Nauru

The comments are in response to international criticism the government faced over new law blocking medical referrals made by overseas doctors.

Amnesty International called the law a "dangerous and callous act".

Nauru's Health Minister, Charmaine Scotty, said the attacks were unfounded because the country's medical staff were well-equipped to handle referrals.

Ms Scotty also said there were "many false medical reports" and other attempts by refugees in Nauru to "work the system" in order to reach Australia.

On 28 December, the official handover of the service to President Baron Waqa and the RoNH was performed by Digicel Nauru CEO Deepak Khanna at the hospital’s conference room.

The telemeds teleconference bridge opening was attended by President Waqa and Madam Louisa Waqa, Health Minister Charmaine Scotty along with members of her executive health team.

Digicel’s team included CEO Khanna with technicians on-site as well as back at the Digicel offices in Aiwo who performed a demonstration of the equipment for the President.

His comments came at the end of a five-day visit to Taiwan, where he met with President Tsai Ing-Wen.

Taiwan state media report that on Friday, President Baron Waqa reiterated support for Taipei, and rejected the One China policy.

Nauru is one of a dwindling number of countries recognising Taiwan, which Beijing claims sovereignty over.

Mr Waqa said China's policies were "designed to entice and hook up" countries in the Pacific.

He said Nauru and Taiwan would continue to work together in areas like fishing and medical aid.

During a visit to Taichung Veterans General Hospital (TVGH), Waqa said he was grateful for the medical service the hospital has been providing to people in his country for many years.

At the hospital, he was also presented with a gift of 200 doses of dengue fever rapid screening reagent to take back to Nauru, one of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in the Pacific region.

TVGH administrator Hsu Hui-heng, who handed over the reagents, said the hospital has been sending medical teams to Nauru since 2008.

At a luncheon in honor of Nauru President Baron Divavesi Waqa, Tsai said the two countries are not only diplomatic allies but also members of the Austronesian language family.

In recent years, the two allies have developed deep links through cultural exchanges and cooperation in the areas of agriculture, medical care, clean energy, and education, one of the major channels for deepening friendship, she said.

Nine allies, including Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati and Solomon Islands, said Taiwan should not have been excluded from the global meeting.

Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations and has been blocked by China from engaging in UN organisations and institutions.

The Taipei Times reported that Taiwan's government held various meetings on the sidelines of COP24, including with Tuvalu's prime minister Enele Sopoaga.

Taiwan's allies said it is making significant carbon reduction efforts in the energy, manufacturing, transportation and agricultural sectors.

In Nauru, learning water safety skills from an early age is key and local John Short started the Nauru Surf Club and Nauruan Nippers to teach others surf lifesaving skills.

John runs the Nauruan Nippers weekly, and kids from six to 16 attend to learn skills like surf rescue and CPR.

“The kids are so involved and keen. They learn skills that are lifelong and directly related to saving lives,” John says.

Recently, the Palm Beach Surf Lifesaving Club on the Gold Coast in Australia purchased new surf rescue boards.

The graduates received their Australian qualification in Certificate III in Community Services after successfully completing the requirements of the program delivered by APTC.

Out of the 18 graduates, nine are women. The new graduates will help increase the number of qualified local social workers in Nauru.

The resolution also called for a probe into Israel's alleged violations of the Geneva Convention which protects people during times of conflict.

78 countries voted for the resolution and ten against, including Nauru, Solomon Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.

Also opposed were Israel, Australia and the United States.

The resolution calls for the investigation of the treatment of detainees, including children, women and elected representatives inside Israeli prisons and detention centres within the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Nauru 19 were charged over an anti-government protest more than three years ago and are facing an appeal from the Nauru Government.

The group, which includes a former Nauru president, had sought a permanent stay on legal proceedings against them, arguing the trial process dragged on too long and that the government had not met a court directed order to pay some of the expenses of the group's Australian lawyers.