Pacific news headlines

A Category Five storm has never before been recorded this early in the season this side of the equator.

Forecasters are unsure about how the weather system will track over coming days.

The Pentagon has accused the rising Asian superpower of a campaign of 'coercion' against American aircraft.

Tom Robinson was rescued by a P&O cruise ship, who took a detour from their usual route to pick him up.

P&O Cruises confirmed to 9news.com.au that the passenger of the Pacific Adventure – the company's newest cruise liner – died at Mystery Island.

Beijing installed the structure to prevent Filipino fishing boats from entering a lagoon in a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.

The Philippines government claimed the structure destroyed coral and marine life.

Biden has put a premium on improving ties in the Pacific amid rising US concern about China's growing military and economic influence.

Despite months of protests, Japanese authorities insist the treated radioactive material will be let out into the ocean,

Troops from Australia and Japan will be able to deploy to each other's country under a new security deal.

Experts are investigating how the whale became trapped.

The federal government has put an emphasis on equality and climate change in future development projects.

An expert has meanwhile compared the man's improbably rescue to a "needle in a haystack".

After months of eating raw fish, he joked that his first meal on land would be tuna sushi.

The leader of Solomon Islands has hit back at criticism of his nation's deepening security ties with China, saying the United States and Australia have nothing to fear.

There were 47 people on White island when it erupted in 2019, killing 22.

Japan has announced that it joined the United States and Australia in signing an agreement on a $142 million undersea cable project that will connect East Micronesia island nations.

Beijing accused Washington of violating agreements on the status of the self-ruling island.

Beijing has sternly rejected the report that government-backed hackers are targeting American infrastructure.

According to the cruise company, the death appeared to be caused by a medical situation.

The move has sparked controversy in the Pacific Island nation and comes as Washington and China jostle for influence.

Swimming has been banned in a Pacific tourist hotspot for a year after a spate of shark attacks.

Geoscience Australia reported the earthquake struck at a depth of 604km south of the Fiji Islands just before 1.30pm.

A report has warned the government the migration system is not effectively targeted to either current or future needs.

Beijing is being urged to explain the reasons behind what has been labelled the largest ever peacetime build-up of armed forces.

A tsunami warning has been issued for parts of Indonesia after an earthquake struck off the coast.

Beijing has issued a call to avoid "hyping up the 'China threat' narrative" after Australia's landmark defence review called out the superpower's historic military buildup.

The leaders today marked the agreement allowing an estimated 400,000 Kiwis to claim Australian citizenship this year.

A 270kg satellite is on track to crash into Earth sometime in the next day.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to the man's family.

The foreign minister said Australia's role was aimed at 'lowering the heat' between competing powers in the Indo Pacific region.

There are fears the Solomon Islands port upgrade could "morph" into an attempt by China to establish a naval base, 1700km from Australia's coastline.

President alleges China is preparing to invade the self-ruled island of Taiwan, and has engaged in bribery, political interference and even "direct threats".

Ten years after the senseless murder of road worker George Taiaroa, Tony Wall, the only reporter to have interviewed his killer, reveals new details of the police operation to snare a "madman".

Researchers have found a new moai statue in a dry lake on the Chilean island of Rapa Nui, joining the approximately 1000 other iconic monolithic sculptures on what is internationally known as Easter Island.

Vision has captured the horrific moment an Australian tourist was killed by a shark at a crowded beach in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia.

The magnitude-6.1 quake struck at 7.38pm on Wednesday and was centred 50km northwest of Paraparaumu, at a depth of 48km.

Cairo Winitana, 8, was with his family at the Club Wyndham resort on Denarau Island in Fiji when he died.

The country has opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands in its latest move to counter China's push into the Pacific.

The foreign minister urged nations to work together to prevent tensions spiralling out of control.

A top US politician and a general have warned a war between the US and Taiwan is likely in coming years.

Australia will spend $1 billion on advanced sea mines to protect its waters from naval incursions by China and other potential adversaries.

A Qantas flight to Fiji was forced to turn back to Fiji after it made a priority landing call.

Australia will sign a new security pact with Papua New Guinea as the government continues its push to deepen ties across the Pacific.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stressed the importance of security and unity in a two-day visit to the nation.

The quake's epicentre was in the ocean about 56km southwest of the capital, Honiara, at a depth of 13 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has warned China and the United States could be on a collision course for war in the next five years.

China has deployed new longer range ballistic missiles on its nuclear submarines, enabling it to strike the US mainland from much nearer its own shores.

Anthony Albanese is one of several global leaders to attend an emergency meeting to condemn North Korea following its latest long-range missile test on Friday.

Australia will bid to host the world's biggest conference on climate change in 2026, the government has announced.