Oceania

A carpet of rubbish was left on Sydney's Bronte Beach after some 10.000 people crowded the shores of the Australian resort for Christmas Day celebrations

To strengthen the country's position as a tuna production center, a refrigeration expert from FAO worked with local technicians during a training course on freezer container maintenance in Majuro in FAO's FISH4ACP program

Vaiola Hospital Matron, Sr Akesa Halatanu, met again with the Minister of Health, Saia Piukala, to look at a nurses petition that was submitted to the Palace Office, in a protest to increase the nurses salary

It is imperative to safeguard kava as a Pacific product, stated Vanuatu's Minister of Trade and Industry, Anatole Hymack, and to ensure its protection and recognition of its authentic Pacific origins

A team of researchers from the University of Auckland, Victoria University and Sāmoa Scientific Research Organisation claims to have found two extracts from traditional Samoan medicine that have antiviral activity against the virus that causes COVID-19

Unofficial final election results have been published by the Electoral Administration, confirming that 13 seats in Nitijela will change hands; most absentee postal votes did not arrive in time or were rejected for technical reasons

Mobile Diving and Salvage Company 1-8, the deployed salvage force of the US 7th Fleet, completed the disposal at sea of an abandoned cargo ship in Pohnpei as part of Pacific Partnership 24-1

The global scabies programme of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute completed the first round of mass distribution of an anti-parasitic drug in the Solomon Islands and Fiji, helping to protect millions of people from the disease

The country has a new Taiwan ambassador, after Joseph Chow's transfer from his previous role as representative in Fiji was approved

Istanbul-based Turkish Airlines will launch Australia flights in March next year, with Australian actress Margot Robbie as Brand Ambassador

The Motootua National Hospital is currently investigating a theft in which two teenagers allegedly stole money kept in plastic bags from the hospital pharmacy

The grant for the second international fibre optic cable to Tonga, which will be installed through Vava'u, was signed to celebrate Tonga Cable Ltd. 10th year in business

Kiribati's 2023 green entrepreneurs were awarded AUD 166.000 (over €100.000) by the Global Green Growth Institute