Vanuatu

Fiji’s Mineral Resources Department's Seismology Unit said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 60 kilometres at 1:06am.

According to Fiji Times, it was 35 kilometres west from Lenakel in Vanuatu and 1018 kilometres west-southwest from Suva.

The Seismology Unit said it was a strong size earthquake with deep depth source location.

RNZI reports the $US1.2 million dollar repair work, which began in late February, was carried out after safety concerns raised about the Bauerfield runway in January led to the suspension of Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand flights to Port Vila.

The chairman of the Vanuatu Hotels and Resorts Association said the industry suffered greatly from the suspension.

In January, Air New Zealand, Qantas and Virgin Australia announced they were suspending flights to the country over safety concerns about the runway at Port Vila's Bauerfield Airport.

RNZI reports the airlines' announcement saw the country's new government scramble to re-negotiate a World Bank loan to carry out emergency repairs in time for peak tourist season.

Former Finance Minister and Economic Management,  Willie Jimmy Tapangararua, who is serving a suspended term of 20 months imprisonment for entering a guilty plea at the early stage of hearing and former parliamentary secretary, Silas Yatan, who is serving a three year jail term, had filed two separate applications claiming that the invocation is illegal in nature.

They claimed the invocation of the leadership code by prosecutions exposes them to a second round of court proceeding and is therefore a double punishment.

The aim of the workshop is to assist in preparing a corporate plan with activities to move forward.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs with the support from Pacific Risk Resilience Program (PRRP), UNDP is preparing this Corporate Plan for 2016-2020. UNDP has provided technical assistance for designing the corporate plan.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter of the quake was 135 kilometres northwest of the town of Santo and it was registered at a depth of 10 kilometres.

According to RNZI, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a tsunami.

The US Geological Survey says the epicentre was 133 kilometres northwest of Vanuatu, and there was no tsunami warning.

It was the fourth quake to hit the region in about a week, with a 6.9-magnitude earthquake striking off Vanuatu’s Vanua Lava island last Thursday.

This comes following the announcement of Mr Yauvoli’s appointment by the chairman of the MSG, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Mr Yauvoli signed his contract of employment in Honiara.

RNZI reports Prostitution is illegal in Vanuatu but the woman is alleged to have been paid for sex with bus and taxi drivers.

The Transnational Crime Unit, which had the woman under observation, said it could not prosecute her because none of the men involved with her was prepared to make a statement.

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