AFP - Rolling Stones fans were anxiously awaiting word on Keith Richards, after his publicist denied reports the legendary guitarist may have suffered brain damage.

AFP - Continuing the Australian-led regional assistance mission in the Solomon Islands is vital for the future of the troubled Pacific nation, Australian and New Zealand said.

AP - Minutes after an earthquake struck near the South Pacific nation of Tonga, tsunami warnings began to radiate to countries as far away as Fiji and New Zealand by phone, e-mail and fax.

AFP - A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 rocked Tonga in the Pacific, triggering panic evacuations in New Zealand after tsunami warnings were briefly issued for the South Pacific.

AFP - Disappointed New Zealand Cricket (NZC) officials emphasized the positives after losing a joint bid with Australia to host the 2011 World Cup but winning the event for 2015.

AFP - A double-century by captain Stephen Fleming and an unbeaten 93 by James Franklin took New Zealand past 500 on the second day of the second Test at Newlands.

AFP - New Zealand suffered a blow ahead of the second Test against South Africa, starting at Newlands Thursday, when fast bowler Shane Bond was ruled out of the rest of the tour after failing to recover from a knee injury.

India's top diplomat to New Zealand, Harish Dogra, has been asked to leave the country within 10 days. According to a foreign ministry spokesman, Dogra refused to follow orders from New Delhi to go home. His diplomatic license has...

AFP - Heavily armed police and troops decended on the Solomon Islands' parliament as lawmakers were sworn in amid fears of fresh violence in the impoverished South Pacific nation.

AFP - Australia and New Zealand sent more troops to the Solomons to bolster security amid fears the opening of parliament could trigger further riots in the impoverished Pacific island nation.

AFP - More New Zealand troops were due in the Solomons to bolster security amid fears that the opening of parliament could trigger further riots in the impoverished Pacific island nation.

Snyder Rini was sworn in on Thursday as the new Solomon Islands' Prime Minister. This was after two days of riots in the capital in protest of his election. New Zealand PM, Helen Clark said that she had been informed that Rini had been...

Hundreds of rioters took to the streets in the Solomon Islands' capital of Honiara, looting, burning and turning on New Zealand and Australian police officers keeping peace in the town. The rampage was sparked by the election of...

A sacked Indian envoy and his wife refused to go back home and may seek asylum in New Zealand as they allege that their lives were in danger. In a defiant letter made public last week, Former high commissioner to New...

AFP - An overnight curfew and Australian troop reinforcements helped restore calm on the streets of the Solomon Island capital Honiara on after two days of rioting left parts of the city in ruins.

AFP - Australia and New Zealand are prepared to send troops to restore order in the Solomon Islands, as rioters continue to rampage through the capital following disputed elections.

AFP - Australia will meet trans Tasman rivals New Zealand in Friday's Division A play-off at the IRB Under 19 World Championship after both secured hard-fought semi-final wins at the Dubai Exiles.

AFP - Taiwanese members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement requested Washington to use President Hu Jintao's visit to press Beijing to stop abusing sect members in China, despite a US investigation that found no evidence to back recent claims.

AFP - Searchers in New Zealand kept up the hunt for a British hiker who went missing last week in a rugged forest described as some of the most dangerous terrain in the region.

AP - New Zealand troops will remain in Afghanistan to support security and reconstruction efforts for another 17 months, Prime Minister Helen Clark said Monday.