Vanuatu

On Tuesday, the Magistrate court refused to grant the application of the Prosecutors Office to arrest Mr Natuman and Mr Maralau

It found an attempt to obtain the arrest warrants were baseless and that the prosecution and police investigators had not satisfied the court about the urgency and reasons why an arrest warrant should be issued.

Initial reports indicate the election was conducted peacefully and in an orderly fashion. 

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Hon Steven Ciobo commended the authorities’ efforts in managing the election, given the elections took place less than one year after the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Pam and given the limited time to prepare following the dissolution of Parliament on 24 November 2015. 

Vanuatu Futsal Gideons head coach, Louis Dominique welcomed, Mr. Joshua Smith who is an AFC C License futsal coach and another coach Raff Frisina on Monday.

The two futsal expertise paid their own airfares from Adelaide to Vanuatu. They will also pay their own accommodation and food in Port Vila.

The two coaches will join the Vanuatu Futsal Gideons to Fiji next month and they will also pay their own airfares, accommodation and food in Fiji.

Mr Natuman described the attempted move as a “political witch-hunt” saying it appears to be highly politically motivated and aims to try and tarnish their reputation and disturb current negotiations to form a new government.

The caretaker government had tasked as police team to arrest  Natuman and the leader of Graon mo Jastis Pati, Ralph Regenvanu.

Speculation of the failed attempt was rife prior to the opening of the election campaign period and resurfaced this week on the eve of negotiations to form a new government.

It's small, shanty towns in Port Vila that cause the most concern for those fighting the spread of mosquito-borne illness.

Frederick Yakeula from Vanuatu's public heath team has been inspecting a labyrinth of corrugated iron buildings.

Breeding in stagnant water containers throughout the settlement is the Aedes larvae, which will eventually turn into the same type of mosquito that spreads the Zika virus.

“It's a very big risk for the community, this one,” says Yakeula.

Lailade Osunsade (known as Laila) died in May 2013 when she was diving among the sunken wreckage of American liner SS President Coolidge.

In findings released today, the coroner, Brandt Shortland criticised Aquamarine, which led the dive tour of the site.

This follows last week's decision by Air New Zealand and Qantas to suspend flights to Port Vila amid concern over a lack of safety with the runway.

In a statement, the FLNKS says it wants the territory's international airline, Aircalin, to show discernment and keep the flights.

This semester, the students will be completing certificates in tourism, hospitality, youth work and early childhood education and care, just to name a few.

Australia is proud to continue its investment in APTC, which provides students with Australian-standard and labour market-relevant skills

Caroline Mason, who co-ordinated the Quilts for Vanuatu project, is in Tauranga for the next three days taking donations of solid sewing machines.

She said the machines offered a lifeline for women of the impoverished Pacific Island nation to make and repair family clothing and earn money selling crafts to tourists.

Regenvanu said it is a common strategy in times like this for politicians to try and influence elected candidates to join one side or the other with false statements about how blocs are being formed and how many numbers of elected candidates are in such blocs.