Pacific Security: US, Japan and South Korea ran a five-day multi-domain exercise in the Sea of Japan (“Freedom Edge”), rehearsing ship/air coordination and support tasks, right before North Korea tested missiles over the same waters—raising the regional temperature. Climate & Weather Services: The 8th Pacific Meteorological Council meeting highlighted progress on stronger early warning systems and climate information, with examples including Tonga’s new multi-hazard centre, Kiribati upgrading weather stations, and Tuvalu using AI to speed up severe-weather forecasting. Education Reform Debate: A major consultation on replacing New Zealand’s NCEA found broad support for improving the system, but many educators, students and families want refinement rather than scrapping it—while the proposed staged replacement timeline is still on the table. Pasifika Creative Industry: The Pacific Fusion Fashion Show marked a 10-year milestone at New Zealand Fashion Week, spotlighting Pasifika designers and culture as a growing mainstream platform.