A powerful earthquake has struck off the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea.

Jesse Griffiths and Nessa Ní Chasaide examine IMF conditionality and ask what can be done about its undue influence on policy.

A strong aftershock has rattled the Solomon Islands, hampering relief efforts to tsunami-ravaged villages.

Aid workers struggled to reach remote, tsunami-ravaged villages in the Solomon Islands today and the death toll rose to at least nine as more bodies were found in wrecked homes and debris.

A powerful earthquake off the Solomon Islands has generated a tsunami that damaged dozens of homes and reportedly killed several people in the South Pacific island chain.

A French court says it will decide tomorrow whether to order an injunction halting further publication of topless photos of Kate Middleton.

QPR boss Mark Hughes insists Fernando Torres was left frustrated after being “dominated” by Ryan Nelsen in yesterday’s goalless draw at Loftus Road.

A furious Duke and Duchess of Cambridge launched legal proceedings against a French magazine last night to stop it reprinting topless photographs of Kate taken while the couple was on holiday.

A furious Duke and Duchess of Cambridge launched legal action against a French magazine tonight after it published topless pictures of Kate Middleton taken while the couple were on holiday.

The Duchess of Cambridge confessed tonight that she had been “nervous” about giving her first speech on foreign soil.

THE Australian government has said it plans to establish the world’s biggest marine protection zone to safeguard a huge swathe of the Coral Sea.

A powerful earthquake has struck in waters off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific.

A LOOK at the world’s most powerful earthquakes and tsunamis:

Hawaii and other parts of the Pacific were braced for a destructive tsunami today caused by the massive Japanese earthquake.

A magnitude-6.2 earthquake shook a northern region of Chile that has felt several frightening, but inconsequential tremors in recent days. No injuries and only minor damage were reported.

A thumbnail-sized frog with a long snout, a brilliant green cricket with bright pink eyes and a mouse with a white-tipped tail are among 200 species scientists have discovered in the remote mountains of Papua New Guinea.

The world's most diverse marine region is under serious threat and needs urgent protection, environment watchdogs said today.

Australia’s government today announced a new conservation zone off the country’s northeast coast but rejected environmentalists’ demands for a fishing ban in the Coral Sea.

AROUND 100 million people risk losing their homes and livelihoods unless drastic steps are taken to protect southeast Asia’s coral reefs, which could be wiped out in coming decades because of climate change, a report said yesterday.

Leaders of England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup have been forced to insist £1.5m allocated for international projects is not intended to be a vote-winning sweetener.

A campaign to appoint a Minister of Peace within the Stormont Executive was launched today by the Peace People.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the last two tsunami detection buoys have been placed, completing the US tsunami warning network.

The carcasses of three bottlenose dolphins – including a calf – have been found dumped near a holding pen in the Solomon Islands where controversial exports of the mammals are planned.

UP TO 100 live bottlenose dolphins can be exported from the Solomon Islands every year, and the government is encouraging residents to enter into the lucrative trade, the fisheries minister said yesterday.

Up to 100 live bottlenose dolphins can be exported from the Solomon Islands every year, and the government is encouraging residents to enter into the lucrative trade, the fisheries minister said today.

Aid workers helping survivors of a tsunami disaster in the Solomon Islands complained today that the relief efforts were chaotic and lacked resources.

Relief workers reported the first signs of disease today among survivors of a devastating earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands.

International aid trickled to survivors today after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of the Solomon Islands.

Survivors picked through ruined stores today in a desperate search for drinking water and food in a Solomon Islands town devastated by a tsunami, as an international relief effort made tentative first steps.

Thirteen people have died following a tsunami off a remote Solomon Islands town today.

A massive undersea earthquake sent a tsunami crashing into the South Pacific nation of Solomon Islands today, destroying at least one town and killing eight people, including six children, officials said.

Telecommunications company Digicel has announced its acquisition of Telecom Samoa in a move that widens its presence in the Pacific region.

A COALITION of conservation-minded nations has managed to thwart Japan’s attempt to form a pro-whaling majority on the International Whaling Commission and reverse the moratorium on commercial hunting that went into effect two decades ago.

A coalition of conservation-minded nations have managed to thwart Japan’s attempt to form a pro-whaling majority on the International Whaling Commission and reverse the moratorium on commercial hunting that went into effect two decades ago.

Japan and other pro-whaling nations will today try to rebound from two early defeats to win a majority at the International Whaling Commission’s annual meeting and pave the way for commercial whale hunting, which was banned 20 years ago.

JOHN MEDLEY WOOD was a 19th Century sailor turned farmer who became curator of the Durban Botanic Gardens in South Africa.

New Solomon Islands prime minister Snyder Rini today declared that law and order had been restored to his country, after hundreds of police and troops cordoned off Parliament for its first sitting since Rini’s election last week triggered two days of rioting.

Scores of Australian troops were today flying to the Solomon Islands in the Pacific to restore peace after rioters and looters laid waste to much of the capital Honiara’s Chinatown neighbourhood in protests sparked by the election of a new prime minister.

David Moyes wants Tim Cahill to rest during the international break after revealing concerns over the Australia midfielder’s mental and physical condition.

Republic of Ireland midfielder David Connolly is poised to make his Wigan debut in the Barclays Premiership clash with West Brom at The Hawthorns.

Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink will phone Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez and Newcastle manager Graeme Souness in an effort to boost Australia’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup finals in Germany next year.