Vanuatu

Smokefree Pacific Games re-enforces healthy message

Athletes, officials, spectators, volunteers, and the workforce involved in the Games are reminded that the event is smokefree.

May 31, which is just 37 days until the Opening Ceremony kicks off a fortnight of sporting competition, is the annual No Tobacco Day organised by the World Health Organization.

The annual campaign raises awareness of the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure, and aims to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.

OFC Futsal Nations Cup has been drawn

Steeve Laigle, President of Fédération Calédonienne de Football was at hand to assist OFC Competitions Director Chris Kemp at the OFC Academy in Auckland during the Draw which was witnessed by a number of Executive Committee Members as well as OFC President Lambert Maltock.

Defending champions and top seeded Solomon Islands and second ranked New Zealand were placed into different pots to ensure they don’t face each other during the group stages with the two bottom ranked sides American Samoa and Tonga also separated for the same reason.

Vanuatu Government handovers 1st payment for National Games

The Director General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Henry Vira presented the cheque to the Chairman of Tafea National Games Local Organising Committee (LOC), Acting Secretary General Etiene Ravo.

Mr Vira congratulated Tafea for having strong confidence to host the games despite the challenges.

He also reiterated the importance of working together as a team to bring the national sporting event to the province.

New UN Resident Coordinator ready to take up role in the Pacific

Mr Samarasinha will also be presenting his credentials to the heads of states in the respective countries.

He said he was grateful for the opportunity to meet Pacific leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Nauru last month.

He said it was the chance to discuss priorities with the leaders and how the UN can deal with them.

He hopes to take something tangible back to the countries as well as have conversations with as many people as possible including representatives of civil society and the media.

Pacific cricketers begin road to World T20

It's been four years since the last East Asia Pacific qualifier in the game's shortest format when Papua New Guinea went through undefeated.

Shane Deitz said the Vanuatu squad has been working hard in preparation since returning from World Cricket League Four in May.

Two teams will advance to the East Asia Pacific Regional Final and Deitz expects all four will fancy their chances.

PNG athletics team in Vanuatu

The athletes are 100m and 200m sprinters Frederick Ageda (Pom) and Linus Kuravi (WNB); distance runners Gethru Komba and Mary Tenge (Simbu) ; middle distance runner Lyanne Tibu (ENB); and East Sepik athlete Isila Apkup who runs 400m.

Athletics PNG President, Tony Green, said the six represent the best of the young talent which emerged from the National Championships and PNG Games last year.

Veteran hurdler and Vanuatu resident, Mowen Boino, will also compete at the Championships and assist team manager Nabase Duaba.

UK to open diplomatic posts in Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa

They are among nine new posts in Commonwealth countries as part of an expansion of the UK's overseas network announced by the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, Mr Johnson linked the announcement with the UK's planned exit from the European Union.

He said the new diplomatic posts were in regions which provided "huge potential and opportunity post-Brexit for British businesses".

Britain already has a high commission in Fiji.

Pacific Islands Forum head says China base OK if no risk posed

This week the Sydney Morning Herald reported the prospect of a Chinese military outpost in Vanuatu had been discussed at the highest levels.

Australia and Vanuatu's governments have denied the reports.

Tuila'epa told reporters that the matter may be raised at the Forum Leaders meeting in Nauru later this year.

The Samoan Prime Minister pointed out that the United States has a military base in Guam and it doesn't pose any threat to the region.

Tuila'epa said the only threat the region is facing is from North Korea.

     

Cyclone Hola bears down on New Caledonia

The cyclone, which caused damage in Vanuatu's northern islands, re-intensified into a category 3 overnight, with sustained winds of about 150km/h at its centre.

At 6 o'clock this morning, local time, (8am NZT) Hola was about 90 kilometres northeast of Lifou, and is expected to pass close to the island of Mare today.

On Mare, electricity supplies have already been cut off and winds in excess of 100 km/h have been reported as well as swells of six to eight metres.

On the main island, well to the west of the cyclone, as much as 200mm of rain was recorded overnight.

Six pilot projects plus market study launched to enhance competitiveness of Pacific coconut industry

The projects are thanks to a joint initiative joint initiative of the European Union, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the Pacific Community (SPC). 

The enterprises identified as pilot projects will receive support in the form of technical assistance and equipment meant to enhance competitiveness in the coconut sector. They include Mailelani Samoa Body Care, Samoa Coconut Cluster (SCC), Serendi Coco Samoa Ltd., Women in Business Development (WIBDI), Elcress Agra, and Ambrym Coconut Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd (ACFC).