Pacific Development Deal: Papua New Guinea and Niue signed a framework agreement on development and technical cooperation at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, covering trade, investment, tourism, education and labour mobility, health, agriculture and food security, climate resilience, environmental protection, and infrastructure and digital connectivity. Climate Finance for Communities: The Pacific Resilience Facility is taking 14 community projects to Pacific pre-COP events and COP31, with members allocated up to US$20,000 each for water security, food production, coastal restoration, sanitation, renewable energy and resilience—showcasing PRF as “real” funding, not just a concept. Port and Logistics Push: 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, aiming to strengthen Pacific shipping access from a former WWII base amid rising geopolitical competition. Net-Zero Reality Check: A new explainer questions how “net zero” has shifted from carbon accounting into a catch-all for jobs and growth, arguing the term’s meaning is getting blurred as it’s used more broadly.