House holds CNMI governor in contempt
A House of Representatives committee in the Northern Marianas has held Governor Ralph Torres in contempt after he failed to appear before the committee as commanded in a subpoena.
The Democrat-controlled Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee is investigating Governor Torres' expenditures of public funds and travels.
Governor Torres earlier said he would not be appearing before the committee because the Executive Branch, which he heads, was a separate and equal branch of government under the CNMI Constitution.
He later filed a lawsuit against the JGO Committee over its decision to hold him in contempt and asked the Superior Court to declare that the JGO Committee's subpoena served on the governor is invalid and unlawful.
Canberra acknowledges New Caledonia referendum
Australia says it looks forward to continuing to work with France in the Pacific and globally after New Caledonia's independence referendum eight days ago.
More than 96 percent voted against independence in the plebiscite, which had a turnout of just over 43 percent after it was boycotted by the indigenous Kanaks.
Canberra issued a statement four days after the vote, acknowledging the peaceful conduct of the referendum and the enduring importance of self-determination to New Caledonians.
As a friend, close neighbour and fellow member of the Pacific Islands Forum, Australia says it extends its best wishes for the important discussions ahead.
Australia looks forward to continuing to work with France in the Pacific and globally.
Three times New Caledonia voted against independence Photo: supplied FB
There has been no comment from New Zealand.
Flosse eyes French Assembly seat
French Polynesia's veteran politician and former president Gaston Flosse has applied to enrol in Papeete in order to run for a seat in the French National Assembly next year.
His ability to stand depends on next month's verdict in France's highest court, where his appeal against a corruption conviction is pending.
Last year, he and the current president Edouard Fritch were fined for abusing public funds and ordered to jointly settle a water supply bill of $US820,000.
As part of the sentence, he was also declared ineligible to hold public office for five years.
Gaston Flosse Photo: AFP
The Paris verdict is due next month and will determine whether he can run.
The Papeete authorities are expected this week to confirm is enrolment.
Flosse, who is 90, has several corruption convictions and has been banned from holding office since 2014 when he was stripped of his seat in the French Senate and then lost the French Polynesian presidency.
Search launched in Fiji for missing fisherman
Fiji police are searching for a man after he failed to return from a fishing trip last Friday.
Police also said the man, in his 60s, had left his village in Lakeba, Lau, on Friday morning.
But his family reported him missing when he didn't return home on Friday evening.
The search continues.
