The British High Commission in Vanuatu, in partnership with the BBC, yesterday donated advanced media equipment to Vanuatu Trading Post Limited.

The Minister of Justice, Job Andy, has formally instructed President Nikenike Vurobaravu to revoke Order No. 88, which commuted the sentences of mass detainees.

The Government of Vanuatu has introduced the Foreign Services (Amendment) Act No. of 2025, aimed at improving the leadership structure within the nation’s overseas diplomatic missions.

Ten out of twenty officers initially shortlisted for a United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Mission training have had their nominations withdrawn and replaced, prompting allegations of nepotism and procedural irregularities within the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) and Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF).

The Minister of Internal Affairs has confirmed that proposed amendments to Vanuatu’s laws will ensure that the issuing of diplomatic passports aligns with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Kiev often relied on unreliable foreign contractors, and widespread graft also played a role, the report claims Read Full Article at RT.com

Sergey Lavrov has emphasized the group’s growing role, its appeal to the Global South, and the central role of women in driving innovation Read Full Article at RT.com

Representatives of Kiev and Moscow are holding their first direct negotiations since 2022 Read Full Article at RT.com

The push is reportedly inspired by US Senator Lindsey Graham, who proposed slapping 500% tariffs on Russian exports Read Full Article at RT.com

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday accused opposition politicians, lawmakers, regional leaders, and former heads of state of obstructing the country’s transition to a one-person, one-vote electoral system, warning that reverting to indirect elections could lead to renewed instability.

Mogadishu (HOL) – The Chairman of Somalia's National Electoral Commission, Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan, announced on Thursday a one-month extension of the voter registration period for local council elections in the Banadir region.

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, May 16th

Russia has never been the first to escalate things, Russian Ambassador to France Alexey Meshkov stressed

According to Dmitry Peskov, the president receives all information online

The US president suggested that the world would become much safer within two or three weeks

Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized that Russia, much like the former Soviet Union, has always been an extremely attractive destination for Indian businesses

To many in the U.S., thinking of Donald Trump evokes an automatic rage-filled response, some call this 'Trump Derangement Syndrome,' and now Congress wants it studied.

Torben Hersborg, 63, was arrested and charged in December last year after being caught recording female university students as they got undressed.

Roman Lavrynovych, 21, from Sydenham in south London, had been charged last night by Scotland Yard with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.

ALISON BOSHOFF: The much-hyped launch of With Love, Meghan on Netflix was quickly followed by confusion over which friends, exactly, the Duchess was inviting over to share the love.

In an update this morning, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were 'mourning the loss' of two colleagues killed in the blaze.

Libya’s DSA has reported that its deputy commander was targeted while engaging with protesters in the capital amid deadly clashes Read Full Article at RT.com

Sen. John Fetterman increasingly goes it alone, worrying some fellow Democrats as they struggle to push back against Trump and retake the majority.

President Donald Trump’s first major international trip of his second term winds down with events in the United Arab Emirates.

Arab foreign ministers outlined the agenda for the 34th Arab League Summit set for Saturday in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, placing the Palestinian cause at the forefront of key issues and initiatives, Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi said Thursday.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to depart for Baghdad, Iraq, on Friday to participate in the 34th Arab League Summit, scheduled to begin on May 17.

More than 17,900 people were caught for possession and use of e-vaporisers between January 2024 and March 2025, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint statement on Friday (May 16). HSA seized more than $41 million worth of e-vaporisers and components and conducted 50 successful operations against large-scale e-vaporiser syndicates within the period. Sixty people aged between 17 and 43 were also prosecuted for selling e-vaporisers. Two persons who were part of an e-vaporiser syndicate involving over $5 million worth of e-vaporisers were also among the prosecuted, while another key figure in a $6.5 million case was arrested in October last year. The two, Ivan Sin Poh Meng and Toh Wee Leong, were sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and a fine of $16,000, and 10 months' imprisonment and a fine of $14,000 respectively, which are the highest sentences to date for the smuggling of vapes. Investigations on the third individual are ongoing. Twenty men and seven women aged between 20 and 46 failed to pay composition fines and were prosecuted.

The Blackbird SG, a live music bar and restaurant in Gillman Barracks, was fined $850 in court on Wednesday (May 14) for lapses in food safety and hygiene regulations, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said. This came after 40 cases of gastroenteritis were reported in December 2023 after patrons consumed food prepared by the establishment. None of them were hospitalised, SFA said. The Ministry of Health and SFA later conducted a joint investigation at the premises and found multiple food safety breaches, including a dirty chiller, which increases the risk of cross-contamination. In addition, ready-to-eat sandwiches that were collected as food samples for the investigation failed SFA's food safety tests. The agency reminded food operators to ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained to ensure proper food hygiene and safety requirements are met. It added it would not hesitate to take enforcement action against food operators found to violate the Environmental Public Health Act.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said that Asean economic ministers are committed to deepening their partnership and will soon conclude negotiations for an upgrade to Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).   At a media doorstop on Friday (May 16), DPM Gan, chairman of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (Sert), provided an update on the taskforce's focus areas, reiterating its three-pronged approach to help businesses and workers cope with the current uncertainty caused by sweeping tariffs imposed by the United States. He highlighted the importance of strengthening Singapore's partnership with key trading partners, particularly within Asean, to bolster the economy. While Singapore and its trading partners may face heightened tariffs from the US, it has stepped up collaboration with Asean and is close to completing negotiations for ATIGA by the end of this month, he said. ATIGA is a free trade agreement (FTA) started in 2009 between Asean members that aims to reduce trade barriers and deepen economic links between member states.

Kiev said “an emergency occurred” on board the US-designed jet Read Full Article at RT.com

The US president had earlier stated that the South Asian nation had agreed to basically eliminate tariffs on American goods Read Full Article at RT.com

Moscow won’t be tricked into giving Kiev time to regroup, Rodion Miroshnik has said Read Full Article at RT.com

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he is ready to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as soon as it can be set up Read Full Article at RT.com

[allAfrica]