MSG thanks Vanuatu police

The Officer-in-Charge of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat in Port Vila, Jean Pierre Nirua thanked the Acting Vanuatu Police Commissioner, Major Aru Maralau and his senior ranking officers and the Government and People of Vanuatu for spearheading consultations on key outcomes of the MSG Police Commissioner’s Conference. The one-day consultation by Vanuatu is being held…

Vanuatu parliament suspends 16 MPs

RNZI: Vanuatu’s parliament has passed a motion to suspend 16 opposition MPs over alleged bribery, RNZI reports. The Prime Minister Joe Natuman moved the motion, alleging the MPs contravened the Leadership Code in accepting monetary offers from the opposition leader Moana Carcasses. This follows reports that Mr Carcasses deposited as much as 10,000 US dollars…

$10m of AusAID funds stolen

Fraudsters in suspected collusion with Solomon Islands government officials have embezzled an estimated $10 million in Australian foreign aid funds destined for hospitals and clinics, some through a fake company called Joke Shipping Services. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has tried to hush up the theft of AusAID funds, which occurred over the…

New women’s bank in top 50 ranking

THE NATIONAL – Papua New Guinea’s first female micro bank has been ranked  one of the 50 leading women companies from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Women’s Micro Bank Ltd chief executive officer Thushari Hewapathirana said since opening its doors in August, its customer base had now reached 10,000. Women in Papua New Guinea…