Latest news with #Vanuatu
SBS Australia
17 hours ago
- Sport
- SBS Australia
"We're playing for more than just a team": Indigenous women's cricket team shines in PNG
The Australian Indigenous Women's Cricket Team remains undefeated in the PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational, proudly showcasing not only their sporting skills but cultural pride on the international stage in Papua New Guinea. Led by Kaurareg captain Christina Coulson, the squad is halfway through a T20 series in Port Moresby, facing off against teams from PNG, Vanuatu and Samoa. Despite the unfamiliar pitch conditions, the side has adapted quickly and with confidence, securing wins against all three opponents in their opening matches. 'We're not just representing Australia – we're representing our culture,' Coulson said. 'Every time we step onto the field, we carry that with us.' While Coulson has previously led the team in high-profile matches at the MCG, this tour marks a new chapter in her leadership journey. 'It's an absolute privilege,' she said. 'I'm still learning, but I've got some incredible players beside me who I can lean on.' The squad features several contracted players from across the country, including Ella Hayward (Victoria), Mikayla Hinkley (WA/Perth Scorchers), Anika Learoyd (NSW/Sydney Thunder), and Emma Manix-Geeves (Tasmania/Hobart Hurricanes). Learoyd made her debut earlier in the series, while young Western Australian talent Elsie Simpson is on her first tour with the team. Coulson noted the importance of connection off the field as much as on it. 'Sharing our stories and learning from each other helps us play better together,' she said. 'It's something we prioritise as a group.' That connection goes beyond cricket. Allrounder Clodagh Ryall and her siblings created artwork that will be gifted to other teams during a cultural exchange later in the week. Assistant coach Hannah Darlington, who captained the team during last year's tour of Vanuatu, has returned in a mentoring role. Many of the players also starred in this year's National Indigenous Cricket Championships, an important platform for rising talent. The current tour, supported by PacificAus Sports, is not only about competition but visibility. Coulson highlighted how crucial it is for young First Nations kids to see Blak athletes on a world stage. 'You can't be what you can't see,' she said. 'This tour shows there's a pathway, and that cricket is a space where we belong.' The team will face each of their three opponents again in the coming days, continuing their strong run with PNG on Thursday, followed by Samoa on Friday and Vanuatu on Saturday.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Inquiry finds appointment of Fiji's former corruption commissioner "ethically reprehensible" and "politically motivated"
On the program today The former head of Fiji's corruption watchdog, Barbara Malimali, says she'll fight to clear her name following a scathing inquiry which described her appointment as ethically reprehensible and plitically motivated. The leaders of Tonga and Vanuatu seek clarity from the US government over possible new travel bans. The Cook Islands compete in the 2025 International Handball Federation Youth Men's Beach Handball World Championships. Calls for labour hire companies to be licenced in New South Wales to prevent the exploitation of migrant workers. And a proposal for a Solomon Islands Indigenous Language Centre is touted as a way to retain traditional languages for future generations.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Kaltak moves to Perth, set to launch football academy
Brian Kaltak in action for his former club, the Central Coast Mariners, in the A-League. Photo: Facebook / Brian Kaltak Football Academy Vanuatu national men's football team captain Brian Kaltak has signed a multi-year deal with Perth Glory, the A-League club has confirmed. The Western Australia based club said the 31-year-old Vanuatu international had enjoyed a remarkable run of success in the A-League since debuting for Central Coast Mariners in 2022. In that time, he helped the Mariners claim the Championship in 2023 and an unprecedented Championship/Premiership/AFC Cup treble in 2024. And as he makes his move to his new club, Kaltak has also announced that he is ready to launch a football academy at home in Vanuatu. The project is set to launch in July, with the Australian government stepping in to partner with Kaltak with funding. Playing at centre-back, Kaltak started all but one of the Mariners' games, taking his total number of appearances past the 80-mark. Statistics for the last season showed he made 21 tackles and completed 37 interceptions. Kaltak hopes he can achieve the same success with Glory. "This a new chapter for me and I'm excited for it," he told Perth Glory. "I was with the Mariners for three years and now it's time to try something new. I think this move will be good for me and good for my football. When I spoke to [Glory Football Director] Stan Lazaridis, he was really passionate about what the club is trying to do. "This club has a huge history of winning titles, Stan is trying to get it back to where it belongs and I want to be a part of that in my new journey. "Creating a good environment and getting a good bunch of boys that gel well together, that's what makes the biggest difference and that is what I want this club to be." Lazaridis believes that Kaltak has the potential to become a huge favourite with the club's Members and fans. "It's impossible not to love the way Brian goes about his business," he said. "He's an incredibly strong and explosive defender who puts his body on the line every time he steps onto the field and is 100% committed to everything he does. "Those qualities, plus his know-how in terms of what it takes to win the A-League, will make him an invaluable member of our squad and an ideal mentor for our younger defenders in particular. "Securing Brian's services is a genuine coup for the club and I'm really excited to see the impact he will make on and off the field for us this year and beyond." Brian Kaltak, left, during a meeting with Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat in Port Vila discussinghis project to develop football and sports in general in the country. 13 June 2025 Photo: Facebook / Ministry of the Prime Minister - Vanuatu Meanwhile, Kaltak has secured support from the Australian government to help launch his youth football academy. Vanuatu Daily Post reported this week that the sponsorship was announced by the Australian High Commissioner, Max Willis, during a ceremony in Port Vila. "We are really excited about partnering with Brian on his academy," Willis said. "Sport plays such an important role in bringing people together, promoting healthy practices, and building strong community bonds." Kaltak said he was delighted with the support for the academy, which will offer free programs for Vanuatu's young players. "I'm sure that what we have can help mentor our next superstars of Vanuatu in the future," he said. Kaltak said the academy hopes to cater for young people who are faced with limited access to structured football programs. He hopes this initiative will create a strong pipeline of talent capable of reaching international standards.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
US travel ban: Countries have the right to decide who can cross their borders, Peters says
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Winston Peters says countries have the right to choose who enters their borders in response to reports that the Trump administration is planning to impose travel restrictions on three dozen nations, including three in the Pacific. But Labour's deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni says the New Zealand foreign minister should push back on the United States' proposal. Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have reportedly been included in an expanded proposal of 36 additional countries for which the Trump administration is considering travel restrictions. The cable was first reported by The Washington Post. A State Department spokesperson told the outlet that the agency would not comment on internal deliberations or White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Peters said countries have the right to decide who can cross their borders. "Before we all get offended, we've got the right to decide in New Zealand who comes to our country. So has Australia, so so has the United States," Peters said. He said New Zealand will do its best to address the US security concerns. "We need to do our best to ensure there are no misunderstandings." Peters said US concerns could be over selling citizenship or citizenship-by-investment schemes. Vanuatu runs a "golden passport" scheme where applicants can be granted Vanuatu citizenship for a minimum investment of US$130,000. Peters says citizenship programmes, such as the citizenship-by-investment schemes which allow people to purchase passports, could have concerned the Trump administration. Photo: 123RF Peters said programmes like that could have concerned the Trump administration. "There are certain decisions that have been made, which look innocent, but when they come to an international capacity do not have that effect. "Tuvalu has been selling passports. You see where an made in Tuvalu can lead to the concerns in the United States when it comes to security." However, Sepuloni wants Peters to push back on the US considering travel restrictions for Pacific nations. Labour Party Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Sepuloni said she wants the foreign minister to get a full explanation on the proposed restrictions. "From there, I would expect him to be pushing back on the US and supporting our Pacific nations to be taken off that list," she said. "Their response is 'why us? We're so tiny - what risk do we pose?'" Massey University associate professor in defence and security studies Anna Powles said Vanuatu has appeared on the US' bad side in the past. "Back in March Vanuatu was one of over 40 countries that was reported to be on the immigration watchlist and that related to Vanuatu's golden passport scheme," she said. However, a US spokesperson denied the existence of such a list. "What people are looking not a list that exists here that is being acted on," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, according to a transcript of her press briefing provided to BenarNews . "There is a review, as we know, through the president's executive order, for us to look at the nature of what's going to help keep America safer in dealing with the issue of visas and who's allowed into the country." Powles said it is the first time Tonga has been included. "That certainly has raised some concern amongst Tongans because there's a large Tongan diaspora in the United States." She said students studying in the US could be affected; but while there's a degree of bemusement and concern over the issue, there's also a degree of waiting to see how this unfolds. Trump signed a proclamation on 4 June banning the nationals of 12 countries from entering the United States , saying the move was needed to protect against "foreign terrorists" and other security threats.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
US travel ban: 'We've got the right to decide who comes to our country', Peters says
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Winston Peters says countries have the right to choose who enters their borders in response to reports that the Trump administration is planning to impose travel restrictions on three dozen nations, including three in the Pacific. But Labour's deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni says the New Zealand foreign minister should push back on the United States' proposal. Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have reportedly been included in an expanded proposal of 36 additional countries for which the Trump administration is considering travel restrictions. The cable was first reported by The Washington Post. A State Department spokesperson told the outlet that the agency would not comment on internal deliberations or White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Peters said countries have the right to decide who can cross their borders. "Before we all get offended, we've got the right to decide in New Zealand who comes to our country. So has Australia, so so has the United States," Peters said. He said New Zealand will do its best to address the US security concerns. "We need to do our best to ensure there are no misunderstandings." Peters said US concerns could be over selling citizenship or citizenship-by-investment schemes. Vanuatu runs a "golden passport" scheme where applicants can be granted Vanuatu citizenship for a minimum investment of US$130,000. Peters says citizenship programmes, such as the citizenship-by-investment schemes which allow people to purchase passports, could have concerned the Trump administration. Photo: 123RF Peters said programmes like that could have concerned the Trump administration. "There are certain decisions that have been made, which look innocent, but when they come to an international capacity do not have that effect. "Tuvalu has been selling passports. You see where an made in Tuvalu can lead to the concerns in the United States when it comes to security." However, Sepuloni wants Peters to push back on the US considering travel restrictions for Pacific nations. Labour Party Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Sepuloni said she wants the foreign minister to get a full explanation on the proposed restrictions. "From there, I would expect him to be pushing back on the US and supporting our Pacific nations to be taken off that list," she said. "Their response is 'why us? We're so tiny - what risk do we pose?'" Massey University associate professor in defence and security studies Anna Powles said Vanuatu has appeared on the US' bad side in the past. "Back in March Vanuatu was one of over 40 countries that was reported to be on the immigration watchlist and that related to Vanuatu's golden passport scheme," she said. However, a US spokesperson denied the existence of such a list. "What people are looking not a list that exists here that is being acted on," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, according to a transcript of her press briefing provided to BenarNews . "There is a review, as we know, through the president's executive order, for us to look at the nature of what's going to help keep America safer in dealing with the issue of visas and who's allowed into the country." Powles said it is the first time Tonga has been included. "That certainly has raised some concern amongst Tongans because there's a large Tongan diaspora in the United States." She said students studying in the US could be affected; but while there's a degree of bemusement and concern over the issue, there's also a degree of waiting to see how this unfolds. Trump signed a proclamation on 4 June banning the nationals of 12 countries from entering the United States , saying the move was needed to protect against "foreign terrorists" and other security threats.
