Oceania Vanuatu Phase 2 of the Vanuatu Hospital Redevelopment Programme will begin soon, following the approval of clinical service models for three hospitals: Vila Central Hospital in Vila, Norsup Hospital in Malekula and Lenakel Hospital in Tanna
Oceania Nauru The Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Gopal Baglay, was simultaneously accredited as the next Indian High Commissioner to Nauru
Oceania Palau The Palau national landfill site, opened only 3 years ago in the state of Aimeliik, is filling up at an alarming rate: 7,4% of its capacity has been reached and projected life span of 25 years seems increasingly unlikely without significant intervention
Oceania Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea's national statistician, John Igitoi, has assured the public that the data collected with tablets in the ongoing digital census will be secure and confidential, after all measures have been taken
Oceania Kiribati Kiribati communities can now count on better management of medical waste on the island thanks to the recent commissioning of a medical waste incinerator through the European Union-Pacific PacWastePlus waste management programme
Oceania Fiji School drop-outs should be accepted, said Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka emphasising that school drop-outs should not be stigmatised; over 18.000 young people drop out of school every year in Fiji
Oceania Tonga The first National Standards Roadmap was launched at the Liku'alofa Centre in Tofoa, contributing to the implementation of quality standards for development in Tonga, in collaboration with Pacer Plus and Standards Australia
Oceania Micronesia Elina Resepwil and Martha Asher are the first young UN national volunteers at the WHO North Micronesia National Liaison Office that will leverage community engagement to increase measles-mumps-rubella vaccination in the Federated States of Micronesia
Oceania New Zealand According to the latest census, there are one million New Zealand Maoris, a surprising result given that in 1890 there were 42.000 left, decimated by the arrival of settlers who increased poverty and mortality by bringing disease, war and dispossession
Oceania Papua New Guinea Wood has secured a contract worth $18 million from the Newmont mining company to upgrade the Lihir gold mine in Papua New Guinea, with projects focusing on maintenance and improving the condition and performance of the plant
Oceania Solomon Islands Women's political representation in the country remains low despite legislation requiring parties to include 10% female candidates; there are loopholes that limit the impact and only four of the 13 parties have reached the threshold
Oceania Tuvalu Tuvalu, a nation where athletes train on the airport runway, will manage to send a one-man team to the Paris Olympics, with Karalo Maibuca, flag-bearer three years ago in Tokyo, competing for the country in the men's 100 metres
Oceania Australia Melbourne has confirmed its position as Australia's best city for students after the publication of a global ranking highlighted the state's educational opportunities, affordability and cultural diversity