Pacific news in brief for 2 September

Aerial view of Garapan, Saipan seen from Mt Tapochao, Saipan's highest peak. Photo: 123RF Northern Mariana Islands The Northern Marianas government's special assistant for military affairs is urging the US to ensure that the billions of dollars...

Japan travel reaches record heights, here's where to detour to escape the crowds

Following a record-breaking year for Japan tourism in 2024, the numbers are only climbing in 2025. In fact, Australian travel to Japan looks set to reach a historic milestone, with more than 1 million Australians visiting between July 2024 and...

French Polynesia creates world’s largest marine protected area

French Polynesia has announced the creation of the world’s largest marine protected area. Speaking on the first day of the United Nations Ocean Conference in France, French Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson said the MPA will cover the...

French Polynesia Announces World’s Largest Marine Protected Area at UN Ocean Conference

A school of fish swim over a coral reef in the Gambier Islands of French Polynesia on Feb. 17, 2018. Alexis Rosenfeld / Getty Images Why you can trust us Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform...

French Polynesia unveils world's largest marine protected zo...

French Polynesia's President Moetai Brotherson on Monday announced that his country is on track to create the world's largest marine protected area (MPA). The ambitious objective, spanning nearly 23 percent of the archipelago's waters, came on the...

French Polynesia Sets Aside 400,000 Square Miles of Ocean for Conservation

On Monday, French Polynesia announced the creation of one of the world's largest marine protected areas. The French territory has designated an area equal to 23 percent of its exclusive economic zone for conservation, free of industrial fishing -...

'I booked my trip through Costco, and here were the best savings'

Costco isn't just about buying in bulk, it's about the thrill of the steal. Affordability reaches its peak between those store walls, and buying everything jumbo-sized suddenly feels worth it. How many times have you walked in looking to grab just...

French Polynesia Just Created The World’s Largest Marine Protected Area

French Polynesia announced the creation of the world’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA), at the U.N. Ocean Conference in France on Monday. The MPA will cover the entirety of the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), almost 5 million square...

French Polynesia president announces huge highly protected marine area

RNZ Pacific French Polynesia’s president has announced his administration will establish one of the world’s largest networks of highly protected marine areas (MPAs). The highly protected areas will safeguard 220,000 sq km of remote waters near the...

French Polynesia will create world’s largest Marine Protected Area

The government will create an artisanal fishing zone – collectively covering 186,000 square kilometres – that extends 15 nautical miles from the Austral, Marquesas, and Gambier islands and 30 nautical miles around the Society Islands. The...

French Polynesia president announces highly protected marine area

Gambier Islands Photo: Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy French Polynesia's president has announced his administration will establish one of the world's largest networks of highly protected marine areas (MPAs). The highly protected areas will safeguard...

Where Will Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Honeymoon?

At 6.01 p.m. on Tuesday, an hour into a five-hour train to Edinburgh, my phone buzzed—then buzzed again, and again, and again. The BBC News ‘breaking news’ notification chimed: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announce their engagement. Along with 13...

French Polynesia Creates World's Largest Marine Protected Area

Corals on the outer slop of the lagoon in Tatakoto, a remote atoll in French Polynesia. Credit - Alexis Rosenfeld—Getty Images French Polynesia announced the creation of the world’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA), at the U.N. Ocean Conference...

Where Will Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Honeymoon? Luxury Travel Advisors Weigh In

While the world’s ears may still be recovering from the collective Swiftie shrieks — mine included — following Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement, we’re already moving on to the next obsession: the honeymoon. What kind of post-nuptials...

On 29 August, the International Day against Nuclear Tests, WILPF calls for the end of nuclear weapons

The International Day against Nuclear Tests Is the Time to Stop the Bomb Ray Acheson In 1945, the United States built and detonated the first nuclear weapon in the deserts of New Mexico. The fallout from that explosion spread to 46 US states,...

Pacific Islands focus: health, environmental, security and geopolitical updates

Calls to tackle violence against women in the Pacific region, efforts to alleviate the impacts of extreme heat, new guidelines to assist in protection of whales, and concerns about deep sea mining are among the topics covered in the latest edition...

The best relaxing adults-only, all-inclusive resorts for a kid-free vacation

Over the last decade, the all-inclusive concept has been embraced and reimagined by some of the world's most luxurious and character-rich hotels. Travelers who would previously flinch at the notion of a one-size-fits-all formula — exemplified by...

Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Meeting concludes in Honiara with strong regional commitments

Ministers to the PWWA Ministers Forum- Photo credit: Solomon Islands Government The Ninth Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers (PWWM) Meeting concluded yesterday in Honiara, with Ministers from 14 Pacific Island countries and territories...

Can Costco Travel save you money? I dug around and found out

You probably already know Costco as the place to score bulk toilet paper and jumbo-sized everything. But here's something that might surprise you: that same membership card could also unlock significant travel savings, though the details matter...

Training Ship Esmeralda unites navies and friends

Department of Defence Royal Australian Navy (RAN) officer Lieutenant Harrison Planck has enjoyed the rare and prestigious opportunity of sailing aboard the Chilean Training Ship Esmeralda as a part of her 69th Training Cruise. RAN personnel,...