Vanuatu

Solomon Islands Football Federation Media and Public Relations Officer, Joseph Boso said they have made an arrangement with Vanuatu national team for an International friendly but that will be confirmed tomorrow.

Mr Boso said once they receive the confirmation the game will be held on Thursday.

The international friendly is to prepare the Solomon Islands National team ahead for the World Cup Qualifier against New Zealand in September.

The match will be the third Test between the Melanesian neighbours in what is turning into a fierce on-field rivalry.

The Solomon Islands will be looking for their first victory after Vanuatu scored two late come from behind victories in their 2013 encounter in Mackay (Australia) and most recent 24-15 defeat in Port Vila (Vanuatu) in 2016.

Mr Minogue said the trip was important with less than 6 months now to go before the Games to obtain a first-hand update on progress and to ensure that all Government support is in place.

The Pacific Games Authority confirmed that the remaining funds required by Van2017 will be forwarded to the Organizing Committee in accordance within an agreed to cash flow and under special considerations drafted by the State Law Office.

Preparations are progressing well to accommodate over 2400 athletes and officials coming from 24 countries in the region including New Zealand and Australia.

No budget was allocated specifically for Game Villages, so Van2017 will be using five schools as the games villages.

These schools are Lycee, INTV, Ecole D’Anabrou, Fresh Wota and Central School.

 Although there are five schools, Van2017 is looking at them as only 3 village sites because three schools are in close proximity.

Lycee, INTV and Ecole D’Naburu will be classed as only one village.

The quake was recorded at a depth of 175 km and was located about 115 km north of Vanuatu's Santo island just before 2 am New Zealand time, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

There was no immediate tsunami warning or any reports of damage or casualties.

Their 53-run win over an up and coming Vanuatu came on the back of a dominant performance with bat and ball from Feala Pula who was named player of the match.

Pula joined her captain Regina Lili’I (38) for a 54-run fourth wicket partnership as Samoa went on to post 114 from their 20 overs.

20-year-old Leimauri Chilia picked up three wickets for Vanuatu who continue to improve with each match.

Pula was pleased with both her performance and that of the team acknowledging that “we couldn’t take Vanuatu lightly,” she said.

RNZ reports he helped the island countries negotiate the deal and said it should bring significant benefits.

But Dr Kessie said a key is that New Zealand and Australia meet their commitments to allocate up to 20 per cent of their Pacific aid budgets to helping the island nations develop such things as the capacity to meet international bio-security requirements.

He said this would amount to $US300 million dollars annually being allocated.

In the opening match of the Qualifier, Samoa won the toss and sent Japan in for the first ICC match on turf in Japan.

Japan got off to a slow but solid start before captain Kurumi Ota was unluckily run out at the non-striker’s end.

From there Japan lost regular wickets throughout their 20 overs which restricted their ability to set a defendable score.

Former captain Shizuka Miyaji was the only batter to stay there for her 27 not out with Japan setting Samoa a target of just 71 for victory.

This is the first workshop for regional executive-level police officers facilitated by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) and funded by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). It builds on four previous training sessions funded by the AFP with frontline police officers from across the Pacific to improve policies and responses to cases of violence against women.

Members of the Malvatumauri, Vaturisu and Fat-Kor-Pau Council of Chiefs in partnership with representatives of the Vanuatu Government, Vanuatu Kaljorol Senta (cultural centre) and Van2017 assembled in a quaint yet significant ceremony in the newly opened Nakamal Blong ol Jif for the unveiling and blessing of the “Sagoa” (pronounced Sangoa), witnessed by Van2017 Sponsors, the media and members of the public on Wednesday April 19.