Oceania

Emancipation Day, the day King Siaosi Tupou I officially abolished serfdom in Tonga in 1862, as part of his 1862 Code of Laws, will be commemorated by observing a public holiday Tomorrow, Monday, 2 June

Tuvalu has seen the arrival of Taiwan’s Dunmu Goodwill Fleet for the first time in 12 years; the 3 ships fleet are paying visit to diplomatic allies and providing open-sea training for newly enlisted sailors and non-commissioned officers

Cesarean section birth rate in Palau has risen to 42% —from 33% in 2020 to 42% in 2021— with WHO estimating a world average of10%; Palau is thus among the countries with the highest rates globally, raising concerns about women’s health and birth outcomes

With only 19 ambulances operational nationwide, 10 out of service and undergoing repairs, major hospitals with 3 working vehicles, 2 out of service, Fiji is facing an ambulance crisis; PM said the Government is actively responding

Bee Educated, an initiative by the Samoa Agricultural Organisation funded by the Global Environment Facility through the UNDP, has trained over 100 new beekeepers since 2022 and distributed 2.000 hives across both islands of Upolu and Savai'i

Landowners from Kakau and Lakuili Tribes in Variana and Hoilava, West Guadalcanal, have issued a public appeal to mining authorities urging them to exclude their customary land from a tenement granted to Ever Prosperous Mining and to revoke its licence

500 rescues were performed in New South Wales, with 50.000 people still isolated by the flood waters; over 120 alerts are in place for the region, including major warnings, as more rain is expected after 4 months of rain came in 48 hours

Families at Vulankara, Turtle Bay, are facing eviction after a 30-day notice to vacate the land they've lived on for over 40 years, though they've had interest in the land since before Vanuatu’s independence, their elders working in Nitchikou Plantation

Murals featuring children and nutrition themes are popping up at schools in Majuro and on stores around the island upon a UNICEF-supported initiative to promote awareness of children's needs, painted by art teacher Aravapo Leo and a team of students

50 families from Levi Saleimoa have been given three months to vacate land they have occupied in the past years after the Lands and Titles Court rejected a leave to appeal a previous decision; the case shows a growing trend in small pacific island nations

PM Marane issued a nationwide call to government, communities and citizens to actively prepare for Papua New Guinea 50th anniversary of independence in September; he urged organizing meaningful celebrations to make it a day of reflection pride and unity

The development of the private sector is the primary focus of Tonga's new budget, the Prime Minister Hon. Dr 'Aisake Eke said as his Cabinet finalized the budget for 2025-2026, to be presented to the Legislative Assembly this week