Vanuatu

Thousands of people with Indigenous Australian ancestry are believed to be living in Vanuatu. Many are the descendants of blackbirded islanders sent back to Vanuatu at the turn of the 20th Century, in line with the White Australia Policy.

Between 1863 and 1904, more than 62,000 Pacific Islanders were taken to Australia — often against their will, or on false pretences — to work on Queensland's cotton and sugar plantations.

Australia is providing $300,000 to support the evacuation of Ambae Island, with a particular focus on the needs of women, children and people with disabilities.

A statement said Australia will provide emergency supplies including shelter tool kits, hygiene kits and tents to assist people who need to move to temporary relocation sites.

“We will also provide essential reproductive health care, including birthing kits and emergency obstetric and newborn care.” 

The plant has not processed any fish since it was built 14 years ago because Port Vila has no facility to accommodate fishing boats.

The ministry's acting director general, Benjamin Shing, says Vanuatu does not enjoy the maximum benefit from its lucrative tuna industry as tuna is offloaded to be weighed then shipped abroad.

Mr Shing was speaking on behalf of the minister to mark World Tuna Day Wednesday.

“In the past, we have been issuing only certain categories of visas and we have not expanded these, resulting in the confusion that we have been experiencing, with people breaching their visa conditions.

“But now, i am glad to say that last week, the Council of Ministers approved new categories and requirements, which through a regulation, as Minister i will work on them and with consequential amendments made on the Immigration Act to address the issues with visas.”

There are three tiers of visa classes being referred to. The first is: Short Term Visa Class.

Maureen Paul, who just earned her master's degree at Gazi University in the capital Ankara, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that she come to Turkey under the scholarship program of the state Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB).

Paul came thousands of miles to Turkey from her country, which is located west of Fiji, southeast of the Solomon Islands and home to over 270,000 people.

"I'm happy to be the first graduate," she said, expressing her gratitude to the Turkish people and specifically the YTB for providing her scholarship.

After electing to bowl first in Kuala Lumpur, the Melanesians removed both openers to leave Uganda reeling at 2 for 5 in the third over.

But a series of key middle order partnerships enabled the African side to recover and post a challenging 222 for 8 from their 50 overs.

Apolinaire Stephen was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 37, while spinner Jelany Chilia conceded just 21 runs from his ten overs.

The volcano started spewing ash and smoke last September but authorities agree a longer-term solution for the islanders is now needed.

The latest aid drop came on HMNZS Canterbury and amounts to $2.5 million pledged by the New Zealand government.

Tool kids, hygiene kits and tarpaulins are among the supplies sent.

A massive evacuation of Ambae Island is underway, with several hundred people having already self-evacuated themselves off the island. 

Photo by NZ HC 

The Vanuatu men's and women's Under 18 teams finished runners up in the Oceania Qualifier in Port Moresby at the weekend to earn their place at the Youth Games in Buenos Aires later this year.

Women's coach Jen Bowtell said Vanuatu hosted the previous Oceania qualifiers in Port Vila four years ago and some of the spectators from that event are now competing for their country.

"For us international tournaments is such a motivator to get all the guys coming to training," he said.

The US Geological Survey said the quake's epicentre was 99 kilometres east of Lakatoro at a depth of 270 kilometres.

The tremor was registered at about 5:30am local time     

Police investigations are ongoing although local media report the prime suspect, a prisoner out on parole, is in police custody.

The call from the victim's parents and immediate family has stirred up public debate about penalties for serious criminal offences in the country.

The Chairman of the Vanuatu Christian Council Allen Nafuki said he would be convening a meeting of the council this week to discuss the issue but said he personally felt there was no place for capital punishment in Vanuatu.