A worker has died, after being attacked by a crocodile at a wildlife park in Papua New Guinea.

The Pacific Islands Forum has again failed to condemn China for its missile test, instead walking a middle ground and “registering concern” over the show of force.

Preliminary results on Friday showed that Prime Minister Mark Brown’s Cook Islands Party would likely retain control of ​parliament, winning 12 of the Pacific nation’s 24 seats, although ‌bad weather delayed voting on the remote island of Nassau.

Australia has taken part in the world’s largest naval training exercise with its Pacific neighbours, combining to curb the threat of further Chinese militarisation in the region.

New Zealand and Fiji signed a renewed five-year Duavata Partnership, ​setting out cooperation priorities for 2026 ‌to 2030 across trade, security, democracy, social development and climate resilience, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston ​Peters said after talks in Auckland ​with Fiji counterpart Sakiasi Ditoka.

Australia wants the Pacific region to band together and send China a “strong message” following its missile launch into the region.

Australia is set to sign an alliance with Fiji in a major diplomatic win over China.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand ground crews are continuing work to extinguish the blaze which burned more 3000ha at Tongariro National Park after wet weather significantly helped efforts yesterday.

Tuvalu says it will no longer accept being left behind.

The United States has pledged stronger economic and security ties with the Pacific, renewing its commitment to a free and open region under the Trump Administration.

Australia has been urged to wind down its fossil fuel exports by Vanuatu’s climate change adaptation minister, who says a recent advisory opinion from the World Court suggests the responsibilities of states now extends beyond domestic emissions.

Australia and Japan on Monday said they would deepen cooperation to address increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including assisting each other in evacuating citizens at risk overseas.