Deep-Sea Mining Consultations: A U.S.-backed proposal to explore for deep-sea minerals in international waters between Kiribati, the Cook Islands and French Polynesia is open for public comment until 03 August, with Pacific civil society groups warning that the process is effectively unilateral while global rules at the International Seabed Authority are still being negotiated. Climate & Navigation: The Polynesian Voyaging Society says it is adding one year to the Moananuiākea Voyage’s Western Pacific schedule after updated El Niño risk forecasts, citing higher chances of dangerous sailing conditions and typhoons. French Polynesia in the Nuclear Debate: A new analysis highlights how French Polynesia’s Mururoa Atoll sits among the most heavily “nuked” regions in Oceania, tying past nuclear testing to broader questions about future conflict and asymmetric warfare. Self-Determination & International Law: ONESXM, focused on Saint Martin’s liberation, issued a statement backing Azerbaijan and rejecting claims that decolonization is “France’s internal affair,” pointing to UN principles on self-determination. Maritime Boundaries in the Pacific: Negotiations over a Vanuatu–New Caledonia maritime boundary are again blocked, with France insisting on sovereignty over two uninhabited islands—an issue that keeps fueling regional and indigenous tensions. Local History Lens: A feature revisits Tahiti’s colonial transition from kingdom to French overseas territory, tracing resistance and annexation.