Vanuatu

Vanuatu Cricket is hoping to build on a historic occasion in which almost half a million people tuned in around the world to watch two local matches in Port Vila. Members of the Vanuatu men's national team played a 10 over per side exhibition match on Saturday morning before the Mele Bulls defeated the Powerhouse Sharks in the Women's Super League final.

The Red Cross has released more than $US678,000 in additional funding to help Vanuatu in its recovery from the devastation caused by Cyclone Harold. The cyclone, which also caused damages in Fiji, Tonga and Solomon Islands, struck Vanuatu earlier this month as a powerful category five storm, the highest possible on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

A ni-Vanuatu doctor stationed in the country's cyclone devastated north says they are in desperate need of more emergency response medical personnel. Jimmy Obed is with the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) critical care co-ordination centre responding to Cyclone Harold at Santo's main hospital in Luganville. Dr Obed is up in Luganville from the capital Port Vila.

Vanuatu's Disaster Management Office has given non-government organisations the green light to distribute relief supplies to communities affected by Cyclone Harold. Last week the monster storm tore through the middle of the country, destroying homes and food gardens. Four deaths were linked to the cyclone while dozens were injured and thousands rendered homeless.

Vanuatu is celebrating a second Commonwealth Games medal after their women's beach volleyball team beat Cyprus in the playoff for bronze. Miller Pata and Linline Matauatu were in complete control at Coolangatta Beach, winning in straight sets 21-14 21-10. After playing together on the Beach Volleyball World Tour, in the Pacific Games and at World Championships, Linline Matauatu said they didn't feel any added pressure with a medal on the line.

The Organising Committee for the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu have donated to the thousands of people forced to evacuate Ambae Island.

The auction of the Olympic torch from the Sydney 2000 Games has raised over 12,000 US dollars towards the Vanuatu athletes competing in the Pacific Mini Games in Port Vila in December. Up to 225 people attended the Carbine Club luncheon and auction earlier this month at the Warwick Le Lagon Hotel in Port Vila.

Over 70 per cent of tickets for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu will cost less than four US dollars. More than 35,000 tickets will go on sale to the public next month. Vanuatu 2017 Pacific Games CEO Clint Flood says there are over 25 different types of tickets available, including a Games pass that can be shared by family or friends or a single day ticket.

Residents on Vanuatu's Tanna Island will hold their first 'slow food festival' this week, featuring traditional methods of cooking and preserving food for times of disaster. The festival runs all week in the provincial capital of Tafea province, and is expected to attract representatives from all six provinces including nearby countries including New Caledonia and Fiji, to attend to demonstrate their own food preparation and preservation methods.

The Vanuatu Lambubu community has used its first internet connection to access four-hundred gigabytes of data browsing Youtube videos and football results. A pilot programme by the satellite operator Kacific and the Vanuatu government set up the service at Lambubu Primary School on Malekula Island earlier this month.