Oceania

Samoa consolidated its place in the history of the Miss Pacific Islands pageant, emerging as the country with the most crowns since the regional competition began in 1987, as Miss Samoa Litara Ieremia-Allan won at 38th Miss Pacific Islands pageant

A campaign to protect women from cervical cancer is being conducted by the Ministry of Health; at least four cases of stage 3-4 cervical cancer occur each year in Tonga

The demand for technical and vocational education in Vanuatu is gaining popularity; in the programmes approved by the Vanuatu Qualifications Authority there are about 1.000 students enrolled, many of whom attend the Vanuatu Institute of Technology

Kiribati have signed an agreement with Nauru to strengthen the aviation sector through the exchange of information, expansion of transport services and improvement of safety and infrastructure for citizens

A newly introduced bill allocates $1,4 million in social assistance funds with a one-time payment of $450 for retirees who have no other source of earned income and for individuals receiving disability insurance benefits

Efforts are underway to further strengthen and promote kava exports to the US and the entire North American region; new import tariffs introduced or planned by President Trump are a pending variable

Sir Julius Chan, one of Papua New Guinea's founding fathers, has died at the age of 85; Papua New Guineans had nicknamed him 'the last man standing', as he was the last of the founding members of the independence-era parliament

Aimeliik primary school students have now access to a music and dance programme, German-funded, that provides teaching, tools and practical training

The 24' documentary film Echoes of Tuvalu was screened over Christmas holidays and January 2025 in the Watersnood Museum's cinema in Ouwerkerk, the Netherlands, included in the museum's ticket

Teachers gathered at the Ministry of Education and Culture for the annual teachers' conference; goal of the meeting is assess the available resources and organize work for 2025 with a feasible plan