Visa on arrival in PNG for Melanesian countries
Solomon Islands nationals and nationals of other Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) countries can now get their visa on arrival when travelling to Papua New Guinea. This came after the PNG government formally declared the
‘Action begins now before it’s too late’: President Maamau
Kiribati has called on the 27th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP) to be more ambitious about the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Speaking to world
COP27: Tuvalu leads call to phase out fossil fuels
Tuvalu has become the first country to use United Nations climate talks to demand an international fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, which would phase out the use of coal, oil, and gas. The small Pacific island
Vanuatu Govt network paralysed by cyber attack
The Office of the Vanuatu Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) has confirmed the Government’s Broadband Network has been compromised since Sunday, November 6, 2022. A statement from the OGCIO relayed that
Air Vanuatu is ‘a mess’: Prime Minister Kalsakau
Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau has labelled the current status of Air Vanuatu as a ‘mess’. He made the remarks in his maiden speech as PM, during the appointment of the new Ministers at the
Vanuatu’s new cabinet named
Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau has named his cabinet after he was sworn in on Friday. The line up of ministerial portfolios saw a former Prime Minister and President of the People’s Progressive Party
Kalsakau elected new Vanuatu PM
After more than six hours of the first sitting of the new Vanuatu Parliament, former Vanuatu Deputy PM Ishmael Kalsakau was elected by an overwhelming majority of 50 out of 52 Members to be Prime Minister of the Pacific
Avoiding a WASHout
There has been a significant decline in donor funding for water, sanitation and hygiene projects in the Pacific, as the region continues to lag behind the Sustainable Development Goals on access to water. A recent study
Vanuatu deputy PM confident of forming new Govt
The camp led by Vanuatu’s caretaker deputy prime minister Ishmael Kalsakau has reiterated that it remains a solid grouping of 30 MPs and that it will name its prime minister and cabinet line-up on Friday. A second
Pacific aid surges as China, U.S vie for influence
Regional powers poured record amounts of cash into the Pacific Islands during the coronavirus pandemic to help them weather the economic fallout as competition for influence heats up between China and the West. An
PACIFICi Portal to assist investigative anti-corruption efforts
With the Pacific Island region increasingly impacted by organised transnational crime, international drug and people smuggling, money laundering and corruption, a new web-based investigative tool, PACIFICi, is set to
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
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),
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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