Vanuatu Parliament Building in Port Vila. Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
Vanuatu - no confidence
A motion of no confidence has been filed against Vanuatu's prime minister Ishmael Kalsakau.
The Vanuatu Parliament confirmed to RNZ Pacific the motion submitted yesterday was signed by 27 MPs and they are requesting Parliament convene an extraordinary session to debate the motion.
There are 52 seats in Vanuatu's parliament' with one seat in the Malekula constituency vacant, this means 24 MPs did not sign the motion.
Prime Minister Kalsakau has already faced a motion of no confidence, which was eventually withdrawn by Opposition leader Bob Loughman during the parliamentary session due to enough support.
The reasons for the motion are unclear at this stage.
Parliament is due to sit on August 16.
Samoa - elections
The Prime Minister of Samoa and Opposition Human Rights Protection Party leader may run against each other at the next general elections, if a recommendation by the Electoral Commission of Inquiry goes ahead.
The Commission recommends merging the Lotofaga and Lepa constituencies.
Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is the member for Lepā and said he was concerned about the proposal which would pitt him against Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa.
The Samoa Observer reports the Commission's report is currently being reviewed by the Standing Orders Parliamentary Committee with its recommendations yet to go before the House.
Tuilaepa said the final report has recommended removing three seats and adding three new constituencies to maintain the current number of seats in Parliament.
West Papua - drought
Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency has managed to fly in aid to drought-stricken Puncak in West Papua.
Antara reported the long-lasting dry season and extreme cold weather caused crop failure in parts of Central Papua.
In a statement, agency chief Suharyanto said the assistance was handed to community representatives at the cargo terminal of the airport in Timika.
The logistics assistance included 50 tons of rice, 10,000 packages of instant food, 3000 packages of cooked meat, 3000 bags of protein milk, and 3000 packages of essential commodities.
It also included items such as tents, blankets, children's clothing and electric generators.
Depending on the weather, the authorities are only able to fly into the airport nearest the worst-affected areas once a day.
Soccer - FIFA boss in Vanuatu
An exhibition match involving several legends of football is taking place in Vanuatu to coincide with the visit of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino.
The game will feature members of the Vanuatu teams from the past including the Oceania Nations Cup team that famously defeated New Zealand 4-1 in 2002.
They will face a FIFA selection that may include ex star players such as Tim Cahill, Christian Karembeu, Roque Junior, Maia Jackman, and Juan Pablo Sorin.
The game is to inaugurate the Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila which is being described as a state-of-the-art venue that promises to become a hub for football events in the country.
Netball - Tonga loses to Malawai
Tonga has lost a close game 56-51 to Malawi in a Stage Two pool game at the Netball World Cup in Cape Town.
Malawi took revenge for their earlier loss to Tonga in Australia in March with the win.
Tonga now face South Africa, and if they win that they will then play off against Malawi or Uganda for fifth place.
