2021

Good progress in health sector: Vanuatu Health Minister

Bule said good progress was made in strengthening all 'building blocks', and this progress sets the way for further improvement in 2022.

“There has never been a time in living history when the health sector has been so prominent — and so scrutinized. I am proud of what the team has collectively achieved in 2021. As an educator by profession and by nature, this has been an excellent example of learning-by-doing. The challenges have been many, but the incremental steps to improve our approach in addressing Covid have led us down the path to where we stand today”.

Stars prepare for virtual Golden Globe Awards 2021 ceremony

The ceremony, which recognises excellence in film and television, is being held virtually this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is the first major event of awards season, and often a good indicator of which films will go on to Oscar glory. But it has also attracted controversy.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of Sunday night's event.

Who is hosting?

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, truly the greatest combo since apple slices and Nutella, are returning to hosting duties this year.

Vanuatu discusses development of resilient agriculture sector

The Director for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Ddevelopment, Antoine Ravo, said the 2021 DARD Business Plan Statement is, ‘Elevating the Agriculture Sector to New Heights to the New Normal through Partnership.’

“Next year, 2021, is a ‘New Normal’ with the current COVID-19 situation that we need to adopt to our working system and life,” Ravo said.

Although Vanuatu has no cases, the coronavirus has hit the agriculture sector.

Travel restrictions have impacted the export of crops from Vanuatu.

University of the South Pacific to be smoke-free in 2021

In a message to staff and students this week the USP's senior management said starting on New Year's Day campus security will enforce the decision.

It said those who failed to comply with the new rule would be fined about $US24.

The university said the decision included a transition period so the necessary preparations such as signage could be in place by January, 2021.

However, the new rule excludes staff residences on campus.

Netball World Youth Cup in Fiji postponed

The decision comes only weeks after qualifying events in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Oceania were cancelled, with the remaining spots determined via world ranking points.

The World Youth Cup was scheduled to be held in Suva in June, with Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands set to represent the Pacific.

But the International Netball Federation said, given the ongoing uncertainty because of the Covid-19 pandemic, including the risk to people's health, restrictions on global travel and quarantine requirements, the decision was made to postpone the event.

Six movies resuming production after coronavirus

Agreed? Agreed.

Well, fear not, because around the world some of the big-hitters are starting to re-commence production - which was of course halted by Covid-19 - in a variety of socially-distanced ways.

Here are just six of the films to keep your fingers crossed for then in 2021, when the cinemas are hopefully back in business.

Avatar 2

The long-awaited sequel to James Cameron's 2009 sci-fi blockbuster was able to re-start filming in New Zealand this week, because the country is almost coronavirus free.

Vanuatu Government announces priority directives for 2021

The directives were adopted by the Council of Ministers on 21 May in Luganville, Santo.

Prime Minister Bon Loughman has stressed on many occasions that the decisions taken in Santo will be beneficial to the people of Luganville and the northern provinces generally in terms of investment, agriculture production and value chain, education, health and other service delivery.

Unofficial Rugby World Cup proposed for 2021

The Telegraph says the proposed tournament would be a 16 team competition and be held in June and July next year.

The plan has been submitted World Rugby with a working title of the 'Coronavirus Cup of World Rugby'.

The plan has been drawn up by Francis Baron, the former head of the England RFU.

The Telegraph reports it would involve 31 matches over six weeks and would mean the postponement of the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

Baron said all of the profits would be distributed to the unions to support professional and community games.

New Tokyo dates set

Last week, the Olympics – which were due to start on July 24 – were postponed due to the global spread of coronavirus.

A joint statement from the IOC and Tokyo 2020 organising committee later clarified the Games would be moved "to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021".

The IOC has now ratified the new dates, while announcing the Paralympics will take place from August 24 to September 5.