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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Vanuatu opposition lodge constitutional application

The 27 signatories of the motion of no confidence against Vanuatu caretaker Prime Minister, Bob Loughman, have filed an urgent constitutional application on the dissolution of the Parliament. Former Vanuatu Opposition

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Vanuatu’s parliament dissolved

Vanuatu’s new President, Nikenike Vurobaravu has dissolved the country’s parliament just over halfway through the current four-year-term. President Vurobaravu signed the instrument for the dissolution of

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Eye disease trachoma eliminated in Vanuatu, leads the way for Pacific push

The Fred Hollows Foundation has welcomed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) confirmation that Vanuatu has eliminated the eye disease trachoma as a public health problem. The Foundation, with the support of The

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Vanuatu no-confidence vote set for Friday

Vanuatu’s embattled prime minister Bob Loughman has confirmed he will attend the next sitting of an extra-ordinary parliament session on Friday to face a motion of no-confidence in his leadership. Loughman and 20 MPs

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Civil Society Organisation Response – PACIFIC DISABILITY FORUM

PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECREATARIATFORUM ECONOMIC MINISTERS MEETING DIALOGUE WITH CSOsTheme: Clustering for Regional Post-COVID Economic Recovery and StabilityWarwick Le Lagoon Resort, Port Vila, Vanuatu12 August 2022

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Forum Economic Ministers Meeting: a marriage of national priorities and regional strategies

Islands Business reporter Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti has been talking to Pacific Islands ministers and officials at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting about their economic priorities and regional opportunities.

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Crypto ‘an unstable financial asset’ says UNCTAD

Cryptocurrency is an “unstable financial asset that can bring social risks and costs”, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned in three policy briefs on Wednesday. UNCTAD said their benefits to

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Vanuatu at the FEMM: fuel prices, climate costs and supply chain challenges

The Vanuatu government hopes moves to set up fuel depot locally will help stabilise fuel prices in the country. Discussions in the leadup to the Forum Economic Minister’s Meeting which gets underway in Vanuatu today,

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Vanuatu ministers lodge Motion of No Confidence

Attempts to change the Government’s democratic system tops the list of five reasons given by some MPs in the Motion of No Confidence against Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman. “The attempt to make significant

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Regional economic ministers to meet: “the sense of urgency is real”

The 2022 Forum Economic Ministers Meeting which gets underway in Vanuatu this week will see regional ministers and officials discuss post-Covid economic recovery, alongside improved access to important dialogues for the

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Vanuatu hosts Disability Dialogue

The Pacific Disability Forum in partnership with the Vanuatu Disabled Peoples Assembly (the National Organisation of Persons with Disabilities) will be holding a Side Event which is a Disability Stakeholder Dialogue

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Air Vanuatu to resolve schedule within two months

With its plans to recruit more ni-Vanuatu pilots, the national flag carrier’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Atu Finau, says the current situation of amended schedules on reduced flights is expected to be resolved

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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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