Vanuatu: New Coalition Govt in the making

The official results of the Snap Election has reconfirmed the unofficial results — none of the country’s major political parties who contested the snap elections on October 13 have secured the simple majority of

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Second political pact signed in Vanuatu

The signing of another agreement by representatives of the political parties who were excluded from the new Vanuatu Government formation took place Thursday night. The parties involved are Vanua’aku Pati (VP),

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Vanuatu: Pact signed to form new government

The formation of Vanuatu’s new Government is in the works, after a pact signing between 31 candidates of the snap election who have secured seats in their respective constituencies, according to unofficial

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Vanuatu snap election: Many MPS returned

In Vanuatu, unofficial results in some constituencies have revealed that many Members of Parliament (MPs) in the last legislature have been re-elected. The Vanuatu Daily Post reports that at least 25 of the 51 former

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Vanuatu snap election: International observers arrive

There are a total of 49 regional and international observers currently in Vanuatu to monitor the running of the October 13 snap election. The election was triggered after the dissolution of the country’s

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Oceania Rugby men’s championship returns to PNG

The 2022 Oceania Rugby Men’s Championship will be hosted by Papua New Guinea Rugby Union at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on October 19-27, Oceania Rugby confirmed today. The tournament returns for the first time

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Fisheries businesses off to Mauritius

Seven members of the business community across the region have been selected for a business peer-to-peer exchange programme in Mauritius this month. Pacific Islands Forum Director of Programmes & Initiatives, Zarak

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Vanuatu Snap Election countdown

All ballot boxes are expected to be dispatched to all 18 respective constituencies in Vanuatu by today. The first dispatch of the ballot boxes occurred over the weekend for the Noumea Polling Station in New Caledonia.

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PNG tops Pacific Women’s T20 comp

At the conclusion of the Pacific Women’s T20 Cricket competition yesterday, the undefeated Papua New Guinea team finished in top spot followed by hosts Vanuatu. Samoa finished in third place and Fiji in fourth. The

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Major powers question Marshall Islands nuclear legacy bid

Nuclear powers have criticised an effort led by the Marshall Islands at the United Nations to seek help on dealing with the consequences of nuclear testing, sources following the talks involving countries including the

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VT150 million for Vanuatu snap election

The total budget to run the upcoming Vanuatu snap election is VT150 million (US$1.2 million), Electoral Commission Chairman, Edward Kaltamat confirmed. In addition to that, the Australian government has also stepped in

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217 applicants for Vanuatu snap election

At least 217 individuals have applied to contest the upcoming Vanuatu snap election. Deputy Principal Electoral Officer (PEO), Gary Tavoa, confirmed this was the total number of applications they received out from over

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Pacific to seek deferment of UN vote on Climate Justice

Vanuatu and its regional coalition partners will be seeking a deferral of the vote on the climate justice initiative to the end of 2022, to allow more time to lobby for a simple majority vote. This was conveyed by the

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No Constitutional Infringement: Vanuatu Chief Justice Lunabek

The Vanuatu Supreme Court has dismissed an urgent constitutional application from the 27 signatories of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Bob Loughman, the Daily Post reports. Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek

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Vanuatu ‘snap election timeline’ announced

In Vanuatu, over 300,000 registered voters will go to the polls for a snap election on October 13. The election was triggered after the dissolution of the country’s parliament on August 19 by President Nikenike

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Verdict on Vanuatu Dissolution to be declared September 9

The constitutional case to decide whether or not there will be an early election in Vanuatu will not be decided until the end of this week. At Friday’s hearing before Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek, the counsel for the

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Air Vanuatu confirms interim plan with lessor to safeguard 737

The national airline Air Vanuatu has confirmed that its Boeing 737 is at risk of repossession by its lessor. Air Vanuatu owed USD$8 million lease payments to American Leasing Company (ALC), which is approximately VT897

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Air Vanuatu YJ-AV12 twin-otter repossessed

Air Vanuatu’s YJ-AV12 twin-otter has been redelivered to Hevilift, a Papua New Guinea based Aviation Service Business which owns the aircraft, last week. A reliable source confirmed the aircraft was repossessed

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‘Everyone’s business’ – Vanuatu reopens to tourists

Vanuatu reopened to tourists on July 1, but there is still some work to do to reopen properties that have been shuttered for two years and fill frontline tourism positions.  Virgin Australia says it will resume its

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Climate finance crunch

The Pacific Islands Forum is taking another look at its ambitions to take control of resilience funding following the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Vanuatu this month. The hybrid meeting saw attending delegates

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Opening the window

Vanuatu is leading the region in the use of an Electronic Single Window System to ensure trade documentation is organised in a more efficient and transparent way. The manager for the Electronic Single Window Project,

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USP Emalus Campus to resolve internet problem

The Director of the University of the South Pacific (USP) Emalus Campus, Dr Andrew McKenzie, believes that a stable and effective contract with the Vanuatu government is the way forward to avoid the ongoing internet

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Vanuatu Dissolution to be contested September 2

The constitutional case filed by 27 former Vanuatu Members of Parliament (MPs) challenging the legality of the Council of Minister’s (COM) advice for Parliament dissolution, is now set for hearing next Friday.

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MSG PM Cup will still be held in Vanuatu

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Prime Ministers Cup organising committee has confirmed that its upcoming event scheduled for September 17-30 in Vanuatu will go ahead, despite the dissolution of parliament. Acting

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