Diplomatic Appointments: New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has named long-time adviser Jon Johansson as Ambassador to Sweden, alongside four other postings: Tāne Waetford to Colombia, Melanie Roberts as High Commissioner to Niue, Stephen Wong to Timor-Leste, and Brad Burgess to the United Arab Emirates—raising fresh questions about political advisers in diplomacy after Peters’ earlier “brorocracy” criticism. Niue in the Regional Spotlight: Peters and Niue’s PM Dalton Tagelagi signed a framework agreement with Papua New Guinea on development and technical cooperation, covering trade, education, health, climate resilience and people-to-people links. Pacific Forum Fallout & Power Politics: Coverage from Palau’s Pacific Islands Forum points to visible China–US tensions and leadership absences, while analysis highlights how Taiwan-related diplomacy is straining the Forum’s unity. Climate Pressure on the Ground: ChildFund warns El Niño is set to intensify drought and water stress in parts of the Pacific, compounding fuel crisis impacts on children and food security. Community Resilience Funding: The Pacific Resilience Facility is taking 14 small community projects to pre-COP events and COP31, including water and traditional planting initiatives in Palau. Infrastructure & Security: The US and NZ back a major deep-sea port at Penrhyn in the Cook Islands, with NZ managing the build—framed as a strategic move amid rising Pacific competition. Remembering Niue’s WWI Service: 39 memorial headstones have been delivered to Niue to honour First World War servicemen, with families and communities preparing village memorial sites.