Marshall Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu marching to universal health care

Immunization day in the Selima community in Vanuatu. Photo courtesy of WHO/Yoshi Shimizu The vision of universal health coverage—where anyone can just walk into a local hospital or clinic and avail of quality health services for free or at a meager …

“We can’t negotiate with climate change,” Vanuatu laments lack of progress…

As the clock ticks towards the end of COP29 in Baku Azerbaijan, Vanuatu has expressed deep concerns about the lack of progress made on some key ticket items, including the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, the Mitigation Work …

Vanuatu snap election slated for January 2025

Vanuatu voters will head into a snap election within the next 60 days after President Nikenike Vurobaravu dissolved parliament, earlier this week. It’s the fifth change in government since 2022, and widespread public disappointment has been reported as …

Snap election looms in Vanuatu as president dissolves parlt

PORT VILA: The president of the Republic of Vanuatu has dissolved parliament, triggering a snap-election, for the second time in two years. Nikenike Vurobaravu’s decision comes on the eve of a motion of no-confidence from the parliamentary opposition …

Vanuatu Opposition challenges President’s dissolution of Parliament

Vanuatu’s Opposition bloc has filed a court case disputing President Nikenike Vurobaravu’s decision to dissolve Parliament amid a pending no-confidence motion. Former Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau accused the President of acting beyond his constitutional …

Vanuatu climate change case at UN ‘particularly relevant’ after Trump win, lawyer says

(Benar News/Radio Free Asia)-- During Trump’s first presidency, the U.S. in late 2019 announced its withdrawal from the Paris agreement that obligates countries to make far-reaching changes to limit the increase in average global temperature to well …

Vanuatu Parliament dissolution challenged in court

The Vanuatu Opposition bloc has filed a case in court challenging President Nikenike Vurobaravu’s decision to dissolve Parliament amid a no-confidence motion against him. The President dissolved Parliament based on advice from the Council of Ministers (COM …

Anti-gay moves in South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu

Rejection of same-sex marriage follows a proposal to ban LGBTQ rights advocacy In a tradition that’s unique to Vanuatu, women in the South Pacific island nation make music in the water. (Photo courtesy of RitmosGlobales.com) The parliament in the South …

Tongan-Born Vanuatu citizen paves the way for women in maritime

Seiloni Akanete Toakuru, a Tongan-born woman and Vanuatu citizen, has become the first Vanuatuan woman to graduate from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Toakuru earned her Masters of Maritime Studies and Maritime Affairs, specializing in …

Political instability sends Vanuatu off to polls again