Oceania Palau The Kensing II health ship was heartily welcomed; larger and better-equipped, it replaces the previous one in bringing healthcare to residents of Palau’s most remote islands
Oceania Tuvalu The traditional rice cake was offered to Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo as a birthday dish during the reception attended at Taiwan President Lai Ching-te premises
Oceania Vanuatu A new forensic laboratory is set to strengthen the Vanuatu Police's investigation of serious crimes; officially opened in Port Vila, the facility will enable the collection and development of stronger evidence for prosecution
Oceania Australia Qantas airlines has been fined $100 million for misleading customers by selling tickets on flights that had already been cancelled over two months before; this misconduct affected over 86.000 customers across more than 70.000 flights between 2021 and 2023
Oceania Tonga African tulip tree beetles were brought to Tonga to control the growing invasive weed called the African tulip tree, which is spreading in indigenous forests and farmland, causing a reduction in natural biodiversity and agricultural productivity
Oceania Solomon Islands Saudi Arabia and the Solomon Islands have formalised an agreement to exempt holders of diplomatic, private and official passports from short-stay visa requirements
Oceania New Zealand Three New Zealand universities dropped in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 and none of the eight New Zealand featured universities improved their ranking this year
Oceania Kiribati The pro-Chinese president of Kiribati said his nation 'does not welcome' Beijing's recent ballistic missile test launch in the Pacific
Oceania Micronesia U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Guam personnel, as part of the Pacific Partnership 2024, conducted a series of boating safety workshops and community outreach activities in Kosrae
Oceania Nauru 'I take no responsibility,' said Baron Waqa, former president of Nauru and the current secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, refusing to accept blame for the poor treatment of refugees in Nauru
Oceania Tuvalu Tuvarian Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo criticised the UN's exclusion of Taiwan, calling it a 'hypocritical' act, in a meeting with President Lai Ching-te in Taipei during his official visit
Oceania Solomon Islands The country officially acceded to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation with the instrument of accession deposited by the Permanent Mission of Solomon Islands to the United Nations in New York on 4 October 2024
Oceania Tonga A new government centre is being built, at a cost of about $1,7 million pa'anga (U$ 726.000), in 'Ohonua, 'Eua, as part of the government's plans to recover from tsunami damage during the Hunga-Tonga Hunga'apai eruption of January 2022