A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake rocked the Solomon Islands early Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but there were no initial reports of damage and no tsunami warning was issued. 

The quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles), 56 kilometers from the capital Honiara. 

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands in the Pacific on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued and no major damage was expected.

The quake hit at a depth of 19 kilometers (11 miles), some 184 kilometers from Lata and 487 kilometers from the capital Honiara. It was followed a smaller 4.9-magnitude aftershock.

Asylum-seekers are living in moldy tents with little privacy on the Pacific island of Nauru, with women and children at risk of sexual assault, according to submissions to an Australian inquiry.

The Senate inquiry, which held its first public hearing on Tuesday, is looking into recent allegations about conditions for would-be refugees on Nauru, including of sexual and physical assault.

Papua New Guinea has banned Australians from travelling to the politically sensitive autonomous region of Bougainville, officials said Monday, after Canberra announced plans to open a diplomatic mission there.

Australia revealed proposals for a new mission in resource-rich Bougainville last week, ahead of an independence referendum expected to be held within the next five years.

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, sending frightened residents fleeing from their homes, but a threatened tsunami passed without incident, seismologists said.

The quake struck 133 kilometers (83 miles) south-southwest of the town of Kokopo in the New Britain region at a depth of 63 kilometers, the U.S. Geological Survey said, and was followed by a 5.9 magnitude aftershock.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Monday said Australia and Europe were in talks on how to stop asylum-seeker boats after the success of his government's controversial polices on the issue.

Another 5,800 migrants desperate to reach Europe were rescued this weekend as they tried to cross the Mediterranean, more than 2,150 of them on Sunday, the Italian coastguard said.

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Papua New Guinea on Friday, 106 kilometers (66 miles) south-southwest of the town of Kokopo, the U.S. Geological Survey said, just a day after a 6.7 magnitude tremor in the region.

The quake hit at 0806 GMT, 693 kilometers northeast of the Pacific nation's capital Port Moresby, in the New Britain region at a depth of 57 kilometers.

A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck New Britain island off Papua New Guinea Thursday, 131 kilometers (81 miles) southwest of the town of Kokopo, U.S. seismologists said.

The quake hit the island at 1045 GMT, northeast of mainland Papua. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said "a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected."

Australia's prime minister urged European leaders on Tuesday to adopt tougher border control measures in the wake of the feared drowning of as many as 900 asylum seekers whose boat capsized off the coast of Libya.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whose government implemented a strict policy of turning back asylum seekers' boats in a bid to discourage them from trying to reach Australia, called the latest Mediterranean crisis a "terrible, terrible tragedy" and suggested Europe follow Australia's lead to ensure it's not repeated.

Australia is returning almost 50 Vietnamese asylum-seekers using a warship currently off the Asian nation's coast after intercepting them at sea, a report said Friday, as Canberra enforces a tough immigration policy.

The asylum-seekers were found by customs and navy vessels north of Australia earlier this month before being transferred to amphibious landing ship HMAS Choules, The West Australian newspaper said.