Climate & Food Security (Tonga): Tonga received a second TOP$114,168 parametric insurance payout from PCRIC to boost early drought preparedness in the Niua Islands after below-average May rainfall, with officials urging fast deployment and discussing expansion into energy, communications and IT resilience. Drought Planning (Tonga): Tonga’s agriculture ministry is warning farmers to plan for El Niño dry months, especially Ha’apai’s sandy soils that can’t hold water well, with crops like yam, cassava, taro and watermelon flagged for yield stress and higher pest/disease pressure. Local Governance & Connectivity (Tonga): Tonga commissioned the Communications Commission Tonga (CCT) headquarters, with leaders stressing independent regulation to improve fairness, competition, consumer protection and long-term digital investment. Community Conservation (Tonga): Super Bowl champion Haloti Ngata joined volunteers in Tonga to plant mangroves and share sustainable farming methods, linking coastal protection with climate-resilient agriculture. Regional Security (Pacific): Australia’s Albanese signed major new security arrangements with Fiji and moved on to the Solomon Islands, as China’s missile test drew condemnation and renewed calls for a Pacific “ocean of peace.” Deep-Sea Mining (Tonga/ISA): Two Metals Company subsidiaries, including Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd, launched legal action at ITLOS to block an ISA compliance investigation tied to contract concerns.