Energy & Security Shock: With the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea’s Bab el-Mandeb effectively closed at the same time, governments and firms are accelerating electrification and renewables to cut dependence on chokepoints—France has boosted electrification funding and moved to ban gas boilers in new builds, while the EU pushes faster renewable deployment and tighter North African energy links. French Polynesia Connectivity: The Manatua submarine cable fault—an electrical shunt near Repeater 2 about 144 km offshore from Samoa—has degraded internet services for Niue and the Cook Islands, with repairs now hinging on securing a specialist cable ship; providers are using contingency plans but customers may see slower speeds and reduced capacity. Indigenous Rights & Decolonization: The Baku Initiative Group marked Aug. 9 by reaffirming support for Indigenous self-determination, explicitly naming the Māʻohi of French Polynesia alongside Kanak people of Kanaky and other colonized communities. Maritime Lifeline Upgrade: bound4blue says it has installed its 22-metre eSAIL suction sail on Na Hiro E Pae, a new multipurpose vessel linking Tahiti with the Austral Islands, aiming to reduce energy use and support remote island cargo and passenger needs. Regional Mobility & Tourism: Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards “Global Getaways” promo lists Papeete award fares, while Air Tahiti Nui and Air Tahiti’s codeshare makes it easier to book onward travel from Tahiti to the Cook Islands on one ticket.