The test shows that the Rocket Force has an operational and credible nuclear force that can help ensure China's ability to maintain a strong nuclear deterrent,' he wrote last year for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 'The rare public ICBM test seems to have been specifically aimed at dissuading Washington from using nuclear weapons in a potential conflict across the Taiwan Strait.' China's ministry of foreign affairs said that the 'facts are clear and no one has been misled'. 'The missile test is a routine part of annual military training, in compliance with international law and international norms,' it said in a statement.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Yahoo
I spent $20,000 to take my kids to a resort in Bora Bora. People thought I was wasting money, but I'd do it again.
I spent $20,000 to take my two young adult kids to a resort in Bora Bora for a family wedding. My kids were old enough to appreciate the culture, beauty, and privilege of the experience. I believe in investing in experiences while we're healthy and able to enjoy them together. When I told people I was spending $20,000 to take my two kids to Bora Bora, the reactions ranged from wide-eyed surprise to outright judgment. "You're taking them to a five-star resort?" someone asked. "Don't you have college to pay for in the Fall?" said another. The answer to both was, "Yes." My kids, however, weren't "little kids." At 18 and 21, they're young adults, and this trip was about much more than a luxury vacation. It was for a wedding of dear family friends, a bucket-list trip, and a memory I wanted us to share. Between flights, resort fees, and excursions, my husband and I spent a lot. Yes, it was expensive. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Travel has been a constant in our family. From the time they were infants, I made it a priority to expose my kids to different places and cultures. Now that they're adults, those values have only deepened. I didn't want Bora Bora to be something they only saw on social media or waited decades to experience after hearing our stories. I wanted them to feel what it's like to be somewhere stunning, unfamiliar, and culturally rich — and to do it together. This was more than a once-in-a-lifetime trip for the kids. This was me scratching off an item on my own bucket list. There are things I want to do while I still can. Life happens when you're making plans, and we had the time, means, and opportunity to make this happen. Our youngest is heading off to college in a few months, making my husband and me empty nesters. We can, of course, still travel together as a family, but our dynamics will change now that we aren't under the same roof. Plus, the kids might want to travel with their friends in the future. Our son even commented that this would be our last "real family vacation" now that they are all grown up. I think he meant the last family vacation that Mom and Dad would fully fund. The hope is that one day, the kids can pay for us! Some friends were shocked that we would "waste" this kind of money on a week's vacation in general. Others wondered why we wouldn't just go as a couple, because the kids wouldn't appreciate it. I understood where they were coming from. But I also knew this would be amazing for my kids, who are thoughtful, responsible, and aware of how special this trip would be. We swam in crystal-clear water, snorkeled beside blacktip reef sharks and manta rays, and ate meals with our toes in the sand. On the night of our snorkeling excursion, my 21-year-old turned to me and said, "I get why people say this is paradise. This is an adventure of a lifetime. Thank you for bringing us here." That moment alone was worth it. These weren't kids on vacation; they were young adults engaging with and enjoying the world. We learned cultural wedding customs and traditions, immersed ourselves in the Tahitian language as we conversed with the local staff, and learned about the rich history of French Polynesia and what allows the islands to maintain their natural beauty through the care of the local residents. Sure, we got some great Instagram-worthy shots of beautiful sunsets to document our experience and memories. We also had late-night and early-morning conversations with each other while lounging by the pool or on our deck, which created more memories. To me, these things are never a waste. The time away from daily life is a lifelong education, and the amazing cultural experience was priceless. As parents, we save for college, for weddings, for our future. But we forget the value of right now. I'm in my 50s. My kids are on the cusp of full independence. We're healthy. We're close. I don't want to wait for the "perfect time" to make more memories. This trip was a financial stretch, but it was also a gift for all of us. The older I get, the more I realize that the best investments aren't always in things. Sometimes they're in memories and experiences that change you forever. Read the original article on Business Insider
RNZ News
19-06-2025
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 20 June 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 The French Directorate General of Customs says 67 kilograms of cocaine has been seized in New Caledonia between April and May this year. Local media reported the operation resulted in the discovery of more than 500 kilograms of narcotics at various ports across the region. New Caledonia and French Polynesia Customs took part in a joint operation with the Australian Border Force, New Zealand Customs, the US Homeland Security Investigations and Jamaica. At the end of March this year, 142 kilograms of cocaine was seized in French Polynesia. It was found packed in insulation panels of a refrigerated container bound for Australia. Fiji police have reported 105 cases of family violence against women and children for May 2025. More than 200 women had crimes committed against them - 11 percent of these were sexual offences and 89 percent were assault-related. Seventy-two of those crimes were from a spouse or partner. One hundred and 14 children had crimes done against them and more than two-thirds of those were sexual offences. Five police officers were charged with offences during the month - including one facing charges of unlawful supply and import of illicit drugs. Police said there was a 14 per cent reduction in overall crime which is ahead of its 10 per cent target. The Fijian Elections Office says FJ$44,000 - about US$20,000 - in temporary worker payments from the 2018 General Election remain unpaid. FBC reported this has come to light during the Public Accounts Committee submission on the election office's 2021-2022 Audit Report. The election office's financial controller said the delay was caused by incomplete employee information for some of the 12,000 temporary election workers. The office said they are closely coordinating with the Fiji National Provident Fund to verify the remaining employee data to fast-track this process. The mining company New Porgera is celebrating achieving its production targets, despite the impact of continuing lawlessness and a devastating landslide in the region. The new company, run by Barrick Gold, but with a significant PNG Government shareholding, replaced the former company after a lease dispute shut it down for more than three years. The Porgera region of Enga Province experienced the devastating Mulitaka landslide, which claimed many lives and shut the main road link out of the district. There have also been extensive law and order issues that resulted in a state of emergency being implemented, and dozens of arrests being made, many for illegal mining within the mine pit. The Papua New Guinea Correctional Service has signed an agreement with the Department of Education which will see education and training programmes rolled out in jails across the country. NBC reported that the memorandum highlights the vital role education plays in restoring dignity, instilling hope, and creating opportunities for those seeking a second chance. The rollout of structured learning and skills training within prisons is expected to transform lives behind bars. Acting corrections commissioner Bernard Nepo called the initiative a lifeline for inmates.
