Pacific diplomacy: Papua New Guinea and Niue have signed a framework agreement for development and technical cooperation, agreed on the sidelines of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum in Palau. It sets up an umbrella for future programs across trade, investment, tourism, education, labour mobility, health, agriculture, climate resilience, infrastructure and digital connectivity, with people-to-people exchanges also on the list. Realm ties: Niue’s PM Dalton Tagelagi joined New Zealand, Cook Islands and Tokelau leaders for the inaugural Realm of New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting in Auckland, with leaders stressing shared history, culture and constitutional links ahead of next week’s Pacific Islands Forum in Palau. Regional pressures: Pacific leaders are heading into a tougher-than-usual Forum agenda, with geopolitics, transnational crime and the push for regional unity expected to dominate discussions. Culture spotlight: A profile revisits Sir Peter Buck (Te Rangi Hīroa) and his path from medical work in the Pacific to becoming a major scholar of Polynesia, tying together Māori connections and wider Pacific learning. Lifestyle travel (global): SeaDream Yacht Club announced SeaDream III, its first new ship in 25 years, with reservations opening now for a July 2029 debut season.