Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Dog cull begins in Cook Islands
More than 20 dogs have been put down by the Cook Islands Police in a bid to tackle the growing canine population in Rarotonga.
The Cook Islands News reports the Police Commissioner, who is also the chairman of the Dog Registration and Animal Control Committee, is looking at adding extra support to manage the dog problem.
Police spokesperson Trevor Pitt said there is broad support to engage at least two people nominated by the head of the Cook Islands Security company, Chris Denny, to work with two police dog rangers.
Pitt said the initiative is being financially supported by Cook Islands Tourism.
He said they've received reports of menacing dogs.
Fiji broadcaster gets new chairman
Freelance writer and businessman, Ajay Bhai Amrit, is the new chairman for the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation board.
His appointment followed the mass resignation of former FBC board members on January 11th.
The Fiji Times reports him saying he has made a personal decision to take a directors' fee of one dollar a year.
Amrit says appointments are for three years, and FBC's specific role is to effectively represent and promote the interests of the shareholders.
He added that the shareholders are the people of Fiji.
Fish farm project could be revived on the cheap
China's new consul to French Polynesia says there is still a chance the Hao fish farm project will succeed.
The project to build the South Pacific's largest fish farm has been dogged by repeated delays since its inception almost nine years ago.
Initially forecast to cost $US1.5 billion, the plan has been downgraded to $US320 million to still produce 5000 tonnes of grouper and wrasse a year from cages placed in the lagoon.
Consul Lixiao Tian told Tahiti Nui TV that the Chinese company Tahiti Nui Ocean Foods still wants to proceed as do French Polynesia's ministers, but he adds that the French state keeps asking questions.
He said the delays cannot be blamed on the investor only.
More working groups for New Caledonia statute
More working groups have been set up by the French government to work towards a new statute for New Caledonia after the 2021 rejection of full sovereignty.
The French High Commission in Noumea says it has set up two more groups - one dealing with economic development and employment, and one dealing with equal opportunity and social cohesion.
The groups were proposed after the French prime minister hosted New Caledonian leaders in October to launch a process aimed at producing a new statute for the territory, after the three independence referendums.
The pro-independence parties, however, refuse to recognise the last referendum and instead want bilateral talks with Paris on a timetable to regain the territory's sovereignty.
The French government said there won't be a referendum in New Caledonia during the new five-year term of President Emmanuel Macron.
Drug arrest in Tonga
Tonga police have arrested a 33-year-old man for possession and supply of illicit drugs.
Police intercepted the suspect on a public road between Holonga and Pelehake, where they found methamphetamine, cannabis, cash and a loaded firearm in the suspect's vehicle.
More cash, drugs and drug utensils were found at his house.
The accused was remanded in custody to appear in court on January 23.
Sailor helps rescue stranded Cubans
Samoan sailor Sakaria Fa'ai'uaso helped in the rescue of 24 Cuban refugees near Port Canaveral in Florida.
The Samoa Observer reports Fa'ai'uaso said the refugees, 20 men and four women, were older people and had been without water, food and shelter for seven days before they were rescued.
The 25-year-old said they were advised that they needed to help the refugees and were not sure of what to expect.
He said bad weather hampered their efforts and it took the rescue crew 15 minutes before they reached the refugees.
