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PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, July 6) -- The newly constructed temporary bridge at Teouma is now open for vehicles to use.

While vehicles are diverted into the temporary bridge, works will be concentrated on the total makeover of the old bridge.

The Vanuatu government officially requested help from the government of Japan to rehabilitate the two bridges and last August the project was mutually agreed upon by both governments.

This project is implemented under Japan’s Grant Aid Assistance with the amount of 188 million Japanese yen, which is approximately VT200 million (US$1.7 million).

The Japanese company that won the contract for the construction is Fujita Corporation and has subcontracted two local companies to build the bridge.

The bridge has stood against natural disasters over a long period. However, an earthquake that shook Port Vila in 2002 damaged the bridge.

In his speech during the opening, Mr. Tetsuro Ike, Resident...

By Theresa Merto

HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, July 5) -- Defense attorneys for former Governor Carl Gutierrez and two former cabinet members yesterday asked Superior Court of Guam Judge Katherine Maraman to acquit their clients because the government has failed to prove its case.

After the prosecution’s final witness was questioned and excused and Special Assistant Attorney General Frederick Canavor rested the case yesterday, defense attorneys quickly reacted by submitting motions to have their clients acquitted.

It was the latest development in the third week of the trial against Gutierrez, his former chief of staff, Gil Shinohara, and former airport Executive Manager Gerald Yingling. Each face multiple criminal charges in connection with allegedly using government resources and personnel at Gutierrez’s Urunao ranch.

Twenty-one prosecution witnesses, ranging from Department of Public Works...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, July 6) - Three Cook Islands-registered ships have been turned back from United States ports for not complying with a new security code.

The registrar of ships, Garth Broadhead, says a cargo ship and a tall ship were denied entry, while a cargo vessel was expelled from Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

The Cook Islands News says this follows the introduction of the United Nations International Shipping and Ports Facility security code last week.

The code requires international ships to have a signed certificate from their flag country, stating they they comply with new standards aimed at foiling terrorists.

These include identification documents and security measures such as working alarm systems.

Yachts and small fishing boats that are not involved in trade are excluded from the code.

Broadhead warned all Cook Islands registered vessels, especially fishing boats that sail to international ports like...

Editorial

The Independent

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (July 4) - The leaders themselves are lamenting the fact that Vanuatu is heading for another coalition. There is no outright winner waiting in the wings and we are not about to achieve such a milestone in our political development. The leaders themselves have rendered that impossible.

But we can and must vote. The Electoral Office is quite rightly calling on all citizens to exercise their democratic right. It is our civic duty. Tuesday will see families going to their gardens and others making a picnic of the public holiday, but it is surely something to be proud of, an achievement of Independence, that we can elect our leaders, and the privilege should not be taken lightly. Voting should come first on Tuesday, as a right, and also a duty.

And then we have a duty to vote for people who will be honest, diligent and mindful of the heavy responsibility they are taking on. There should be no place for wrong-doers...