Pacific

World 21 hours ago

New Zealand man brings professional clown to pink-slip meeting who mimed crying, made balloon animals

A New Zealand advertising executive facing the bleak prospect of being fired decided to inject a bit of humor into the situation, bringing a professional clown to his pink-slip meeting instead of a colleague for emotional support.

World 21 hours ago

Angry seal 'helps' Australian police bust drug smuggling ring

An international drug smuggling ring was busted in Australia with the help of an angry seal.

World 21 hours ago

Passenger flying from Argentina to New Zealand died minutes before flight landed: report

A female passenger died minutes before her 13-hour flight from Argentina to New Zealand landed on Friday.

World 21 hours ago

Two teenagers arrested over Australian bushfire; firefighters continue to battle at least 50 blazes

Two Australian teenagers were charged Wednesday in setting one of the dozens of destructive fires that have raged across the country’s eastern coast since last week as experts warned of potentially dire conditions ahead of this year’s bushfire season.

World 21 hours ago

New Zealand prime minister under pressure after party member accused of sexual assault

New Zealand’s prime minister is facing pressure amid allegations that her party may have covered up a sexual assault complaint against one of its staffers.

World 21 hours ago

New Zealand firefighters perform ‘haka’ to honor 9/11 first responders

A group of firefighters in New Zealand on Wednesday paid tribute to 9/11 first responders with a traditional ceremonial dance, known as the haka.

World 21 hours ago

Australia wildfires raging like ‘flamethrower’ devour homes, at least 400 evacuated

More than one hundred wildfires raging like a “flamethrower” across southeast Australia have razed homes and sent hundreds of citizens fleeing from the blazes that could continue burning for weeks, officials said Tuesday.

Science 21 hours ago

Scientists monitoring marine heat wave off West Coast which could disrupt ecosystem

Federal scientists said Thursday that they will be monitoring a new ocean heat wave off the West Coast, which could badly disrupt marine life.

World 21 hours ago

Australian vegan takes neighbors to court because she doesn't like the smell of fish being barbecued

An Australian vegan woman was so furious that she could smell her neighbors' barbecue from their backyard, she took the "vegan beef" to the state's highest court.

World 21 hours ago

Fiji police find 5 dead family members near crying baby, quiz 'witch doctor'

Fiji police were investigating after a crying baby and the bodies of five family members were found this week on the side of a cliff.

World 21 hours ago

China slams US warship for 'provocative' transit through South China Sea, calling it 'maritime hegemony'

China hit back at the U.S. on Wednesday after a Navy warship sailed near disputed islands China has claimed as its own in the South China Sea, calling the action “provocative” and a sign of “maritime hegemony.” 

Media 21 hours ago

Gen. Keane: China 'clearly our No. 1 threat out there'

Fox News senior strategic analyst Gen. Jack Keane claimed China is America's top geopolitical threat and credited new Defense Secretary Mark Esper echoing that sentiment.

U.S. 21 hours ago

Spanish athlete is first to stand-up paddleboard across Pacific Ocean: report

Spanish endurance athlete Antonio de la Rosa reportedly became the first person to stand-up paddleboard across the Pacific Ocean after he paddled his way into Hawaii from California on Saturday.

World 21 hours ago

Vegan Australian parents spared jail after ‘completely inadequate’ diet left baby malnourished

An Australian couple who put their baby on a strict vegan diet that left her malnourished and suffering from long-term medical issues avoided a jail sentence on Thursday.

World 21 hours ago

New Zealand lawmaker brings baby to parliament, speaker takes on role of babysitter

A New Zealand lawmaker took a page from the country’s prime minister when he brought his newborn son to work on Wednesday.

World 21 hours ago

China could win military conflict in Indo-Pacific region even 'before America can respond', think tank warns

A new study warns the U.S. has lost its military supremacy in the Indo-Pacific region, with China being able to launch and win a military conflict even before American forces are able come up with a response.

U.S. 21 hours ago

Coast Guard cutter's crew makes massive 4,600-pound cocaine bust, 2nd in 5 days

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Midgett recently seized more than 4,600 pounds of cocaine, their second cocaine bust in five days.

World 21 hours ago

Australian tourist fatally shot in camper van in New Zealand while sleeping inside with partner

A manhunt was underway in New Zealand on Friday after an Australian tourist was killed following what police believe was a random attack on the van that he and his partner were sleeping inside.

U.S. 21 hours ago

Intruder shot and killed at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam after stabbing, attacking base security

An intruder was shot and killed at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on Thursday after crashing a car into barriers there, evading authorities for hours, and later "aggressively" attacking and stabbing a Defense Department Security Forces member while being apprehended, the base said. 

World 21 hours ago

Sydney stabbing victim identified as sex worker, 24, who reportedly saw suspect before rampage

A woman who was killed moments before a knife-wielding man went on a rampage in downtown Sydney on Tuesday while yelling "Allahu akbar" has been identified as a 24-year-old sex worker who reportedly had seen the suspect at least once.

World 21 hours ago

Australia, New Zealand seize enormous haul of MDMA, meth, worth $60M

Investigators uncovered nearly 1,700 pounds of MDMA and 440 pounds of crystal meth in Australia and New Zealand — one of the most "significant drug seizures" in Australian history that's led to six arrests and is connected to several countries.

World 21 hours ago

New Zealand mosque shooter sent letter from prison cell that was published on 4chan

The man accused of killing 51 in the New Zealand mosque shootings has managed to send out a letter from prison warning an “Alan” from Russia that a “great conflict” is coming.

World 21 hours ago

New Zealand buys back over 10K firearms after Christchurch mosque massacre

The New Zealand government has bought back over 10,000 firearms following the Christchurch attack in March, according to New Zealand officials.

World 21 hours ago

Body found near where London teen went missing, Malaysian police say

Malaysian rescuers on Tuesday found the body of a Caucasian female in the forest surrounding a nature resort where a 15-year-old London girl was reported missing more than a week ago, police said.

World 21 hours ago

Coast Guard rescues 37 from capsized fishing boat off Central American coast

The Coast Guard rescued 37 people last week from a capsized fishing boat in off the coast of Central America.

World 21 hours ago

Husband charged with murder of United Nations aid worker, report

The husband of a United Nations worker killed at her family home in Fiji last month has been charged with one count of murder, according to Suva police.

World 21 hours ago

5-foot python slithers out of bathroom light fixture while children brushed teeth

Two children, who were preparing for bed, have been left horrified after spotting a five foot long python in their bathroom Monday evening in Australia. 

World 21 hours ago

Around $2M worth of cocaine washes up on New Zealand beach: report

Approximately $2 million worth of cocaine washed up on a New Zealand beach on Wednesday, leading authorities to search the area for more of the contraband.

World 21 hours ago

New Zealand’s Māori standoff against child separations and encroachment of preserved lands

New Zealand’s Māori people took to the streets Tuesday over concerns of child separations from families and infringement of promised ancestral lands, straining relations with the central government. During their protests, they accused New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of being a “part-time prime minister”.

World 21 hours ago

Australian mom working for UN in Fiji reportedly found dead in home

An Australian mother working for the United Nations in Fiji was found dead in her home on Tuesday and local authorities believe she may have been murdered, according to reports.

World 21 hours ago

Australian woman, 20, found stabbed to death beside injured dad in car; father charged with murder

A 20-year-old medical student in Australia is being remembered as a “high achiever” and “talented pianist” after she was found stabbed to death in a Mercedes Benz next to her injured father, who has been charged with her murder, reports said Tuesday.