Maritime Safety & Accountability: A barge (Manahau) grounded at Carters Beach remains under detention at Port Nelson more than two years later, with its owner saying repairs and certification are still pending and expected to take months. Niue in the Regional Spotlight: Papua New Guinea and Niue signed a framework agreement on development and technical cooperation, covering trade, education, health, climate resilience, digital connectivity and people-to-people links. Pacific Diplomacy & Pressure Points: At the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, leaders faced heightened China–US tensions and renewed calls for stronger regional partnerships, including moves to deepen ties with the European Union. Climate Risk for Small Islands: Pacific communities are being warned to prepare for a powerful El Niño that could bring drought in some areas and heavier rain in others, stressing water, food and child health amid fuel pressures. Food Security & Culture: The FFA and SPC launched “Tuna Bites” to celebrate World Tuna Day and Pacific Tuna Month, with country culinary competitions featuring tuna’s role in livelihoods and nutrition, including Niue. Governance & Logistics at PIF: New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon defended using two Defence Force planes for the PIF mission, citing connectivity challenges and the need for backup in a remote location. Pacific Finance in Action: The Pacific Resilience Facility is taking 14 community projects to pre-COP events and COP31, showing direct funding for water security, food production and coastal restoration across Forum member states. US–Cook Islands–NZ Infrastructure: The US announced a US$60m deep-sea port at Penrhyn (Cook Islands), with New Zealand managing the build and contributing NZ$101m-equivalent funding, framed as a strategic response to rising Pacific geopolitical competition.