Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

I ditched UK for ‘Europe’s Maldives’ with fab beaches & £1 beer…childcare’s FREE & bills cost less than KFC Family Feast
IT’S known as the “Maldives of Europe” thanks to its stunning white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters. Add to that an insanely cheap cost of living that's a jaw-dropping 61 per cent lower than the UK, and it was a no-brainer for...
Travel + Leisure Readers' Favorite Cities and Islands in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific of 2025
In what other part of the world do global cities and remote island nations have such strong ties? The vast, diverse area of Oceania encompasses large islands like Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea, but it’s also home to more than 10,000...

Review: The Westin Bora Bora Resort and Spa, French Polynesia
Honeymooners, a once-in-a-lifetime blow-the-budget trip, or rich listers escaping from the hustle and bustle of daily life. First impressions: Bora Bora has long been my dream destination, and I desperately hoped it wouldn’t be a “never meet your...

The John Ford movie that John Wayne admitted he’d been miscast in: “I felt awkward”
(Credits: Far Out / Paramount Pictures) John Wayne always exuded confidence. It was part of his schtick. Any hint of uncertainty and all that messianic swaggering would have come crashing down. Many of his co-stars said that he was equally at ease...

Freediving Through Moorea, French Polynesia
Set in Moorea’s turquoise lagoons, this ~10-minute short is a pure immersion into breath-hold freedom. Opening with sun-filtered shafts of light, the camera follows freedivers through coral valleys and dense schools of reef fish. Every movement is...

Kiwi Tom Francis skippers NZ boat Ultimate Lady to Blue Marlin World Cup victory
By Ben Francis Journalist·NZ Herald· 6 Jul, 2025 07:33 AM2 mins to read Subscribe to listen Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.Subscribe now Save Share Share this article Copy Link Email...

The Most Romantic Honeymoon Destinations for 2025
The champagne has been popped, the last dance has been danced, and now comes the moment every newlywed dreams of: escaping somewhere utterly magical with the person you've just promised forever to. Whether you're the type who finds romance in...

Boys with Plants in Art (Hotties Alert!)
Boys and men posing with plants and flowers is a popular theme in art. The concept was revisited on Instagram, a social media platform on the account @boyswithplants. Although Instagram photographs focus on plants for their aesthetic appeal, the...

A splendid new biography of Gauguin separates man from myth
For much of his life, Paul Gauguin railed against the deadening effects of bourgeois domesticity. But as Sue Prideaux writes in “Wild Thing,” her terrific new biography of the artist, for about a decade early in his career the self-proclaimed...

‘Just such a surf dog at heart’ — veteran SA surfer Jordy Smith embraces new perspectives as he eyes world title
Jordy Smith is closing in on a first world title at the age of 37. It says something about the respect that peers hold for the South African that the greatest of all time was happy to see him win again earlier this year. Kelly Slater, 11-time...

Couples Agree: This Is Royal Caribbean's Best Ship
Planning a cruise for two can sometimes be challenging, as couples often need to sift through dozens of ship options to find one that matches their travel style. While some ships are full to the brim with kid-friendly spaces, others can feel like...

Outstanding Destinations That Will Ruin All Other Vacations for You (In the Best Way)
Some places change you. They don’t just give you a nice vacation, they reset your entire understanding of what travel can be. You return home with that dreamy, faraway look in your eyes, scrolling through your photos obsessively and boring...

Swimrun returns to Whistler on July 6
Athletes will have three distances to choose from: Experience, Sprint and World Series After a successful local debut in 2024, ÖTILLÖ Swimrun comes back to Whistler this Sunday. Originally a Swedish event that has grown prolific in recent years,...

Elderly US novelist and husband embroiled in scandal involving shipwreck's stolen treasure
An elderly novelist and her husband embroiled in a scandal over the illegal sale of gold bars plundered from a shipwreck are facing a possible trial in France over their alleged involvement. Eleonor 'Gay' Courter, 80, and her husband Philip, 82,...

US couple could face trial in France over stolen shipwreck gold
An 80-year-old US novelist and her husband are among several people facing a possible trial in France over the illegal sale of gold bars plundered from an 18th-century shipwreck after French prosecutors requested that the case go to court. Eleonor...

Skeleton of man from ancient Egypt gives up its secrets in scientific first
The first whole ancient Egyptian genome has been sequenced by researchers, taken from a man who lived 4,500 to 4,800 years ago in the age of the first pyramids. By investigating chemical signals in his teeth relating to diet and environment, the...

In a constant state of becoming
Photo by Cho Yong Fei For Poerava Ah Sing, what began as a little fascination with manga sketches transformed into an artistic vocation rooted in individuality, cultural heritage and perpetual change. She said her art started with mirroring online...

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

10 beautiful islands in the world you must visit in July 2025
It's time to hit the beach! The hot summer breeze is suffocating you in your homes and you can't spend the entire season within the walls of your abode. Thus, with the Fourth of July weekend coming soon or even later in July, you can plan an...