Vanuatu

All visitors from Vanuatu, Timor-Leste, Dominica, Honduras and Namibia now need a visa.

Britain's Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said any decision to change a visa regime is not taken lightly.

"Careful consideration of Dominica's and Vanuatu's operation of a citizenship-by-investment scheme has shown clear and evident abuse of the scheme, including the granting of citizenship to individuals known to pose a risk to the UK," she said.

The Daily Post reported Jothan Napat, who is also Foreign Affairs Minister, saying they have received a confirmation from the government of Solomon Islands, noting they have a clash with their Parliament sitting.

Napat said Vanuatu has a busy agenda in July and they are looking at organising the meeting in August.

Napat said the application for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua becoming a full member will be discussed in a retreat by the MSG Prime Ministers before any adoption.

The event will run until the end of the month with the theme: "Rebuilding our Melanesia for our future". 

Hilaire Bule spoke with Vanuatu chief Reuben Naram who is the head of the contingent representing Aneityum, the country's southernmost island. 

Naram and his performers will play an important role in the festival's opening ceremony.

The Daily Post reported the decision was made by the Minister of Justice and Community Services, John Still Tari Qetu.

Container City is so-called because the living quarters were built from bulk cargo containers.

National Human Rights Coordinator Albert Nalpini visited the facility last month.

"From that visit, we observed that the facility is not fit to keep detainees inside and does not fit the standards set by the United Nations," he told the newspaper.

"The property was built in 2009 on a temporary basis…it was supposed to be used only for three years."

The epicenter was about 38 km (23 miles) southwest of Loganville.

The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and light shaking was probably felt in parts of Vanuatu. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake, and significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

The secretary the Association of Vendors, Jacqueline Tassong, said the government's price control unit hadn't consulted them before the introduction of scales last Friday.

Tassong said the vendors, most of whom are women, had found that with the scales they get less money compared with what they got before.

She said the vendors, who are also farmers, are struggling because of the pandemic and the recent cyclones.

The new website is accessible at www.ura.gov.vu. It is a user-friendly and informative site that will provide users who would be customers of electricity and water in Vanuatu, policymakers, and researchers with relevant and updated date information on utilities electricity, and water regulations in Vanuatu.

This is after the relocation was granted approval by the Council of Ministers.

Vanuatu Police Force Acting commissioner, Astrophile Mwele made the announcement during his presentation at the First National Summit of People and Government.

Mwele said the existing building housing the main Police Headquarters has been deemed unsafe for use.

The Acting Commissioner affirmed that the relocation process is expected to commence in the near future.

Power supplies are intermittent and arranged marriages are common.

Even my transfer from Tanna’s White Grass Airport is a throwback to another time. After a 40-minute flight from Port Vila, I’m collected in a safari-style vehicle with open rows of seats fitted in the back. Our driver, whose impressive dreadlocks hang halfway down his back, drives us three kilometres north along a dusty track before turning into the White Grass Ocean Resort, one of just a few on the island.

Australia is three-quarters of the way through its trial of allowing the commercial importation of kava.

Figures from last October showed 147 tonnes of kava had arrived in Australia, with 70 tonnes from Tonga and 44 tonnes from Fiji.

Vanuatu came in third with just under 20 tonnes.

However, earlier this month a trade delegation from Vanuatu visited Brisbane to look at ways to boost the country's exports.