Vanuatu

On Tuesday morning, Vanuatu Meteorological Service (VMS) said the system was 175km from Vanua Lava, northern Vanuatu.

VMS forecaster Iuma Bani said the system was set to become a category three storm later Tuesday.

It was moving slowly, Bani said.

"We're not expecting the system to be here in Vila tonight, maybe tomorrow, sometime tomorrow morning because it is moving quite slowly," he said.

"Once it starts moving south, then it will start to speed up a little bit."

The news comes after a meeting between Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade with a delegation from New Caledonia, led by the President of New Caledonia government, Louis Mapou.

Judy is currently sitting near Solomon Islands as a category 1 cyclone.

"TC Judy is moving southwest at about 35 kilometres per hour and is currently located about 35 kilometres to the southeast of Fatutaka in the Solomon Islands or about 725km west-northwest off Rotuma," Fiji's MetService said on Facebook.

"TC Judy is fast-moving and is expected to track over the small islands in the southern part of Solomon Islands as a category 1 system today and approach the northern parts of Vanuatu around midday tomorrow."

The meeting enabled the two leaders to discuss the current areas of cooperation and consolidate a way forward to further enhance the levels of cooperation. 

Prime Minister Rabuka said Fiji places great importance on its relations with Vanuatu and there is common interest on the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) bloc - currently chaired by Vanuatu according to a statement.  

He said Fiji looks forward to working closely with MSG to advance the development of our Pacific family. 

All the way from Uripiv Island on the Northern coast of Malekula Island in Vanuatu, the 23-year-old made his maiden journey to Fiji to study the Diploma in Nautical Science (L5) programme at FNU.

“I chose to study this field because I love working on boats and travelling around the island,” he said.

“My parents are both teachers back in Vanuatu, I have two sisters in my family, and this is my first time here in Fiji. I look forward to the experience of learning in a new country.”

The communication support to Ministry of Health (MOH) has been made possible through funding by the Takeda Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme under the Pacific Integrated NTDs Elimination or PINE project and stewarded by Bridges to Development in the fight against various skin diseases such as Scabies, Yaws and Leprosy in the Pacific.

The meeting enabled the two leaders to discuss the current areas of cooperation and consolidate a way forward to further enhance the levels of cooperation.

Prime Minister Rabuka said Fiji places great importance on its relations with Vanuatu and there are common interest on the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) bloc - currently chaired by Vanuatu.

He said Fiji looks forward to working closely with MSG to advance the development of our Pacific family.

The statement came following his meeting with the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The Daily Post reports the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen ties between the countries.

Kalsakau has since announced that visa processing can be done in Vanuatu instead of Fiji.

Many ni-Vanuatu citizens have expressed concern over the need for free visa access when travelling to Australia, given the two countries' long-standing partnership.

For years the Vanuatu Government has been planning the establishment of a processing plant for its company Sino-Van.

RNZ Pacific reports Sino-Van is a joint-venture between the Vanuatu government, which owns 49 percent of the firm, and the Chinese National Fisheries Corporation

The plant will start by feeding its domestic demand until it secures a greater market for international exports.

The facility will be established on land owned by Sino-Van.

Photo file RNZ Pacific 

Tavoa succeeds Director General- Henry Vira whose contract has ended.

Tavoa will be carrying out duties and responsibilities until the Public Service Commission appoints a new candidate for the position.

He will be working closely with the minister responsible, Tomker Netvunei, to oversee plans and activities within ministry’s yearly plan.