The Cook Islands flag is waved outside Parliament during the strike for climate change in Wellington (file). Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
Cook Islands - flag
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has suggested changing the nation's flag.
Brown told the Cook Islands News, he had told parliament to consider reusing the original flag of the Cook Islands from the 1970s.
The flag used between 1973 and 1979 features 15 gold stars on a green background.
It was designed by the Cook Islands' first Premier Albert Henry.
Brown said that flag is a stronger reflection of national colours and sovereignty.
Cook Islands - amendment
A constitutional amendment being debated in the Cook Islands will allow parliament to sit without needing to wait for outstanding electoral petitions.
Prime Minister Mark Brown says Parliament had to wait about seven months after the general election last year for electoral petitions to finish.
Brown said the amendment change will mean it won't happen again.
"This amendment really is to remove that provision and allow Parliament to take precedents over any electoral petitions,"he said.
Fiji - child
The executive director of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement says child marriage is affecting girls' futures.
A recent survey of women aged 20-29 showed 12 percent in the Northern Division and nine percent in the Western Division were married before the age of 18.
Nalini Singh said this widespread, harmful practice compromises a child's development and also severely limits opportunities.
Singh said that FWRM has also engaged in a dialogue with key stakeholders, including government agencies, faith-based organizations, and civil society, who recognise that eradicating early and forced marriages in Fiji must take a holistic approach.
Tonga - grant
The Asian Development Bank and the Government of Tonga have signed grant agreements totaling more than $16 million to help provide safe, high-quality integrated health and care services for older people and their caregivers.
The ADB is contribute US$11.5m to the programme and the Climate Change Fund will provide $600,000.
The Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific will provide $3m, with Tonga providing the balance.
Palau - claim
Palau president Surangel Whipps Jr. asked Congress last month for an appropriation to settle a wrongful death claim of the family of Takisang Iyar.
Iyar was a young inmate who was stabbed by another inmate at Koror jail.
The Island Times reports the government agreed to pay Iyar's family $350,000 US dollars, because he had died in state custody.
He was in jail on charges of possession and trafficking of methamphetamine.
Whipps Jr has urged Congress to find the money as laid out in the settlement agreement signed in August of this year.
The agreement said it would be paid out within six months of August 2023.
Cook Islands - drugs
Cannabis is expected to be removed from the prohibited list of narcotics in the Cook Islands, as the misuse of drugs and narcotics amendment is debated in parliament.
More than 60 percent of the country voted in favour of medicinal cannabis in a non-binding referendum held last year.
The removal of cannabis on the list has support from both Government and opposition.
Prime Minister Mark Brown said soon people will be able to use medicinal cannabis.
"This is the first step in a couple of other regulations that will put into place that will allow then people to bring in medicinal cannabis from prescribed provides in overseas countries and will allow provides here to be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis as well," he said.
Palau - pension
Palau's pension plan fund is set to run dry within seven years if no action is taken.
The Island Times reports recent report from the plan's administrator revealed a $1.36m drop in the fund, now standing at $22.27 million.
The fund collects around $7m a year, but it pays out over $10m to pensioners.
This is despite a slight increase in revenue from the Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee and remittance tax.
The board is considering several options including reducing pensions, but noted the negative impact on retirees' quality of life.
Raising the retirement age was another option but they noted this might be unpopular with older employees.
Solomon Islands - caretaker
The Solomon Islands opposition leader says it would be 'absurd' to have a caretaker government without a Parliament in place to supervise it.
Matthew Wale made these comments when speaking on the Provincial Assemblies & Honiara City Council Elections Bill 2023 in Parliament.
He said the caretaker provisions - which come in at the dissolution of Parliament - were fit for times gone by but are no longer appropriate.
Wale said the Executive is derived from Parliament so without a Parliament, they cannot have an Executive with any legitimacy.
He said the situation must be remedied.
Guam - police
Police in Guam are set to get body cameras.
The Guam Daily Post reports Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed off on several bills becoming law, including authorizing the creation of a body camera program for uniformed officers.
Governor Leon Guerrero said in light of CCTV, and the public having cellphone cameras, the bill recognized the positive value of body-worn camera recordings in affecting the behavior of those being recorded and the added value in aiding investigations.
Police department approval or a court order will be required prior to the release of any recordings.
Another of the bills signed into law requires automated external defibrillators to be available at all government of Guam offices by 31 December 2024.
Tonga - donation
The Red Cross has donated more than US$200,000 to assist 632 families affected by last year's Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption.
Each of the families will receive over 300 dollars.
Tonga Red Cross Society Secretary General Sione Taumoefolau said direct cash assistance has proven to be effective in supporting families to cope financially.
Next month marks two years since the eruption generated tsunamis that devastated Tonga, killing three people and leaving thousands homeless.