Photo: 123rf
Fiji - baby death
Warning: distressing content
A Fijian man has denied murdering a baby after hitting his head with a spoon, slamming him against a wall and throwing him on a mattress.
The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported the 35-year-old allegedly slapped the baby's infant brother and bit him on the face.
However, he pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm to his de facto partner, the mother of the two children.
The accused will appear in Nasinu court later this month for a pre-trial conference.
Vanuatu - passports
Vanuatu's Internal Affairs minister has signed an order stripping trade commissioners of diplomatic passports.
The Vanuatu Daily Post reports Andrew Napuat saying the government has received reports of unwarranted behaviours from a few trade commissioners, and has taken steps to address the issue.
The decision to strip them of their privilege follows growing public concern over the issuance of diplomatic passports, including allegations that the former Foreign Affairs Minister profited from selling them.
Marshall Islands - shipping
The Marshall Islands has hosted a meeting in London on the universal greenhouse gas shipping levy.
Discussions centred around a meeting on the Intercessional Working Group on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships at the International Maritime Organization, which runs from 17-21 February.
John Taukave of the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport said the 6PAC+ and African and Caribbean nations have made it clear that a levy - which does not just curb emissions, but actively supports vulnerable economies in adapting to the impacts of climate change - is needed.
American Samoa - politics
The US Senate has confirmed former Democratic representative Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence.
The vote was 52-48 mostly along party lines, though Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky joined Democrats in opposing the confirmation.
Gabbard, who was born in American Samoa, was Trump's 14th nominee to be confirmed.
CNN reported that her confirmation was a dramatic turnaround for a nomination that, from the start, had been among Trump's most divisive.
Niue - radio
Every household in Niue has been given a free radio from China to mark World Radio Day on 13 February.
Just over 600 radios have been gifted.
The national broadcaster BCN and the Associate Minister of Broadcasting Esa Mona Ainuu distributed the radios.
Minister Ainuu, a former journalist, spoke about the significance of radio in providing information and keeping the Niue population updated on what is happening around the island.
She said radio is still the preferred source of information for many, especially the elderly.
