French Polynesia

A catamaran with oil spill containment booms is on its way to the French Polynesian atoll of Arutua to start the salvage of a Chinese fishing vessel stuck on the atoll's reef.

French Polynesia's health minister Jacques Raynal says testing results show that the circulation of Covid-19 has been stopped.

Air Tahiti Nui has been identified as one of 57 airlines in breach of European Union consumer rights after cancelling flights.

French Polynesian unions have gone to France's top administrative court over the government's Covid-19 package, saying it violates labour laws.

Another special flight from France has arrived in French Polynesia amid suggestions the promised repatriation of residents stranded because of the Covid-19 outbreak may again be deferred.

Figures released in French Polynesia say there has been a drop in crime, including reported domestic violence, during the lockdown following the Covid-19 outbreak last month.

The French Polynesian government says the salvage of the Chinese fishing vessel stuck on the reef of Arutua atoll for more than a month will be a difficult operation.

The French Polynesian government says the first of the residents stranded in France because of the Covid-19 outbreak can return tomorrow.

Another person in French Polynesia has tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the tally to 57.

Another person in French Polynesia has tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the tally to 56.

The French Polynesian president Edouard Fritch says he is against across-the-board pay cuts for ministers and assembly members as suggested by the opposition.

French Polynesia's opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira party has accused the government of laxness in dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak which has to date seen 55 people testing positive.

Restrictions imposed over the Covid-19 outbreak in French Polynesia a month ago will be eased from Monday except on Tahiti and Moorea.

A complaint has been lodged with the public prosecutor in French Polynesia over a Chinese fishing boat which ran aground in a shark sanctuary with a large quantity of sharks on board.

There is a growing push for several hundred French Polynesian residents stranded abroad because of the Covid-19 outbreak to be repatriated.

The ban on the sale of alcohol in French Polynesia will be lifted as of next week but restrictions linked to the Covid-19 response will apply.

The French Polynesian government says it will make an assessment of how to deal with a Chinese fishing vessel which ran aground on the reef of Arutua atoll in the Tuamotus last month.

Four men in French Polynesia have been jailed for up to two years for burgling the Red Cross office over the Easter weekend.

An opposition assembly member in French Polynesia says the government is yet to enact any of the financial support decisions made to help those hit by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Air France has put off plans to resume flights to French Polynesia for another four weeks until the end of May.