Port Vila

The contingent led by the Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Isi Henry Leonard, received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the PNG community residing in Vanuatu.

The purpose of their visit was to participate in the 7th Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival, held in Port Vila, where they showcased Papua New Guinea's rich and diverse cultural heritage.

The delegation comprised traditional dancers, artists, musicians, and creative performers, along with creative arts students from the University of Papua New Guinea.

Key points:

• Cyclone Judy is packing wind gusts of up to 200kph
• Dangerous swell conditions, heavy rainfall and flash flooding are expected
• The cyclone is expected to move away from Vanuatu on Thursday

The category three storm hit the capital Port Vila this morning (Wednesday), with residents reporting minor damage so far.

Schools and businesses are closed and Air Vanuatu has cancelled all domestic and international flights, with flights expected to resume on Thursday.

The athletes are 100m and 200m sprinters Frederick Ageda (Pom) and Linus Kuravi (WNB); distance runners Gethru Komba and Mary Tenge (Simbu) ; middle distance runner Lyanne Tibu (ENB); and East Sepik athlete Isila Apkup who runs 400m.

Athletics PNG President, Tony Green, said the six represent the best of the young talent which emerged from the National Championships and PNG Games last year.

Veteran hurdler and Vanuatu resident, Mowen Boino, will also compete at the Championships and assist team manager Nabase Duaba.

This follows the withdrawal of all services operated and supplied by Solomon Airlines effective June 7, 2016 until further notice.

Air Niugini’s flight PX082 from Port Moresby to Honiara and Port Vila on Tuesday has been rerouted to operate from Port Moresby to Port Vila direct.

Flights between Port Moresby and Nadi, Fiji will be nonstop and not via Honiara until further notice.

Air Niugini is waiving rebooking and cancellation fees for disrupted Honiara passengers.

In a statement, the chair of the MSG, Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare, said Mr Yauvoli has been appointed and signed his contract.

Mr Yauvoli replaces Peter Forau who resigned four months ago.

Unofficial results for the smaller constituencies were the first to come in last night, and suggest there will be plenty of new faces in parliament.

Jamie Tahana reports from Port Vila.

Polls closed at 4:30pm local time yesterday, and counting began around the country soon after.

The snap election was called after the President dissolved parliament last month following the conviction of 15 MPs for corruption.

The first unofficial results that began to trickle in late last night suggest there will be a large turnover.

Most were Papua New Guineans married to Vanuatu and who now reside in Port Vila.

Helen Franklin and her husband Luke were some of those to welcome the flight.

They are Missionaries and have been serving in Port Vila for a while now.

Mrs Franklin could not hold back her tears in an interview with PNG Loop.

She said as soon as the plane touched down, she was so excited because it brought the presence of PNG closer to them.

She thanked Air Niugini for allowing such partnership between the people of Vanuata and PNG.