Vanuatu's parliament Photo: RNZ Pacific
Vanuatu - national referendum
Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has announced in Parliament a national referendum is expected to happen within the next six months.
This announcement followed the unanimous approval of the Constitutional Amendment Bill.
This latest amendment made changes relating to the forming of political parties.
The Constitution specifies that any amendment related to the status of Bislama, English and French languages, the electoral system, or the parliamentary system must be supported in a national referendum, following its passage in Parliament.
CNMI - police
Twelve police officers in the Northern Marianas have lost their jobs due to alleged illegal overtime incurred during the previous administration.
Department of Public Safety commissioner Clement Bermudes said 12 of the initial 28 officers under investigation were fired, while the rest were either reinstated or resigned.
Last year, the transition team of the new government administration found that the department requested approval for over 11,000 hours of overtime - roughly 18 months' worth of regular work hours - in just one two-week pay period in December.
It was also found the DPS had been paying out excessive overtime accruals for the same group of officers, from January 2022 to January 2023.
Cook Islands - drink driving messaging
The Cook Islands Police spokesperson said drink driving messaging is not working.
There have been five road fatalities this year in the Cook Islands.
The latest was NRL player Troy Dargan who died in the Cook Islands following a motorcycle accident at around 1am in Aitutaki on Christmas eve.
Trevor Pitt said alcohol and speed have been contributing factors to all the deaths bar one.
"Clearly the messaging doesn't work - no amount of warnings work. The driver behaviour, the culture of carelessness and drinking and driving is so ingrained that very little movement or improvement appears throughout the years of tragedies scores of injuries and penalties involved."
Samoa - prime minister
Samoa's Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has returned home from New Zealand after undergoing surgery nearly two weeks ago in Auckland.
Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio told the Samoa Observer, that Fiame had recovered well from a successful surgical procedure.
The prime minister's medical condition has not been revealed.
Samoa - Land Transport Authority
Samoa's Land Transport Authority has spent WST$15,000 (around US$5,500) on its end of year activities.
The latest expenditure from the State Owned Enterprise was approved by the Authorities Board of Directors to wrap up the 2023 working year.
Chairman Lilomaiava Punivalu told the Samoa Observer it was the usual amount for end of year functions.
He said the money was used to buy food, sponsor a family day at the Piula Cave for staff and covered board members' Christmas hamper and dinner.
French Polynesia - film festival
The 21st International Pacific Film Festival will be held in French Polynesia's capital Papeete in February next year.
Competitors have been announced from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii and Timor Leste.
The selection includes ten films in competition, 13 not competing, 7 short documentaries and thirteen short fictions.
They deal with topics including the environmental impact of climate change in the Pacific, identity, history, arts and violence.
Prizes will be awarded by a 7-member international jury with a special prize reserved for the public's choice.
