U.S. Senate Bill to establish embassies in the Pacific

A bipartisan group of senators will introduce legislation to establish three new embassies in the Pacific Islands region to strengthen America’s relationships there and counter China’s growing influence.  The

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Commonwealth Games Update

As the Commonwealth Games begin, teams from the Pacific Islands are settling into their accommodation in the Birmingham 2022 Games village and are preparing to compete for the next 12 days. It’s a very long way from

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VNPF receives VT15M in dividend from Unit Trust of Fiji

The Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF) has received around VT15 million(US$127,299) in dividend from the Unit Trust of Fiji (UTOF) Tuesday. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UTOF, Vilash Chand, presented the cheque

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Vanuatu elects Vurobaravu as president

Nikenike Vurobaravu has been voted the 12th President of Vanuatu. It took eight rounds of voting by the 58-member Electoral College before he secured the required minimum number of 38 on Saturday. In the end, he got a

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Vanuatu seasonal workers speak out on mistreatment

A group of Vanuatu seasonal workers in Australia who absconded from their farms have come out to shed light on their working conditions. While they say they regret that their actions have tarnished Vanuatu’s effort in

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‘Welkam’ Back! – Vanuatu reopens international borders

The first international visitors who set foot in Vanuatu Friday after more than two years were given a warm welcome by excited tourism officers at the Port Vila Airport.  String band songs greeted them as they arrived.

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Vanuatu, Niue borders reopen this week

After closing its international borders to everyone except citizens and residents two years ago following the COVID-19 pandemic, Vanuatu is reopening and reconnecting with the world starting this Friday. Vanuatu had not

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Vanuatu court sentence Bangladesh nationals for trafficking

Four Bangladesh nationals implicated in what has been dubbed the biggest human trafficking case in Vanuatu were sentenced this week, after a four-year court battle. Sekdah Somon, was sentenced to 14 years’

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Vanuatu Govt revise visa to rebuild tourism sector

The Vanuatu Government, through the Department of Immigration and Passport Service, has amended the Visitor Visa to Tourist Visa to allow tourists the opportunity to come to Vanuatu and stay longer. Previously a tourist

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Pacific tourism workers resilient in adversity

Pacific researchers assessing the wellbeing of tourism-reliant communities in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands amid the COVID-19 pandemic have found these communities are mainly resilient in the face of

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Air Vanuatu to focus on domestic fleet expansion

Vanuatu’s national carrier Air Vanuatu has decided to cancel its order for Airbus A220s and instead plans to add more regional turboprop aircraft.  “Air Vanuatu will not be proceeding with its order for

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MSG, Indonesia dialogue on Regional Security Strategy

The Indonesian National Police (INP) is hosting the 4th Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Regional Security Strategy (RSS) Working Group (WG) from June 6 to 10, 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. The event is attended by delegates

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Fijian pastor deported from Vanuatu

A Fijian Pastor has been deported Tuesday through a joint operation by the Vanuatu Immigration Services and Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), through the Vanuatu Interpol Unit, for violating COVID-19 protocols. Pastor Jone

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Vanuatu declares a climate emergency

Vanuatu has become the first Pacific Small Island Developing State to declare it is facing a climate emergency.  In a Twitter post, the leader of the opposition Ralph Regenvanu announced parliament passed a

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Vanuatu government eyes minimum wage increase

The Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) is against the decision to have private sector employees receive a severance pay at the rate of two months’ salary, against the number of years in service. The

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Gomes concerned about China’s advance in Melanesia

New Caledonia’s outgoing member of the French National Assembly, Philippe Gomes, has expressed concern about China’s position in the Pacific, saying Beijing has already colonised Vanuatu. Philippe Gomes, who

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Vanuatu Govt halts vaccine protest march

The Vanuatu Government has pulled the plug on a planned march yesterday in Port Vila to protest the rules around COVID-19 vaccines, specifically vaccination of children. The protestors, involving church and youth

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Vanuatu volcano activity sparks warning

Volcanic activity at Vanuatu’s Mount Garet on Gaua Island has increased under Alert Level 2, which is the major level of unrest, reports the Vanuatu Daily Post. Observations confirmed current activity consists of

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Commercial kava pilot off to a flying start

When the Australian government gave the green light for a two-year commercial kava pilot program in December last year, “the excitement was palpable,” Australia's Minister for International Development and Pacific,

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Pharmaceutical market now ‘risky’

Geographical indicators to be developed for kava A leading kava scientist in the Pacific has labelled as "risky" any kava comeback in the pharmaceutical market, stressing that success of the crop as an export commodity

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MPs seek regional dialogue on deep sea mining

A new alliance of parliamentarians from across the Pacific has called for a regional dialogue on the potential impacts of deep sea mining. The public launch of the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Alliance on Deep Sea Mining

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Vanuatu curfew lifted, schools and workplaces to reopen

Vanuatu’s government has decided to lift the 8pm-6am curfew and relax other restrictions which were in place for almost two months, as COVID-19 cases decline on Efate and offshore islands. From Friday, there are

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Concerns raised as Vanuatu, Palau explore crypto projects

The recent greenlighting of cryptocurrency projects in Vanuatu and Palau have raised concerns over the lack of an advisory body in the

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Vanuatu withdraws from FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Vanuatu have pulled out of Oceania’s qualification tournament for the World Cup finals in Qatar after a majority of their players and staff tested positive for COVID-19, the country’s football federation

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