Papua New Guinea creates two massive new Marine Protected Areas
Together they cover more than 6,200 square miles, tripling the country’s marine area under protection, and are the country’s first to be co-managed by Indigenous communities.
Australia & Oceania
Once-a-day pill for stubborn cancer delivers a 62.5% positive response
In the first trial, at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center in Australia, CRC patients receiving just divarasib had a 35.9% positive response rate, which was considered extremely promising.
Australia offers Tuvalu residents special climate emergency visas in ‘groundbreaking’ treaty
It is expected that by 2050, half the land area of Tuvalu’s capital, Funafuti, will be flooded by tidal waters daily. Under the deal, Australia has committed to provide access to education, health care and income and family support instantly to Tuvaluans upon arrival.
New Caledonia expands strictly protected coverage of its swath of the Pacific
A decade ago, New Caledonia established its entire 502,000-square-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as a marine protected area. However, only 2.4% of the park prohibited fishing, drilling and mining. Now, the New Caledonian government has designated an additional 7.6% of its EEZ to be highly protected.
In a world first, scientists discover ‘roadmap’ to beating bowel cancer
Researchers at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute at La Trobe University in Australia have found that how a patient responds to cancer comes down to how effective a group of immune cells in the large bowel are.
EVs exceed 10% of monthly auto sales in Australia for first time ever
Out of the 110,000 vehicles sold in Australia in September 2023, 10.6% came with a plug. Approximately 8% of these were battery electric and 2% were plugin hybrid EVs.
Australia’s New South Wales bans logging across 21,000 acres of forest to protect koalas
The koala-rich area would form a key part of a planned 315,000-hectare Great Koala National Park on the mid-north coast and “save koalas from extinction in the state,” according to the New South Wales government.
World-first drug lowers genetic form of “bad cholesterol” by up to 65%
Researchers from Monash University, Cleveland Clinic, and Eli Lilly have developed an oral drug to target a form of cholesterol that has previously been untreatable and is largely caused by genetics.
Australian state of Victoria bans natural gas in new homes
The government said from January 1, 2024, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions, including public and social housing, will only connect to all-electric networks.
Medical abortion pill to become easier to access across Australia as restrictions scrapped
The MS-2 Step mifepristone medication was previously only allowed to be prescribed by a doctor with specialist certification and then provided by a pharmacist registered to dispense the product.