Pacific Disaster Preparedness: The 8th Pacific Meteorological Council meeting highlighted upgrades to weather services and early warning systems, with Tonga finishing a multi-hazard centre, Kiribati funding new surface and upper-air stations, and Tuvalu using AI to speed up severe weather forecasting. Education Policy Debate: New Zealand’s NCEA overhaul is being pushed back toward “tweaks” after analysis of 8,292 submissions found most educators and industry want improvements, but many teachers, students and families prefer refining rather than replacing the system. Niue in Regional Sport: Oceania 7s is set for Rotorua next month, with Niue named in both the Men’s Cup and Women’s Cup competitions, keeping the island’s sevens teams in the spotlight. Diplomacy Appointments: Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced five postings, including Melanie Roberts as High Commissioner to Niue and Jon Johansson as Ambassador to Sweden, alongside ambassadors to Colombia, Timor-Leste and the UAE. Regional Security: China and the Philippines traded accusations after Chinese fighter jets intercepted a Philippine patrol near Scarborough Shoal, underscoring ongoing pressure in the West Philippine Sea. Local Governance Watch: A barge detained at Port Nelson after a two-year-old grounding at Carters Beach remains awaiting repairs and certification, raising questions about enforcement and timelines for maritime incidents.