Oceania

Lifeblood, national blood, milk, microbiota donation and manufacturing service will gradually scrap restrictions for gay and bisexual men and trans women; the pioneer move will start with removing sexual activity wait times for plasma donations on 14 July

Airbus replied to earlier news in the Vanuatu Daily Post saying it didn't held any talks with Government since October 2024, despite PM Napat’s recent claim that negotiations are underway to recover VT2 billion (€14 million) paid during COVID-19 pandemic

A new voter database system, GVRS Hybrid, has replaced the older software; according to the Palau Election Commission, it improves registration tracking introducing major upgrades in voter data management, fraud prevention and election transparency

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, leader of Human Rights Protection Party, has defended his party’s proposal to cut the 15% Value Added Goods and Services Tax as a direct response to the nation’s worsening cost of living

ABC Radio Australia went On Air in Majuro at 7pm on 13 June, going live for the first time in over a decade with its 24/7 programs on 106.7FM; to mark the milestone development, Australian Ambassador Paul Wilson hosted a gathering with a countdown

The South Pacific Ocean shouldn't be a proving ground for weapon testing by major powers, Kiribati stated; the country is one of China's closest Pacific allies and China had performed a nuclear-capable missile test in 2024

The Nauru Law Society, with support from Australia and UNDP, held a Continued Legal Education programme on June 6 at the Supreme Court in Yaren; The training focused on professionalism, ethics and was conducted under the Legal Practitioners Act of 2019

Unauthorized alluvial miners are invited not to use heavy machinery; the call comes from the Mineral Resources Authority following a number of reports that denounced systematic illegal mining activities with heavy machines

A public forum brought together government representatives, community members and business owners under the theme "Our Town, Our Future" to share ideas and map a collaboration path for Port Vila’s development after 2024 earthquake

Auckland’s Cremorne St this year retains its title as the city’s most expensive street; the coastal road stretches just 150m, but its 15 luxury mansions are worth $11,3 million (€5,8 million) each on average according to latest real-estate figures

The discovery of "Super Reefs" in the Line Island group has been announced by Kiribati's Minister of Fisheries: coral reefs formations that are tolerant, resilient to temperature change and rarely bleach, offering hope for coral reef conservation