AFP - The world needs to take urgent action to tackle climate change and must include all the world's major economies and developing nations, Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

AFP - British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in New Zealand from Australia on a flying visit during which he was set further to develop his calls for worldwide action on climate change.

Canadian Press - WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Freed Iraq hostage Harmeet Sooden arrived home in New Zealand on Monday as Prime Minister Helen Clark warned him not to return to the Middle Eastern country.

AFP - Brian Lara promoted himself up the order and began producing runs for the first time on tour as the West Indies made a solid start on a weather disrupted opening day of the third and final Test against New Zealand.

AFP - Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in Australia on the first leg of a trip that will also take him to New Zealand and Indonesia and attempt to renew focus on foreign policy issues.

AFP - Prime Minister Tony Blair left a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels to fly to Australia, where he hopes to escape domestic woes and focus anew on foreign policy.

AFP - Stephen Fleming led New Zealand to an emphatic 10-wicket victory over the West Indies on the fourth day of the second cricket Test, to wrap up the series 2-0 with a game to spare here.

AP - A young conservation worker who was checking a volcano's crater lake when it unexpectedly burst to life, spewing mounds of ash and soot, most likely died in the eruption in the remote nature reserve, a conservation official said Saturday.

AP - A volcano erupted on a remote New Zealand island Friday, tossing rocks and steam high into the air and prompting the evacuation of a dozen workers. One person was missing, officials said.

AFP - Shane Bond dismissed Brian Lara first ball for the second innings in a row to give New Zealand new heart as it appeared the West Indies were cruising to victory in the first cricket Test here.

AFP - Malaysia has lifted a ban on US beef imports in place for more than two years, to make up for a shortage after it restricted access to Australian and New Zealand beef, a report said.

AFP - The West Indies got a much-needed confidence boost before their Test series against New Zealand after pulling off an unlikely three-wicket win to avoid a whitewash in the one-day series.

AFP - Australia and New Zealand will jointly bid to host the cricket World Cup in 2011, with matches held evenly in both countries but the host city of the final has yet to be decided, officials said.

Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter Copenhagen, Denmark (AHN) - Denmark's Aria Foods is reporting a $20 million loss ever since controversy erupted over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. The New Zealand Herald reports that Europe's second largest dairy company says that sales...

AFP - The West Indies' chances of squaring the one-day cricket series against New Zealand received a knock with confirmation all rounder Dwayne Bravo would miss the second international with a side strain.

AFP - Origin Energy Ltd, Australia's second largest energy retailer, plans to absorb partly owned New Zealand group Contact Energy, creating Australasia's biggest integrated power group.

AFP - New Zealand struggled to 288 for nine batting first in their opening one-day cricket international against the West Indies, after a rapid batting collapse undid the foundations for a 300-plus score laid by Nathan Astle here.

AFP - Residents of the tiny South Pacific territory of Tokelau began voting in a referendum to decide whether to become one of the smallest self-governing states in the world.

Reuters - A New Zealand man charged with the first murder on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific in 150 years admitted to police that he hit the murder victim accidentally with his car, a prosecutor said on Thursday.

Reuters - Australia and New Zealand vowed to work to build a single economic market on the back of strengthening trade ties on Wednesday, but stopped short of endorsing a single currency.