Air Vanuatu's new Airbus A220-100 Photo: Airbus
The Vanuatu government has received assurances that funds paid to Airbus for the purchase of A220 aircraft will be returned once the matter of domestic services of Air Vanuatu is resolved.
This comes after the _Vanuatu Daily Post_ received information revealing that funds raised under the Capital Investment Immigration Plan were used to finance the acquisition of aircraft for Air Vanuatu.
A total of US$20 million was reportedly paid directly to Airbus for the planned acquisition of up to four A220 aircraft as part of the airline's fleet expansion.
Vanuatu Government Public Relations Officer Kiery Manassah said the funds remain with Airbus and will be recovered once the government finalises its plans for domestic air services.
### French Polynesia - mining
French Polynesia's president has issued a stark warning over the risks of deep-sea mining, saying it will be allowed in his territory "over my dead body".
Moetai Brotherson argued the potential for environmental damage outweighs any benefits.
His comments to the _Guardian_ come as countries in the Pacific and elsewhere grapple with whether to extract minerals from the sea floor.
Deep-sea mining has not yet begun, but some companies and countries are exploring the practice, which could start in the coming years.
Brotherson said "we're playing gods with the cradle of life" - and that's way too dangerous.
### Vanuatu - arrest
Vanuatu's Health Minister has been arrested and charged with intentional assault and causing public disorder .
Local media reportsed John Still Tari Qetu was arrested in Port Vila and charged over an alleged incident in July last year.
The complainant said the investigation has taken time due to national emergencies including the devastating December earthquake in Port Vila and the snap election.
He alleged he was punched him in the head, causing him to fall.
Minister Qetu has appeared in court for remand and has been granted bail.
### Pacific - customs
Customs administrations across 14 Pacific Island nations are intensifying their efforts to halt the influx of counterfeit goods.
Oceania Customs Organisation secretariat head, Nancy Oraka, said an eight-week Brand Protection and Product Identification Workshop is underway.
This is an effort to equip frontline customs and intellectual property officers with skills to find counterfeit goods.
Oraka said the proliferation of counterfeit products across the region poses serious threats to public health, consumer safety, and economic development.
### Pacific - media
There are hopes that a formal meeting of journalists from Tonga and Papua New Guinea will lead to the development of a collective media voice in the Pacific.
Eight of Tonga's senior journalists met with their counterparts in Port Moresby to discuss issues affecting them and look at solutions to issues.
Among those involved was RNZ Pacific's Tonga correspondent, Kalafi Moala, who said it was a productive week and he wants to see more of the Pacific learning from the Pacific.
"There could be an interaction between the Micronesian media team, with Melanesia, with Polynesia," he said.
"I think this is a pathway to the future in which the Pacific media learn from each other.
"Good fellowship, good learning, and to become a Pacific voice, to try to have a Pacific voice in the world."