Vanuatu Watch by AJC

2026-10-18

A weekly round-up of regulatory and business news from Vanuatu.

4 items this week

high · FATF

Gov’t moves to strengthen tax enforcement in gambling sector

Daily Post reports Vanuatu government moving to strengthen gambling-sector tax enforcement, acknowledging remaining gaps against FATF standards on AML, beneficial ownership and asset confiscation — substantive Vanuatu financial regulation policy from local media.

www.dailypost.vu

medium · Regional media

Cyclone season could start early, predicts New Zealand climate agency - ABC Pacific

ABC Pacific reports Vanuatu PM rejecting media claims of rising Australian police presence under the Nakamal Agreement; a separate Guardian brief flags a public hearing on the same agreement — substantive Australia-Vanuatu security cooperation framework.

www.abc.net.au, www.theguardian.com

medium · Regional media

Indonesia says institutions ‘working continuously’ on rights allegations | RNZ

RNZ reports Vanuatu and Solomon Islands leaders used UN General Assembly speeches to urge Indonesia to allow a human rights commissioner in West Papua — substantive Vanuatu foreign policy at the UN.

www.rnz.co.nz

low · FATF

FATF Grey List Update February 2026: Kuwait and Papua New Guinea Added

FATF February 2026 plenary added Papua New Guinea and Kuwait to the grey list with no delistings; Pacific neighbour enforcement-climate signal worth seeing, though Vanuatu is not directly affected.

amlaustralia.com, www.lcb-ft.fr

45 items screened out this week

[EU blacklists] Vanuatu citizenship by investment 2026: cost, rules, risks
[FATF] Kenya targets April 2027 exit from anti-money laundering grey list - People Daily
[FATF] Vanuatu Population 2025 - United Nations Population Fund | United Nations Population Fund
[Vanuatu CBI] Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment 2026: Cost and EU Status
[Tax havens] American reacts to: Switzerland is NOT a tax haven? - YouTube
[FMA Vanuatu] What is open and closed on Columbus Day 2026? Service guide for the federal holiday this Monday, October 12
[VFSC] NORD FX Review, Forex Broker&Trading Markets, Legit or a Scam-WikiFX
[VFSC] Licences revoked for M. Čiuželis and the MC Wealth Management, UAB firm under his leadership for illegal provision of investment services | Bank of Lithuania
[VFSC] History of fire safety legislation in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia
[Financial Industry] List of financial supervisory authorities by country - Wikipedia
[Financial Industry] Vantage Review 2026: Fees, Safety and Platforms Tested
[Financial Industry] Fusion Markets Review 2026: Pros, Cons and Key Features
[Economy] Vanuatu | Economic Indicators, Historic Data & Forecasts | CEIC
[Economy] Vanuatu Location, Geography & History
[Economy] Vanuatu takes Tok Tok trade event on the road to Australia - Travel Monitor
[Economy] Global Economic Prospects
[Global media] ‘Like, really, really shocked’: why are so many people riffing on this sheep’s sex appeal? | New Zealand | The Guardian
[Global media] Dustfall review – Anna Torv leads a rock-solid, thoughtful police drama with hefty emotional pull | Australian television | The Guardian
[Global media] Trump’s appearance at Georgia rally disrupted by anti-ICE protesters – as it happened | Trump administration | The Guardian
[Global media] Mimicking populists will not ease cost of living or boost productivity, Mathias Cormann warns | Cost of living crisis | The Guardian
[Global media] UAE agrees with Saudi Arabia to re-enter Yemen conflict amid Houthi gains | Yemen | The Guardian
[Global media] Houthi missiles strike Yemen presidential palace, killing five | Yemen | The Guardian
[Global media] Jonathan Glazer was ‘shocked into silence’ by NAZA documentary | NAZA | The Guardian
[Regional media] Vanuatu doctor warns men against injecting foreign substances into genitals | RNZ
[Regional media] Dozens stranded at sea rescued after ferry engine fails in Solomon Islands - ABC News
[Regional media] Successful separation surgery for Fijian conjoined twins - ABC Pacific
[Regional media] Young Ambae Farmer Turns Gardening Into a Source of Income | News | dailypost.vu
[Regional media] PACNEWS ONE, 15 OCTOBER 2026 - Islands Business
[Regional media] PACNEWS TWO, 14 OCTOBER 2026 - Islands Business
[Regional media] How strong is our support for the freedom of West Papua? | Opinion | dailypost.vu
[Regional media] Siblings from Vanuatu with same rare birth defect can walk after donated Canberra care - ABC News
[Research] World Economic Forum
[Research] Vanuatu Builds Stronger Australian Travel Trade Connections at TADA26 - Pacific Tourism Organisation
[FATF news] Kenya Intensifies Efforts to Exit FATF Grey List by April 2027 - Kahawatungu
[FATF news] Kenya targets April 2027 exit from FATF grey list after clearing 19 action points | The Eastleigh Voice
[OECD Global Forum] Information on over 171 million accounts | eKathimerini.com
[OECD Global Forum] Australia moves to share crypto tax data globally by 2028
[OECD Global Forum] Tax Transparency Athens Hosts OECD Peer Review Week
[EU tax blacklist] Vietnam Removed from EU Tax Blacklist: 2026 Update
[Commentary FR] Supervisión global de la IA ahora
[Commentary FR] Análisis de Columna de Opinión Supervisión global de la IA ahora en El Economista
[Commentary FR] Los riesgos ocultos de la Inteligencia Artificial y la inacción global
[Commentary FR] Noticias. Últimas noticias de Argentina y el Mundo | Clarín
[Commentary FR] A Economia da Barbárie-Crise do valor e as novas formas de reprodução do capitalismo-V – Da Faria Lima ao Escudo das Américas-Arlindenor Pedro
[Commentary FR] Stiri Business, Revista presei de business - Business24.ro

Published by AJC Chartered Professional Accountants & Business Advisors