Pacific Islands Forum diplomacy: Papua New Guinea and Niue have signed a framework agreement on development and technical cooperation, setting up a broad cooperation umbrella covering trade, investment, tourism, education and labour mobility, health, agriculture and food security, climate resilience, digital connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, with either side able to end the deal with six months’ notice. Regional climate finance: The Pacific Resilience Facility is taking 14 community projects to pre-COP events and COP31 to show Pacific-owned climate funding is already reaching communities, with projects focused on water security, food production, coastal restoration, sanitation, renewable energy and resilience. Niue in the spotlight: Niue received 39 memorial headstones delivered by an RNZAF C-130J-30 to honour Niuean First World War servicemen, with placements planned across villages. Forum logistics and connectivity: New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon defended using two RNZAF Boeing 757s for the Forum mission, arguing remote location and connectivity needs require a backup aircraft. Pacific security and infrastructure: The US announced a US$60m deep-sea port at Penrhyn in the Cook Islands, with New Zealand managing the build and contributing US$10m, framed as a strategic move amid rising Pacific tensions. Food and culture: FFA and SPC launched “Tuna Bites” for UN World Tuna Day and Pacific Tuna Month, including a country-by-country tuna dish competition in Niue and other Pacific states.