Vanuatu PM Jotham Napat was elected and sworn in on 11 February 2025. Photo: Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation
Vanuatu - motion
Speaker of Parliament Stephen Felix has declared that a motion of no confidence submitted on Friday was not in order.
According to the Vanuatu Daily Post's sources in parliament, the motion did not follow the proper process.
The motion marks the first no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Jotham Napat since constitutional amendments 17A and 17B came into effect earlier this year.
Amendment 17A states if an MP leaves a political party or is ejected from a party their seat is automatically vacated, and 17B will effectively remove independent MPs and single MP parties from parliament.
Samoa - health
Health Minister Vaaaoao Alofipo promises new hospital builds will be stocked, despite accusations the government is propping up hospitals with empty medicine cabinets.
The Samoa Observer claims the government is putting the cart before the horse when it comes to the health system.
In an editorial, the newspaper claimed the nation could not adequately staff or resource its national hospital, and yet the government insists on building more of them.
Building new hospital facilities in Tuanaimato and Savaii is an election promise made by the new government.
However, Alofipo said small Island nations are facing medicine shortages thanks to global shipping disruptions and cost blowouts.
He said the government was listening to peoples concerns and is acting decisively on the issue.
"The journey to health resilience is not without setbacks, but the foundation we are laying today will ensure that no Samoan is left without access to essential healthcare tomorrow," he said.
Between 1946 and 1958, the US conducted 67 nuclear tests in Bikini Atoll and Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Photo: supplied
Marhsall Islands - nuclear
The head of a United States-based Marshall Islands non-government organisation is calling on the US government to release Marshall Islands nuclear testing records.
Benetick Kabua Maddison made the call at the recent Nuclear Justice and Climate Justice conference in French Polynesia.
Maddison said the Marshall Islands expects the US to take full responsibility and release all the classified documents related to the nuclear testing program.
He said the recent remarks about the US restarting nuclear weapons testing by Donald Trump is disappointing.
Between 1946 and 1958, the US conducted 67 nuclear tests in Bikini Atoll and Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, on land, underwater and in the air.
Fiji
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran says two in three women in Fiji have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime - one of the highest rates globally.
It comes as the Ministry supports 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence - a worldwide movement starting November 25th.
The local theme in Fiji is 'support the survivor, report the abuse, and end impunity online and offline'.
Kiran said this is not just a slogan - it is a call to every Fijian to play their part.
She said everyone must support survivors, encourage reporting, and ensure that perpetrators face real consequences for their actions.
Fiji/India - donation
India has donated about three tonnes of anti-retroviral drugs to Fiji to support the fight against HIV and AIDs.
Health minister Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu said the donation, worth FJ$2.6 million, brings them closer to the goal of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Suneet Mehta said the handover is a major milestone in the growing health partnership between the two countries.
Papua New Guinea - connectivity
Digicel Papua New Guinea is boosting connectivity in remote areas.
Local media report Digicel is building more than 100 new rural coverage sites and upgrading 128 existing ones to 5G.
Prime Minister James Marape said access to reliable and affordable communication is the foundation of economic empowerment, education, and inclusive development.
Pacific/New Zealand - award
A senior lecturer at the University of Auckland has received the Le Moana Mua Pacific Award - part of the Tertiary Educator Awards.
Moeata Keil's teaching spans stage-one sociology papers on social policy and social justice, gender studies, and postgraduate courses on family, gender, and the state.
Her research focuses on how family-related policies respond to Pacific families and communities.
Dr Keil said her upbringing and family values have been the foundation of her success.
She said when she called her mother, she said: 'Just think, you're just a little girl from Vaimea'.
