Oceania Palau A swine reproduction training program led by Dr. Kevin Lee of the Taiwan Technical Mission is enhancing pig farmers' breeding skills to increase piglet production and reduce reliance on imports through artificial insemination and farrowing management
Oceania New Zealand KiwiSaver -a voluntary, work-based retirement savings scheme- will see withdrawal rules changed to help farmers, diplomats and soldiers buy their first homes, as Finance Minister observed current rules are unfair to workers in service tenancies
Oceania Nauru Nauru Medical Centre is expanding services, with specialist surgeries now performed on island; Dr Angelique Makutu was appointed director of medical services and upgrades include dental clinics, a 10-bed paediatric unit and improved operating facilities
Oceania Papua New Guinea Protests in Bomana prison resulted in a number of inmates requiring medical attention and two needing first aid care in Port Moresby; the detained were asking better health care services after the death of an inmate allegedly denied medical attention
Oceania Vanuatu The main cemetery at Laone in North Pentecost island has been completely destroyed by soil erosion and rising sea levels
Oceania Australia Bush towns are spending millions just to guarantee their residents can see a doctor; six tiny WA centers spend AUS$1,5m each year on subsidies, their citizens facing shorter life expectancy due to inadequate medical services
Oceania Solomon Islands Carrying out mining operations on Nendo Island is 'not feasible'; the comments follow geochemical sampling results which reportedly confirm there are no viable prospects for mining operations in Temotu Province, particularly on Nendo Island
Oceania Marshall Islands The first HPV Screen and Treat services has been opened at the youth program clinic in Uliga: the key step in Marshall Islands’ goal to eliminate cervical cancer is a collaboration of Health and Human Services with Youth to Youth in Health and WUTMI
Oceania Tuvalu Content creator Pelenita Malaga, aka “5a__creates”, launched a digital docuseries to prevent grandparents stories from disappearing; recording life journeys, traditions, skills, memories he is building an archive of Tuvaluan heritage for the future
Oceania Samoa Responding to the growing spread of methamphetamine affecting schools across Samoa, international educational organization Don Bosco has introduced strict daily bag checks and new transportation controls changes
Oceania New Zealand Farmers and businesses are taking stock of the cost of flooding that swamped paddocks and swept through Little River, Banks Peninsula, which remains under a state of emergency though State Highway 75 to Akaroa reopened and telecommunications were restored
Oceania Palau 4.600 Palauan will receive tax refunds as part of the government’s PGST relief program, with payments set for Feb. 24–25 at the Palau Community College cafeteria; additional assistance will include a $600 senior citizens subsidy scheduled for March
Oceania Micronesia Several fish spawning aggregation sites have been identified for protection, including the longnose emperor, focus of Palau International Coral Reef Center recent study finalized to integrate and update Koror Southern Lagoon's fishing management plan